HEALING THE

Some23millionAmericanssufferfrom oneormoreautoimmunediseases—a categorycomprisedofmorethan80 conditions,includingfibromyalgia,Hashimoto’sdisease,psoriasis,rheumatoidarthritis andType1diabetes.Theseperniciousdisordersarenotoriouslydifficulttodiagnose, evenhardertotreatandcanbedebilitating, diminishingthequalityoflifeforsufferers. Anothercommonalityistheincreased prevalenceofautoimmunediseaseinwomen versusmen;inthecaseoflupus,forexample, anine-folddifference.Someearlyindicators arethatthismayberelatedtoa“genedosage effect”,asmenwithXXYchromosomeshave thesameriskofdevelopinglupusasother women,andwomenwithXXXchromosomes(knowninmedicalparlanceas“superwomen”)haveanevenhigherriskofautoimmunedisease,accordingtoJudithJames,

by April Thompson

chairoftheArthritis&ClinicalImmunology ProgramattheOklahomaMedicalResearch Foundation,inOklahomaCity. Yetthereishopeonthehorizon,asscientificdiscoveriesunlockimportantinsights aboutthemanifestationandprogressionof autoimmunediseasesleadingtonewtreatmentsandpreventiontips.Evidenceisalso mountingaroundtheroleofdietandlifestyle inautoimmuneconditions,givingpatients newavenuesfortakingchargeoftheirhealth insteadofsimplywaitingforacure. Autoimmunediseasesarechronic andcanaffectalmostanypartofthebody, includingtheheart,brain,muscles,skin, eyes,joints,lungs,kidneys,glands,digestive tractandbloodvessels.Eachdiseasecarries itsownsetofsymptoms,butinflammation isnearlyalwayspresent,andareallconnectedbyhowtheimmunesystemattacks thebody’shealthytissues.“Thoseshared characteristicsholdthepotentialforshared treatments,andultimatelypotentiallycommoncures,”saysJaneBuckner,presidentof theBenaroyaResearchInstitute(BRI),at VirginiaMason,inSeattle,whichworksto advancetheprediction,prevention,reversal andcureofimmunesystemdiseases. “I’mexcitedaboutourprogresstowardprevention.Weareworkingtounderstandthosetippingpointsintransitioning intodiseasethathelpusunderstandwhois athighestrisk,andhelpsgiveverydirected therapies,”saysJames.

Byherearly20s,MickeyTrescott,of WillametteValley,Oregon,wasbedriddenandhadlostherjobtoautoimmune

disease.Atonepoint,doctorsthoughtit wasmultiplesclerosis(MS);shewasdizzy, numb,fallingoverandslurringherspeech. Eventually,shewasdiagnosedwithboth Hashimoto’sandceliacdiseases,affecting thethyroidandsmallintestine,respectively.Trescott,anutritionist,chefandauthor ofThe Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook,had beenveganfor10years,buthadafeeling thatherbodyneededsomethingdifferent. Shefoundanearlyversionofwhat wouldbecomeknownastheautoimmuneprotocol(AIP),andinfollowingits guidelines,begantofindrelief.Trescott connectedwithotherwomenandstarted aprivateFacebookgrouptoshareinformationonwhatwasimprovingtheir conditionfromwhichtheAIPcommunity sprung.AIP,aneliminationdietthatseeks toresettheimmunesystembycuttingout inflammation-causingfoodsandtreatingleakygut,hasmuchincommonwith thepaleodietandpromotesvitamin-and nutrient-richfoods.However,everyindividualcomesoutoftheAIPprocesswitha customizeddiet. ForTrescott,“Glutenisaforever-no, andIamalsoallergictodairyandsensitivetoalotofnightshadevegetables,like tomatoesandpeppers.”Ittookthreeyears torecovermostofherfunctioning,and althoughshehadbeenapersonalchef,it wasstillchallengingtodetermineanew approachtoeatingthatdidn’tincludethe grainsandlegumesthathadbeenstaplesof herdiet. Trescottisstillonmedications, includingthesamethyroidsupport she’sreliedonfromthestart.“Thereisa misconceptionthattheAIPisanalternativetoconventionalmedicine.Wereally prideourselvesonusingallthetoolsinour toolbox,includingsurgery,medicationand lifestylechanges,”shesays. AnecdotalsuccesseslikeTrescott’s haveledresearcherstopursuefundingto testtheAIP’sefficacy. Inapilotstudyof 18individualswithanaveragesicktime of19yearsthatdidn’trespondtotraditionalmedication,73 percentwerein clinicalremissionattheendofthetrial, havingfollowedtheAIP. “Itwasasmall samplesize,buttheresultsarepromising,”saysTrescott.

