LUPUS

Written by Slawomir Gromadzki (“Swavak”), MPH

Lupus or Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease which may affect any part of the body. In lupus the immune system attacks own body causing inflammation and tissue damage. Usually the inflammation and damage involves joints, skin, heart, lungs, blood vessels, nervous system, kidneys, and liver.

SYMPTOMS

Since lupus may involve any organ or part of the body including especially the heart, blood vessels, lungs, joints, kidneys, brain, or skin it can create many different symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, swelling, muscle pain, enlarged lymph nodes, chest pain, shortness of breath, fluid retention, headaches, butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose, photosensitivity, etc. The symptoms can vary from person to person.

CAUSES

All medical websites or books state that the exact cause of this disease has not being discovered or are unknown, but since like rheumatoid arthritis lupus is also an autoimmune disease there are reasons to believe it is associated with the same lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors listed in the article on RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS >

– Hepatitis B vaccination significantly increases the risk of a wide range of autoimmune diseases.

– In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus low vitamin D was associated with a higher disease activity and an increase in serum vitamin D was associated with reduced disease activity over time. “Scientists led by Dr. C Mok studied 300 lupus patients and confirmed previous findings that the lower your vitamin D level, the worse your lupus. Dr. Mok also found that an amazing 96% of  the lupus patients were vitamin D deficient!”

– Iodine deficiency (due to soil depletion there is not enough iodine in food).

– Magnesium, Zinc, and Selenium deficiency.

– Toxins: Mercury (from dental fillings, tap water, fish, flu shots, etc.) lead, fluoride, and other toxins.

– Food intolerances: Gluten and A1 Casein Allergy.

– Hormonal Imbalances: Too much Cortisol (from stress).

– Stress, anxiety and depression. A number of published papers have shown that stress and negative emotions contribute to all autoimmune diseases.

– Consumption of trans fats, margarine and bad oils (high in pro-inflammatory omega 6) and deficiency of omega 3 healthy fats high in foods such as Flax seed, Chia seed, etc..

– Bad lifestyle, unhealthy diet high in sugar, processed refined foods, nutritional deficiencies, artificial sweeteners, lack of exercise, stimulants, drugs, medication, and in particular excessive stress, depression and pessimism may lead to the oversensitivity of the immune system which changes its nature and starts attacking own body.

– Consumption of meat and dairy products (can trigger autoimmune response and causes hormonal imbalance), refined, junk and processed foods, refined sugar, white flour products, high glucose (high fructose) syrup, stimulants (including coffee, tea, green tea, cola, etc., nutritional deficiencies, white pasta, white rice, processed foods, stress, lack of exercise, etc.

 

TREATMENT

Conventional medicine treats lupus with immunosuppressants (cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids, etc.). Unfortunately, these and other drugs cause dangerous side effects and do not address the possible lifestyle or environmental causes of lupus.

Autoimmune conditions are treated with harmful medication, which have bad side effects. Fortunately it is possible to recover from autoimmune diseases by practicing healthy lifestyle and using natural remedies. The most important element of the treatment is implementing principles from the HEALTH RECOVERY PLAN >

Autoimmune Disease Success Stories >

 

HERBAL REMEDIES & SUPPLEMENTS

– You must take Vitamin D3 because almost all patients suffering from autoimmune diseases patients are deficient in Vitamin D! While using vitamin D3 supplements always remember to take also well absorbed magnesium (such as citrate) as vitamin D supplements without enough magnesium in the body are useless and in addition vitamin D leads to magnesium deficiency over time. If you can’t afford higher doses take at least 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day with meal. But since deficiency of this vitamin is so widespread (especially in the UK) it would be better to take 10,000 to 30,000 IU a day with meals with appropriate doses of magnesium. Another requirement for proper absorption of vitamin D is 200 mcg of Vitamin K2 MK-7 (Derived from Natural Natto) a day. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus low vitamin D was associated with a higher disease activity and an increase in serum vitamin D was associated with reduced disease activity over time. “Scientists led by Dr. C Mok studied 300 lupus patients and confirmed previous findings that the lower your vitamin D level, the worse your lupus. Dr. Mok also found that an amazing 96% of  the lupus patients were vitamin D deficient!” Read more about vitamin D >

– Supplement magnesium (800 mg a day).

