Book Review: Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness

Autoimmunity & Healing Diets

Aug 26
Book Review: Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness

If you want to understand the current crisis in our children’s health, you need to read Thomas Cowan’s new book, Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness.

Dr. Cowan explains in simple language that the root cause of autoimmunity is coming from imbalances in the gut microbiome. You may already know this, but he goes on to explain the role of the cell mediated immune system and the humoral immune system and how they are both affected by vaccines.

Children are In a National Emergency

The number of children with chronic illnesses have exploded. Dr. Cowan enumerates the statistics and he provides references.

  • 1 in 2.5 has an allergy
  • 1 in 6 has a developmental disability
  • 1 in 9 has ADHD
  • 1 in 11 had asthma
  • 1 in 13 has severe food allergies
  • 1 in 36 has autism (source)

This ain’t normal, folks.

And it is only going to get worse.

Traditional Childhood Illnesses Helps Develop the Immune System

Dr. Cowan’s main thesis is that traditional childhood illnesses like chicken pox, measles, mumps, whooping cough, etc. are in a sense a “rite of passage”. Children must experience these illnesses for their immune system to develop and mature.

It is also a way for the body to release toxins.

Acute disease is accompanied by fever, rash and pus and is the primary way for the body to flush out unwanted substances.

We have been trained to think that fever, rash and pus is a terrible thing to experience and conventional medicine teaches us that we have to suppress these symptoms. However, suppressing these symptoms only makes the patient feel a little better, but it does not support the body’s ability to heal and protect.

Additionally, if you reduce the fever, the pathogens win out and can breed a secondary infection and/or prolong the illness.

To quote Dr. Cowan,

A sick child with a fever is not having an emergency. She is going through a valuable learning process, which if continually thwarted will undermine her sacred quest to build a strong body, mind and immune system for her long journey ahead. (p.15)

The Purpose of a Fever

A fever is your body’s innate wisdom protecting you from outside invaders. When you get a fever it shows that your immune system is working as it should – protecting you. The heat of a fever slows down the multiplication of pathogens and allows the various arms of the immune system to get into gear and fight them off.

Allowing a child to experience a fever protects them from secondary infections, a prolonged illness and trips to the doctor which likely leads to antibiotics.

The “flushing” is what we today call “acute illness.” We (modern doctors), however, have forgotten (or never learned) that acute disease – disease that is typically self-limiting and usually accompanied by fever, rash and pus – is the primary way the body rids itself of unwanted toxins or other substances. (p. 21)

Even just one series of antibiotics is known to change the microbiome in a negative way.

The ideal range for a fever to do its job is 102 – 103º F. This may last for just a few hours and then reduce on its own and it may spike a few times.  Between 4:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon is the time for the highest fever.

If the fever comes down by bedtime and seems normal in the morning, still be cautious – it may still spike between 4:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon. A child should stay home from school one day after the fever comes down just to be sure they are well.

A fever is very depleting and they should spend that extra day rehydrating with broth, soups and teas, eating and resting.

Learn more about Why You Should Let That Fever Burn and How To Manage It

Vaccines are an Assault on the Developing Immune System

According to Dr. Cowan,

Modern pediatrics is essentially as assault on the cell-mediated immune system.

Injecting  a vaccine made with an antigenic piece of a virus does not work to cause an antibody reaction. Manufacturers of vaccines know this and so they add an adjuvant that will stimulate an reaction.

Sadly, an adjuvant has to be an irritant – essentially it is a toxin and it is this substance that can be most devastating for some children.

Read more about how Vaccine Injury Gives Rise To New Syndrome.

Dr. Cowan writes in depth about several particular vaccines: chickenpox, measles and polio. He goes over the history and current program of use. The polio vaccine history is particularly fascinating.

Assaults to the Microbiome

We all know that there are many aspects of our lifestyle that damages the microbiome. These are:

Read more about the critical role of the microbiome and an important new category of gut bacteria called gut commensals.

Autoimmune Treatment Protocol

Dr. Cowan shares his treatment protocol for autoimmune diseases.

These include diet and supplements.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found out some very important facts. I also love that he shared his treatment protocol for autommunity.

This is an critically important book for anyone concerned about the health of their children, grandchildren and the future of children’s health in general.

Grab Vaccines, Autoimmunity and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness here.

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