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Likemanyphysicians, TerryWahlsfocused ontreatingherpatients withdrugsorsurgical procedures—untilthe IowaCitydoctorwas diagnosedwithMS in2000.Withinthree years,despiteconventionalmedicaltreatments,herbackand stomachmuscleshad weakenedtothepoint wheresheneededa tilt-reclinewheelchair,andbythesummer of2007,shecouldnolongersitup. ThoughWahlshadbeenavegetarian onalow-fatdietfor20years,shewent backtoeatingmeatandgaveupalldairy, wheatandgrains,butstillwasn’timproving.Delvingbackintothescienceofher condition,Wahlsrealizedthatmitochondrialsupportwaskey,andthespeedofher declineslowedwhiletakingacocktailof vitaminstosupportitsfunctioning. Itwasn’tuntilshetookacomprehensiveapproachtooptimizeeverything shecouldtakeinthroughherfoodrather thanrelyingonsupplementsthatshesaw radicalresults:Herbrainfog,fatigueand painwentawayandshebikedaroundthe blockforthefirsttimeinsixyears.“Taking innutrientsintheformoffoodratherthan supplements,yougetrelatedcompounds andthousandsofothersinbiologically anticipatedratios,”explainsWahls.“Istill dotakesomesupplements,butthemagicis thefood.” Thosekeyingredients,saysWahls, includemagnesium,zinc,selenium,sulfur, aminoacids,cholesterol,omega-6and omega-3s,fats,carnitineandcreatine.Her ruleofthumbfordailyintakeisthreecups ofleafygreenvegetables;threecupsof sulfuricvegetableslikecabbage,mushroomsandonions;andthreecupsof deeplypigmentedvegetables,plussources ofproteinformeateatersandvegetarians. Whileherworkwasinitiallynot accepted,todayshehasfundingfromthe NationalMSSocietyandherresearchhas beenpublishedinnumerouspeer-reviewed

journals.“Basicscienceisnowshowing thatthemicrobiome hasahugeimpacton theimmunesystem activityandthebrain; thefoodweeatcan turngeneexpressiononandoff,”says Wahls,whohasn’t takenanydrugsfor herautoimmune conditionsince2008. Bucknercautionsagainstpatients tryingtomanage diseasewithlifestylechangesalone,without givingavailableallopathictreatmentsafair try.“Peopledobetteriftheyaretreated earlyandaggressively.Theyarerelianton fewermedicationsdowntheroadanddon’t havepermanentdamageiftheyseektreatmentearly.” However,evenresearchersfocused onpharmaceuticalapproachesacknowledgetheimportanceofdietandlifestyle. MegganMackay,professorofMolecular MedicineattheFeinsteinInstitutesfor MedicalResearch,atNorthwellHealth, inManhasset,NewYork,believesthiscan playacriticalroleindiseasemanagement. Shecitesnumerousstudiesshowingexerciseasastress-busterpositivelyinfluencing diseaseoutcomes,aswellasamorespecific studylookingatthebenefitsofaddingfish oilandvitaminDtothedietsoflupuspatients.“Theriseinobesity,whichislinked toincreasedinflammationintheU.S.,may beoneofreasonsweareseeingmoreautoimmunediseasethanever,”saysMackay. At-riskindividualsshouldbeawareof factorsundertheircontrol,addsJames.“If someoneisworriedaboutautoimmune diseaserunningintheirfamily,monitoring andmaintainingadequatevitaminDlevels andavoidingsmokingandotherhigh-risk behaviorscanhelpimprovetheirchances.” Evensleeppatternscanplayarolein diseasemanifestation,saystheresearcher. Inonestudy,individualsathighriskfor autoimmunediseasethatsleptlessthan sevenhoursperdayweremorelikelyto developanautoimmunecondition,accordingtoJames.

