When We Cut Off Natural Exposures, Do We Create More Illness?

For centuries, humans have lived in relationship with the microbial world. Our immune systems weren’t designed to exist in sterile isolation — they were designed to learn, adapt, and strengthen through exposure. Each encounter with a virus, bacterium, or environmental particle was like a “training exercise,” giving the immune system practice so it could respond more efficiently next time.

But what happens when those exposures are deliberately reduced or eliminated? We may stop one illness in the short term, but often we create a new set of problems in the long run.

The Chickenpox Example

Take chickenpox. Before widespread vaccination, nearly every child experienced this illness. For most healthy kids, it was inconvenient and uncomfortable, but not dangerous. And once they recovered, immunity was lifelong.

There was another hidden benefit too: adults who had chickenpox as children continued to get “natural boosters” whenever they were around kids with the virus. Each small exposure reminded their immune system to stay sharp, keeping the latent varicella virus (which hides in nerve tissue) under control.

Now that chickenpox vaccination is standard, cases of childhood chickenpox have plummeted. But the tradeoff is that adults are no longer receiving those immune “reminders.” Without re-exposure, their immunity fades, and the dormant virus is more likely to reactivate as shingles later in life.

We solved one problem — frequent childhood chickenpox — but created another: rising shingles rates in adults.

The Hygiene Hypothesis

This isn’t an isolated phenomenon. Researchers have long talked about the hygiene hypothesis: the idea that as our environments became cleaner and more sanitized, we saw sharp increases in allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.

Why? Because the immune system wasn’t getting the training it needed in early childhood. Instead of learning to tolerate everyday microbes, the immune system began overreacting to harmless triggers like pollen, dust, or even the body’s own tissues.

Our ancestors lived surrounded by soil microbes, animals, and communal living — all of which exposed their bodies to a wide variety of immune challenges. Today, many children grow up indoors, in sanitized environments, eating highly processed food. The lack of natural exposure creates an immune system that is both under-trained and overreactive.

Nature’s Balance vs. Human Intervention

It’s not that medical intervention is inherently bad — vaccines, antibiotics, and sanitation have saved countless lives. The problem arises when we view microbes as enemies to be eradicated rather than teachers to be engaged with.

Every time we cut off a natural exposure, we need to ask: what was that exposure teaching the immune system? And if we remove it, what are the unintended consequences?

• When we eliminated chickenpox, shingles increased.

• When we overused antibiotics, resistant superbugs emerged.

• When we sterilized our environments, autoimmune and allergic conditions skyrocketed.

The truth is, we can’t outsmart the immune system’s design. We can only work with it.

Building Resilient Immunity

So, what’s the alternative? How do we respect nature’s balance while still caring for health and preventing suffering?

1. Embrace natural exposures where safe. Not every fever or rash is an emergency to be suppressed. Sometimes allowing the body to complete its process builds strength for the future.

2. Support the body, don’t override it. Fevers, rashes, and runny noses are part of the body’s natural defense. Homeopathy, herbs, and cell salts can provide comfort and support without shutting down those vital processes.

3. Nourish the terrain. A resilient immune system depends on nutrient-dense food, adequate rest, fresh air, movement, and a healthy gut microbiome.

4. Use interventions wisely. Antibiotics, vaccines, and medications have their place — but using them thoughtfully, not reflexively, helps preserve the balance between prevention and resilience.

The Bigger Picture

Illness isn’t just something to be avoided at all costs. It’s part of being human, part of how our bodies and immune systems grow stronger. When we cut off every opportunity for the immune system to practice, we don’t end up healthier — we end up more vulnerable in other ways.

This doesn’t mean every exposure is safe or desirable. But it does mean we need to shift the narrative: away from fighting nature and toward working with it.

A JoyWell Perspective

At JoyWell, we believe the body was designed with wisdom. Symptoms aren’t mistakes — they’re signals. And microbes aren’t always enemies — often, they’re part of the dance of immunity and resilience.

When we learn to support the body through illness rather than suppress every symptom, we raise healthier children, strengthen our own systems, and even pass on greater vitality to future generations.

This is why we teach parents to feel confident caring for fevers, coughs, rashes, and tummy bugs at home with safe, natural tools. Because every time your child’s immune system successfully navigates an illness, it’s like lifting weights for their future health.

The Larger Truth

The story of chickenpox and shingles is just one example of a larger truth: our immune systems were designed to interact with the microbial world.

When we cut off those exposures, we may stop one illness in the short term — but often we create another. The solution isn’t fear or avoidance, but balance: respecting the immune system’s design and supporting it naturally.

At JoyWell, that’s what we’re all about — helping families reconnect with the wisdom of the body, the wisdom of nature, and the safe, effective tools that support both.

✨ Want to learn more?
This October inside JoyWell, we’re hosting a live session on chickenpox and shingles — diving deeper into natural care, remedies, and how to support your family through these illnesses with confidence. Session will be recorded and available forever inside the membership!

→ Join JoyWell today and get access to this session, plus our entire library of guides and classes on strep, tummy bugs, eczema, and more.