The Immune Mind
The fascinating BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, uncovering the connection between the mind, immune system and microbiome
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
'Superbly written with excellent insights... One of the best non-fiction books I've read!' Dr Rupy Aujla, author of The Doctor's Kitchen
'Fascinating... A thoroughly thought-provoking read' Dame Sarah Gilbert, author of Vaxxers
You've heard that a healthy body means a healthy mind - but why? What exactly is going on in our immune system?
Delving into the discovery of new anatomy in the brain, Dr Monty Lyman reveals the extraordinary implications for our physical and mental health.
Could inflammation cause depression, and arthritis drugs cure it?
Can gut microbes shape your behaviour through the vagus nerve?
Can something as simple as brushing your teeth properly reduce your risk of dementia?
Until a decade ago, we misunderstood a fundamental aspect of human health. Although the brain and the body have always been viewed as separate entities – treated in separate hospitals – science now shows that they are intimately linked. Startlingly, we now know that our immune system is in constant communication with our brain and can directly alter our mental health. This has opened up a new frontier in medicine.
In The Immune Mind, Dr Monty Lyman explores the fascinating connection between the mind, immune system and microbiome, offering practical advice on how to stay healthy. A specialist in the cutting-edge field of immunopsychiatry, Lyman argues that we need to change the way we treat disease and the way we see ourselves.
For the first time, we have a new approach to medicine that treats the whole human being.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Connections between the immune system and the mind help the body fight off pathogens and other threats, according to this edifying treatise. Physician Lyman (The Painful Truth) explains that cerebrospinal fluid picks up "toxins and waste products" as it "washes across" brain tissue. Upon exiting the brain, the fluid encounters immune cells that scan the fluid for signs of infection, inflammation, or other damage; if any are found, the cells trigger an immune response by activating lymph nodes throughout the body. Case studies reveal the complexity of this brain-immune system, as when Lyman describes how a 24-year-old experienced hallucinations and paranoia after rogue antibodies caused inflammation in her brain. Such connections have opened doctors' eyes to creative new treatments for mental illness, Lyman contends, discussing how a rheumatologist found that an anti-inflammatory drug aimed at mitigating arthritis improved patients' moods even when it didn't improve their arthritis. Lyman throws in a few standard suggestions on reducing inflammation (eat less processed food, and get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week), but the main attraction is the surprising science illuminating the profound connections between brain and body. It's an intriguing survey of an emerging area of scientific inquiry.
Customer Reviews
Great book
Fantastic book.
But annoying that I need to review it before proceeding to read it!!!