Therearesomeclearlinksbetweenautoimmunediseases,suchasthegeneticpredispositionthatrunsinfamilies.“Someonewithrheumatoidarthritismayhavea sisterwithceliacdisease,forexample,and oneindividualmaysufferfrommultiple autoimmuneconditions.Wecanlearn fromthesecommongeneticlinks,”says Buckner.Thesecommonlinkscanserve asimportantclues.Forexample,Buckner saystheyareabletodemonstratechanges inTcellsindiabetesandMSthatarethe same,whichmightleadtocommontreatmentsforthetwoconditions. Whiletheprocessfrombasicscientificdiscoverytodevelopmentofeffective treatmentcanbeslow,therearesome concretebreakthroughsautoimmune researchersareexcitedabout,having demonstratedabilitytobothpreventand delaydisease.Citingarecentclinicaltrial publishedinthe New England Journal of Medicine,“Theyhavedemonstratedin kidsathighriskfordevelopingType1 diabetestheabilitytodelayonsetforat leasttwoyears.It’sanincrediblyexciting finding,”saysBuckner. Mackayishopefulaboutadvancesin basicscienceaddressingspecificimmune systemabnormalitieslinkedtoinflammatoryproblems.“Lupusisverychallenging todiagnoseandtreatbecauseitcanaffect everysysteminthebody,”saysMackay, whoseresearchteamhasfocusedonlupus

fordecades.“Theonlyformsoftreatmenthavebeenveryimmune-suppressive medicationsthatshutdowntheimmune response.Noneofthesemedicationsare specific,soinshuttingdowntheimmuneresponsetotreatlupus,theyinturn interferewiththebody’sabilitytofightoff infectionandcancer.”Researchersarenow honinginonsinglecellsfrombiopsies thatindicatewhichproteinsareabnormal, therebyhelpingdevelopmoreselective therapies,shesays. Seeingprogressinthelabisone thing;seeingitinthewaitingroomis another,andthat’swhereautoimmunescientistsandcliniciansarereallybeginning tonoteadifference.“I’veseenpatients for25years,andwhenwestarted,wehad veryfewoptionsinmyclinic,whichwas fullofwheelchairs,”saysBuckner.“Inthe last20years,wehaveseenanexplosionin researchandavailabletreatments.Idon’t havewheelchairsinmyofficeanymore.”

Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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Collagen,aprotein,holdsustogether fromtheinside-out,helpingto buildbonesandprovidingthe scaffoldingthatknitsourbonesandorgans together.Stressandpoorlifestylehabits, suchassmokingandeatingtoomuch sugar,cancontributetoitsbreakdownand acceleratetheagingprocess,butstrategic dietarychoicesandsupplementscanhave asignificantpositiveimpactonourskin,as wellasunderlyingconditions. Althoughcelebratedforitscosmetic effects,“Mostpeoplearesurprisedto learnthatcollagenisequallyimportant forbloodvesselsandtissuessurrounding andsupportingtheinternalorgans,”says PamelaSchoenfeld,adietitianandnutritionistinRaleigh,NorthCarolina,and authorofThe Collagen Diet: Rejuvenate Skin, Strengthen Joints and Feel Younger by Boosting Collagen Intake and Production. Collagenismostlyfoundintendons,ligamentsandskin,andisalsoabundantin bones,cartilage,muscles,corneas,blood vessels,thegut,vertebraediscsandteeth. Instudies,collagensupplements showpromiseforjointpain,arthritic conditions,osteoporosisandhearthealth. APennStatestudyof147studentathletes foundthatthosethattook10gramsofcollagenhydrolysatedailyfor24weekshad significantlylessjointpainwhilewalking andatrestcomparedtoaplacebogroup. A2012study featuredinComplementary Therapies in Medicinefoundthat1,200 milligramsofcollagenhydrolysatetaken dailydecreasedjointpaininolderpeople by20percentcomparedtoaplacebo.Ina 2018study,post-menopausalwomenthat tookfivegramsofcollagendailyforayear hadbetterbonebuildupandlessbone degradation.A2017Japanesestudyof31 healthyadultsfoundthatthosethattook 16gramsofcollagendailyhadmoreflexiblearteriesaftersixmonths.

