Modern approaches to treating Autoimmune disorders

One of the key drivers for this site is sourcing and sharing current therapies around Auto Immune disorders. While these approaches become more widespread within the medical and holistic spaces what commonly comes forward from people who contact me is the conversation around how difficult it is to get a diagnosis. This makes real sense as AutoImmune disorders often present in very non specific ways .. fatigue, inflammation, pain, foggy brain. The symptoms can be intermittent and there is no single blood test that can determine an Auto Immune disorder which means it’s often a drawn out scenario taking months and sometimes years to come to a conclusive diagnosis.

Within the public and private health spaces here in New Zealand, you may find you are allocated a specialist within the body system of your disorder (ie. a Hepatologist if you have Auto Immune Hepatitis, or a Neurologist if you have Multiple Sclerosis) who manage and treat the symptoms of our disorders. While their assistance can bring welcome relief it is not often we get to meet with an Immunologist to explore why our immune systems have gone awry. I am hopeful this will change as more people are diagnosed and as medicine as a whole evolves but I also think it is something we can personally ask ourselves .. the ‘why is this happening and what is the under laying cause’. For me personally, this came once I was out of chronic distress, and stable. I had the headspace to step back and look at my overall health in a more holistic way and seek my ‘why’ with a proactive and inquisitive mindset.

Clinical observations from Integrative practitioners in New Zealand:

On the back of considering a more holistic approach to my own health, I wondered if it would be helpful to seek out New Zealand based Integrative health professionals and have conversations around what they were finding in their practices both clinically and anecdotally around ‘AutoImmune disorders’. Back in 2013/2014 I approached the following practitioners who contributed their thoughts: Ange Haldane from the Natural Ange Clinic in Grey Lynn, Auckland, Cliff Harvey of Holistic Performance Nutrition, Auckland, Dr Jennifer Garrett, of Jennifer Garret Naturopath, Auckland, and Cate Grace, from Leap2it (CHCH).  Combined these professionals bring a wealth of practical, evidence based knowledge and I look forward to long-standing relationships with them.  Their contributions are here: Integrative Practitioners share their thoughts

On the bio medical research front locally:

Here in New Zealand we have several research institutes dedicated to immunology. In 1966 a group of New Zealanders threw themselves into developing a NZ based medical institute, based in Wellington - the Wellington Medical Research Foundation. In 1986 the foundation was granted significant funding from the Malaghan family and along with a name change in honour, the biomedical research institute leads the way with a focus on immunology and immunotherapy. Here is the link to their site, and then search immunology: https:/www.malaghan.org.nz

The Health Research Council of New Zealand also funds research into Immunology, here is their link: https://www.hrc.govt.nz/

Most NZ Universities also conduct their own research into immunology .. the University of Otago in Dunedin, The University of Canterbury in Christchurch, Victoria University in Wellington, Massey University in Palmerston North, the University of Waikato in Hamilton and Auckland University .. worth a look at if interested.

On the research front internationally .. a more rounded approach and research:

In the USA, where Auto Immune disorders are prevalent and growing, the John Hopkins Medical Institute developed the Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, of which one arm is dedicated to Auto Immune research. Developed to foster a 'collective' approach to understanding and treating Auto Immune researchers, physicians and partners collaboratively and while they seem to focus upon a collaboration between researchers and research centers, ultimately it is hopeful that more knowledge will filter down to medical communities on the ground (in general practices).  Going forward what we hope to see evolve here in New Zealand would be our doctors and specialists developing (and championing) models of care that are 'rounded, holistic and individualized', working from a ‘cause’ approach.

From the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Boston, comes this article: New Strategy for Auto Immune Disease Treatment: www.azonano.com/autoimmune

University of California: Auto Immune Disease Strategy Emerges from Immune Cell discovery: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130909172223.htm

RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia has a research repository where you can search for research articles .. very interesting: https://researchrepository.rmit.edu.au/esploro/search/outputs?query=any,contains,autoimmune&page=1&scope=Research&institution=61RMIT_INST 

Professor Marc Cohen is an Australian GP who retrained in Integrative Health.  I haven’t been successful in locating some of his research but if you can it maybe helpful.

John Hopkins scientists discover cancer may be a trigger for Auto Immune Scleroderma: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20131206/Cancer-triggers-scleroderma-shows-evidence.aspx

Medical News is a UK based platform where medical research is unwrapped and presented in an easy to digest format .. searching under ‘autoimmune’ brings a suite of articles: https://www.news-medical.net/medical/search?q=autoimmune&t=all&page=4

Cellular science:  What if you could "reboot" your immune system like a laptop? In stem cell therapies, drugs wipe out old immune cells, then doctors replace them with fresh stem cells from your bone marrow or blood, says Richard Burt, M.D., chief of the division of immunotherapy at Northwestern University in Chicago. It's too soon to know if it's a permanent cure, but so far, it has put various autoimmune diseases in remission. Also, suppressing B cells, immune agents that identify intruders, can successfully treat rheumatoid arthritis. Benlysta, a drug that starves B cells, may become the first medicine approved to treat lupus in 50 years.

