ABSTRACT
When studying chemical sensitivity and chronic degenerative disease the dynamics of homeostasis in regard to immunity and autoimmunity are in a very delicate balance. This relationship is evidenced by the number of autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases that are treated by physicians without knowing the etiology. Once local homeostatic control of the connective tissue matrix is lost, the immune system comes into full action acting as an amplification system for responses to noxious stimuli. This means care must be taken to insure that the immune system is not only robust but is also in balance with itself and the other amplification systems. These systems include the neurovascular, especially the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine systems. If this balance is not maintained disease will be initiated or propagated. These endocrine and autonomic nervous systems are the second and third leg of the equilateral triangle of the amplification systems that attempt to maintain the dynamics of homeostasis once local control is lost. The balance of these systems conserves energy, thus reducing nutrient depletion and preventing fatigue and weakness that occur when heroic attempts by the body are made to obtain and maintain homeostasis. The massive contamination of our environment increases the difficulty of maintaining dynamic homeostasis in the immune system because, generally the total body pollutant load, which constantly disrupts the equilibrium mechanism, increases rapidly and chronically. In addition to the nonspecific total body noxious incitant load, a specific body burden of toxic substances like pathogenic Escheria coli or Streptoccocus hemolyticus or different specific viruses like polio influenza often increases, thereby augmenting the need for more immune output. This increased environmental demand strains the IgA, IgM, and IgG function of immunoglobulins, as well as the innate immune system. Other examples of specific toxic substances that increase body burden include benzene, which may trigger leukemia;1 formaldehyde, which may trigger chemical sensitivity;2 or pesticide exposure, which may trigger inflammatory vascular disease and neurological dysfunction.3 There are now over 60,000 chemicals in our environment and when significant numbers are taken into the body these have to be eliminated, utilized, or sequestered. Sequestering of pollutants for survival can chronically disrupt physiology and, thus homeostasis, resulting in chronic metabolic, vascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, endocrine, and immune dysfunction even though this process can be life saving.
