Minutus

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases

by Robert Harrison

In this report you will learn what an autoimmune disease does in the
body. What the underlying causes of autoimmune diseases are and what is
important to consider in dealing with it. So that you may have a better
understanding of how to get healthy again.

All autoimmune diseases share much in common. Research on any particular
one can often apply to the understanding of other autoimmune diseases.
They all have similar underlying causes and conditions. This report will
give you an understanding of them and how they effect your body.
Depending on your symptoms and the type you have, some information will
apply to you more than other information will. You will end up with a
much better understanding of what is going on in your body than you
probably have obtained from your doctor. And if you read the health
report that follows this report, you will learn even more information
that could be of help.

Let's start with a brief description of the symptoms *common* to
autoimmune diseases. Then I will attempt to explain in as comprehensive
and understandable a way as possible, the various possible causes of
them, the vast number of problems that develop in your body when you
have them, and what to consider in deciding how to combat them.
*Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases*

* *

Spouses and family members, even though someone may look perfectly
healthy, if they have an autoimmune diseases, they are truly ill. It is
not in their head.

The following symptoms are common in many, if not all, autoimmune diseases.

*Fatigue: *It’s not a good fatigue, from working hard, but an anxious,
uncomfortable fatigue related to lack of sleep. Or a disruption of the
energy production mechanism in cells, either from lack of oxygen,
increased toxicity, infections or a malfunction of the mitochondria.

*Sleep Disturbance: *About 80% may wake up three or four times a night,
or in some cases you don’t wake up, but in the morning you still feel
like a truck ran over you. The reason for this is that subliminal
seizures kick you out of stage 4, Delta sleep, to stage 1 sleep so you
can’t sleep deeply and wake up not rested.

*Short Term Memory Loss: *Because of the low thyroid and heart
complications typical in autoimmune diseases, there is a decrease in
blood flow to the left lobe of the brain causing an oxygen deficiency in
the brain. This can lead to the memory loss and forgetfulness that is
common in autoimmune diseases.

*Emotional Liability: *Someone may cry more easily, be more anxious and
fearful. This is caused by the illness, and is not a psychological
reaction!

*Depression: *As with the emotional symptoms, the hypothalamus is
involved. This is not clinical depression, but literally has a physical
cause that is sometimes experienced as a deep depression right in the
heart.

*Low Thyroid Function. *About 85% have this symptom, but only about 10%
of the time does it show up on a typical thyroid test. If you get
tested, have both a T3 and T4 done. About 10% have excessive hair loss.
For most everyone, a poorly performing thyroid will show up as subnormal
temperatures.

*Gastrointestinal Problems: *About 75% have this symptom. Can be
anything from gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea or constipation to hiatal
hernia, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s Disease. Sometimes taking a
simple homeopathic remedy like arsenicum album, 6x or 6c and make a
difference with this.

*Swollen Glands, Chemical Sensitivity, Headaches: *Allergies often
develop, usually after 3 to 5 years. Eyes can be light sensitive for 6
months or longer. Dry eyes can develop. About 20% experience a very
uncomfortable disequilibrium of vertigo, almost an out of body feeling
that can be most disconcerting.

*Pain and Fibromyalgia: *Often diagnosed as a separate illness,
fibromyalgia is basically a symptom that can occur with any autoimmune
disease. If you have it, you’ve got pain. Often in the neck and in
shoulder muscles extending down the back. Can be in the joints and
muscles also.

*Low Blood Sugar. *

*Candida Yeast Infections: *These are very common. Check your tongue. If
it has a white coating, you have it. Or take the spit test you will read
about later. Women may get vaginal yeast infections caused by candida
overgrowth. A candida infection on its own can cause a number of
autoimmune type symptoms. Sinus infections often are caused by candida.

*Tingling hands. Ringing ears. Cold toes. Cold fingers. Metallic taste
in mouth. *Caused by poor circulation and who knows what.* *

*Overdoing: *You overexercise or overwork when your are feeling good,
and then feel worse for days afterward. This can cause serious problems.
In healthy people the body shuts down when the anaerobic threshold is
reached as a lot of pain is experienced. This warning does not occur if
you have an autoimmune disease. Instead, the body continues to exercise
and experiences no pain as the lactic acid builds up, and the body ends
up recirculating carbon dioxide. This is /not/ a healthy thing to have
happen to you. It is important not to push too hard when you start
recovering, or this will set you back and wipe you out.

*Fluttering Heart. Panic Attacks. Rapid Heartbeat. Mitral Valve
Prolapse. *Usually blood pressure is low, though it can get high later
on. The heart underpumps blood because it is getting incorrect messages
from the autonomous nervous system. The body’s feedback loop picks this
up and over-reacts. And you get these symptoms.

If you have autoimmune illness, it is not likely you have all these
symptoms. However, you will have many of them to one degree or another.