Collagenhealthstartswithourdiet. Leafygreensandjewel-toned,lycopenerichvegetables,likebeets,redpeppers, tomatoes,berriesandpomegranates,as wellasseeds,includingchia,sunflower andpumpkin,allpackacollagenpunch. Schoenfeldrecommendsbonebroth,too, foritsjoint-lubricatingmoleculescalled glycosaminoglycans,whichholdmany timestheirweightinwater. KellyannPetrucci,anaturopathic doctorinPhiladelphiaandauthorof Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet, concurs: “Bonebrothismorethanasoup. It’s concentratedhealingandcontainsa bioavailableformofcollagenyourbody canuseimmediately. Itcontainscalcium, magnesium,phosphorous,collagen,glucosamine,chondroitin,aminoacidsand

somuchmore.”Shealsorecommends sulfur-richfoodslikeeggs,broccoli, onions,garlicandcauliflower,aswell asshellfishandredmeatinmoderation forcopper. “Copperactivatestheenzyme thatiscriticalinproducingcollagen,” sheexplains. Alsoimportant,accordingtoPetrucci, isvitaminC:“Ifyou’redepletedofvitamin C,yourbodywon’tmakeanycollagen. Experimentwithbroccoli,kiwi,tomatoes andvariouscitrusfruits.Bioflavonoids alsoimprovetheabilityofvitaminCtobe absorbedandutilized.”

Schoenfeldrecommendschicken, includingtheskin;omega-3-richfishwith ediblebones,suchassardinesandcanned salmon;andproline-rich,agedcheesesand yogurt.“Gelatinisalsoafantasticwayfor thewholefamilytoenjoycollagenandcan beaddedtofoodshighinwaterlikesoups, stews,hotcereals,ascanbonebrothand collagenpowders,”shesays.

A2019reviewof11 studiespublishedin theJournal of Drugs in Dermatologyfound thatoralcollagenhydrolysateortripeptideatdosagesrangingfrom2.5gramsto 10gramsadayincreased“skinelasticity, hydrationanddermalcollagendensity” andshowedpromiseforwoundhealing andskinaging.Aloevera,ginseng,berries,garlic,hyuralonicacidandredlight therapyalsoboostcollagenproduction, accordingtoosteopathicphysicianand authorJosephMercola.

Forvegans,Britishhomeopath MelissaForemanrecommendshomeopathically-basedmineralsknownas tissuesaltsatlowpotency,“whichoffer thebenefitsofmeat-derivedcollagenand bonebrothwithouthavingtoingesta meatproduct.”Shepersonallyreliesona combinationofNat phos, Calc phosand Kali sulphtopromotenewskincellsand improvetheskincellmatrix. “Theseremediesaretotallyanimal-free,”shesays. “Youcanproduceasupplementsimilar tocollagenpowderandithasthesame healthbenefitsofbonebroth.”

HomeopathicphysicianMelissa

Foreman,ofBrighton,England, recommendsthefollowingtissuesalts: Homeopathic Collagen-Boosters

Calc phosforstrengtheningbonesand easingstiffjoints,isparticularlyrecommendedforactivepeople,agingathletes andmenopausalwomen.Itsupports growth,buildscells,supportsteethand nailstrength,andhelpseaseirritable bowelsyndrome.

Calc fluorpromoteselasticityand flexibility.It’sessentialfortendonand bonehealth;softens,strengthensand tonestheskin;andhelpswhenthedigestiveorganshavelosttheirelasticityand becomecompromised.

Silicaisfoundinhair,nailsandbones. Itdecreasesinflammation,easespainful joints,supportsandstrengthensnails, encouragesnewhairgrowthandimproves thelengthandqualityofeyelashes.

Nat Murbringsmoisturetotheskinand regulatesthemoisturecontentofeverycell inthebody.Itpromoteshydrochloricacid, helpingtopreventheartburn,bloating, colicandflatulence.

Nat phosisknownastheantacidofthe biochemicalworldandlikecollagen,can protectthegutbyneutralizingacids.

by Gisele Rinaldi Siebold N atural Awakenings,LancasterBerkspractitionersareeducated, compassionateprofessionalswho careaboutourcommunityandwantthe bestforus.AswedealwiththeCOVID-19 coronaviruspandemic,theirimmunityboostingtipscanempowerustounveil wellnessasthewinner.

