Hello again, Thank you to everyone who replied to my first post. This is really a great place to visit!
I am a bit of a sceptic about natural therapies and taking extra vitamins and things, but I don't like taking drugs either. I am wondering if there are any PROVEN herbal products or natural therapies around.
I have noticed that a lot of members take some and would very much like to hear if you feel they help in any way.
Thanks again.
D or D3 is recommended by most rheumy's to help the liver support your immune system.
The research that I read out of Europe in "Reader's Digest" suggested that for improving memory and cognitive functions you should take Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl L Carnitine. It has helped me to beat down brain fog. My energy is gradually improving and I am getting more sleep. A study was started in 2009 for it's effectiveness in Muscular dystrophy.
"Life Extension Magazine" reports on biomedical research. The published the book "Life Extension". In the book they suggest that "Carrot Juice" will help your body produce endorphins.
I know that my Dr and my Rhuemy are always surprised by how well I am doing even when I am having problems. Do your own research. Make sure it is research and not sales information.
A large percentage of people here take fish oil supplements (I take 3600 mg a day--a "theraputic dose") and flax seed (more omegas; I don't take it, but it's popular).
I'm going to start consuming tumeric tea as soon as I get a chance to head off to Whole Foods or the natural grocery store to pick some up. Some links about it:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02833/turmeric-tea (from the doctor who consults for Origins cosmetics)
http://www.time.com/time/question/dr_weil_060918.html (same guy, but in Time magazine)
My rheumatologist has me on 3000 mg of fish oil and 1000 mg of Vitamin D3.
I think the supplements that Joe and Dragonfly mention would be very good as well. I have a sensitive stomach and have to be careful.
Dr. Weil is a integrative MD, a proponent of blending natural therapies with medical technology. I, like Joe, would urge caution and make sure you do the research. Dr. Weil has a website and you can ask questions that may help to guide you.
Anna
Hi :)
Not so much 'therapy' but lemon and ginger infusion is good for stimulating saliva and ginger is generally good for settling the digestive system.
Take care - Scottie :)
ps - for those on synthroid or thyroxine - a selenium supplement helps the T4 to convert to T3. When my thyroid first went wrong I developed a ridiculous craving for brazil nuts. Turns out they are rich in selenium. The craving went when I bought OTC selenium supplement and I notice a difference if I stop taking it.
Also had a craving for tonic water at one stage. It went when I was put on Plaquenil. Quinine maybe??)
Selenium helps to convert T4 into T3? I need to try that!! My TSH is 14.89 but my actives are completely normal. When they tried upping my dose I had hyper symptoms so we dropped it back down. I wonder if this would help. How much do you have to take?
In some recent issues of The Moisture Seekers magazine (Sjogren's Foundation), there are articles that recommend avoiding wheat and gluten, which increase inflammation in some people with Sjogren's.
While not an herbal or supplement approach, dietary factors do matter. If digestive problems trouble you, making dietary changes can improve your quality of life.
Calli
I have not worked out what I would consider a proper diet for this disease. I know that with each AI disease, there is another diet sensitivity that I have been "blessed" with. It seems that everyone changes their food sensitivity with each AI disease. So there appears to be a component of digestion challenges with these diseases.
Hi Ros,
I'd be very cautious of taking herbal , or other stuff with our broken down systems...
Personally , I don't have any fad foods , just try to eat sensibly, ( I know its hard)
Just be careful , Dolly..
Hey, Scottie, I'd like the recipe for your infusion of Lemon & Ginger please. Dolly
Hi :)
Selenium - there's 100mcg per day in the brand I take.
Dolly - I'm afraid I don't make my own infusion. I buy a 'Twinings' one. I used to think it was lemon and ginger tea - but there's no tea in it. They do a range of 'infusions' and I like lemon and ginger the best.
Take care - Scottie :)
Dolly,
Montel Williams has a great recipe for a lemon ginger fizz! If you do a search for Montel Williams, Ginger Ale the recipe will come up. It's absolutely delish!
Scottietottie,
Thanks for letting me know about that!
I take Vitamin D and Fish Oil as well as B Complex. I also am a little skeptical about natural remedies. While living in San Francisco during the height of the Aids epidemic many people when to the natural healing route and they were the first to dye. I just don't trust it enough but I like ros would love to go off drugs. I often feel that some of the drugs just create other problems that then require another drug.
I do not recommend that anyone go off their Meds. I do recommend that you do everything you can, from all sources to improve your health and your life. If we do we may just find a solutions that add to our quality of life. I would love if we found a cure. It is my hope that someday someone will.
I would never stop my medications but I still hate taking them! I do believe that "natural" and herbal products are big business these days and much money is wasted on them. I am going to start fish oil supplement and ask my GP about the others that have been mentioned here. Boy, have I got some questions for him this time. I'll have to get an extended consultation!
I wish there was something that could help this dreadful heat I feel all the time. I seem to be a lather of perspiration all the time. It is summer here and I sleep in a very cool bedroom, but I can still wake with my hair and clothing wet with sweat.
Thank you again for taking the time to reply to my post, and hope you all have a "good" day!
Ros. Have your doctor order a test to check for your Vitamin D. It is very common for us with autoimmune to be extremely low in Vitamin D.
Hi :)
I'd love to see a cure too but I think the best chance of that is gene therapy, which is of course in it's infancy! I don't think I'll see a cure but I hope that some of the younger members might. Genetic research and gene therapy are the best way forward.
Take care - Scottie :)
Thank's to Sugarbugar & Scottie,
Will be making the Ginger fizz this weekend.
Meanwhile I have my ginger snaps on stand by,
but wish they would make more sugar free biscuits!
Cheers Dolly