– Boost Glutathione levels which is a most powerful of all antioxidants and strengthens the immune system and is one of the most effective remedies against autoimmune diseases . It boosts body’s ability to modulate and regulate the immune system. It is also important to provide body with ingredients that increase glutathione production in the liver by taking turmeric, milk thistle, NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), bioactive whey protein, Glutamine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, bilberry, vitamin C, asparagus, broccoli, peaches, avocado, spinach, garlic, squash, grapefruit.

– Alpha lipoic acid: 600mg a day

– Taking selenium supplements and increasing consumption of foods high in selenium (Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, garlic, onions, etc.).

– Take good quality Omega 3 fish oil supplements: 2000 mg a day with meal. Omega-3 Fatty Acids improve symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus and may improve cardiovascular function; EPA and DHA have therapeutic value in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus; EPA and DHA induces prolonged remission of systemic lupus erythematosus without side effects. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in omega-3 is effective in improving lupus symptoms, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. According to a study published in 2008 participants who every day took 3 grams of omega-3 fish oil supplements containing 1,800 mg of anti-inflammatory EPA for six months significantly reduced their lupus symptoms.

– Vitamin B12: 1,000 to 2,000 mcg a day under the tongue (must be sublingual Methylcobalamin!). Many people with autoimmune diseases have low levels of this most important vitamin. Read a fascinating article on B12 >

– Zinc – 30  to 50mg a day after breakfast.

– Take good quality probiotic formulas or make raw sauerkraut and have at least one tablespoon a day.

– Turmeric. Curcumin (the key active ingredient in turmeric) is very helpful in coping inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The authors of a study which was published in 2012 stated that, turmeric can be effective in reducing certain symptoms associated with lupus nephritis.

– Apart from Ashwaganda you can use other herbal remedies and adaptogens such as Rhodiola and Three Tulsi (Holy Basil) tea or capsules.

– DHEA improves symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus; It is well-tolerated and significantly reduces the number of SLE flares in women with mild-to-moderate systemic lupus erythematosus; It significantly reduces serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in women with systemic lupus erythematosus; DHEA supplementation improves symptoms in patients with system lupus erythematosus.

– Gentian improves outcome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with prednisone.

– According to the results of a study published in 2002, Cordyceps and Artemisinin can prevent the recurrence of Lupus nephritis (LN) and protect kidney function. Artemisinin is a natural compound found in the Artemisia Annua plant (Sweet wormwood), which has been used in traditional herbal remedies for over 2,000 years. This plant is also known in the traditional Chinese medicine as Qing hao. It has been used to support the immune system, alleviate fevers, and treat cancer and infections. This supplement shouldn’t be taken with grapefruit juice. It should not be used by pregnant women, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

– Evening primrose oil or Star flower oil

– Vitamin B6: 100mg with meal.

– Chlorella: 2 x a day 10 tablets 30 min before breakfast and lunch with 2 glasses of water or vegetable juice. Start from small doses and slowly increase.

– Milk thistle

– Indole-3 carbinol may be beneficial in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Indole-3-carbinol is produced by the breakdown of the glucosinolate glucobrassicin, found at high levels in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, and collard greens. It is also available in dietary supplements. Indole-3-carbinol is the subject of on-going biomedical research into its possible antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-atherogenic effects.

 

NUTRITIONAL AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Autoimmune diseases can be reversed by practicing the following guidelines:

– Hallelujah diet or Gerson diet for 6 months leads to recovery! But diet change must be total or no benefit will be achieved!

– Avoid all animal foods including cheese, meat products, all dairy, stimulants (caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.).

– Go on vegan unrefined diet as it gives best results. Eat especially with lots of raw vegetables salads and raw vegetable juices.

– Proper stress control and positive thinking – extremely important!

– Eliminate all junk food, processed food, artificial sweeteners, trans fats, and anything with bad preservatives and chemical.

– Eating whole, unprocessed foods, and choosing as many organics as possible.

– Getting adequate sun exposure if possible (20 minutes a day during summer time between 10 am and 2 pm) to maintain vitamin D levels.

– Avoid gluten (wheat products, etc.). Many people with autoimmune diseases have an autoimmune reaction to gluten, and it usually goes unrecognised. Gluten can cause gastrointestinal system to malfunction, so foods aren’t completely digested. These food particles can then be absorbed into bloodstream where body misidentifies them as antigens and then produces antibodies against them.

