3 ms·
Clean vs. dirty isn't even the right way to think about it. We used to be immersed in an environment full of life, and now we live in mostly sterile environmen
by colechristensen 2y ago
Clean vs. dirty isn't even the right way to think about it. We used to be immersed in an environment full of life, and now we live in mostly sterile environments free of life except for maybe some of the first wave colonizer specialist microorganisms. You are filled and covered with life that isn't from your own genes, and that microbiome is now mostly disconnected from the biosphere.
I get some weird skin issues sometimes which are almost magically fixed if I visit a natural body of water... it's clearly an issue of my immune system interacting unfavorably with a microbiome which is out of whack.
- supertofu 2y agoHow fascinating. This reminds me that my autoimmune condition went into a brief and mysterious remission two summers ago, when I spent most weekends swimming in creeks. I will have to see if increased creek swimming this summer will help my autoimmune symptoms...
- jdougan 2y agoI hope it works. I can think of far more unpleasant treatments. Let us know the results!
- nytesky 2y agoYeah getting hooked up with some bugs from the creek keeps your immune system occupied. Hookworms are another option; maybe two generations ago kids regularly walked barefoot in grass and was pretty common. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy
- kristianp 2y agoJust curious, is it the ocean, or a fresh water body that helps?
- colechristensen 2y agoA small Minnesota lake, just walking on the beach and taking a little dip.