End Fatigue

Autoimmune Diseases

BACKGROUND

Our body’s immune/defense system is trained to tell what is not a part of our body and to attack it. Unfortunately, with over 80,000 chemicals now being added to the environment without any significant safety testing, our body’s defense systems are being overwhelmed and confused. When this happens, it can mistake a part of our body for an outside invader and attack it. This is what autoimmune illness is.

TREATMENT

Although there are many autoimmune illnesses, with Lupus (SLE) being a common “prototype,” and there are many natural treatments for the different processes, a discussion of all of these is beyond the scope of this application (it is a book in itself). The following are a few key points, however, that may be dramatically helpful.

Recommended Supplements

There is usually a significant inflammatory component to these illnesses. Inflammation and the symptoms can be decreased by:

Fish oil

Fish oil 1 tbsp/day until better (or 2 months) then a teaspoon a day. Alternatively, eat salmon or tuna at least 4x a week.

Boswellia and willow bark

Herbals can significantly inhibit inflammation. Boswellia and willow bark are particularly effective. Supplement daily for 6 weeks to see the effect, and then the dose can be lowered.

Cortef

Your doctor may give you steroids (prednisone) to suppress inflammation. Because doses over 5 mg a day are toxic, your doctor will try to wean you off the prednisone. As the prednisone suppressed your own adrenal cortisol production, your illness may flare when they try to wean you off the prednisone. Instead of lowering you below 5 mg of prednisone, ask them to switch you from the 5 mg prednisone to 15-20 mg each morning of Cortef (prescription, natural cortisone; 20 mg is like 4-5 mg of prednisone, but safer). Research has shown this dose to be safe for long term use and my research showed it does not suppress the adrenal glands.

DHEA

Several studies have shown that Lupus patients do better on DHEA 200 mg a day. This high dose can cause acne or darkening of facial hair, so it should be used under the guidance of a holistic physician. It may also lower the toxicity of the prednisone and allow a lower dose to be used. Use GNC, Enzymatic Therapy or compounded DHEA as there is a major quality control problem with some other brands.

Other Therapies & Advice

Secondary fibromyalgia

Very Important! Many autoimmune problems trigger a secondary fibromyalgia — which may cause many of the symptoms that could be mistakenly blamed on your autoimmune illness. Your physician might then load you with high dose prednisone — which does NOT help fibromyalgia (though very low dose cortisol does). If you have insomnia along with widespread pain, you likely also have fibromyalgia — which is very treatable (see my book From Fatigued to Fantastic!).

The Autoimmune Epidemic

An excelIent resource on understanding autoimmuniy is the book “The Autoimmune Epidemic” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa.

Related Information

Interview with Donna Nakazawa, author of The Autoimmune Epidemic

The Online Program (a free tool to help guide you on treating your fibromyalgia)

The Autoimmune Epidemic (book)