Tag: autoimmune disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis: What It is and What to do About It

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

If you have recently been experiencing gradual pain in your hands and feet, morning stiffness, dry eyes and tingling, numbing sensations (carpel tunnel syndrome) in certain fingers and hands, then you are not simply getting old. You may be experiencing a condition known as Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is manifested as inflammation of the synovium (synovial membrane containing synovial fluid) in the joints, that acts as a source of lubrication to the joints. White blood cells activated by the adrenals are sent into the synovium for some strange reason. This process causes inflammation and swelling to said spots. Science defines rheumatoid arthritis as an autoimmune disease in which the body is attacking mainly joint areas of the body. But what really is rheumatoid arthritis, and what is causing it?

In truth, rheumatoid arthritis is your adrenal glands attempting to get rid of toxins and primarily unbound iron that is stuck in and hijacking the cells surrounding your joints and other areas! It — RA — is a symmetrical condition that causes internal heat, and pain all over. It can also be accompanied by fever, especially at night. Sitting, relaxing or remaining inactive does not make the condition better; in fact, it makes it worse. People suffering from RA are encouraged to keep mobile, and take hot baths to help alleviate symptoms. RA also displays conditions that may appear to be anemia. But in reality, though it may constitute being a blood problem, it has nothing to do with anemia.

There is a protein connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. Contrary to popular belief, the stomach acid in the human body is rather weak, only capable of digesting max 40 to 45 grams of animal protein per day. It really doesn’t matter if it’s grass-fed or not. So, if you consume a typical serving of steak, only about 15 percent of that will be digested, while the rest is expelled, or stored in the blood vessel walls and connective tissue as collagen fiber. If these storage places are saturated, then the body has no choice but to turn the excess undigested protein into various acids, namely, nitric, sulfuric and phosphoric, similar to auto battery acid. These acids often require minerals to buffer them in preventing the body from becoming too acidic. This mineral requirement depletes the rest of the body of minerals needed elsewhere.

Another acid, usually associated with inflammation of the big toe, a.k.a. gout — may be a hidden conspirator in the onset of RA. That acid is uric acid, made from purines, which in itself is created from the proteins, alcohol and yeast in our bodies. When there is excess uric acid higher than can be excreted by the kidneys through urine, all manner of evil wreak havoc on our biological system. One of those evils may very well be RA. An excellent herb to reduce uric acid comes from ayurveda, called Guduchi. Combining Guduchi with a little ginger will enhance its effectiveness in reducing uric acid.

There is an iron connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. Our body runs on about 25 milligrams of iron every day — ONLY about 1 mg should come from the diet, while the other 24 mg should be recycled by the body, from within the body. There are many breakfast cereals offering 8 to 18 mg of iron filings in just ONE cup serving! We are suffering from iron overload and toxicity from the wrong form of iron, not anemia.

An easy way to manage excess iron in the body from becoming oxidative stress — a fancy term for rust — is to consume natural products that contain bio-available copper. Copper regulates iron in the body. Natural vitamin C found in Amla or acerola is the way to go! Organic bee pollen is another good choice. Pollination does not occur without copper, meaning, bee pollen contains natural copper. Also, grass-finished liver contains both copper and retinol. (Copper needs retinol to be itself metabolized properly). One ounce every other day would be ideal.

An extreme option to getting excess unbound iron out of your body would be to donate one liter of blood every six months to a year, which is equivalent to ridding your body of 250 mg of iron, each session. Still another option would be to use IP-6, on an empty stomach, away from food and supplements. IP-6 a.k.a. phytic acid, will help chelate unbound iron out of your body. This product also chelates other important minerals, such as calcium and zinc. So you would want to replace these minerals with food-rich sources.

There is a toxins and heavy metals connection to Rheumatoid arthritis. For example, glyphosate, which is a herbicide and drying agent sprayed on crops to keep weed away is a potent example. Glyphosate disrupts mineral metabolism in the body, causing a depletion of mineral homeostasis. The usual process to make decaffeinated coffee also causes various toxins to accumulate in the final product, thus many people are developing rheumatoid arthritis from consuming decaffeinated coffee. All of this can be mitigate or even avoided by consuming only organic foods (or certified organic even better) and by avoiding known products — like cigarettes and pharmaceuticals — that are made with or exposed to toxins.