“Keepyourselfstrongandhealthyby maximizingyourimmunesystem’sproper functioning,”saysDr.ThomasWachtmann, chiropractor.“Iamhelpingmyselfthrough thispandemicbypracticingwhatIpreach tomypatients.Sometimes,weallhave atendencytoletourselvesgoalittlebit, health-wise,butwehavetobevigilant andproactivetogetourimmunesystems ingearbeforewe’reexposed.It’snotthe strengthofthebugthatwillgetyou,it’sthe strengthofthehost.Don’twaituntilyouget sicktotakecareofyourself. “Ireceivechiropracticspinaladjustments tohelprelievepressurewithinmynervous system,whichensurespropercommunica

tionbetweenmybrainandallmyorgansand glandstohelpthem,aswellasmyimmune system,functionoptimally,”heexplains.“Ialso addedspecificnutritionalsupplements,herbs andglandularextractstomydailyregimento helpnutritionallyfortifymyimmunesystem. Strengtheningtheimmunesystemmakesthe bodymoreresistanttonotonlythecoronavirus,butallviruses,bacteria,etc.” “Itcanbetemptingtofeelfearful andhelplessduringtimessuchasthis,but knowledgeispower,andwithitcomesthe realizationthattherearethingsyoucan dotoempoweryourself,”believesTiffany Davies,professionalherbalist.“Herbalism andholistichealingmodalitiesarefounded ontheprinciplethatthebodyhastheinnate abilitytoprotectandhealitselfifit’sfunctioningproperlyandgiventhetoolsitneeds. “Wecansupportthebody’sproper functioningbypracticinggoodhygiene; sleepingforeightto10hourseverynight; stayinghydratedwithhighqualitywater; selectinghealthywholefoods;connectingwithaprofessionalwhocanassistwith incorporatingindividual-appropriateherbs intothedailyroutinetoassistwithproper digestion,nutrientassimilation,detoxificationandoverallwell-being;andmediating stresswithhealthypracticeslikeexercise, deepbreathingandmeditation.”

Severestresscandiminishtheimmune system’sfunction,makingthepossibility ofbecomingillevenmorelikely.“Stressis

usuallyduetoalackofproperinforma- tion,”explainsWachtmann.“Minimizing thechancesofgettingsickinthefirstplace isextremelyimportanttoyouroverall mentalwell-being.That’swhyit’simportant tocontactaqualifiedhealthcarepracti- tionerthatspecializesinkeepingpeople fortified,strongandhealthy.” Reducestressbylimitingexposureto thenewsandotherformsofmedia.“Pay attentiontohowyoufeelwhilewatching thenewsorreadingpostsonsocialmedia,” saysDavies.“Stayinformedbutlimityour exposuretocertaintimesoftheday,preferablynotrightbeforebedtime.Remember toguardyoungchildrenfromthissame onslaughtofanxiety-riddeninput,too. “Takeadvantageofthisnewfound timetoinitiatenewstress-relievinghabits,” shesuggests.“Setasidetimeeachday,and sticktoit.Getthewholefamilyinvolvedin agameofbasketballorlearnanewmental healthpracticetogether.Taketurnspick- ingoutwhatyou’regoingtotryeachday. Checkouttheresourcesontheinternetfor learningqigong,yogaandmeditation.”

“Connectingwithnatureandadmiringthe beautyofyoursurroundingscanboostyour mood,enhancefeelingsofgratitudeand helpyoufeelmoregroundedandconnected tolifeingeneral,”explainsDebGallagher, registerednurseandEdenEnergyMedicine (EEM)clinicalpractitioner.“Sometimes wegetsoburiedintheday-to-dayswingof lifethatweforgettousethistremendous resource.Takeawalkthroughapark.Sit outsideonyourpatioorporch,andfeelthe sunshine.Headforalakeorbeach.What- everittakestogetoutsideofyourownhead andmentallyrelaxandrecharge,takethe opportunitytodoit.Trysomeenergyheal- ingmethodswhileyou’reoutdoors;EEM hasmanyself-caretoolstokeepoursystems strong.Imagineallthatnegativitydisappear- ingintotheatmosphere.Positivethoughts effecttheimmunesysteminapositiveway.”

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