Autoimmune Disease Support

As many as 1 in 5 Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease. Many of them are undiagnosed. Auto immune diseases occur when the body’s immune response becomes hypersensitive and begins attacking cells, tissues and organs in the body. There are usually underlying predispositions to these conditions, however, many will not present until triggered by something in the environment. This can be an infection, a food sensitivity, a hormone problem, blood sugar dysregulation, toxins and/or inflammation. The name of the condition and its clinical manifestations are dependent upon which tissue or organ (thyroid, pancreas, brain etc) is being attacked. Some of these diseases include

· Addison’s disease
· Celiacs disease
· Chron’s Disease
· Graves disease
· Hashimoto’s thryoiditis
· Juvenile Diabetes
· Lupus
· Multiple sclerosis
· Psoriatic arthritis
· Rheumatoid Arthritis
· Scleroderma
· Sjogren’s

Although not technically autoimmune, many individuals who suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue have associated autoimmune diseases

For a comprehensive list visit http://www.aarda.org/research_display.php?ID=47

Traditional treatment of autoimmune disease is mainly through immune-suppression with medications that down regulate the immune response, corticosteroids that also reduce inflammation, or plasmapheresis. Some of these treatments may make the individual more susceptible to certain infections and cancers.

An alternative management strategy is to first remove the trigger(s) –stabilize blood sugar and hormones, decrease inflammation, and remove irritants (bacteria, yeast, parasites, virus, foods, heavy metals etc). Then, the immune system is supported through diet and supplementation. Nutritional supplementation can be general or very specific.

Further testing is needed to be specific. There are two parts to the immune system, TH1 and TH2. Certain botanicals, vitamins and other nutrients can support or stimulate one part or the other.

TH1
TH1 is your T-cells. T-cells are the army that attacks and cleans up afterword. (Helper T-cells, Suppressor T-cells, Natural Killer Cells, regulatory T-cells, and macrophages. TH1 response is stimulated by

· Echinacea
· Garlic
· Vitamin C
· Immune stimulants
· Licorice root
· Astralagus
· Betab-glucan mushroom
· Maitake Mushroom
· Lemon Balm

TH2
TH2 is your B-cells. B-cells make anti-bodies. They tell T-cells what to kill. Your TH2 response is stimulated by

· Caffeine
· Green tea
· Grape seed extract
· Herbal barks (cramp bark, pine bark, white willow bark)
· Lycopene
· Resveratrol
· Pycnogenol

In autoimmune patients, one side can become hyperactive and dominate over the other. By further testing and analysis of the immune system to determine the mechanics of the persons immune dysfunction, more specific support appropriate to their immune pattern can be provided. It also becomes important to not take anything that is going to be stimulating the already dominant side. Balancing this system goes a along way in reducing a patients symptoms.