– Avoid all dairy products as heated dairy protein (especially A1 casein) often irritates the immune system stimulating it to produce antibodies against different internal organs. The most common allergies and food intolerances today are from wheat and dairy products because of the hybridized proteins of gluten and a1 casein. These proteins can cause Leaky Gut Syndrome which leads to inflammation.

– Use glass bottles as Bisphenol A (BPA) which is found in plastic bottles and cans (they are lined up with plastic) disrupt endocrine system.

– Avoiding chlorine, fluoride (toothpastes with fluoride, etc.), and bromine as they also contribute to autoimmune diseases.

– Avoid hydrogenated fats and trans fats (margarines, doughnuts, cakes, etc.) and pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids (soy oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, etc.) except raw organic coconut oil.

– Increase consumption of omega 3 fatty acids in the form of ground flax seeds, chia seeds. Omega 3s are the building blocks for hormones that control immune function and cell growth.

– Detoxifying body from heavy metals by using combination of: Chlorella, Milk Thistle, Turmeric, Cilantro.

– Remove any dental fillings containing mercury.

– Increasing intake of healthy fats such as raw coconut oil, coconut milk, avocado, chia seeds (soaked for at least 30 minutes or overnight), ground flaxseed, and hemp seeds as they will balance hormones. Coconut oil is a saturated fat comprising medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are known to increase metabolism and promote weight loss. Coconut oil is very stable (shelf life of three to five years at room temperature), so body is much less burdened with oxidative stress than it is from many other vegetable oils.

– Increase consumption of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene found in carrots, apricots, green leafy vegetables, etc.

– Eliminate stimulants (anything with caffeine or other similar harmful alkaloids: coffee, tea, green tea, mate, yerba mate, cola, chocolate, etc.).

– Exercise at least 30–60 minutes per day.

– Get enough sleep.

– Practice deep breathing.

– Address adrenal fatigue. A prolonged stress response can lead to adrenal exhaustion (also known as adrenal fatigue). Find out more about ADRENAL FATIGUE >

– Treat unresolved emotional issues as a source of stress. Autoimmune diseases reflect emotions and mental attitude. When people with autoimmune diseases make progress in treating unresolved emotional issues, their symptoms subside. Stress, anxiety or depression are often key culprits. It is important to identify the stressors and learn use ways such as prayer that can help to control stress and negative emotions.

– Read about the DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF UNFORGIVINGNESS >

– Drink and use for cooking only distilled or at least filtered water. Not all water filters remove fluoride, so make sure the one you have does or use only distilled water (buy a water distiller). Taking chlorella and turmeric help to get rid of fluoride and heavy metals such as mercury.

 

The most important element of the treatment is implementing principles from the HEALTH RECOVERY PLAN >

Autoimmune Disease Success Stories >

 

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES DEFICIENCY

Deficiency of digestive enzymes including protease or stomach acid (Hydrochloric acid) makes impossible to digest proteins properly. So if a person deficient in digestive enzymes consumes animal protein (meat, dairy, eggs, and fish) these animal proteins can’t be properly digested and too big molecules of protein enter the bloodstream where the immune system treats them as foreign proteins and start immune reaction and simultaneously decides to attack certain own body’s proteins which look like those dietary proteins. Many believe this phenomenon triggers autoimmune diseases including lupus.

These missing enzymes can answer why women get autoimmune diseases more often than men or why stress makes autoimmune disease symptoms worse?

There are two components to autoimmune disease. One of course is the activated immune system. The other is the nutritional deficiency component. I can use lupus as an example of what I mean by this.

Research has found that lupus patients lack these enzymes (protease and DNase 1). These enzymes digest dietary proteins and dietary DNA. Without these enzymes, you would not be able to release essential amino acids from dietary proteins. Nor would you be able to bind and transport vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is only found attached to dietary animal proteins.  So, the lack of essential amino acids and vitamin B12 would comprise the nutritional deficiency component of autoimmune disease. Therefore, we should find evidence of a lack of essential amino acids and vitamin B12 in patients with lupus.

In the following study the researchers discovered that lupus patients were deficient in all of the essential amino acids. The researchers found that all ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids were significantly dampened in lupus. A glucogenic amino acid is an amino acid that can be converted into glucose. These would include the essential amino acids phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, and methionine. Ketogenic amino acids are converted into ketone bodies. These would include the essential amino acids leucine and lysine.

