The Earth immune system is a controversial proposal, claimed to be a consequence of the Gaia hypothesis. The Gaia hypothesis holds that the entire earth may be considered a single organism (Gaia). As a self-maintaining organism, Earth would possess an immune system of some sort in order to maintain its health.
Some proponents of this speculative concept, for example, hold that humankind can be considered an "infection" of Gaia, and that AIDS is a attempt by this immune system to reject the infection. "Cancer" might be a more accurate term, as humans evolved within Gaia, and are not external invaders. Regardless of the existence of a putative global immune system, these interpretations are controversial.
The immunesystem is one of the most complex systems in the human body, and the study of the immunesystem (immunology) is one of the most dynamic fields of study involving the human body.
The immunesystem is composed of the lymphatic vessels and organs (thymus gland, spleen, adrenals, lymph nodes, tonsils and adenoids), white blood cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, etc.), specialized cells residing in various tissues (macrophages, mast cells, etc.) and specialized serum factors (including interferon, interleukin II and complement).
The immunesystem includes every defense mechanism in the body, but it is more accurate to limit this system to two general types of biochemical reactions that result in an immune response to "attacks" from foreign or invading substances (or what are commonly referred to as "infections").
But whatever earth's consciousness may be, we physically form part of its body, just as cells and atoms make up the human body while remaining individual organisms with their own evolutionary history, life cycle and, indeed, consciousness.
The earth then is far more than its physical crust, interior, atmosphere, and magnetosphere; it is a being with vitality and consciousness, existing in an environment filled with matter and energies, astral and vital outflowings, and the consciousness of planets, suns, and galaxies.
The emphasis is shifting from the physical forms of earth's various components to their more refined elements as the earth moves into the second half of its life span.
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