JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH
Low dose naltrexone - a miracle drug for immune challenges This is the title of an article I read back in 2012. It was written by Julian Whitaker MD, a high-profile doctor based in California. Although there has been much said about low dose naltrexone (LDN) since the 1980s, a recently released book 'The LDN Book' is likely to bring this potentially life-changing medication to the attention of many. Low dose naltrexone is an 'off-label' use of the FDA -approved drug naltrexone, which was developed for treating narcotic addicts. It works by blocking the body’s opioid/narcotic receptors. For narcotic addiction naltrexone has been prescribed at doses of 50mg to 300mg daily. However, a surprise discovery by Dr Bernard Bihari in the mid 1980s showed that at very low doses of 4.5mg, naltrexone very significantly increases production of endorphins (chemicals which are the body’s natural opioids). One in particular known as opioid growth factor (OGF) has been shown to be a major normaliser/up-regulator of the immune system. Dr Bihari first used LDN to treat HIV/AIDS but in his practice he found that people with a variety of cancers and autoimmune diseases appeared to do very well with LDN. Autoimmune disease is a massive problem worldwide and if there were an effective treatment it could be very big news. Dr David Gluck MD, also in the United States, who has used LDN for many years notes that published studies have demonstrated that autoimmune disorders are marked by weak, dysfunctional immune systems. This is contrary to the common belief that they are too strong. He says that the first commandment of the immune system is “Thou shall not attack self”. Only a dysfunctional immune system attacks itself. Problems can arise with our immune response when two subsets of T-helper cells, Th1 and Th2, remain out of balance. T-helper cells coordinate the activity of the immune response to any threat. Conditions commonly associated with Th1 dominance are Type1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Crohn’s disease. Conditions commonly associated with Th2 dominance are ulcerative colitis, asthma, allergies and cancer. LDN has a key role in maintaining balance.
Dr Julian Whitaker tells the story of a patient (Howard) with MS. Howard had undergone every MS treatment his neurologists ordered, including steroids, interferon, narcotics for pain and many other drugs. Howard had numerous setbacks including several hospitalisations, temporary vision loss and time in a wheelchair. He had read about LDN and was disappointed when his doctors refused to prescribe it. Finally, after a year of visiting one physician after another, Howard’s neurologist agreed to prescribe it for him. What a difference it made. Howard completed his Master’s degree, he says he has a new lease on life and no longer uses a cane. He says, “if I didn’t know I have MS I wouldn’t believe it.” There are many success stories to be found on the internet. Not everyone achieves the same results as Howard but many people with rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, other autoimmune diseases and many cancers report that they have done very well. Dr Gluck says that “the reason why many people with MS seem to benefit is that LDN is the antithesis of the spectrum of MS medications.” The question that many may ask is, if it’s that good, why isn’t it headline news? The reason for this is that naltrexone has been a generic drug for many years and there is no money to be made with low dose naltrexone. There seem to be only two significant contraindications to LDN’s use. LDN will block the effect of narcotic pain relief drugs and immunosuppressant medications will counter the potential benefits of LDN. In February this year, the LDN Research Trust held an international conference covering many topics from autoimmune disease to autism and cancer. They have a very interesting website www.ldnresearchtrust.org/www.idn2016.com. For more helpful information and patient stories, check out this website www.ldnscience.org. (JOHN APPLETON) F PN
APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362, john@johnappleton.co.nz, www.johnappleton.co.nz
The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH
PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2016
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