Metabolic disturbances associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Wu, T., C. Xie, J. Han, Y. Ye, J. Weiel, et al. 2012. PLoS ONE 7(6): e37210. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037210

Lupus patients also lack vitamin B12 (cobalamin). In the following study the researchers discovered that vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in lupus (SLE) patients.

Serum cobalamin and transcobalamin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Molad, Y., B. Rachmilewitz, Y. Sidi, J. Pinkhas, A. Weinberger. 1990. Am J Med. 88(2):141-4.

Cobalamin levels were found to be significantly lower in the SLE group compared with a normal control group??

Essential amino acids and vitamin B12 are necessary for a wide variety of functions in the human body, so a lack of these nutrients will have profound ramifications. And, since protease are necessary for the proper metabolism of essential amino acids and vitamin B12, you would not be able to address their absence at the “cellular” level through the use of supplements.

The inability to digest dietary proteins and release essential amino acids and vitamin B12 would comprise the nutritional deficiency component of autoimmune disease. A lack of these enzymes will also lead to unbroken down protein particles and DNA entering the bloodstream. This is what triggers the inflammatory immune system. The immune system targets these “foreign” DNA and protein particles and forms neutrophil extracellular traps or NETs. These NETs can become lodged in organs and tissues and lead to organ failure and tissue damage.

Here is a picture of one of these NETs in a lupus patients bloodstream. [Pay special attention to the last paragraph where it states lupus patients lack the enzyme DNase 1.]

THE HORMONE CONNECTION THAT POINTS TO A POTENT HERBAL REMEDY

Because SLE is mainly a disease that affects women, some researchers have primarily concentrated on studying possible links with female sex hormones. Research has shown that SLE sufferers generally have high levels of the female hormone oestrogen and reduced levels of testosterone (Altern Med Res 2001; 6(5): 1018-1028). One form of oestrogen, called oestradiol, is linked to inflammation and autoimmune disease since it binds onto receptors on the immune systems B-cells and T-cells, increasing their activity (J Clin Invest 2002; 109(12): 1625-1633).

The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been used with success in treating SLE. DHEA is converted in the body to either testosterone or a weak form of oestrogen called oestrone. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, DHEA reduced disease flare-ups in women with SLE and reduced the need for steroid drug use (Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63(12): 1623-1626). But there is a catch. DHEA is only available on prescription in the UK and can cause side effects of acne, unwanted hair growth and breast tenderness.

Because NHR is committed to bringing you information about safe, natural products that are free of side effects, we cant recommend the use of prescription DHEA for SLE at the present time. However, there is a way in which you can safely increase your bodys own levels of DHEA. The herb Tribulus terrestris contains an active ingredient called protodioscin, which is chemically very similar to DHEA and is converted to DHEA in the body (J Alt Complement Med 2003; 9(2): 257-265). The recommended dosage is 500mg a day of 5:1 standardised extract.

