Conscious Choice: Autoimmune Diseases, Prevention and Treatment

November 1999

Autoimmune Diseases, Prevention and Treatment

by Mary Corrado

To the surprise of researchers, many common diseases are now emerging as attacks of the immune system on the body’s healthy tissues. More than forty diseases, some as well-known as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and juvenile diabetes, are autoimmune. Sometimes causing severe disability, pain, and fatigue over a lifetime, they affect up to 7 percent of the U.S. population.

The term"autoimmune" refers to any illness in which the immune system destroys the healthy tissue of the body as if it were a threat. There are similarities among the diseases; they attack women much more often than men, and generally, they first appear around puberty. People in their forties or fifties also comprise a large share of the autoimmune cases, although not as large as those in their teens. However, people of any gender or age can get an autoimmune diseases. In fact, they usually appear without apparent cause or warning. Even the recurrent flaring up of rheumatoid arthritis fits this pattern — there is no rhyme or reason for the timing of the attacks. In all autoimmune conditions, real fatigue occurs as the body wars with itself.

Which part of the body is attacked differs according to the disease. Other factors that vary are whether one feels discomfort or an overwhelming threat, whether it lasts for one brief episode or for the rest of one’s life, and whether it’s simple or very difficult to treat. In each autoimmune disease, the immune system is in overdrive. That’s the opposite of AIDS, in which it barely functions at all.

How It Works

Conventional enemies to our health include microscopic bacteria and viruses, which can enter the body from the outside, (through skin or air passages) and bring about illness. The healthy immune system fights these organisms, which are called antigens. Coordinating action in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and thymus, it produces huge amounts of very specific antibodies to fight each type of antigen. After each battle, the immune system continues to make some antibodies so that any future intrusion by that antigen would be unsuccessful. The person is therefore immune to that illness. Adults find they are immune to many of the colds children catch because the adults previously encountered those particular viruses and established antibodies against them. The antibodies of a nursing mother, which also are present in her milk, thus temporarily protect her baby against colds and other illness.

If your immune system is very effective, you may never get sick. If it isn’t, you may come down with many viruses and bacterial infections. If it gets confused, allergies and autoimmune illnesses result. What goes wrong in autoimmune disease is simply the failure to distinguish harmless from harmful material. If certain foods are misidentified as invaders, the tissues swell to fight them, and we call it a food allergy. Pollen may be attacked with the watering of nose and eyes in the condition of hay fever. A more serious response is the rare reaction to shellfish or bee sting, that violent swelling that constricts breathing or blood flow and is known as "anaphylactic shock." Similarly, when receiving a transplant of skin, bones, or organs, a body’s immune system will recognize the cells as foreign and attack them as harmful. To minimize this, surgeons try to closely match donors to recipients — and they also suppress the immune system.

In each of these conditions, doctors at least know what sets off the attack by the immune system. The frustrating mystery of autoimmune diseases is what triggers the attack. They tend to develop in individuals who are susceptible as a result of genetic inheritance, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, poor diet, alcohol use, or tobacco use. They may be triggered by bacteria, viruses, "superantigens" that overactivate the immune response, tissue damage, leaky breast implants, or toxins. Two suspected toxins are TCE (trichloroethylene), used as an industrial paint stripper and spot remover, and lithium, used in batteries and psychiatric drugs.

Commonsense measures can strengthen the health of the immune system. In general, it helps to get proper sleep, exercise, and nutrition. A low-fat, low-protein, low-calorie diet is recommended, as well as supplemental vitamins. If an autoimmune disease does occur, specific measures for each disease can lessen the effect on your health.

The stiff painful joints of arthritis have been around since prehistory. In fact, arthritis includes over a hundred different joint diseases, some autoimmune and some not. The autoimmune version known as rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more serious and painful forms of the disease, in which the immune system attacks bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage in and around joints. Sometimes, it is mistakenly considered part of the natural aging process, but it is not. It is associated with gene DR4, although only a small percentage of those with DR4 actually will get the disease. Since the 1800s it has become rather widespread, affecting one percent of Americans. Some of the afflicted merely feel discomfort, but others are badly crippled.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the hands and feet. It often attacks other joints as well, and can also affect organs such as the eyes, heart, lungs, skin, muscles and nerves. Pain interferes with sleep, so fatigue sets in. A general feeling of sickness often occurs. Periods of remission can last for days, weeks, or months. Flare-ups may be associated with humidity or weather changes.

While there is presently no cure, doctors relieve the pain and swelling with aspirin, cortisone, gold injections, or methotrexate, each of which can have side effects. Self-help measures include fifteen to twenty minute periods of heat, cold, or the alternation of these. The heat reduces pain and loosens joints, while the cold can relieve pain and reduce swelling. Swimming, stretching, walking, and mild aerobics can help as long as sufferers do not overuse the affected joints.

Juvenile diabetes, also known as Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, also has been mentioned in ancient literature. It usually begins in early adolescence and is characterized by high amounts of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Healthy people process the blood sugar with insulin secreted by the pancreas, but in juvenile diabetes the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While the kidneys are stressed trying to discard excess sugar, the body cells are frustrated in trying to access it for fuel. The cells are forced to consume body fat and muscle instead.

Susceptibility to this disease runs in families, but many cases occur in families with no history of diabetes. Early exposure to cow’s milk protein may trigger it, and breastfed babies are less likely to develop it. Researchers also suspect a virus of causing it. While there is no cure, insulin injections taken at least once or twice a day can help. Still, very careful balance of blood sugar levels must be maintained. The high levels that may occur between shots can lead to eye, heart, or kidney damage. More frequent injections can cut that risk, but if the sugar level gets too low, impaired thinking or seizures may result, so monitoring is essential. A wise diabetic avoids sweets, which make the blood sugar skyrocket, and never skips meals. Exercise makes the insulin more efficient and also helps to maintain a healthy immune system.

