Auto-Immune Disorders

Sjogren's disease is an autoimmune disease in which the glands that produce lubricating secretions, (i.e. the eyes, mouth, and vagina) become excessively dry. Although the exact cause is unknown, the body’s immune system begins to attack human protein and destroy these glands. Patients will usually have elevated levels of antigliadin (wheat protein) antibodies (J Clin Exp Immunol 1984;57:73-78), and research shows that one of the eye proteins is so similar in structure to wheat, that it has been called, "a mammalian form of wheat"; in fact, wheat protein antibodies have been found to cross react with this eye protein and cause destruction of the lacrimal glands (Laurie GW et al. Biochem and Biophys Res Comm 1995;217:90-115). Hepatitis C virus antibodies have been found to cause cross-reactivity with salivary glands (Nippon Rinsho 1995;53:2530-35). This condition is highly correlated with some of the other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythmatosus. Around 90% of these patients are women, mostly middle-aged, and many times postmenopausal. The majority of sufferers carry a gene which identifies susceptibility to Sjogren’s.

Signs and Symptoms

Possible Causes or Contributing Factors

1. Hereditary predisposition (strong factor)
2. Autoimmune reactivity
3. Dietary triggers, i.e. wheat
4. Hepatitis C virus

Dietary and Lifestyle Applications

1. Eat a healthy diet which includes a variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and nutrients. Eliminate possible allergies, especially wheat. In light of the research, it seems likely that wheat is at least one trigger of Sjogren's.
2. Follow the applications for "Leaky Gut Syndrome", to provide an immune barrier to possible antigens.
3. Employ a good systemic detox program. Immune complexes are supposed to be cleared by the body, but can cause aggravated activation when they are deposited instead.
4. Good oral hygiene and dental care is important.
5. Maintain a healthy immune system. Autoimmune disease is a breakdown of the immune system’s ability to recognize self from non-self.
6. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables to help clear immune complexes.

Contraindications/Toxicology

Refer to the individual nutrient or herb for more information regarding interactions, contraindications, precautions or side effects.

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