And there are also herbs to cleanse toxins from the body — a most notable one being Punarnava. Literally meaning “the one that renews”, Punarnava helps renew the body and blood from old toxins. Another herb, called Andrographis, can add a cleansing effect to the liver, purging it and reinvigorating it from old toxins.

 

Reversing RA will surely involve managing your blood’s production of acids, namely, nitric-, sulfuric- and phosphoric- acids that developed from a high animal protein/dairy diet. Uric acid is also highly suspected in RA onset, and Guduchi with ginger should be implement to reduce said acid. Removing unbound iron out of the cells through fasting and with herbs such as Turmeric with coconut oil, which actually helps get rid of iron. You also need bio-available copper to manage iron! You also need to watch out for any food or product that may expose you to toxins and heavy metals.  And you need to maintain a healthy colon through daily bowel movements — thus limiting the possibility of any toxic build-up of iron, or any other toxins and heavy metals.

So in summary, to reduce the effects of or prevent rheumatoid arthritis:

– Minimize animal protein intake

– Take Guduchi with ginger to reduce uric acid

– Practice occasional intermittent fasting

– Minimize synthetic iron intake

– Increase bio-available copper with amla, acerola, or organic bee pollen

– Eat one ounce of grass-finished liver EVERY OTHER day

– Donate 1 liter of blood or use IP-6 to chelate unbound iron out of your body

– Take Punarnava to renew the body

– Take Andrographis to renew the liver

– Take small amounts of Turmeric with coconut oil to excrete unbound iron

– Eat organic foods only and avoid any product that may have a hint of toxins or heavy metals

– Move your bowels daily

Note that the six prime herbs listed to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis are: Guduchi, Ginger, Amla, Turmeric, Punarnava and Andrographis.

 

Healing Lyme Disease

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Lyme disease is a condition with various flu-like symptoms, along with various other aches and pain, that comes about ultimately from a weakened immune system. It is often attributed to a bacterium from tick bite.

Lyme disease is more of a symptom to a disease rather than the disease itself. The actual disease is a weakened immune system and methylation defect. Supposedly, you could be bitten by a tick, and then have the bacteria lay dormant for years, even decades, without you even knowing you were ever bitten or infected. A detox cleanse or a weakening of the immune system can then suddenly bring the infection to life.

Beside through skin, nose or mouth, the pathway to pathogenic infections for many people also comes through another source: the ears! Our ears have minimum defense against many and any pathogens. Many people think that to destroy these pathogens they must alkalize their body. Actually, many pathogens thrive in alkalinity and push away acidity. Thus, to “acidify” your ears, consider using 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide ten minutes before taking a shower. You can use a dropper to administer the peroxide. 3% only. You can do this once every six months.
Second way to acidify the body from pathogens is to acidify the stomach, by using a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water before meals. Do this for about 3 weeks. (Continuous use of apple cider vinegar is not recommended. Such can damage the fragile tissues of the esophagus and the duodenum. It can also damage teeth enamel.)

Next, you need to remineralize your body. Simply put, methylation is a process that keeps us alive and well, and that happens intricately in our cells, chemically adapting the structure of our DNA with the use of nutrients, enzymes and co-enzymes. Among the main players in the process are the genes S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM-e), S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH), and Adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY). During the methylation process, SAMe sends SAH to the AHCY enzyme. If AHCY is defected (these defects are labeled heterozygous or homozygous), it will not let SAH through, thus causing a toxic buildup of SAH. Toxic levels of SAH can actually shut down the entire methylation process! AHCY also becomes defected when it is lacking its co-factors: magnesium and manganese. The Lyme bacteria — Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii — feed on and deplete these minerals from your body. Also another enzyme, SOD2 (superoxide dismutase 2, a.k.a. manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase) which is responsible for protecting the mitochondria, needs manganese to work efficiently. One study found that this bacterium substitutes manganese for iron in its diet, and that this pathogen is the first known organism to live without iron. You however only need about 2 mg of manganese per day to be up to par. (Too much manganese, on the other hand, can be dangerous.)

