so I think you’re confusing the term “boosting” with supporting a dysregulated immune system.
Think of the immune system along a gradient line. In the middle is a healthy and tolerant immune system. It’s healthy and responsive when it needs to be responsive.
However, the immune system can become dysregulated for various reasons, and shift towards either extreme; it can become weakened and under-reactive, or it can become overwrought/hypervigilant and over-reactive.
If it’s underactive, this will cause opportunistic species to overtake leading to dysbiosis and overgrowths, and infections that can become chronic and severe (i.e. IBS, candida, always getting sick, etc)
If it’s over-reactive, this can lead to symptoms like allergies, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
So the goal isn’t to necessarily “boost” the immune system (although boosting immune nutrients vitamins A, D, and zinc are often necessary) when it’s hypervigilant, but instead to support the dysregulation by removing what is causing it to over-react. And yes, you are correct – this is where immunosuppression can be a life saver in times where the immune system is really attacking self. These medications allow rapid relief and give the person the time they need to address the root cause of that hypervigilance.
But both extremes require modulation of the gut microbiome to strengthen the immune system. Hope that makes sense?
I encourage you to watch this video in the Gut Health Masterclass about the role of the gut microbiome and immune health.