*/This information is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor.
This is not medical advice on how to treat autoimmune conditions, but
information to help you understand them. /*

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*Immune System Malfunction*

* *

* *

The malfunctioning immune system is a major problem in autoimmune
diseases so let’s first look at why the immune system starts having
problems and what those problems are.

One point. Some researchers feel that sometimes an autoimmune illness
(and Parkinson’s disease) may be caused by consumption of aspartame (in
diet drinks, Equal, Nutrasweet) and/or MSG. If you drink diet sodas or
commonly consume either of these two chemical excito-toxins, Stop. They
may be a major cause of your problems.

There are two general immune system issues in an autoimmune disease.
Poor cellular communication because there is a lack of cell markers on
the cell walls. And an over-activated, out of balance immune system that
attacks those cells.
*Lack Of Cellular Communication*

So why does the immune system attack the body? After all, the immune
system is supposed to attack pathogens that are “non-self”. Not the
body’s own cells. Even when mycoplasma and viral infections deliberately
confuse and overactivate the immune system, which may happen quite
often, the question remains as to why the immune cells attack cells they
are supposed to be protecting.

It wasn’t till I learned about the role of long chain carbohydrates in
cellular communication that I understood one reason why this may happen.
Here’s the story.

Different types of long chain carbohydrates reside on the surface of
cells. Communicating information about that cell, and allowing it to
interact and exchange information with other cells. One thing they
communicate is that they are a part of the body. When cells have these
markers, they won’t be attacked. Any cell that doesn’t have these cell
markers is treated as “non-self” by the immune system. And can be attacked.

The essential heavy molecular weight carbohydrates that make cell
markers aren’t commonly in our diet. With healthy individuals, this is
not a problem because they can be made from ordinary carbohydrates.
However, the process required to do this is enzyme intensive. And as an
autoimmune disease develops, enzymes are destroyed throughout the body.
(You’ll read more about this in a few minutes.) So you become enzyme
deficient and unable to produce adequate amounts of long chain cell
markers.

This may be why some cells can’t communicate that they are part of the
body. If the immune system is overactivated, it may attack those cells.
Causing inflammatory damage, and ultimately organ and joint damage.

There has been much positive research into the value of these long chain
carbohydrate molecules.

Acta Anatomica, a European journal, states that long chain carbohydrate
molecules have a coding capacity surpassing that of amino acids.

In March, 2001, Science Magazine dedicated virtually the entire magazine
to the essential saccharides that make up these cellular communication
keys.

The University of California, San Diego, announced the establishment of
a Center for the further research and development of the Science of
Glycobiology. And the President of the Royal Academy of Medicine in
London, Dr. John Asford, said that "Sugars are going to be the molecules
of the next decade.”

Clearly, increasing levels of these long chain carbohydrate molecules
may have a beneficial effect on the immune system.

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*An Out Of Balance Immune System*

* *

To put it simply, your immune system has two different modes or sides.
Th-1 or T helper-1 cells fight pathogens like viruses, mycoplasma and
bacteria that are inside the cells. Th-2 or T helper-2 cells fight
pathogens outside the cells. When the immune system is healthy, these
two modes function together, supporting each other in keeping the body
healthy. But if they get out of balance, if the Th-1 side becomes weak
and the Th-2 side over-activated, or the reverse, serious problems develop.

If you suffer from an autoimmune condition, in some way or another part
of your immune system is worn out. The Wall Street Journal, August 2nd,
2000, reported that a team of researchers lead by Dr. Weyand studied
patients with an autoimmune disease and compared them with people of
similar age without the condition. They found that patients 20 to 30
years old had a collection of immune cells that looked as though they
belonged to 50 to 60 year olds.

Worn out Th-1 cells can result in an elevated, overactive Th-2 immune
response because they help control Th-2 cell activity. Or the opposite
can happen. The immune system must be in balance to operate efficiently.
If it is not, it needs to be modulated back into balance.

Besides this, several things may also cause Th-2 cell overactivation.
*Stress* for one. Stress produces cortisol. Cortisol stimulates the
production of Interleukin 6 and other Th-2 cells. For this reason
autoimmune diseases may manifest after a stressful event. A divorce, an
accident, a death in the family.

*Exposure to toxins* wears out the immune system, and thus may cause
Th-2 cell overactivation. In addition to the vast number of toxins in
our food, water and environment, toxins come from poor digestion, leaky
gut syndrome (usually caused by candida), toxins in drugs and medicine
like mercury in vaccines, and mycoplasma bacteria, fungi that produce
mycotoxins, and other infectious pathogens that excrete toxins as a
byproduct of their metabolism. This can get pretty insidious.

One study by Dr. Dunstan concluded that a pesticide mutated bacteria in
the guts was producing a potent pesticide-like toxin which literally was
poisoning the body. *It’s like having a miniature Raids factory in your
guts.* He found in a study done in Australia in the early 90’s that
/everyone/ with chronic fatigue had this toxin in them to some degree.