Other cofactors are depleted from someone with Lyme disease. These include zinc, copper, taurine, vitamin D3 and vitamin C. Instead of purchasing these separately, you can obtain a natural supplement that contains all of these minerals, vitamins, amino acids, etc. One such supplement is called Naturelo One Daily multivitamin. When choosing a vitamin supplement, it is important to insure that it is from natural sources, and not synthetic. It should contain beta carotene rather than retinol, P5P rather than B6, folate rather than folic acid, organic kelp rather than iodine, and cherries or berries rather than ascorbic acid for vitamin C. Naturelo contains all these natural sources.

If your vitamin D3 level is inadequate, consider natural vitamin D3 found in sunlight or natural food sources. The sun is a natural healer, capable of rearranging minerals in the body, taking them to places they need to be and away from other places they are less needed. This thus balances hormones. Consider at least 20 minutes of sunlight 3 or 4 times per week, exposing the fattier parts of your body. The best time to effectively absorb the UV-B rays from sunlight are between the hours of 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. If sunlight is not practical, consider food sources found in various mushrooms and lichens.

To further boost your immune system, consider taking pau d’arco tea for about one to two month, along with wild oregano oil, olive leaf extract and andrographis. These act as powerful natural antibiotics, capable of destroying a plethora and wide range of pathogens. I’ve heard some people say this method alone resolved their Lyme disease issues. Be warned of a flu-like symptom known as the Herxheimer-reaction. This comes about due to the sudden mass die-off of these pathogens, and the destruction of the tissue-cells they infected.

Collagen is also depleted with Lyme disease. Natural vitamin C will rebuild this. Among the best source is amla (berry). A second source is acerola (berry).

If you are having heart palpitations or high blood pressure, then the problem originated from a defected liver, not the heart! Consider going to Chinatown and purchasing one of their most famous herb products: Dan Shen. Use it for two months and see what happens to the palpitations! Also consider pure pomegranate juice and Ubiquinol in conjunction.

In summary to effectively heal Lyme disease, try:

– 3% hydrogen peroxide in the ears once every six months.

– A natural multivitamin such as Naturelo One Daily, which contains magnesium and manganese

– Natural sunshine for its vitamin D and other healing powers

– Natural antibiotics such as Pau D’arco tea, oil of oregano, olive leaf extract and andrograp‌his

– Natural vitamin C found in amla or acerola.

Overcoming Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Hypothyroidism is an under-active thyroid condition, resulting in the thyroid gland not producing or converting enough thyroid hormones. This results in familiar and characteristic symptoms, often striking older women. The condition is said to be autoimmune if it is not resolved by iodine or selenium or any other mineral sufficiency, or if these mineral-increase causes swelling and further irritation on the thyroid. The supposed autoimmune condition of hypothyroidism is known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Most hypothyroidism is elevated to the level of Hashimoto’s (9:1). Here we will discuss what is  believed to be the true cause of this and that condition, and the protocol needed to correct it, including supporting the liver, kidneys, lymphatic  system and adrenal glands,  while also supplementing on critical nutrients that had consequently been depleted.

We have hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto’s also because we are internally inflamed and clogged with undigested protein in the vessel walls of our capillaries. Our lymphatic system becomes clogged by this build up of excess proteins — polluting the blood and affecting the sensitive thyroid. An ayurvedic herb however called manjistha will help unclog it — thus assisting and allowing proper thyroid function again. This is truly great news!

When antibodies attack the thyroid, then hypothyroidism is now officially called an autoimmune disease — Hashimoto’s.  Hashimoto’s indeed should not be labeled as an auto-immune disorder, as is widely accepted — but more accurately as an adrenal dysfunction. The thyroid makes only two TRUE hormones, while the adrenals make at least 50. The adrenal glands are in control of the immune system. If there is something wrong with your immune system, then there is something wrong with your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands consist not only of the two things on top of your kidneys — it consists of your entire skin structure. Your skin cells ARE your adrenals!