A LUPUS VICTIM – LIFE SAVED BY THE MCDOUGALL DIET

By Shirlene Jones

This is not a story about weight loss but a story about a miracle. My 17-year-old daughter, Vanessa, tried to join the Air Force in October 2001. She passed everything but the urine test; she had too much protein in her urine. We then went to our family doctor, who sent her for several tests. She showed positive signs for lupus. We were then sent to a pediatric nephrologist, who looked at her records, then looked at her and said, “Vanessa has lupus nephritis and I want to put her in the hospital to do a kidney biopsy tomorrow.” When we went to the hospital, they started her on 60 mg. of prednisone and Norvasc, a medicine for high blood pressure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified kidney tissue disease into five categories. Vanessa’s biopsy was categorized a 4, one category before dialysis is needed. Once a kidney reaches this point, there is little hope for it to get better. It can be stabilized, but often prgresses to a category 5, dialysis, and then a kidney transplant. Vanessa was next required to take Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), a drug used in stronger doses for chemotherapy treatment of cancer patients. This drug could cause bleeding of the bladder and sterility, among the possible side effects. Vanessa was to go to the hospital once a month to have this drug administered for six months, and then another biopsy was to be performed to determine the next plan of action. Meanwhile, my husband had been taking blood pressure medicine for over a year and was just put on a sugar pill for diabetes. In January 2002 a friend of mine gave me the book “McDougall’s Medicine–a Challenging Second Opinion.” As I read this book I saw that it would not only help my husband but also Vanessa. As my husband and I did more research, we became convinced this was worth a try. Now, not only does my husband no longer take any medications, but Vanessa’s second biopsy was between a category 1 and 2. The doctor has never seen this happen and is now in the process of reducing the prednisone and has discontinued the Cytoxan. Vanessa works full time and enjoys riding her Yamaha 650 V-Star. We have found that all of the recipes in McDougall’s “Quick and Easy” cookbook are wonderful. I have not found even one we did not like. About Lupus by John McDougall, MD The Lupus Foundation of America Inc. says, “Fad diets, advocating an excess or an exclusion of certain types of foods, are much more likely to be detrimental than beneficial in any disease, including lupus.” It is a good thing Vanessa and her mother did not read this first–otherwise she would likely be tied to a dialysis machine for life and heading for a premature, painful death. I find it hard to understand what motivates people, like those from the Lupus Foundation, to make such statements, especially when the current scientific information does not support their negative position. Lupus is a disease of people living in Western countries, consuming the American diet. For example, lupus is rare in rural Africa–the first case of lupus was described in Africa in 1960; by contrast, today in the United States, African Americans have the highest incidence of lupus of any subpopulation– reflecting the differences in diet in these genetically similar people. Animal studies show diet will cause and cure this disease, and there have been case reports of people cured of lupus with a healthy diet. Lupus involves the whole body, including the immune system. In sensitive people, food proteins (usually animal proteins) enter the bloodstream through a “leaky gut.” The body makes antibodies to these foods proteins. Unfortunately, the antibodies do two things that cause problems: 1. Antibody-antigen complexes are formed that persist and become stuck in the skin, joints, and/or kidneys, causing an inflammatory reaction (like slivers of wood stuck under the skin); 2. Antibodies are made to these foreign food proteins that also attack the person’s own tissues (skin, joints, kidneys and other tissues). By both mechanisms the tissues become inflamed, eventually die and are replaced by non-functioning scar tissues. People with lupus commonly suffer with a characteristic “butterfly rash” on their face, severe deforming arthritis and nephritis of the kidneys. Traditional medical treatments fail to arrest this disease. A healthy, pure-vegetarian, low-fat diet will dramatically benefit and often cure people of this disease–as in Vanessa’s case. Approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from lupus–you must know someone you can help. The same applies to other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Even though these results do not occur with everyone, they are typical for people who make the diet and lifestyle changes of the McDougall Program.

For more information, contact the McDougall Program by phone at (800) 941- 7111 or (707) 538-8609, by e-mail at [email protected] or check the website at http://www.drmcdougall.com/

Autoimmune diseases cause immense suffering and pain. In people who suffer from various autoimmune conditions, the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. There are over 80 types of autoimmune diseases categorized by the different parts of the body that are affected.

 

AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF AN AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE

(IT IS VERY IMPORTANT PART! PLEASE READ EVERYTHING!)

Autoimmune diseases are becoming extremely common nowadays, especially among women. Researchers have proved that all autoimmune disorders basically reflect the same strange phenomenon: The irritated and weakened by different factors (including unhealthy diet, dairy, gluten, toxins, stress, or vitamin D deficiency) immune system, mistakes healthy tissue or organs as foreign and begins to attack them. The only difference between numerous autoimmune diseases is the type of organ or tissue which is attacked. In case of vitiligo, eczema or psoriasis it is skin; in Parkinson’s disease it is dopamine producing brain cells; in lupus it can be different parts of the body including joints, skin, liver, etc. When leukocytes attack pancreas they cause type I diabetes. With ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, it is the colon; and with multiple sclerosis, it is the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. In case of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and Graves’ hyperthyroidism, the thyroid is the target of the immune system.

It is very interesting that Hashimoto’s disease (the most common cause of underactive thyroid) as well as Grave’s disease (the most common cause of overactive thyroid) are both an autoimmune conditions. However, there is an important difference between these two diseases with regards to the role and influence of the immune system: In Hashimoto’s leukocytes, instead of protecting the gland, strangely treat thyroid cells as if they were some dangerous invaders and destroy thyroid cells making them unable to produce enough hormones. In Grave’s disease, on the other hand, white blood cells go into another extreme, and although there is no physiological need to do this, they stimulate thyroid to make way too much of its hormones.