The worse the symptoms, the higher the levels. There was a direct
connection between the quantity of this toxin and the severity of the
disease. Even in the healthy control group, Dr. Dunstan found that 40%
had this toxic chemical present in very small amounts. Obviously not
enough to cause an illness, but setting those people up for the
possibility of developing an autoimmune illness in the future.

This is one reason why it makes sense to take top quality probiotics
(friendly intestinal bacteria) that help keep bad bacteria under control.

Ritchie Shoemaker, M.D. reports on his investigations which lead to a
somewhat similar conclusion.

“The invisible link was "*biotoxins*" - poisonous chemical compounds
that travel with impunity through the human body. These tiny molecules
shuttle from nerve to muscle to brain to sinus to G.I. tract and other
organs in a continual circuit, while triggering the symptoms we define
as ‘biotoxin-related illness.’

“As recent research clearly demonstrates, the compounds are manufactured
by a growing number of microorganisms that have begun thriving in our
ecosystem. ....They tell us, quite simply, that toxin-forming
microorganisms have brought a new kind of disease into our world - a
pathology in which bacteria, fungi, algae and other tiny organisms have
"learned" how to manufacture toxins that linger on in the human body,
long after the organisms themselves are dead. ...

“The pathogens may differ, but the biotoxins they produce all do their
damage by setting off an *"exaggerated inflammatory response"* in
humans. While hiding out in fatty tissues where blood-borne
disease-fighters can't get at them, they ‘trick’ the body's immune
system for fighting germs into launching attacks of inflammation in many
organ systems, including joints, muscles, nerves and brain.”

To make it worse, some of these organisms apparently are manmade, as
part of germ warfare, and their form has been altered to make them more
difficult for the body to defend against.

According to Dr. Paul Cheney, one of the top autoimmune doctors in the
world, viruses, especially the herpes viruses, and some bacteria and
mycoplasma, make proteins that mimic IL-10. This tricks the immune
system into activating Th-2 cells instead of the Th-1 cells that are
supposed to activate and kill these viruses. They trick the immune
system into thinking that the threat is coming from the Th-2 side. So
the immune system shifts from the Th-1 mode that would attack the
viruses or mycoplasma, to the Th-2 mode that does not. They increase
their chances of survival by diverting the immune system. And literally
initiate an autoimmune condition.

Infections are found in a very high percentage of people with autoimmune
diseases. Often more than one type. The infections are bacterial, viral
and/or from various types of mycoplasma. In some cases these infections
are opportunistic. In other words they occur because the immune system
has been wiped out and can’t fight these infections off. (The Th-1 side
is worn out.) Or they may be the underlying cause of the malfunctioning
immune system.

Donald Scott, based on historical research of government records,
reports that a biological weapon, a *mycoplasma* disease agent, was
tested years ago on unknowing US and Canadian populations. Including the
Lake Tahoe area where Dr. Cheney first reported cases of CFS. Donald
says he has been told by ex-servicemen who were working with this
biological weapon during the Korean War that they were told it caused
multiple sclerosis in a percentage of people. And he says that records
show it was given to Iraq during the 80s to support their war against
Iran, and was most likely used against US troops at the end of the Gulf
War, perhaps causing the Gulf War Syndrome. Because it spreads through
the air, he says everyone has been exposed to it.

Noted microbiologist, *Garth Nicolson,* who is said to be among the 100
most cited researchers in the world, found mycoplasma in approximately
50% of the people he tested who had Gulf War Syndrome. Including his
daughter. She came back with Gulf War Syndrome and both he and his wife
also got it from her. Quick use of antibiotics got them over it. He
found that some of the mycoplasma contained an unusual gene sequence
probably inserted by a laboratory. Which would imply a biological weapon
so perhaps Donald Scott is right. Read more about this at:
www.whale.to/m/scott7.html

Garth found that the mycoplasma do activate an immune response. They
then hide from the immune system inside the immune system itself, in
white blood cells. Making them very hard to get rid of. They can cause
infections deep within any organ.

*The immune system ends up attacking cells which have mycoplasma in
them, and can get “turned on” to attacking the host cells.*

In further testing on other autoimmune diseases, Garth found similar
levels of viral, bacterial and mycoplasma infections. These (and perhaps
the fungi and other organisms Dr. Shoemaker speaks of) likely initiate
the autoimmune response in many cases of CFS.

Mycoplasma can cause fatigue, pain and over-toxicity as they poison and
disrupt the cells they have invaded. They produce potent toxins inside
the cells they reside in. *These toxins disrupt the energy production
pathways so that infected cells cannot produce energy.*

Mycoplasma also damage the immune system when they invade Natural Killer
cells. This destruction renders the body susceptible to viruses.

High doses of antibiotics used for long periods of time, commonly a year
or more, have had some success against mycoplasma, and some of the other
bacteria and organisms that produce these toxins. But they have to be
rotated to be successful and the longer you have had an illness, the
less likely they will be successful. Antibiotics aren’t perfect for
killing mycoplasma because they can’t get into cells, which is where the
mycoplasma reside. They can only kill mycoplasma after the cell bursts
open, and the mycoplasma must find another cell. Antibiotics are
/unable/ to fight the numerous viral infections found in autoimmune
conditions.

