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INFLAMMATORY
JOINT DISEASE There is good scientific evidence that chronic arthritis disorders can
be effectively treated with dietary changes and different combinations
of natural supplements, which reduce inflammation. Bio-immune therapies
have the great advantage of restoring the underlying bio-systems, which
are responsible for joint degeneration, in contrast to anti-arthritic
drugs (fx NSAIDs), which relieve pain and inflammation, but have the
unfortunate side effect of exacerbating joint degeneration over the long
run.
Arthritis is inflammation in a joint. The joint is an organ system,
where two bones, whose ends are covered with cartilage, are stabilized
within a joint capsule, and where the inner side of the capsule (synovial
membrane) excretes a lubricating fluid, which permits movement of bone
in the joint capsule. With increasing age the ability to maintain the
joint’s bio-system is weakened. The wear and tear of life combined with
the reduction of tissue renewing bio-systems cause the gradual
deterioration of cartilage and reduction of lubricating fluid in the
joint capsule. The resulting breakdown of cartilage and bone is the
result of inflammation.
Inflammation is the body’s normal, tissue restorative response to
skin lesions, trauma, toxins, chemical sensitivity, infection and
tumors; in short, it is reparation coupled to an immune response.
Chronic inflammation is a normal inflammation process, which has become
chronic or unable to shut itself off. The consequence is that free
radicals (high reactive oxygen compounds, which injure cell membranes)
are over-produced and the inflammatory process is worsened.
Inflammation is the common denominator for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
and osteoarthrosis (OA), the two most frequently occurring
arthritic disorders. They are different diseases, but their underlying
inflammatory reactions have much in common. These same reactions are
present in other diseases (autoimmune disease, colitis ulcerosa, Crohns
disease, cancer), where chronic inflammation plays a role.
RA is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s own antibodies
attack tissues in the joint membrane. The inflammation causes a
thickening of the synovial membrane and cartilage destruction.
Contributory factors are food allergy, leaky gut syndrome, dysbiosis (overgrowth
of pathological intestinal flora), genetic sensitivity, mercury toxicity
and other environmental factors.
OA is a gradual breakdown of the cartilage in the weight-bearing
joints (knee, hip, back). The destructive process in OA (and RA) is
connected with enzymes, which dissolve cartilage, and which are
activated by inflammatory cytokines (destructive cell-signaling
chemicals). In addition, there are other important pro-inflammatory
chemicals, that are formed with the breakdown of arachidonic acid in the
body’s cell membranes.
Inflammatory markers, which determine the level of inflammation
during illness are:
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Tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) |
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Interleukin-1-beta
(IL-1b) |
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Interleukin-6 |
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Interleukin-8 |
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Leukotrienes (LTB4) |
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Prostaglandins (PGE2) |
Treatment Program
| 1. |
Laboratory tests:
The course of treatment is individualized with medical tests which
identify which combinations of underlying factors are driving the
inflammatory process in the patient. The plan of treatment is
hereafter discussed in relation to the result.
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| (1) |
Inflammatory
cytokine blood profile: The level of inflammatory cytokines
(TNF-alpha, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-8) are determined. |
| (2) |
Organix: A metabolic profile
measures 47 urinary bi-products in relation to free radicals,
inflammation, detoxification, liver-bowel conditions and energy
production. |
| (3) |
Food
allergy test: 90 foods are tested for allergy- (IgG-)
reactions. |
| (4) |
CDSA
(+/- parasites): Bowel function is tested with regards
pathological bacteria, yeast and parasites, as well as digestion
/ absorption (se: Gastro-intestinal disorders). |
| (5) |
Dimaval-
(DMPS-) test: The body’s mercury load is measured.
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| 2. |
Inflammation-inhibiting supplements: Therapeutic levels of
anti-arthritic BRMs (bio-response modifiers); and, if necessary,
suitable, low side-effect prescription drugs. OBS: The course of
treatment is individualized after the patient’s specific needs.
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| 3. |
Intravenous
C-vitamin (IV-C) is able to exercise a powerful
anti-inflammatory effect at
high doses. Vitamin C’s inflammation-inhibiting effect is a result
of several mechanisms: (1) neutralization of free radical reactions
in the inflammatory process (2) reduction of pro-inflammatory PGE2;
and (3) the increase of anti-inflammatory PGE1.
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| 4. |
Diet-
/ supplement therapy |
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