Wrote this piece, dedicated to a cousin, who is battling a cancer. I'm sure she will overcome all odds and rid herself of this malady.
Self Realisation - The Panacea for Health
The fundamental property of our immune system is the ability to discriminate “Self” from “Non-self”. "Non self" invaders like bacteria, viruses have to be identified and eliminated to safeguard the 'Self'.
"T" cells, a type of white blood cell, play an extremely crucial role in this defense mechanism. 'T' cells have the faculty of detecting 'Non-Self' and using special receptors, attach themselves to these threats. This interaction triggers the immune system to unleash a potent defense mechanism. The Nobel prize for Medicine 2018 was awarded jointly to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo "for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation." They received this honor for their path breaking work in identifying the mechanisms of brakes on these T cells. Neutralizing these brakes, results in an enhanced immune response. Many scientists contributed to this important basic research and identified other proteins that function as brakes on the T cells, inhibiting immune activation. This balance between accelerators and brakes is indeed a tight rope walk. Excessive activation can lead to equally morbid autoimmune destruction of healthy cells and tissues. This autoimmune phenomenon reflects a vindictive destruction of innocent cells by a surveillance and defence system gone awry. A case of mistaken identity of the Self, with devastating consequences.
The protection of the 'Self' from the
'Non self'relies on the innate intelligence and discriminatory ability of the immune system to specifically distinguish the two. Malignant cells are a very special kind of Non-self cells. Their 'Non-Selfness' is ideological, with scant regard for the Self. They have a mind of their own, playing their own notes, never a part of the symphony of the Self. These mutinous cells are mutated entities that use the resources of the host to destroy the host. The immune system must identify these
'Anti-self' cells which are far more dangerous than the 'non-self' types. These 'Anti-self' cells masquerade as 'Self' cells, which puts the immune system in a quandary. They have to identify the 'Nonself: not just morphologically, but ideologically. They must evolve their cognitive abilities, attain a high level of 'Self Realisation' in order to isolate and eliminate this threat. The discretionary ability to segregate the Self, Non-self, Anti-self, relies on a sublime crystallisation and comprehension of the Self.
What does the word ‘self’ actually signify? Comprehending the Self is relative to the level of our evolution. The word ‘self’ implies a subjective existence. If the Self has a poor perception with low 'Self esteem' ,lacks reflective consciousness or is simply unconscious of the 'Self', one is too undeveloped to realize oneself. As the self evolves, it becomes increasingly aware of its own pure subjectivity. Psychoneuroimmunology is rapidly emerging modality that establishes the intimate relationship between the thought process and the immune response. Once the Self is clearly defined, this Self-realisation, will preclude the need of any chemotherapeutic or external agents to neutralize the anti-self. The Self has the innate intelligence which just needs to be activated. The remedy for dealing with the Anti-self lies within the Self.
Dr. Deepak M. Ranade
( Consultant Neurosurgeon)
Self Realisation - The Panacea for Health
The fundamental property of our immune system is the ability to discriminate “Self” from “Non-self”. "Non self" invaders like bacteria, viruses have to be identified and eliminated to safeguard the 'Self'.
"T" cells, a type of white blood cell, play an extremely crucial role in this defense mechanism. 'T' cells have the faculty of detecting 'Non-Self' and using special receptors, attach themselves to these threats. This interaction triggers the immune system to unleash a potent defense mechanism. The Nobel prize for Medicine 2018 was awarded jointly to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo "for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation." They received this honor for their path breaking work in identifying the mechanisms of brakes on these T cells. Neutralizing these brakes, results in an enhanced immune response. Many scientists contributed to this important basic research and identified other proteins that function as brakes on the T cells, inhibiting immune activation. This balance between accelerators and brakes is indeed a tight rope walk. Excessive activation can lead to equally morbid autoimmune destruction of healthy cells and tissues. This autoimmune phenomenon reflects a vindictive destruction of innocent cells by a surveillance and defence system gone awry. A case of mistaken identity of the Self, with devastating consequences.
The protection of the 'Self' from the
'Non self'relies on the innate intelligence and discriminatory ability of the immune system to specifically distinguish the two. Malignant cells are a very special kind of Non-self cells. Their 'Non-Selfness' is ideological, with scant regard for the Self. They have a mind of their own, playing their own notes, never a part of the symphony of the Self. These mutinous cells are mutated entities that use the resources of the host to destroy the host. The immune system must identify these
'Anti-self' cells which are far more dangerous than the 'non-self' types. These 'Anti-self' cells masquerade as 'Self' cells, which puts the immune system in a quandary. They have to identify the 'Nonself: not just morphologically, but ideologically. They must evolve their cognitive abilities, attain a high level of 'Self Realisation' in order to isolate and eliminate this threat. The discretionary ability to segregate the Self, Non-self, Anti-self, relies on a sublime crystallisation and comprehension of the Self.
What does the word ‘self’ actually signify? Comprehending the Self is relative to the level of our evolution. The word ‘self’ implies a subjective existence. If the Self has a poor perception with low 'Self esteem' ,lacks reflective consciousness or is simply unconscious of the 'Self', one is too undeveloped to realize oneself. As the self evolves, it becomes increasingly aware of its own pure subjectivity. Psychoneuroimmunology is rapidly emerging modality that establishes the intimate relationship between the thought process and the immune response. Once the Self is clearly defined, this Self-realisation, will preclude the need of any chemotherapeutic or external agents to neutralize the anti-self. The Self has the innate intelligence which just needs to be activated. The remedy for dealing with the Anti-self lies within the Self.
Dr. Deepak M. Ranade
( Consultant Neurosurgeon)
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