Let’s continue on with what happens in your body when you have an
autoimmune situation.

*What happens when Th-2 cells are activated and Th-1 cells are worn out,
is this...*

Dr. Cheney explains that your body’s only defense against pathogens
(like viruses and mycoplasma) ends up being Th-2 side RNase L activity.

He explains that RNase L cannot kill pathogens. It can only stop them
from reproducing. According to Cheney, "It's a line in the sand saying
'No more replication', and it waits for Th-1 to come and kill them. But
Th-1 never comes. RNase L sits there and grinds away, possibly going up
and down as the pathogens activate and reactivate. But they never get
wiped out. RNase L holds the line, waiting for the cavalry that never
arrives."

*This RNase L activity causes big problems because...*

While it is trying to hold the line, it is, according to Cheney,
inhibiting /all/ the enzymes in the body, *disrupting* protein
synthesis, and generally making you *miserable*.

Even worse, as RNase L grinds away, it eventually shifts into
"afterburner" desperation mode - a more powerful and deadly low
molecular weight form. Research indicates that this form of RNase L is
up to six times more *destructive* to enzymes and protein synthesis than
the typical form.

What is supposed to happen when a healthy person encounters a virus or
mycoplasma? The regular form of RNase L inhibits replication, then the
immune system revs up and wipes them out. After that everything
down-regulates, and they recover.

In an autoimmune situation, the RNase L activity shifts to a more
destructive lower weight form, and does not shut off. It stays activated
much longer, resulting in /pronounced/ cellular metabolic dysfunction.
This overactivation of RNase L also effects the liver. Liver function
*declines* because the enzymes used by the liver to detoxify toxins are
being creamed by the activity of the aberrant RNase L. * *

When this happens, a person become susceptible to toxins. This happens
because RNase L has wiped out the enzymes the liver needs to detoxify
the body. This leads to high levels of toxicity. Wrecking havoc in the
body.

*Liver dysfunction may also cause a Th-2 flare-up...*

Antibodies are produced by the Th-2 side to attack pathogens in the
blood. Normally, excess antibodies are removed by the liver. However,
when liver enzymes have been destroyed by RNase L activity, the liver
may not be able to remove the excess antibodies. They then might attack
cells in an autoimmune response.

*Steroids and the immune response... *

As you can see, *balancing* the immune system so that it works the way
it is supposed to is a fundamental need when you have an autoimmune
condition. When a doctor gives a person suffering from an autoimmune
disease prednisone or another steroid, which most do, they are trying to
turn off the immune system. Unfortunately, the success rate is *low*
because they are using a poor tool. Because steroids don’t just turn
down the Th-2 side, but they also wipe out the Th-1 side. This side
needs to be *boosted*, not depressed. For unless it can be brought up to
normal, it will allow the Th-2 side to overactivate. Both sides are
always in a balance. If one is too low, the other will naturally be too
high. Like a teeter-totter.

Clearly, putting the immune system back in balance, turning off the Th-2
activity and strengthening the Th-1 side is of primary importance. To do
this you have to deal with the mycoplasma or viral or fungal or
bacterial *infections* which may cause it. You have to deal with the
*depleted* enzyme levels caused by excess RNase L activity. And with the
*toxicity* that builds up in cells when the liver and the cells cells
themselves can no longer get rid of toxins.

The body is a remarkable machine. If you can support and balance your
immune system adequately, your body may be able to start healing itself
and start taking care of the other problems. Generally, however, you
have to deal with *all* the issues in order to get healthy again. So
with that in mind, let’s learn a little more about enzymes and their
role in your health.

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*Digestive and Metabolic Enzymes*

* *

Digestive enzymes break down food food, and metabolic enzymes are
involved in virtually every interaction in the body. When RNase L
destroys enzymes and reduces protein digestion, the consequent lack of
enzymes affects digestion and just about everything else too.

When you eat cooked and processed foods, the enzymes in the food are
*destroyed*. The digestive process needs those now dead enzymes to break
down food in the upper stomach. It naturally produces only enough
enzymes to finish breaking down the food in the lower stomach. So when
you eat foods which no longer have live enzymes, the food doesn’t break
down in the upper stomach. And the body has to produce /extra/ enzymes
to try and break down the food in the lower stomach. And if you have an
autoimmune disease and don’t have many enzymes, how are you going to
produce extra enzymes? You can’t easily do so and digestion may suffer.

Something else happens. Enzymes are proteins. When you aren’t able to
digest the proteins in your food because you don’t have enough enzymes,
your body won’t be able to make as many enzymes as it should. So will
have an even harder time digesting proteins.

By the way, most people, especially those with *acid reflux*, do /not/
produce enough acid in the stomach to digest protein. As a consequence,
the stomach churns up the food, working hard to try and break it down.
And splashes this mixture up the throat, causing acid reflux. Taking
additional Betaine HCL and digestive enzymes, not anti-acids, are the
combination which can take care of this problem.