It means that in both cases the immune system gets “crazy” and instead of protecting thyroid cells it behaves in a very strange way and either decides to kill thyroid gland or cause another harm by forcing overproduction of thyroid hormones!

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find a medical website or a scientist that would at least attempt to explain this extremely weird behaviour of human immune system. They are unable to do it probably because scientists look for a very complex scientific answers while the solution may be surprisingly simple and logical. Apart from that, for them the immune system is just a bunch of unintelligent cells that came into existence as a result of evolution and only mechanically perform their physiological functions.

Fortunately, back in Poland I was very lucky to have a privilege of translating a series of health lectures by American physitian Dr. Sang Lee who developed a very interesting explanation of this phenomenon. So let me try to share with you a few thoughts I still remember from his fascinating and unique health seminars.

When we carefully study the physiology of our immune system we quickly get an impression that somehow our immune system behaves in an incredibly intelligent way. It is also clear that the immune system is very closely connected to the brain and nervous system and that white blood cells respond to different physiological and even psychological needs. One scientist trying to express this idea even suggested that leukocytes behave like “pieces of brain scattered all over the body”.

There is no doubt brain is the most important part of human body. Brain in our organism is like a “king” or a “boss” and because of that, no cell, including the immune system cells ever question any information, signals or anything coming from the brain. That is why the placebo or nocebo effect (a positive or negative attitude of the brain) can impose such a powerful effect on body’s physiology and health.

Knowing this we can draw some very important conclusions which will help us to understand how mental attitudes and emotions can influence the immune system cells to either destroy thyroid or stimulate it to make more hormones.

We know that great majority of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are caused by abnormal and harmful response (behaviour) of the immune system. The autoimmune form of hypothyroidism is called Hashimoto’s disease and in case of hyperthyroidism it is Graves disease.

Another fact we need to take into consideration is that autoimmune diseases (including both thyroid autoimmune conditions) are much more prevalent among women than man, even if their diet and lifestyle are similar. Now, that doesn’t mean bad diet, and lack of exercise do not contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, but that there is another cause which should be regarded as even more significant.

The simple conclusion, therefore, is that it is anxiety, depression, worrying and negative mental attitudes that must greatly contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, simply because poor mental health is also much more common among women than men.

Taking into consideration all those facts Dr Lee suggested that when a woman suffers from chronic anxiety or depression, when she has negative attitude toward life, keeps on thinking about death or suicide, or if she is overwhelmed by any other negative thoughts and emotions, her intelligent and closely connected to the brain immune system gets a clear impression that the “boss” (which is the brain) doesn’t want to live. Therefore, like obedient soldiers the white blood cells feel obliged to fulfil the desire of the “boss”, so they turn against its own body and begin to attack different organs. In case of Hashimoto’s disease it is thyroid.

The whole situation is made even more dangerous when a depressed woman does not exercise, and since only dead body does not move, the leukocytes draw a conclusion that she is already dead so why they should protect the dead body? If she is dead it is more reasonable rather to attack the body and accelerate the decaying process!

But, someone may argue that, if pessimism, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, how to explain that sometimes babies or small children are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, eczema, or type 1 diabetes? They couldn’t trigger these conditions through their pessimism.

The answer is obvious, they either inherited overreacting immune system or their immune system was negatively influenced by mother’s nervous system (depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, etc.) when they were in their mother’s womb. There are many women who during pregnancy were depressed or even attempted to commit suicide and gave birth to children who sooner or later were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. In addition babies are very often deficient in Vitamin D ad are fed with cow’s milk and it is scientifically proved that both factors also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases in children.

There are also some nutritional ways to trigger an autoimmune reaction. We already know that heated animal protein, especially the one found in cow’s milk and dairy, is often treated by human immune system as a foreign invader. Because of that leukocytes send antibodies against those heated proteins which get into human body with milk and dairy products. The problem however is that in our bodies there are certain proteins which look exactly like those heated milk proteins so the weakened immune system often mistakenly and simultaneously attack also those body’s own proteins, causing different autoimmune problems.

