Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

Ever wonder what the cartoon version of a viral attack on our bodies would look like? Can’t you just picture those “bad guy” virus cells, the “good guy” destroyers, the messengers, the explosions! Oh, my boys would love this. Here’s a great explanation of what really goes on, courtesy of Dr. Bruce B. Miller, DDS, CNS.

What happens (the mechanism) on a cellular level when a virus invades your body

The immune system’s actions are obviously much more complicated than my explanation. This is the “made simple outline version” — just hitting the main points.

A virus (any virus) cannot duplicate outside of a cell. When a cell is invaded, the virus takes over its duplication machinery and begins to replicate itself. Thus when a virus invades the body it heads for a cell.

When a virus enters a cell the cell releases a chemical messenger called interferon.

Interferon does two things:

1. It tells other cells how to defend against this virus.
2. It stimulates cells called macrophages to multiply and get active.

Meanwhile the virus is multiplying in the invaded cell. When the cell gets loaded with new viral particles, it explodes, releasing more particles into the body to invade other cells.

The newly released viral particles are in for a two surprises.

1. The exploding infected cell is surrounded by macrophages which “eat” up viral particles.
2. Other cells in the area are more resistant to viral invasion.

Most of the time a viral infection can be stopped at this stage.

What if a cell is low in interferon when the invasion occurs?

• The interferon output is low, weak and there is a time lag.
  1. There is a delay and a weak signal telling the other cells how to defend against the virus.
  2. The macrophages receive a late and feeble signal.
• During the time lag the virus is replicating rapidly in the infected cell.
  1. The infected cell bursts releasing millions of new viral particles.
  2. Macrophages are few and weak and many particles escape.
  3. The other cells fall to invasion because they do not know how to defend against this virus.
  4. This is a chain reaction.
  5. You become ill.

If a cell has a “full tank” of interferon, it is better able to battle a viral invasion.

And guess what things negatively affect the immune response? (including the production of interferon): stress, not getting enough sleep, not enough exercise, and not getting the right balance of immune supporting nutrients. Any of those sound familiar?

For more information about what interferon is and how it works, check out www.immunityfacts.com. You can even see the above description in video format.

To naturally boost our bodys’ interferon production, my family is using the only herbal supplement that can do this.