Which is why it makes sense to use good digestive enzymes with meals,
with betaine for more acidity, and take an amino acid blend that can
help the body can make more enzymes.
*Hypercoagulation, Enzymes and Autoimmune Conditions*

* *

Dr. Cheney says that Immune System Activation of Coagulation, called
*hypercoagulation*, needs to be dealt with early on or other treatments
may not be effective. In hypercoagulation, pathogens and/or toxins
activate the immune system to lay down *fibrin* in blood vessels. The
fibrin coats the walls, *blocking* oxygen and nutrients from getting to
nearby tissues. Researchers found that *80%* of patients with an
autoimmune illness had this coagulation. So this condition undoubtedly
is common in chronic fatigue.

Pathogens that activate this include viruses, bacteria (mycoplasma,
chlamydia, etc.) and fungi (such as candida). These pathogens are
anaerobes, they live in an oxygen deprived environment. Fibrination
helps them survive because it causes decreased oxygen. The less oxygen
the better for them. Unfortunately, this can cause a great deal of
damage. Everything from *decreased* energy to a buildup of toxins and
lactic acid in cells.

Hypercoagulation is not an accurate name for this condition as it is not
that the blood is too thick. It is that the capillaries become *coated*
with fibrin and the blood cannot flow freely. Fortunately, fibrin can be
cleaned off artery walls. Using, of all things, digestive enzymes.

Here’s why they may help. If you take a digestive enzyme on an empty
stomach, so that it has nothing to digest in the stomach, the enzymes
get into the bloodstream. (Many studies prove enzyme supplements do
this.) Once there, they do several things, break down partially digested
food, kill pathogens, and clean up the blood in general. Including
toxins produced by mycoplasma or any of the other toxin producing
micro-organisms.

More important for hypercoagulation, enzymes clean the walls of the
blood vessels. *Digesting* and breaking down fats, and in the case of
hypercoagulation, the fibrin (a protein) that coats the walls.

There is another aspect to this. Mycoplasma and viral infections may
cause blood cells to stick together. Called cold *algination*. Sticky
clumps of red blood cells cause problems. Oxygen and nutrients can’t get
to cells efficiently when red blood cells are clumped up. The cells get
stuck in small capillaries and *clog* them up. Seriously reducing
oxygenation to cells. Taking a good quality enzyme high in protease and
lipase on an empty stomach will work to unstick those red blood cells
within a short period of time.

So take digestive enzymes between meals and with meals. They help take a
strain off the immune system because fewer partially digested food
particles will enter the bloodstream. When you can’t digest food
completely, /partially/ digested food can make its way into the
bloodstream. Once there, it acts as a *toxin* and literally causes the
immune system to devote energy and resources to getting rid of it. In
addition this can cause food *allergies* to develop. This is especially
true if you have a candida infection that is eating holes in your
intestinal walls, thereby allowing even more partially digested food to
enter the bloodstream. Enzymes between meals may help clean up this mess.
*Lack Of Oxygen Common in Autoimmune Conditions*

Oxygen, or rather the lack of it at the cellular level, may cause many
problems in autoimmune diseases. Decreased oxygen to the left side of
the brain can result in the *short term memory loss*. And may be a
factor in the long term *malfunctioning* of glandular and hormonal
systems in the brain.

In addition, buildup of fibrin on the walls of the blood vessels creates
low oxygen areas where cells /cannot/ produce an adequate amount of
energy. And may be the reason a common symptom in autoimmune diseases is
*cold fingers or feet*, tingley legs and that type of thing. Oxygen is
also needed to oxidize and *detoxify* toxins. When cells don’t have
enough oxygen, they are not be able to detoxify themselves adequately.
And they won’t be able to produce adequate amounts of energy, which may
be a major cause of fatigue.

Oxygen *kills* anaerobic bacteria, mycoplasma and viruses. It works so
well it is used to *purify* water in many cities. (Ozonation.) Why isn’t
it used more often with autoimmune diseases?

First breathing it in, you are limited by the amount of oxygen that can
be picked up by the hemoglobin in the blood. So it may be difficult to
increase oxygen levels dramatically that way. And the drawback to oxygen
supplements, the reason they have proven /not/ to be very effective, is
that your typical liquid oxygen supplements such as hydrogen peroxide or
Vitamin O or whatever, have *no* way to get oxygen /into/ the cells. The
delivery system is lacking. And as the mycoplasma and viruses reside
primarily inside cells, and as it is cells that need the extra oxygen
the most, these products are *limited* in their capacity to help.

If you want to fight mycoplasmas and viruses with oxygen, you need to
produce oxygen /inside/ the cells. Get enough oxygen into the cells, and
it may help with the whole range of oxygen deficiencies.