A Changed Diet:  I read time and time again, that anyone diagnosed with an autoimmune condition should avoid wheat, as well as its nearly genetically identical brethren, rye and barley (identical gliadin and wheat germ agglutinin sequences), as well as corn (some overlap of corn zein with gliadin) and rice (identical wheat germ agglutinin).  Also required is to restore vitamin D (e.g., achieve a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of 60-70 ng/ml or 150-180 nmol/L), re-balance the Omega fats in your body by taking omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, correcting disrupted bowel flora (probiotics, naturally fermented foods, prebiotics).  Eat more vegetables in their clean (unaltered) form.

Mercury toxicity:  Mercury works on the Central Nervous System and damages the myelin sheath around the nerves. Heavy metals such as mercury act as free radicals which are highly reactive, charged particles that can cause damage to body tissues. This cumulative poison builds up in the body with repeated exposure having devastating effects. It then can prevent nutrients from entering the cells and wastes from leaving, and block enzymes necessary for the body’s detoxification processes,” says Dr. Shelton,  “Mercury can bind to the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of cells, as well as to the cell membranes, distorting them and interfering with normal cell functions. When this happens, the immune system no longer recognizes the cell as part of the body and will attack it. This is the basis of an autoimmune disease.”

Note: “Free radicals are formed when molecules within cells react with oxygen (oxidize) as part of normal metabolic processes. Free radicals then begin to break down cells, especially if there are not enough free radical quenching nutrients, such as vitamins C and E, in the cell. While free radicals are normal products of metabolism, uncontrolled free-radical production plays a major role in the development of degenerative disease, including cancer and heart disease. Free radicals harmfully alter important molecules, such as proteins, enzymes, fats, even DNA. Other sources of free radicals include pesticides, industrial pollutants, smoking, alcohol, viruses, most infections, allergies, stress, even certain foods and excessive exercise.” Dr. Bruce Shelton, M.D.(H), Di.Hom.
From: http://rinf.com/alt-news/latest-news/removing-mercury-from-the-body-are-you-being-poisoned

Gut health: The health of the gut bacteria is critical for the immune system. There are literally trillions of bacteria in the gut, and one of their jobs is to train and regulate the immune system. In recent decades, our gut flora has been damaged by antibiotics, contraception and a modern western diet.  Imbalance in the gut flora has been shown to directly increase the risk for autoimmunity and other immune disorders.  When gut bacteria are disturbed, digestion becomes less efficient.   This causes damage to the lining of the intestine, and it compromises the barrier that is supposed to separate the blood stream from the contents of the intestine. The resulting ‘leaky gut' allows food molecules to enter the blood stream.  These food 'molecules' then place a huge burden on the immune system, as they cross-react with the body tissues and can trigger autoimmunity.  Some foods are more likely to cross react than others.  The worst items are wheat gluten and cow's milk casein. Wheat gluten has been shown to cause or worsen Ankylosing Spondylitis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Cow's milk casein has also been linked with Type 1 Diabetes.

Molecular Mimicry: Infection triggers some types of autoimmunity such as Rheumatic Fever and Ankylosing Spondylitis. In these diseases, autoimmunity occurs because, to the immune system, the body's own cells have a similar appearance to the bacteria that it is trying to kill. This process is called molecular mimicry. When infection is the cause, antibiotics are effective treatment. Antibiotics are currently being trialled as treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, based on the theory the disease is caused by infection by an as-yet-unidentified. Infectious agents that can trigger autoimmunity include bacteria, yeast, and viruses like the Epstein Barr virus.

QRA: Quantum Reflex Analysis.  An advanced form of kinesiology.   It works with bio-energy in your body and seeks out areas where there is an energy break or low energy point (indicating that system, organ or group of cells are in trauma or disease. or system is in disorder).  Using the QRA process the practitioner will then provide a tailored prescription using nutrients (and exact dosages) to assist in recovery.   I have had this work done myself and used Auckland Naturopath and Registered Medical Herbalist, Angela Haldane.  She is extremely well versed and experienced and I was impressed with her skill and the subsequent use of nutrients.

Our contacts are:
e: info@autoimmune.org.nz
m: 0212444544