Class 1: The Immune System as We Currently Understand It, with Dr Lafferty

Dr Lafferty will begin with the foundations of immune physiology while examining some of the assumptions behind the traditional model of the immune system.

You'll review the major components involved in immune activity and look closely at the role of inflammation — not simply as something to eliminate, but as an essential biological process that can be protective, adaptive, or destructive depending on the circumstances.

The class then introduces a more dynamic way of thinking about immunity: rather than viewing the immune system as an isolated defensive system, you'll explore how immune activity is intertwined with metabolism, the nervous system, the microbiome, tissue signaling, and the body's overall internal environment.

You'll explore:

• The primary cells, tissues, organs, and signaling molecules involved in immune function
• Innate versus adaptive immune responses
• Why inflammation is necessary for healing and protection
• The "good, bad, and ugly" sides of inflammation
• What happens when inflammatory responses become chronic or dysregulated
• A new dynamic model of immune function and why the traditional concept of a separate "immune system" may be too simplistic

Class 2: The GI-Immune-Autoimmune Connection, with Dr Lafferty

The gastrointestinal tract is one of the body's largest interfaces with the outside world, the "inner skin," and a major center of immune activity.

In this class, you'll examine how digestion, gastrointestinal pH, the microbiome, intestinal integrity, and microbial exposures can influence immune regulation throughout the body.

You'll also review scientific literature exploring the potential connection between infectious organisms and conditions commonly classified as autoimmune diseases.

Rather than assuming the immune system simply "attacks the body by mistake," this class asks a deeper question: What may be driving the immune response in the first place?

You'll explore:

• Why gastrointestinal pH matters for digestion, microbial balance, and immune health
• The relationship between stomach acid, digestive function, and pathogen defense
• How the intestinal microbiome communicates with the immune system
• The roles of prebiotics and probiotics in supporting microbial diversity
• How intestinal dysfunction may contribute to systemic immune dysregulation
• Research examining bacterial, viral, fungal, and other microbial triggers associated with autoimmune conditions
• Why identifying underlying biological triggers may change the way immune dysfunction is approached

Class 3: Removing Interference & Building Immune Resilience, with Dr Lafferty

Once the underlying terrain has been considered, the next question becomes: How do we support the body's ability to respond appropriately?

This class focuses on practical strategies for strengthening immune resilience while reducing factors that may interfere with healthy immune regulation.

You'll explore nutrients, botanicals, natural compounds, and antimicrobial strategies that have been studied for their effects on immune signaling and host defense.

The emphasis is not simply on "boosting" the immune system, but on supporting appropriate, balanced immune activity.

You'll explore:

• Natural compounds traditionally and scientifically used to support immune function
• Research on substances shown to influence specific immune factors
• Key vitamins and minerals required for healthy immune signaling and defense
• The consequences of nutrient insufficiency on immune resilience
• Botanical and nutritional approaches to microbial balance
• Natural antimicrobial agents and the evidence supporting their use
• How to think about supporting the terrain while addressing possible microbial stressors

Class 4: Integrating the Immune Terrain, with Dr Gaeta

In the final class, Michael will build upon the material presented throughout the course and place immune health into a broader wholistic and clinical context.

Drawing from his extensive work in Chinese and functional medicine, nutrition, herbal medicine, and systems-based approaches to health, Dr Gaeta will help you connect the individual pieces — inflammation, gastrointestinal health, microbial balance, nutrient status, environmental influences — and the body's regulatory systems.

This concluding session will help participants move beyond isolated immune protocols and toward a more integrated understanding of the person, the terrain, and the factors that support long-term resilience.

By the End of This Course, You'll Have a Deeper Understanding Of:

• How the body's immune response actually functions
• Why inflammation can be both protective and harmful
• How gastrointestinal health and the microbiome influence immune regulation
• The emerging research connecting pathogens with autoimmune conditions
• The role of vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and natural antimicrobial compounds in immune health
• Why immune dysfunction may require looking beyond the immune system itself
• How to think more dynamically about supporting immune balance, resilience, and recovery

Go Beyond "Boosting the Immune System"

Immune health is far more complex than simply making the immune system stronger.

The goal is appropriate response, healthy regulation, and biological resilience.

This course gives you a framework for understanding the many systems that influence immune function — and practical tools for supporting the body's ability to adapt, defend, repair, and restore balance.