If you’re struggling with chronic immune system issues such as persistent allergies, frequent infections, or skin conditions, your immune response might be dominated by a dominant “Th2 response.” In this post, I’ll explain what “Th2 dominance” is, how it affects your health, and how to address it through functional medicine.
T cell differentiation refers to how your naïve T cells mature into specialized effector T cells that carry out different immune functions. In the chart below, you can see how the blue naïve T cell in the middle, called a CD4 T cell, can branch out in different directions. Think of the naïve T cell as a blank slate baby saw that can grow up into different types of specialized T helper cells. Here on this chart, we show the four main types of “grown-up” T helper cells and how they function immunologically.
Ideally, your naïve CD4 T cells can mature into any of these specialized T helper cells (Th1, Th2, Treg, or Th17) as needed. They all perform important functions. Problems arise when your immune system gets stuck in one mode, such as Th2, common in people with allergies and chronic infections.
Many patients come to me with conditions that are driven by an overactive Th2 immune response, making it difficult to fully resolve their symptoms without addressing this underlying issue. Understanding and treating Th2 dominance is crucial for lasting improvement in chronic allergies, infections, and inflammation, particularly in exposed areas like the skin, nose, lungs, bladder, vagina, and GI tract.
Th2 cells produce inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL4), in response to infections or inflammation in body areas exposed to the external environment. The problem arises when these infections or inflammations persist, leading to excessive IL4 production. This signals naive T cells to create more Th2 cells, resulting in Th2 dominance—a vicious cycle of ongoing inflammation. As a result, your body remains inflamed in these areas, increasing susceptibility to infections and chronic conditions. This is why I call Th2 cells “overprotectors.”
The bottom line: To heal from these conditions, it’s essential to address Th2 dominance and get IL4 production under control. I discuss how to do this in my article How to Prevent Allergies Naturally and Feel Like Yourself Again.
If you experience chronic infections or inflammation in your lungs, sinuses, gut, bladder, or vagina, you may be stuck in Th2 dominance. This “overprotector” immune response just can’t quit and causes symptoms like:
Various triggers can push your immune system toward a Th2 response, including:
When your immune system is stuck in Th2 dominance, it inhibits the production of Th1 cells, which is not a good thing. You must mount a robust Th1 (“warrior”) response to defend against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. If Th1 is inhibited, it can result in:
Th1 cells also help suppress autoimmunity. When T1 is inhibited, your ability to combat autoimmune flares is significantly weakened. With Th2 dominance in play, unless this is addressed, it’s difficult to control autoimmune reactions. I explain this in more depth in my article T-Cell Regulation for Autoimmunity: A Functional Medicine Approach.
In our functional medicine practice, we take this approach to helping people move out of Th2 dominance:
By addressing these factors, you can regain your health and reduce chronic inflammation from Th2 dominance.
We dive into some of the supplements for allergies in our article How to Prevent Allergies Naturally and Feel Like Yourself Again. However, if your Th2 dominance shows up in another area, such as the lungs, skin, gut, bladder, or vagina, you may need a different supplement approach.
If you suspect you’re stuck in Th2 dominance or have chronic immune issues, I can help you understand and address these concerns. As an immune specialist, I’ve aided hundreds of women with strategies for restoring balance in their immune systems. Please contact me directly for assistance.
Any questions about this topic? Please ask in the comments below.
Dr. Laura Paris is a women’s health specialist who provides Acupuncture and Functional Medicine care at her two clinics in Capitola and Monterey, California. She also works with women remotely in the United States through telehealth appointments. Learn more about Laura here, and message her directly here.
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Interesting!
Maybe that’s why my oral trush doesn’t cure completly, just like my FMD told me!