Chicago – Research in the Amish and Hutterites sheds new light on asthma. Those farming-based religious groups shun modern ways and are similar genetically. But asthma is uncommon in Amish communities but higher in the other group.
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In the new study, blood samples showed Amish kids had more types of white blood cells that help fight infections. Dust samples taken from homes in both groups also offered clues. Lab mice sensitized to develop asthma showed symptoms when exposed to Hutterite dust but not Amish dust.
The researchers think germs from nearby cows may wind up in the dust and somehow protect kids. Hutterites have mechanized farms and their kids have less contact with farm animals.
The study was published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
Many mazikim lurk constantly but HaKadosh Boruch Hu is makdeh the refuah before the makah and so there are also many unnoticed or as-yet-unknown refuahs circulating in the environment. One such source of refuahs operating in the background may be, as in this article, the immunity of those farm animals being passed over to their care-givers. An similar interesting theory is that the phyto-chemicals emitted by plants to warn one-another of insect attacks, etc, to initiate protective actions such as producing bitter taste in the leaves, are also purposed to stimulate the immune systems of humans walking outdoors and inhaling the phto-chemicals. מַה-גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יְהוָה; מְאֹד, עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ.