The immune system represents the contact or interface between the individual and the rest of the system. Even though the individual perceives itself as separatem, it is in whole a part of the larger system and never is really separate. It is always exchanging information, through its interface with the rest of the system. Because of this, the interface is always an instantaneous picture of each moment in the relationship between the individual and the system. Each level of the immune system relates to a different level of the relationship. Different organ systems with their relationships, reflecting different emotional states, generate feelings.

In our previous discussions we have made the point that emotion drives the DNA, and creates the physical changes in the DNA, which we experience as an alteration in DNA expression. (see DNA and epigenetics). Functionally the immune system is a dynamic one, allowing two way exchange of information. The input of information from the larger system is limited and modified by the immune system. For example, the bacteria are a means of information exchange with the larger system. Bacteria are able to affect the individual’s system in a helpful and non-helpful way. They can be harmonious to the system or disharmonious. When they strengthen the individual system, they are harmonious and when they do not they create disharmony. But, what they basically do is bring information from the larger system. When the individual ceases to be of benefit or harmony to the larger system, disharmonious bacteria (pathogenic bacteria) are dispatched to the individual to provide this message. If the behavior is altered there is no problem, if it is not disease ensues. This is essentially what happens when deer overgraze a range, and the population numbers become too high for balance in the greater system. On another level, predators also perform the function of integrating harmony into the greater system. The increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria can be seen as a feedback effect purely about balance. (see Life as a system)

In the operation of the immune system as a functional interface, an analogy can be made about the dynamic interplay. One can see the immune system as a series of policemen, who man gates to an enclosure which has a party going on inside. These policemen function to keep out gatecrashers. As long as the policemen are awake there is no net inflow of gatecrashers, but if some of them fall asleep there is a net increase of gatecrashers. This is the analogy of the infection. If the awake policemen are given coffee to make them more efficient, there is a decrease in the number of gatecrashers. This is the equivalent of giving antibiotics in an infection or chemotherapy in a cancer.

One of the more interesting bits of research concerns the effect of assigning a topic of argument to a couple, and documenting the effect of this by measuring the immune function before and after the argument. It turns out it diminishes the immune function some 60%. It also turns out that writing about stresses can alter the immune function, as documented in other research by the same principal investigators.

Therefore, just how one decides to look at the world and one’s relationships to those around can affect the immune system. We should not be surprised, as the immune system is the interface that we discussed earlier, and the behavior of the immune system can be seen as a snapshot of the relationship with the greater system.

In this way we can see the possibility that cancer cells are always around, but that our relationship with those around us affect the immune system and allow it to become overwhelmed by cancer and so that a large part of changing the immune system function has to do with changing the outlook and modifying relationships.