Incurable Autoimmune Disorders can be Treated Successfully with Functional Medicine
Autoimmune disorders are defined as conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. There are more than 80 types of auto-immune disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. The American Autoimmune Related Disease Association estimates that 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disorder, with increasing prevalence. Allopathic physicians treat many of these illnesses with powerful immune-suppressing drugs and consider them to be incurable, chronic and often progressive diseases. The goal of their treatment is to suppress symptoms of the diseases, since the underlying causes are considered to be unknown.
To the contrary, innovative holistic health practitioners approach autoimmune disorders as treatable, in which hidden underlying causes are addressed. They also use approaches that improve the immune system, allowing for remarkable recoveries. Treatments include use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), reduction of metal toxicity, correcting nutritional deficiencies and addressing underlying infections. Infections can include parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi. These approaches share the underlying premise that the immune system has been overloaded with toxins and nutritional deficiencies, causing an overwhelmed immune system or immune system dysfunction.
Low-dose naltrexone is effective in treating auto-immune disorders
In 1985, Dr. Bernard Bihardi began treating patients who had HIV, cancer and autoimmune disorders with LDN, which is an inexpensive medication that has already been approved for use in higher doses to treat drug addiction. Bihardi has reported tremendous success in hundreds of patients, including over 400 MS patients.
LDN halts autoimmune disorders and other diseases by increasing levels of endorphins produced at night. Endorphins in turn have been shown to stimulate and improve the immune system.
A study reported in 2007 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology and completed at the prestigious Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine reported LDN therapy to be safe and effective for patients with Crohn’s disease. The Journal of AIDS and HIV Research reported an October 2011 study demonstrating the successful use of LDN in treating HIV/AIDS patients. Other research on LDN effectiveness can be seen here: http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org.
Treating multiple sclerosis with detoxification and diet
Multiple sclerosis is a serious autoimmune disease that is often progressive and extremely disabling. Ann Boroch, in Healing Multiple Sclerosis, discusses her successful treatment of herself and hundreds of patients by focusing on dietary changes and treating the hidden infectious cause of the disease, Candida albicans overgrowth. She reports that her dietary program for eliminating the fungus Candida will also destroy parasites, viruses and bacteria which can promote the disease. Eliminating heavy metals and reducing stress are other essential components of her recovery program.
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet and GAPS program for inflammatory bowel disease
Elaine Gottschall’s Breaking the Vicious Cycle details a dietary program which eliminates 
grains and certain dairy products in an effort to reverse inflammatory bowel disease. This protocol has been effective for thousands of individuals. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome, outlines a strong nutrient-dense dietary program based on the Specific Carbohydrate diet but also includes heavy metal detoxification protocols using juicing.
Conclusions
Conventional medicine treats autoimmune disorders as incurable diseases requiring a lifetime of strong immune-suppressing prescription medications. Alternative practitioners view autoimmune disorders as an overwhelmed immune system caused by toxicity and nutritional deficiencies. The holistic approaches to many of these “immune system dysfunctions” include increasing the functioning of the immune system, eliminating infectious agents, decreasing metal toxicity and following a specific nutrient-dense diet which includes targeted nutritional supplements.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org
http://science.naturalnews.com
Boroch, Ann. (2007). Healing Multiple Sclerosis. Los Angeles, CA: Quintessential Healing, Inc. Publishing.
Campbell-Mcbride, Natasha. (2009). Gut and Psychology Syndrome. Amershan, Buckinghamshire: Halstan Printing Group.
Gottschall, Elaine. (2007). Breaking the Vicious Cycle; Intestinal Health Through Diet. Baltimore, Ontario: Kirkton Press.
by Michelle Goldstein,Holistic Health to Go
December 19, 2013, Incurable autoimmune disorders can be treated successfully with functional medicine first published in Natural News.
I was diagnosed in 1989 with crohns disease resulting in 3 bowel resections and losing 12in of my small intestines. 2005 I was diagnosed with Ranaulds syndrome another autoimmune disorder. This past spring I again was diagnosed with RA. What is going on with my body I am a vitamin freak I take everything for my immune system. No processed foods, no starches, limited meats. And I’m 55 years old. What can I do to help lower all these disorders.
Shirley,
I am sorry to hear about your suffering. I would recommend locating a trained functional medicine physician or other alternative trained doctor close to you. A doctor need to do individualized testing to determine what underlying causes may be contributing to your health problems. Without adequate testing it is only guess work as to what is contributing to your health issues. https://www.functionalmedicine.org/ or http://www.acamnet.org are sites that may help you find a physician to help.
Best wishes,
Michelle
My son in law has been diagnosed with a rare condition called systemic amyloidosis which is affecting his heart. Has anyone any information on the healing of this often fatal condition?
Sylvia, I am not familiar with this. I would look at alternative and functional medicine physicians in your area.
Best regards,
Michelle
It seems like boosting the endorphins in your body has some great benefits for your immune system. I can see how medication like this would be a great help for someone with an autoimmune disease. I’ve had a lot of stomachaches over the past few years, and I’m starting to wonder if I have and autoimmune disease. I should talk to a doctor about my symptoms and ask about treatment.
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