Another major autoimmune disease is lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), which affects half a million people in the United States. Currently, nine out of ten patients are women, and three times more black women than white women develop lupus. Though widespread awareness of lupus is recent, the disease has been known since prehistory. In lupus, the body produces antibodies to certain molecules of the nuclei of cells. The antibodies spread within the body, and can impair the functioning of the blood, joints, and nervous system, as well as the kidneys and other organs.

Lupus symptoms include a butterfly-shaped facial rash, painful joints, and tremendous fatigue. Some patients have mouth ulcers, fever, anemia, weight loss, numb fingers, discomfort in cold, or sensitivity to sun or light. Symptoms can flare up and then fade for a while. Although most people have it in a mild or moderate state, 10 percent of sufferers die from it.

A family history of lupus increases one’s likelihood of getting it. What is the trigger? A virus, a drug, a pollutant, and sunlight are all suggested. Conventional medicine has no cure, and mostly treats symptoms such as swelling with aspirin and steroids. Again, conventional and complementary practitioners recommend plenty of rest, proper diet, exercise — and sunscreen.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease afflicting 300,000 people in the U.S. In MS, the immune system attacks myelin, which sheaths the nerves, and thus scars the spinal cord and brain. Symptoms commonly include blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of balance, and tremors. Fatigue, numbness of limbs and involuntary eye movement also characterize MS. Flare-ups, remissions, and relapses are common. Twenty percent of those with MS are confined to wheelchairs or beds.

MS is not inherited, although family history does increase its likelihood. Twice as many women as men develop it, usually in their twenties or thirties. MS "favors" those of Western European background and those in temperate geographic zones. It is rare in Asia, and certain Africans never get it. But African-Americans are as likely as white Americans to develop the disease.

Conventional MS treatment also falls short of a cure. Doctors commonly use steroids and physical therapy to relieve uncomfortable symptoms and help patients control muscles.

Numerous other diseases also are autoimmune attacks. Guillain-Barre syndrome, Graves’ disease, Addison’s disease, and psoriasis are among them. Each has its own particular set of symptoms, and all are mitigated to some extent by rest, exercise, and a healthful diet

Help on the Horizon

So far, conventional medicine has been more effective in discovering palliatives than cures. Existing treatments can be helpful, but they do have their own costs. Insulin was an enormous advance in treating juvenile diabetes, but it, like sugar, must be carefully monitored. Steroids, such as cortisone and prednisone successfully suppress the immune system, but unfortunately they inhibit the entire system and not just the malfunctioning part. Cyclosporine, FK506, Azathioprine, and CTLA41g all have promising effects — and unfortunate side effects.

Oral tolerization is the most exciting avenue in conventional research. Apparently, giving an oral dose of whatever antigen has triggered an autoimmune response can builds the body’s tolerance to the antigen. Rats with MS, whose immune systems attack the myelin sheaths of nerves, were fed myelin and dramatically cured of MS. People with diabetes, whose immune systems attack insulin-making cells, have been fed capsules of insulin — and many could reduce or stop completely the drugs they had previously needed to suppress the immune system. People with arthritis have taken collagen in orange juice and experienced a similar improvement. Such oral tolerization seems to very selectively adjust the immune system, leaving it strong, and producing no side effects. So far, most cures are still on the horizon. But in some cases, they seem to be coming into view.

Alternative Approaches

Sufferers can do themselves a favor by investigating complementary medicine, which is often effective at treating "mystery" ailments like autoimmune disease. Effective alternative treatments for autoimmune attacks include homeopathy and the Chinese approach.

Homeopathic treatments for hay fever and other allergies are available over the counter at Merz Apothecary in Chicago. Pharmacist Mike Winter explains that conventional allergy shots give a patient the actual allergen. However, a homeopathic treatment gives the energy of the allergen to help the body fight. "Instead of taking an antihistamine to fight the histamine in pollen, [you] take the energy of histamine." Both Winter and co-owner Abdul Qaiyum highly recommend products such as Pollinosan (Bioforce) and Allergy (BHI) to cope with allergy symptoms. They advise consulting a homeopath for symptomatic relief of the more serious autoimmune diseases. The homeopathic approach treats like with like in order to balance the immune system.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can offer relief from symptoms of juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, lupus, allergies, hay fever, and many other illnesses. The Chinese approach includes acupuncture, herbs, and foods. TCM looks at these illnesses as a "lack of balance in the immune system" rather than as an autoimmune problem. Dr. Charles Lo, M.D., has recently returned from a month-long Immune Clinic at the Zhe Jiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou, China. He and his staff of traditional Chinese doctors treat these diseases at offices in Chicago, Oak Park, and Highland Park. Lest your conventional doctor express reservations, tell him or her that the World Health Organization has listed arthritis, diabetes, and hay fever among the conditions for which it considers acupuncture appropriate.

As doctors persevere in seeking cures, responsible people can enhance health with a sensible lifestyle and avoidance of risk factors. Go ahead and investigate the treatment options and medicines mentioned in this article, and check out Nathan Aaseng’s excellent book, Autoimmune Diseases. Then consider all the alternatives in treatment, including some that conventional doctors may not yet know. Above all, seek responsible practitioners who can cooperate to find what works for you.

Resources

Merz Apothecary, 4716 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 773-989-0900

Dr. Charles Lo, M.D., 55 E. Washington, Chicago, 312-782-0487; 1140 W. Lake Street, Ste. 402, Oak Park, 708-848-0330; 600 Central, Ste. 144, Highland Park, 847-433-6988

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