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*Candida Yeast Infections Major Issue In Autoimmune Diseases*

Many people suffer from candida yeast overgrowth. Estimates are that 80%
of the population does. If you have an autoimmune disease, your
likelihood of having yeast infections is even higher as your immune
system is *damaged* and probably your intestinal flora too. A major
candida yeast infection can produce similar symptoms to those produced
by autoimmune diseases. *Extreme fatigue, food sensitivities, allergies,
etc.*

The intestinal tract in general has problems when you have an autoimmune
disease. Anything from the common intestinal disorders to the pesticide
mutated bacteria and other organisms that could be spewing toxic
chemicals in your guts. If you want to get healthy, your
gastrointestinal disorders have to be dealt with. Naturally. Creating an
intestinal environment with the right pH, eliminating the candida
overgrowth and bad bacteria poisoning your body. And repopulating the
intestines with the friendly healthy aerobic bacteria your body needs.
That can help keep the “bad” bacteria under control and help to digest
food and eliminate waste.

* *

The reason candida causes so many problems is this. If your body loses
its proper immune protection and its friendly intestinal bacteria have
been destroyed by antibiotics or whatever, candida can *overgrow* as it
is not killed by antibiotics and “morph” from being a beneficial yeast
into a *harmful* fungus. In its fungal form it develops rhizoids (long
root-like structures that are invasive and penetrate the mucosa. Once
this happens, the boundary between the intestinal tract and the rest of
the circulatory system breaks down, and this allows partially digested
proteins to travel into the bloodstream where they become toxins.

There are many theories why this happens. Most naturopaths concur that
the conversion happens due to some sort of attack on our immune systems
– either prolonged antibiotic use, taking steroids or oral
contraceptives on a regular basis, or a high sugar diet. It could be a
combination of these. It is also conjectured that candida increases its
numbers during periods of stress and lowered immune states.* *

Candida thrives on the foods that are a large part of the typical
American diet, which in addition, alters intestinal pH unfavorably.
Stress contributes to its proliferation. And, because of its
adaptability, it is easily *transmitted* from person to person in a family.

*Simple Home Candida Test: *

* *

Try this simple test to see if you have candida. First thing in the
morning, before you put ANYTHING in your mouth, get a clear glass. Fill
with water and work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of
water. Check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour. If you
have a candida yeast infection, you will see strings (like legs)
traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, or
“cloudy” saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks
will seem to be suspended in the water. If there are no stings and the
saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you are probably
candida yeast free.

If you have a bunch of threads or cloudiness, and especially if it
develops quickly, you can be pretty darn sure you have a serious case of
candida. A few threads or light cloudiness indicate not as serious an
infestation.
*Detoxification and Free Radical Damage in Autoimmune Diseases*

The problems in autoimmune conditions run much deeper than a messed up
immune system, wiped out enzymes, oxygen depleted cells and pathogens
making a comfortable home in your guts.

When your liver can’t effectively detoxify your body because its enzymes
have been wiped out, toxins build up in your cells. Especially so if
*mycoplasma* are also producing toxins in them. So toxins build up in
them. This toxic buildup causes much damage. Damage that can persist
even if the autoimmune response is turned off.

Dr. Cheney explains that once the toxicity begins, the toxins
themselves* inhibit and injure* the very enzymes needed to detoxify
them. Plus, the cells’ principle detoxification agent and a major viral
inhibitor, glutathione, gets used up early on. Making it difficult for
cells to detoxify, and *inhibiting* their ability to kill the pathogens
infecting them.

*Glutathione* deficiency has been found to be virtually universal in
autoimmune diseases. This deficiency has two major implications: detox
failure and viral/microbial activation. Glutathione plays a major role
in detoxification. This deficiency impairs the body’s ability to get rid
of toxins.

Consequently, people slowly become toxic, storing away *poisons* in
fatty tissue, muscles, organs and the brain. This cellular detox failure
can make people canaries to their environment.

/To detoxify successfully, this glutathione deficiency must be addressed. /

Because glutathione is a potent *antiviral* and *anti-microbial* weapon,
glutathione deficiency compromises antiviral and anti-microbial
defenses, and actually stimulates viral replication. Raising glutathione
levels inside the cells can *stop* the replication of almost any pathogen.

A glutathione deficiency compromises our ability to keep old viruses
dormant and fight off bacteria. This is why so many people test positive
for EBV, CMV, HHV6, Mycoplasma, and Chlamydia Pneumoniae, etc.

Indications are that glutathione can stop the replication of *any*
intracellular microbe, including HHV6, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, and
mycoplasma. Dr. Cheney found that some of his patients were becoming
virus free after using a glutathione-creating *undenatured* whey protein
for approximately 6 months. Showing that the increased levels of
glutathione were indeed able to handle the viral infections.

There has been a good deal of research that show how important
glutathione is.

Immune depressed individuals have lower glutathione levels when fighting
disease. Lymphocytes, cells vital for your immune response, depend on
glutathione for their proper function and replication. Immunology 61:
503-508 1987.

