Vaccines, Autoimmunity, and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness by Sally Fallon Morell

Vaccines, Autoimmunity, and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness Reviews

• 
  Sara Dahaabović

  As someone with an intense family history of autoimmune diseases I was intrigued by this book, I'm only giving it two starts for the fact that the author connected vaccines/chronic illness with the asthma and hygiene hypothesis, which I think was smart of him to do; we have studied that hypothesis and it is mentioned in every book about the pathology of asthma. I also agree that overstimulating the immune system (which he presented by mentioning The Kobe university study in Japan- I still have to check that study) with the scary amounts of vaccines given today is not safe in any way.
  
  But, boy oh boy! Dr. Cowan you lost me when you started talking about genetics in such an uneducated way. I swear to God each time he mentioned genetics, epigenetics or just the word DNA he was either too wrong or someway deceptive!
  
  On page 15 he wrote:
  "Some will argue that this means a disease is genetic, but the reality is certainly far more nuanced than that. It would be more accurate to say that a disease is environmental with a genetic trigger or predisposition. framing damage or disease as stemming from an environmental cause, however, would require us to do something about it.
  
  He made it look like doctors or geneticists believe that genetic diseases can only be inherited, but ask any geneticist in the world and they would tell you that most genetic diseases are indeed are a result of a complex interplay between our genes and the environment, and if anything we are trying to understand that link (the only diseases that that applies to is the single gene disorders or as we call them Mendelian disorders, and they're not the majority of genetics disorders).
  
  One other thing that was very irritating to read is the word "I believe", maybe because I'm used to reading scientific papers where no such language will be used. It doesn't matter what any one believes, we follow data and results. I did a quick search on pubmed and he has no published papers (
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) so why should we blindly listen to what he"believes in", don't get me wrong he might be onto something, and something big that might save millions of lives, but seriously zero studies on pubmed?
  
  Finally, I liked one particular paragraph in the introduction where Cowan quoted Steiner "The time will come, and it may not be far off, that people will say: It is pathological for people to even think in terms of spirit and soul. ‘Sound’ people will speak of nothing but the body. It will be considered a sign of illness for anyone to arrive at the idea of any such thing as a spirit or a soul."
• 
  Patricia Romero

  This book could not be more timely. The vaccine debate is sometimes a polarizing one. Pitting the Anti-Vaccers against the ones who choose to vaccinate.
  
  Cowan not only looks at the ways childhood disease has changed with the onset of vaccines which are made by companies and pushed by them and the government. Sometimes knowing they are not safe. But when there is big money to be made, we all know how the big Pharms operate.
  
  He offers a different look at the spiritual side as well. He questions the whys and hows. He asks especially why did we have a polio out break between 1916 and 11918? And those answers are extremely interesting.
  
  He speaks to autism and childhood diseases. Some which in the past have contributed to a healthy immune system.
  
  I am torn on this issue. But I believe in the right to choose your child's health plan and belong to a Vaccination PAC here in Oklahoma where we successfully passed a bill that would put that choice into the hands of the parents. And to me that is where it belongs.
• 
  Shannon McGarvey

  Wow um, so it’s pretty clear to me that my chronic illnesses are from vaccines, and opioid drug use. I’m really interested in learning more about using naltrexone to heal auto immunity.
  He talks about how fevers and sickness actually help the body long term which was really interesting, and how vaccines are literally causing distress to the immune system, and then wondering why chronic/ autoimmune diseases are on the rise. Every parent should read this!
• 
  Isabelle reads a book a day because she has no friends

  During some parts I thought “this is freaking profound” and during others I thought “this is bullshit” so I’m really not sure how to rate this
• 
  Mandy

  4.5 stars
  
  Short, but incredibly informative and thought-provoking! This book gets a little scientific about the causes of autoimmune diseases and while I found it so fascinating, I got a little lost in the jargon in chapter six (Rethinking Cell Biology)...but the author speaks from a place of passion and education, that I want to learn more - investigate further.
  
  Part two of the book takes a deeper look into chicken pox, polio, and measles and I have to say, I was blown away by the evidence. I love books that make you think and open your eyes! And it makes so much sense. He also goes into the components of vaccines (ingredients) and discusses their “purpose” and associated risks.
  
  The end of the book contains references to articles, journals, etc., along with recommended resources. Overall, I thought this was a really great book that I will pass along to others...I didn’t give it five stars because I didn’t care for his recommended treatment protocol - probably due to my personal dietary beliefs. But I appreciated a few of his principles!
• 
  Mary

  I LOVED this book!! It really rocked my world, especially chapter 3 on the immune system. It really gives you an in depth understanding of how your body works; from your immune system all the way down to your cells structure. A must read for anyone wanting to learn about vaccines or anyone that has an autoimmune disease.
• 
  Sarah Billing

  Everyone parent needs to read this book before using vaccines.
• 
  Aggie

  This was a good introductory book about looking at the connection between vaccines and the nature of autoimmune diseases. I liked how the author broke it down into parts: explaining what happens when we get sick and what it means, how our immune system works, what autoimmunity is, how vaccines impact our immune system.
  