Apart from pessimism and sedentary lifestyle there are still other “death signals” that may “inspire” the immune system to attack own body. For instance, using stimulants such as alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs, coffee, tea, cola, sugar, etc. could be discerned by the immune system as the “death wish” (“death signals”) of the brain and thus “inspire” the immune system with the idea that the “boss” wishes to die (due to the suicidal lifestyle and diet). The immune system may get this impression because stimulants are harmful and toxic chemicals which slowly contribute to the death of the body.

Also regular consumption of meat products may trigger similar reaction because meat comes from dead animals.

In addition, any heated (cocked, boiled, fried, grilled) animal protein always triggers immune reaction causing leukocytes to start mobilising and thus leading to increased number of leukocytes in the blood. This phenomenon is called leucocytosis and has bad influence on the immune system. As a result of frequent consumption of heated animal proteins (cooked dairy, meat, poultry, fish, or eggs) the immune system is frequently alarmed, has to overwork and may change its nature. Eventually it often turns against its own body causing numerous autoimmune diseases, including thyroid problems.

In case of the Graves hyperthyroidism, however, the behaviour of the immune system seems to be very opposite than in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other autoimmune conditions because in Graves hyperthyroidism instead of attacking and destroying the tissue leukocytes just stimulate thyroid to make even more hormones! Now, why on earth in this case the immune system changed its tactics and instead of killing thyroid gland it just decides to “help” it to work very hard?

Well, also in this case Dr Lee got a very interesting explanation. He suggests that if a woman lives a very stressful lifestyle, always tries to do her best in performing her duties at home and work, often in a hurry, dealing with many different things at the same time, if she doesn’t rest and sleep long enough at night, gets often nervous or irritated, drinks coffee or uses other stimulants to increase her energy so that she could be more efficient, then guess what the “intelligent” immune system, which responds to the physiological and psychological needs, do? The immune system says, “Ok, the boss is very restless, wants be more energetic and efficient in performing different duties, let us then go to thyroid and stimulate it to make more hormones, and in this way we will fulfil the wish of the boss.” When over a decade ago I heard this idea for the fists time I said, “Wow! It is so fascinating how our immune system works and how it can be influenced by mental attitudes!”

Well, if this idea is true, and to be honest I personally like it very much, then the best way to prevent and treat autoimmune diseases (including Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and Graves hyperthyroidism) is by stress control, positive thinking, laughter, frequent smiling, taking care of others, helping people in need, going for a walk and enjoying life and the beauty of the nature. It can be done by avoiding “death signals” (stimulants, meat products and other heated dead foods, etc.). In this way you will show the immune system that you want to live and actually enjoy life. As a result those smart and intelligent invisible tiny soldiers (the white blood cells) will never attack your own body (or will stop doing that) but will protect and fight for you like Kamikazes.

Unfortunately, from my long experience I know that for many of us it is very difficult and often even impossible to become a positive thinking person because those negative emotions and fears seem to be part of our nature. Sometimes we even feel like slaves of pessimism.

And that sad truth is the very reason I included on my website a very special, unique and even most important section called “EMPOWRNMENT”. So please read it carefully and then study the even more significant article titled the “GOSPEL OF FREEDOM“, as it reveals the secret of finding the only source of true inward “peace” which according to Apostle Paul “surpasses all knowledge” and which can “guard (protect) our hearts and minds (emotions)”.

Combined with true strong faith this message will lead you to freedom from negative emotions such as anxiety or existential fears (one of the key source of deadly free radicals). It will empower you with moral strength necessary to overcome long-cultivated bad habits or addictions, often impossible to defeat on our own. This unique and most wonderful good news of the gospel will also give you a powerful motivation to not only practice but also enjoy the new and very healthy way of life.

SOURCES

Mok CC, Birmingham DJ, Leung HW. Vitamin D levels in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 2012  Apr; 51(4): 644-52.

Hafström I, Ringertz B, Spångberg A, et al. A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2001, 40:1175-1179.

Proudman SM, James MJ, Spargo LD, et al. Fish oil in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised, double-blind controlled trial within algorithm-based drug use. Ann Rheum Dis 2013.

Tursi A, Brandimarte G, Papa A, et al. Treatment of relapsing mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis with the probiotic VSL#3 as adjunctive to a standard pharmaceutical treatment: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Gastroenterol 2010, 105:2218-2227.

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/cordyceps-and-artemisinin-prevent-recurrence-lupus-nephritis

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