Cellular depletion of Glutathione has been implicated as a causative, or
contributory factor in many pathologies including Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's, cataracts, arteriosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, malnutrition,
aging, and AIDS (Bounous et al., 1991).

In addition, Glutathione is essential in supporting the immune system,
including natural killer cells (Droege et al., 1997) and in the
maintenance of T-lymphocytes (Gutman, 1998).

It is known that as we age, there is a precipitous drop in glutathione
levels. Lower Glutathione levels are implicated in many diseases
associated with aging, including Cataracts, Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's, atherosclerosis and others. Journal of Clinical
Epidemiology 47: 1021-28 1994

Antioxidants are well documented to play vital roles in health
maintenance and disease prevention. Glutathione is our cell's own major
*antioxidant*. Why not use what is natural? Biochemical Pharmacology
47:2113-2123 1994

Low glutathione has been demonstrated in neurodegenerative diseases such
as *MS* (Multiple Sclerosis), *ALS* (Lou Gehrig's Disease),
*Alzheimer's*, and *Parkinson's*, among others. The Lancet 344: 796-798
1994

Glutathione detoxifies many pollutants, carcinogens and poisons,
including many in fuel exhaust and cigarette smoke. It retards damage
from radiation such as seen with loss of the ozone. Annual Review of
Biochemistry 52 : 711-780 1983.

The liver is the main detoxification organ of the body. In the liver we
find very high concentrations of glutathione, as it is a major factor in
numerous biochemical detoxification pathways. Numerous studies have
demonstrated that patients with compromised liver function due to
alcohol abuse have significant *reduction* of glutathione in the liver.
(Lamestro, 1995)

Glutathione is essential for the maintenance of Vitamin C and vitamin E
levels according to Mrtensson. He found that as glutathione levels
decreased, a corresponding decrease in ascorbic acid and vitamin E
followed, which led to systematic mitochondrial *death*, which in turn
leads to a *cessation* of cellular metabolism.

(It is this mitochondrial death, at first just a dysfunction, that may
cause the fatigue found in autoimmune illnesses.)

The over-toxicity causes extensive free radical damage. *Inhibits*
cellular function. *Disrupts* energy production by the mitochondria.
Consequently the primary energy the cells produce is *anaerobic* which
leads to *extensive* lactic acid buildup in the cells. And more toxicity.

Cheney explains that fatigue becomes worse. *Pain* increases. You feel
*sicker*. Memory *suffers* as the brain is *damaged* by toxins and free
radicals, and not enough oxygen gets into the brain. Deep brain
structures like the hypothalamus eventually are *injured* and cause
problems with virtually every hormone in your body. They lose their
ability to rise and fall according to signals or demands from the body
making it harder to respond to changing situations. Actual damage to the
*DNA* of the energy producing mitochondria can occur. Further limiting
energy.

As toxins cause free radical damage, you end up with low levels of all
the free radical scavengers. They get used up dealing with excessive
free radicals produced by the excessive toxins.
*Heavy Metal Toxicity*

* *

Excessive levels of heavy metals may also be common in autoimmune
diseases. One doctor who tested all his patients found that over 80% of
them with an autoimmune disease had excessive *mercury* levels. They are
difficult to get rid of, and are especially harmful as they disrupt cell
metabolism. Heavy metals slowly collect in your body, irritate cells and
literally can *wipe out the immune system.* For some people, this could
be a major cause of their fatigue.

Most of us have somewhat elevated levels of heavy metals in our system.
And it looks like this will get worse. I don’t know if this is true, but
read that in the spring of '98, Canadians found that their rainfall,
"contained concentrations of *aluminum* particles seven times higher
than permitted by Canadian health safety laws.......residents began
complaining about severe headaches, chronic joint pain, dizziness,
sudden extreme fatigue, acute asthma attacks and feverless 'flu-like
symptoms." [Earth Island Journal, Summer 2002, pages 34-35]

Don’t those symptoms sound a lot like common autoimmne symptoms?

The article talks about how western governments have been *seeding* the
upper atmosphere with *superfine* heavy metals like *aluminum*. Called
chemtrails, these are an attempt to reflect sunlight and reduce global
warming. Unfortunately, they gradually fall to earth.

A Harvard School of Public Health study found that particulates with a
diameter less than 10 microns.....pose a serious threat to public
health. On April 21, 2001, the New York Times warned: 'These microscopic
molecules are able to infiltrate the tiniest compartments in the lungs
and pass readily into the bloodstream, and have been most strongly tied
to illness and early *death*, particularly in people who are already
susceptible to respiratory problems."

Michael Biamonte, at his health clinic, tested the mercury levels in his
patients with various illnesses. He found that *84%* of his clients with
candida had elevated mercury levels, and that they were *60%* higher
than normal. The exact same numbers held for clients with parasites.
*86%* of clients with Epstein Barr Virus had mercury levels elevated by
68%. For those with chemical sensitivities 85% were 70% elevated and
found similar numbers for autoimmune diseasess. Most other conditions
were much lower.