If you have developed hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s, you surely are low on vitamin A, a.k.a. retinol. This is a vitamin that is adequately stored in a proper functioning liver,  and acts as a hormone. Thus a vitamin A deficiency may indicate liver dysfunction. This vitamin A is carried by a transport protein called transthyretin (TTR). This protein also carries T4 — the near inactive hormone made by the thyroid — a.k.a. thyroxine. If there is no vitamin A (retinol), then there may be also low or no proper T4 transportation, either from TTR damage or nutrient deficiency. Then there may be no bio-available conversion of T4 to the very active T3! To improve bio-available retinol in the blood, we need it from our diet. Grass-fed butter and grass-fed/grass-finished liver will actualize this process. So will a fruit like persimmon. Carrot(s) because of its beta carotene content, which converts to a smaller percentage of retinol in the body, is another option. So will sweet potato, and malabar, a.k.a. saan choy (an oriental leafy green). Our adrenals also love retinol.

And what else does our adrenals like? Natural vitamin C — lots of it. Natural vitamin C also has a transport protein, called tyrosinase, which carries numerous molecules of bio-available copper. If you want to feed your adrenals, then give them amla or acerola berry: all sources of natural vitamin C.

Another best thing that our adrenals like is the natural B vitamins. Bee pollen contains all the natural B vitamins your adrenals need, especial vitamin B5, which your adrenals really love. (Taste-test to make sure you’re not allergic to it though.) Bee pollen also contains bio-available copper.

Contrary to popular belief, we do not need as much vitamin D as you may think. 60-80 ng/ml of vitamin D is actually too much. Too much vitamin D creates massive amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Though hydrogen peroxide is a free radical that is needed to a certain degree, too much of it will damage your cells. A vitamin D level of 32 to 45 nanograms per milliliter is actually ideal

In dealing with inflammation, the internal body loses one mineral faster than any other — even by something as simple as stress — yet that mineral is arguably the most important: that mineral is called magnesium. When magnesium leaves, it takes other minerals like potassium and copper with it. Magnesium is like the glue that keeps all the other minerals in place and together. A loss of magnesium will eventually create an inferno of inflammation throughout the body. Not only do you need to replace magnesium daily — it must also be absorbable. If magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate comes to mind when you think about replacing magnesium, you are sadly mistaken. The absorption rate of these forms of magnesium is pathetically low: 4% or less. Consider instead magnesium glycinate/malate/taurate/citrate.

Vitamin B6, in the form of P5P, further increases magnesium absorption throughout the body on a cellular level. So does healthier salts, namely, Kosher salt (Diamond crystal) or Pickling salt.

If there is inflammation anywhere in the body, there is almost always an ample supply of iron — but not just any iron: destructive, unbound iron, rusting the targeted tissue area. If iron is not attached to hemoglobin or whatever else it should be attached to, it roams freely, causing chaos and inflammation. The thyroid appears to be one of unbound iron’s favorite target. To reduce hypothyroidism\Hashimoto’s, a protocol to reduce this form of iron must be implemented. Consuming the vitamins and other supplements previously mentioned, in their natural form, would be a way to turn unbound iron back into useful iron, your body can absorb properly. Another way is to take IP-6 on an empty stomach, away from food and other supplements. IP-6 is known to chelate iron, along with zinc and calcium out of the body. So naturally, you would want to consume foods with more zinc and calcium during this process.

If you have the condition listed in this article, you may consider stop taking medications, and consider the natural route. Medication has a tendency to make things feel better temporarily, while making thing worse permanently. As a start, consider:

  • A quality brand iodine supplement, like Icelandic Sea Kelp, or a natural selenium supplement like Food Research Selenium E, and note if the condition was caused by any of these popular mineral deficiencies. Otherwise, add:

Healing herbs:

  • Kutki, guduchi and/or burdock root for the liver
  • Astragalus and dandelion root for the kidneys
  • Manjistha for the lymphatic system

Nutritional Support:

  • Grassfed butter/liver: (liver should be no more than one ounce per day, or 7 ounces per week.)
  • Persimmons, carrots (not too much though), sweet potato (not too much though), malabar a.k.a. saan choy (not too much though): all of these contain high beta carotene which can convert to retinol.
  • Natural vitamin C (amla, acerola berry)
  • Bee pollen
  • Magnesium (glycinate, malate, citrate, taurate)
  • P5P

Reducing Excess, Unbound Iron:

  • IP-6 on an empty stomach

(Note: IP-6 depletes certain other minerals, like zinc. So be sure to increase sources of this and other minerals and vitamins.)