  The part that was most eye-opening to me was his chapter on our immune system and how we have two systems: cell-mediated and humoral (you'll have to read the book for a full explanation about them). They each work in their own unique way to keep us healthy. The problem with vaccines is they only focus on one system, the humoral, which is characterised by creating antibodies. But we also need to create a cell-mediated response to clear toxins from the body. Also, his explanation of how vaccines have the potential to create autoimmune disease makes a lot of sense when you think about the only goal when administering a vaccine is to create antibodies while suppressing a cell-mediated response which is what clears the toxins of the acute illnesses from our bodies. Thus, the author asks a very important question, "Is it so outlandish to ask whether autoimmune disease is a natural consequence of overstimulating the humoral immune response, precisely as we do when we administer a vaccine?" Remember, autoimmune disease is characterized as an "overstimulation" of the immune system such that it produces an excessive amount of antibodies which then cross-react with one's own tissues, recognising them as foreign and attacking them.
  
  We live in a strange time...we claim to be so advanced in science and medicine yet we are so terrified of acute illnesses that we try to eliminate them completely, disregarding their benefits to our overall health. We ignore the studies that show that those who had certain acute illnesses are later protected against more serious health issues, such as cancer. Instead of figuring out how to support someone during an acute illness (to avoid the side effects), we try to prevent it from happening in the first place. It's like we don't trust that we have an immune system for a reason and when we don't allow it to do what it was always intended to do, it starts attacking us, hence autoimmune disease that is becoming so prevalent today.
• 
  Michael Jones

  Eye opener for me--the best so far in these issues--I am grasping the critical science!
  
  I've read articles and books on vaccines, autoimmunity and other subjects related and, for the first time, I really understand many of the interconnected issues regarding the immune system and how it deals with toxins. This book is a must-read because it breaks down scientific facts in a writing style that is not too hard to grasp for somebody who has a rudimentary grasp of science, physiology, and the related issues.
  
  Tom's writing style is easy to follow and he is charitable toward all parties involved. He himself was an ER doctor and family practice doctor so he has experience on the ground. I now understand what is going on in the human body regarding these issues and many others.
  
  --Clear explanation of how there are 2 different types of immune systems.
  
  --Why going through an illness with fever produces much longer lasting immunity that vaccines ever could.
  
  --The history of polio and measles and why the vaccines were not the thing that saved us from those terrible epidemics.
  
  The importance of a healthy gut and microbiome related to quality foods and reduction of toxins.
  
  --The actual ingredients of the vaccines.
  
  --Why the vaccines will simply not work without the toxins they contain. I was amazed at the substances which we are injecting directly into our bloodstream! If we took these substances and ate them, at least our gut would have a chance to get rid of them, but when they're in our bloodstream, well, you can see why they would be issues especially with smaller children.
• 
  Sandra Mather

  This was a well-informed and clearly written treatment of vaccines and the immune system. I learned a great deal and feel that I am more informed regarding this issue.
• 
  Elaine

  Everyone needs to read this immediately!
• 
  Tamara L.

  I found it quite informative especially about autoimmune diseases, regardless if they are caused by vaccines or not (poisoning from harmful chemicals can happen in many ways e.g. pharmaceutical drugs, food, skin application, air etc) this book can be quite valuable for someone with such a disease. Dr Cowan shares personal observations, years of experience, stories of patients and suggestions on how to address and heal.
  
  One star less is due to reference to the germ theory which he debunks in his latest book, 'The Contagion Myth Why Viruses (including "Coronavirus") Are Not the Cause of Disease' and with I which I totally agree. Germs and especially viruses have never been proven using Koch postulates that they are the cause of any disease. I suggest anyone interest in viruses, germs and diseases to have a look at the Terrain theory, Béchamp work (e.g. The Blood and its Third Element), Virus Mania and What Really Makes You Ill? books, Stefan Lanka articles and videos.
• 
  Stephanie

  This was a mixed bag for me. Some of it seems like pure common sense. There was some new information I found interesting that I want to read further on, but there were other points that I found strange or simply didn't understand.
  
