Autoimmune Diseases: Causes and Treatment Review: B.Windham
(Ed.)
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by
the body’s immune responses being directed against its own tissues, causing
prolonged inflammation and subsequent tissue destruction. Any disease in which cytotoxic
cells are directed against self-antigens in the body’s tissues is considered to
be autoimmune. Such diseases include multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus (SLE),
celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, Myasthenia gravis, diabetes, asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, scleroderma, other endocrinopathies,
etc. (1) A common factor in autoimmunity
is exposure to toxic metals or other environmental toxins that overload the
immune system and cause oxidative stress and inflammation (1-5). Root-canaled
teeth and jawbone cavitations resulting from incompletely healed tooth
extraction sites can also be a factor
in such conditions(9).
Dental amalgams have been documented to
be the largest source of mercury
exposure in most who have several amalgam fillings or
metal crowns over amalgam (6). Solid or liquid forms of mercury vaporize
continuously at room temperature resulting in high levels of mercury in oral
air and saliva (5, 6). Oral galvanism
of mixed metals in the mouth in an electrolyte, saliva, also causes electrical
currents (battery effect) in the mouth that conducts mercury and other toxic
metals into the gums, jawbone, and oral mucosa (7). Electromagnetic fields (EMF) from appliances, power lines,
car electrical systems, etc. also create electrical currents in metals in the
mouth which cause higher exposures to mercury and other toxic metals of those
with metals in the mouth (7,8). EMF or
the metals exposure related to EMF are documented to have adverse health
effects (8).
The primary means of preventing or treating
autoimmune conditions include reducing inflammation and oxidative damage of
free-radicals, slowing damage to health tissues, modulating the immune system,
supporting digestion and the GI tract, reducing stress, and improving liver
health (1).
A major
factor in reducing inflammation and oxidative damage is reducing toxic
exposures by means such as identification of exposures and avoidance, replacing dental mercury amalgam fillings and
metal crowns over amalgam, detoxification.
Hundreds of thousands of people
are documented to have recovered or significantly improved from chronic health
conditions after amalgam
replacement and/or detoxification (10).
Toxic exposures and inflammation have
also been documented to result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies and
imbalances, which can be alleviated through diet and supplementation. Studies have found patients with such
conditions commonly are deficient in Vit E, Vit A, beta-carotene, magnesium,
zinc, selenium, Vit C, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), CoQ10, DHEA, etc.
(1-5). Clinical experience has shown
benefits of supplementation to insure adequate levels of these essential
nutrients.
EFAs from
fish oil, flax, perilla oils, borage or evening
primrose oil, and black current seed oil have been found to be effective in
reducing inflammation (1). DHEA levels
in most people over 40 with chronic conditions have been found to usually be
low, and supplementation with DHEA has been found to reduce inflammatory
cytokines and reduce inflammation damage (1).
Selenium, zinc, and magnesium as well as antioxidants such as Vit C, Vit
E, green tea, theoflavins from black tea, grapeseed extract, and CoQ10 have been found by clinical
experience to be effective in reducing oxidative damage of free-radicals (1-5).
Carnosine is an amino acid that has been found to
slow the formation of glycated protein end products,
a major factor in aging and autoimmune condition tissue damage (1). Sterinol, a combination of natural plant sterols and sterolins, and alkyglycerols
(derived from shark liver oil) have been found to modulate the immune system in
ways commonly beneficial in autoimmune conditions (1).
Stress can be a factor in immune function. Getting proper and timely sleep and
biofeedback methods such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, biofeedback,
soothing music, etc. can reduce stress levels and levels of the stress hormone,
cortisol (1). Supplements that aid
in stress and cortisol level reductions include
theanine (green tea extract), DHEA, and garum amoricum extract (Adapton) (1).
The liver plays a critical role in all aspects of
metabolism and health. It is important in the synthesis and secretion of
albumin, in storage of glucose, in detoxification, and in synthesis of vitamins
and minerals. The herb milk thistle stimulates the regenerative ability of the
liver and the formation of new hepatocytes (1).
Intestinal
permeability/leaky gut syndrome
is often found in autoimmune conditions, which allows toxic substances and
allergens into the bloodstream as well as reducing absorption of nutrients
(1,11). Reductions in toxic exposures, probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics(FOS), and
elimination diet for food allergies have been found effective in reducing leaky
gut effects. Maintaining proper
intestinal PH levels also can be important in immune function. A good ratio by volume would be 25%
acidifying foods and 75% alkalizing foods (1).
Acidifying foods include fats and oils, grains, animal protein and milk
products, sugars and sweeteners, beans and legumes, alcohol, etc. Alkalizing foods include most vegetables,
fruits, and berries; free-range eggs, almonds, seeds, organic milk products (unpasteurized), teas, most spices and herbs (1).
References
(1)
Life Enhancement Foundation (MDs), Disease Prevention and Treatment, Expanded 4th
Edition, 2003, www.life-enhancement.com
(2)
Review: The Mercury connection to autoimmune conditions, www.flcv.com/ms.html
(3)
Review: The Mercury connection to inflammatory conditions: www.flcv.com/inflamhg.html
(4)
Review: The Mercury connection to immune conditions, www.flcv.com/immunere.html
(5)
Review: Mechanism by which mercury causes chronic health conditions, www.flcv.com/amalg6.html
(6)
Review: Mercury exposure levels from Dental Amalgam, www.flcv.com/damspr1.html
(7) Review: Oral galvanism related to mixed
metals in the mouth, www.flcv.com/galv.html
(8)
Review: Adverse health effects related to ElectroMagnetic
Fields (EMF), www.flcv.com/emfeff.html
(9)
Review: Adverse health effects of root-canaled teeth
and jawbone cavitations, www.flcv.com/damspr11.html & www.flcv.com/RChealth.html
(10)
Review: Recovery or Significant Improvement from Chronic Health Conditions
after Dental Amalgam Replacement, www.flcv.com/hgrecovp.html & www.flcv.com/hgremove.html
(11)
Review: mercury as a factor in leaky gut syndrome, www.flcv.com/leakyghg.html
Note:
The DAMS reviews cite over 3,000 peer-reviewed studies