This really opened my eyes to the damage high mercury levels can cause.
And to the fact that if you have a chronic fatigue, you have a very good
chance of having elevated levels of mercury in your body.

Getting rid of mercury is *confounded* by the *bile loop*. The liver
picks up mercury from the bloodstream where cells have put it to be
detoxified. However, rather than getting eliminated something else
happens. The liver puts it into the bile in the intestines.
Unfortunately, this mercury is rapidly absorbed once again into the
blood stream with other fluids. So instead of the liver being able to
get rid of the mercury it detoxifies, the mercury gets routed back into
the body. This is also what happens with the biotoxins produced by
micro-organisms in the body. They continually get routed back into the
blood from the bile.

Methyl mercury binds anywhere and everywhere, in genetic dependent
proportions. *Females* *retain* methyl mercury 2:1 over males. It
accumulates in the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and
every major organ, as well as the body at large. (They may well do the
same for these other biotoxins.)

Perhaps the most *devastating* are the pituitary, thyroid, hypocampus
and adrenal gland methyl mercury accumulations. These disruptions help
bring on fatigue, *mind fog,* short term memory loss, concentration
problems, and headaches. People can lose their sense of balance. Women
can develop early menopause and endodemitriosis from loss of proper
hormone regulation.

If the mercury accumulation is in the immune system, the immune system
can suffer severe damage. If the brain is the focus, all sorts of mental
disorders can occur. If it happens in the liver or kidneys, acute
diseases can attack those organs. In muscles, pain. In joints, arthritis.

A natural approach to dealing with this would be using something that
contains high levels of *alginates*. Alginates *absorb* heavy metals
like mercury and other toxins in the intestines where they have been
secreted by the bile. As these alginates cannot be absorbed, they are
*excreted* from the body, *taking* the mercury and other toxins they
have absorbed with them.
*Organ, Brain and Glandular Damage in Autoimmune Diseases*

* *

Long term overtoxicity, free radical damage, lack of oxygen and
nutrients eventually may *harm organs,* including the brain, and
*disrupt* the *hormonal system*. Unless this damage can be repaired, a
person might forever be physically limited. No matter how complete the
detoxification.

The keys to body initiated repair are *Growth Hormones* (GH) and bovine
*Growth Factors* (GF). Growth hormone acts as the "construction workers"
who implement the "blueprints" provided by the bovine growth factors.
Together they may be able to repair the damage done to the brain and
organ systems.

People with autoimmune illnesses are very *deficient* in growth
hormones. Greta Moorken’s Ph.D. thesis, published in May 2000, showed
that people with chronic fatigue for 18 months had a 50% reduction in
growth hormones. When Dr. Cheney tests patients himself, he finds
patients who have /no/ growth hormones. He feels that the longer you are
ill, the greater the reduction.

He also noted that 9 out of 10 patients who were under 20 got well.
While only 1 out of 10 patients over 20 did. And attributed this
difference to the fact that people under 20 have a *lot more* growth
hormones so even if they lose some, they have enough to recover.

Lack of growth hormones means serious trouble. GH and stage 4 sleep are
interdependent. No growth hormone - no stage 4 sleep; no stage 4 sleep -
no growth hormone.* And no stage 4 sleep and you wake up in the morning
tired and worn out.*

Cheney stated that, "At 3 AM the liver comes up and maximally
detoxifies. Isn't it interesting that the body spikes growth hormone
production not long before the liver needs it? It primes the liver. If
you don't get the priming with growth hormones at midnight, then your
liver doesn't work and you become more toxic."

Growth hormone deficiency may be related to the symptom of
overexercising and not being able to recover for days. It the body is
unable to produce growth hormone in response to exercise, serious
problems result when you exercise hard.

Growth hormone deficiency is related to a host of other hormone
deficiencies as your hormonal system starts to fall apart. The
hypothalamus goes, the thyroid too.

*Autoimmune Disease Wrap-up*

* *

* *

I am not a doctor, nor am I a health care practitioner. I am a compiler.
Taking information on Autoimmune Diseases and putting it in a form that
makes sense to me, and that, I hope, has made them a little more
understandable to you. I am sure there are aspects I have not covered.
Hopefully this report has given you enough information about autoimmune
diseases so you can make more informed decisions about the best way of
dealing with one, and take charge of your health.

I know a bit about supplements, diet and health, or ill-health for that
matter. And can give you some good pointers on what types of foods and
supplements are *especially* good for dealing with an autoimmune
condition. A number of the supplements I find most powerful and health
giving are not the usual ones you commonly hear touted. This next report
is an important extension of this information on autoimmune diseases.

http://www.gethealthyagain.com/healthreport.html

--
Health, Hope, Joy & Healing :
May you Prosper, even as your Soul Prospers 3John 2
Jennifer Ruby
Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment.
http://www.rubysemporium.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SymphonicHealth
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Therapeutic-Laser_Therapy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Reversingautism
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOTA_LightWorks/
http://www.lazrpulsr.com
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