  Regardless, I think he made a good overall point that "Illness...is part of the human condition" and agree with his conclusion that "We have traded a temporary reduction in, in many cases innocuous childhood illnesses, for a lifetime of...chronic disease." (quote written
  down while listening to the audiobook, not double checked for accuracy).
• 
  Jennifer McMaster

  Having an autoimmune disease that has greatly impacted my life, this book was really helpful in understanding just why so many people today suffer from them as well. Dr. Cowan is a genius, a great researcher, and a rare humanitarian physician. Some of the technical science he cites is a bit tedious but necessary since it authenticates his message. Thankfully there are ways to combat autoimmunity and Cowan offers that hope in the last couple of chapters.
• 
  ;-; Hollingsworth

  An interesting and thought provoking book, however when Cowan went on to discuss how certain dietary changes could be all that is needed to cure an autoimmune disease I was slightly deterred. Despite that, it was a very engaging book with a lot of ideas to think about that add to this debate of vaccination.
• 
  Tiffany

  Can't recommend this book enough!
  
  It really emphasizes how intelligently designed our bodies truly are and how humans always get in the way by trying to control things.
• 
  Anne Floor

  Even though I do not agree with the writer about several things, the way the immune system is showed and talked through is fascinating. He even makes several points which leaves me questioning in the end. This proves to me the author did a great job adding a layer to the vaccine debate.
• 
  Simone

  I’ve read quite a few books on this topic and this book was different from most. Cowan takes a philosophical approach mostly. Still chock full of scientific evidence and studies etc, but mostly it makes you think. The stories of autoimmune diseases and recovery were very interesting. His solution is practical. A lot of similarities to “The Autoimmune Fix” by Tom O’Bryan, but I think Cowan’s approach is simpler to follow and he has astounding statistics of success. Some of his water talk and recommendations (about structuring water) seem a bit hokey, but that part can’t hurt to try. His point is still applicable regardless: we are mostly made of water, and it makes sense to make it a priority to get the best quality water, and with that minerals and electroytes, that we can. The discussion of childhood vaccines was short and to the point, a nice summary of the most important historical and scientific aspects. Good for someone new to the vaccine debate. This book is a very quick read, and also one I would recommend owning as a reference.
  
  I loved his emphasis on diversity in the diet, especially when it comes to plant foods. It’s so easy to get stuck eating the same things over and over again, especially with today’s restrictive fad diets. He recommends around 15 different plant foods on a daily basis, aiming for 60-80 different types of plant foods within the month. He recommends actually taking care to track this for at least a month, to see where you are at. Considering each plant has it’s unique chemical profiles with likely medicinal qualities we may yet be unaware of, I think this is smart advice.
• 
  Joy Ying

  I wish more people would read this and more doctors would research and get to the bottom of this. I am convinced Cowen is correct just based on my personal experience with an allergy that suddenly appeared in my life at the age of 26. After being administered steroids and antibiotics for more than a month, and having doctor telling me to keep taking antihistamines to keep the rashes away, I decided instinctively I did not want to have such heavy dependence on medicine. I chose to let my own immune system fight it and true enough, the rashes went away. Nonetheless, my immune system doesn't feel the same anymore. My mental state also doesn't feel the same anymore.
• 
  Martha

  Overall interesting theory on why we had past disease outbreaks, and how our response with a vaccine is the reason for an increase in autoimmune diseases. As an MD myself, I felt that the book lacked scientific detail... but I get that the general public might feel overwhelmed with that topic. I skipped most of the "treatment" section because I have heard of using those tools before many many times (i.e. the treatment was nothing new and you can read it in tons of other books.) That said, I feel that as a now reflexologist that I have plenty of clients that could benefit from dietary changes + low-dose naltrexone. Now I just have to find a doctor around here to refer clients to. That always seems to be the problem when reading health-related books. WHO can you even go to to oversee these alternative protocols? Not easy in Michigan, I can tell you that. :(
• 
  Lauren Albrecht

  Incredibly helpful book for understanding how the immune system works on an easier to read level for a non-medical professional ;). Though still above my head enough to make me really think. Also a great read for anyone who suffers from or knows someone who suffers from an autoimmune disease. And finally, helpful in understanding how vaccines are supposed to stimulate immune response and the potential effects of them longer term.
• 
  Jon

  This book is absolutely incredible. This is the kind of book that every medical student needs to read, re-read, and start a book-reading club with just to read more times with others. It’s straightforward, informative, thoroughly documented with medical research, and actually enjoyable to read in style.
• 
  Fallon

  A few fair points mixed in with 1-person case study examples and pseudoscience. Lost credibility when on p. 53 Cowan said he didn’t understand why ER patients don’t come in with water pouring out of their wounds if our cells are mostly comprised of water. Also some really questionable beliefs/comments regarding the autistic community.
• 
  Sally

  Alternative view of the rise of chronic and autoimmune diseases as a consequence of vaccination itself as a strategy and the various toxic additions to vaccines put there to provoke the immune reaction. 3 1/2 stars.
• 
  Jason Garwood

  A remarkable read.