Elson Haas - Ultimate Immunity: Supercharge Your Bodys Natural Healing Powers

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek competent medical help.

Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher.

Internet addresses and telephone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it went to press.

2014 by Elson Haas, MD, and Sondra Barrett, PhD

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Book design by Christina Gaugler

Illustrations by Michael Gellately

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-1-62336-390-1 paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62336-391-8 ebook

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To all of our students, whose questions guided us to learn more.

To our childrenSondras Heather and Ted and Elsons Ishara and Orion, and Sondras grandchildren, Ethan, Harper, Micah, and Bennie, and Elsons yet to comemay you all benefit from the wisdom in this book and, of course, from the love in our hearts.

To our parents, who encouraged us to live life with love and make a difference for others.

To our readersmay your immunity be strong and vital, and keep you well. And may you enjoy a new, vibrant lifestyle.

And lastly to our Mother Earths immune systemmay your waters, soil, and air be healed, so that the aligned immune systemsof all your children can be healed as well.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

F or both of us, this book has been a labor of love. We hung in there together through all the writing and researcheven when we got frustrated, we did our work with great affection, focus, and persistence.

There are so many people to thank for making this book possible. We express our gratitude:

To the thousands of research scientists whose curiosity and persistence showed the way into the vast workings of the immune system and the mind; and to the physicians and patients who helped to expand our understanding.

To Bethany Argisle, our friend and longtime business associate, whose vision and energy led to our collaboration in Ultimate Immunity.

To Nancy Fitzgerald, our editor at Rodale, who guided us throughout, improving what we wrote and encouraging us to stretch our limits and make this a valuable book for you, the readers.

To the Rodale Test Kitchen, including JoAnn Brader and Jennifer Kushnier, who lovingly cooked up and tasted our recipes, and to cookbook editor Katie Kackenmeister.

To the Rodale design team, especially Chris Gaugler and Amy King, and to the Rodale production team, including Nancy Bailey, Sara Cox, and Chris Krogermeier, who all worked together to create this beautiful book.

To April Alexandra, who makes Dr. Haass life easier and more entertaining every day, and who believed in us and nourished us and our immune systems with beautiful meals and garden flowers during our writing and work meetings.

INTRODUCTION

A s you enter the pages of this book, we invite you to explore the amazing immune system while discovering more about your own health and learning new strategies for healthier living. Ultimate Immunity brings together the science and common sense for creating a balanced immune system and improving your well-being. Well cover the basics of how your immune system works and what happens when it doesnt operate at its best. Then well offer solutions for bringing the many activities of your immune network into harmony by enjoying healthy foods, cooling down inflammation, managing stress, and doing special energy movements. Youll also find simple, practical plans for cleansing and detoxifying your body, calming your mind, andultimatelyenjoying your life more fully.

We write this book weaving together our two different perspectives yet similar backgrounds that embrace natural, ancient healing methods. Sondra, a medical scientist trained in immunology, is experienced in educating and guiding people with mind-body strategies for healing. Elson is a medical practitioner dedicated to writing and speaking about natural medicine, detoxification, and healing as a personal learning experience. He focuses on helping people get and stay healthy, with an emphasis on preventing disease and supporting healthy aging.

Both of us want to make a difference in your health with simple and effective solutions. In this book, we bring our knowledge and experience together to help anyone who is challenged by an immune condition.

SONDRA: As a laboratory scientist exploring how immune cells fight infections and what makes a normal cell become a cancer cell, I strayed out of the lab and into the lives of people struggling with cancer and autoimmune illnesses. Over the last three decades, Ive been bridging biomedical science with the vast array of mind-body strategiesmeditation, energy awareness, imagery, shamanism, and expressive arts that can help people, including myself, manage the stresses of life.

As an educator, Ive listened to peoples questions about how stress impacts the immune system and what diminishes the damage that stress can make on personal health. Ive always been inspired by peoples questions and problemsthey have spurred me to learn more. And thats why I was so excited to write this book with Elson.

My perspective is unique for a scientist. I have a deep knowledge of biochemistry, immunology, and the workings of the body, along with practical experience in the inner workings of the mind and its impact on our choices and health. My earlier book, Secrets of Your Cells, brings together the science, spirituality, and mysteries of our cells. Ultimate Immunity permitted me to focus on the amazing immune system, which, in my mind, encompasses the total healing system of the body. This new book is our offering to you.

ELSON: This book is very personal to me. Decades ago, I was able to clear my allergies through using the same principles described in these pages. I also was able to improve my overall healthI believe I prevented many of the illnesses common to my family members. And now, after working with Sondra on this book, I am even more impressed in seeing how much influence our immune system has on our overall health.