★★★★☆
I have been battling autoimmune disease for many years. For the last 10, without any drugs. As many others who have autoimmune, as time goes on, other autoimmune problems begin to develop, like allergies, and so forth. When I stopped using perscription immune suppressants, I became determined to find the root of the problem and cure it naturally. Not knowing how to do that, I have seen a naturopath, an acupuncturist, a homeopathic practitioner, and 2 different chiropractors practicing energy techniques. When I say I have seen them, I mean I have spent months/years and endless amounts of money trying to get a cure for my problem. Each one helped in their own way, but could not cure my problem. Over the years however, I took with me alot of knowledge about natural healing. One day, while visiting a friend, and feeling particularly horrible, I picked up a book she had called "The Autoimmune Epidemic" by Donna Jackson Nakazawa and began to read it. I couldn't put it down. Why hadn't I read something like it sooner? It described chapter by chapter why our immune systems go haywire, due to being overexposed to pollution, chemicals and preservatives in our food. Our immune systems are designed to protect us from foreign dangers and act as our defense system. However, when it is exposed to alarming amounts of pollutants, chemicals and preservatives, it gets overloaded and begins attacking everything. Hence, we get sick.
Logically, if we reduce the toxins that we are taking in, we reduce the autoimmune response. There were a number of examples in the book of persons who did this, one doctor even coming back from sure death.
How do we do that? Number one in importance, eat organic foods. If you can't do that, at the very least, do not eat processed foods or anything in a box. Read labels on everything. If it has ingredients you don't recognize, you probably shouldn't eat it. Eat way more fruits and vegetables than anything else you consume. Raw is better. Eat very little meat unless you can get organic meats. Eliminate gluten and reduce your dairy intake or eliminate that too. Use digestive enzymes and seek to improve your digestion as much as possible. I supplement with antioxidants also.
Second, take note of your household cleaning products and your personal hygiene products. Whatever touches your skin gets absorbed into your body and eventually your organs. Soaps, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, hand cream, and especially hair dyes are loaded with chemicals and perfumes. Cleaning products are toxic and shouldn't be breathed in or come into contact with your skin. I have changed to using homemade soap, organic toothpastes, organic shampoos and creams and henna hair dye. For cleaning, I use ACV and water. It not only cleans really well, but it disinfects too. Laundry soaps are full of toxic chemicals and perfumes, but the dryer sheets are especially toxic. I make my own laundry soap, and use ACV in the fabric softener port for anti static dryer use.
Finally, chemical pollutants are everywhere, and much of this problem is what we breathe in. To the extent possible, wherever you live, reduce the toxic fumes you breathe in outside your home, and inside your home, for heavens sakes, get rid of that perfumey air freshener in your house and your car! They're toxic.
It has been a long difficult road, but I finally have improved my health immensely. I am not cured. This will be a way of life for me, but I can finally say that I have many more normal days now than I do sick days. Much of your health can be determined on how you take care of yourself. I didn't say it would be easy, but reversing the damage we've done to ourselves will take time, so be patient. Obviously, adding some exercise will reduce stress and keep your circulation moving.
One last note about starting such a regimen. For about 2 months after I started this, I felt terrible. My body was detoxifying itself, and it was not pleasant. But I knew that only good would result if I continued, so I did. By the end of the first month, I could notice some improvements, and each month for about 6 months I continued to see improvement in the way I felt. It has now been one year, and I can honestly say that I feel better than I have in years, almost normal.
Best wishes to you, and I do hope this helps someone.
Dietary Changes
★★★★☆
Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other autoimmune disorders MIGHT be cleared up by following a gluten free-casein free diet. I have been following a gluten free diet for over a year, and have improved, but still have some problems. My understanding is that casein (milk protein) is metabolized the same as gluten. By following a gluten free, casein free diet, I have read that people have also been cured of autistic disorders and even schizophrenia. I'm having trouble abstaining from the milk protein, but thought this info would be helpful.
