After nine months of dealing with autoimmune & arthritic conditions I have finally got to grips with a “protocol” that is working for me. As autoimmune and arthritic conditions are so prevalent I wanted to write an article on how I am helping myself naturally, share the information and hopefully help others.
The immune response and Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to harmful stimuli such as damaged cells, irritants or pathogens. It is essentially a protective mechanism of the immune system and inflammation is initiated to clear out the attacking substance etc and begin tissue repair.
Different types of autoimmune conditions
Sometimes the immune response goes haywire and the body starts producing antibodies where it shouldn’t be, it goes into a frenzied overproducing state. This is what is happening in autoimmune diseases like MS, ME, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis to name a few. In all of these diseases, the immune system is on over driving and is essentially attacking various parts of the body and its systems and structures. This is an inappropriate response that can produce horrendous repercussions if left unchecked.
My treatment “protocol”
My treatment protocol for dealing with autoimmune & arthritic conditions is a mix of my knowledge as a therapist, extensive research into what is helpful for this specific condition and my own experience of the application of these so far.
The aims of my treatment protocol are as follows:
- Calm/halt the inappropriate inflammatory process
- Treat any underlying infections / potential infectious causes
- Begin (and continue) the process of repair
- Support my body systems going forward
I want to make the important point that as a therapist when I work with clients, I test their body for their specific needs as these vary wildly from person to person. I also make sure that clients can digest and assimilate the foods, supplements, and remedies fully.
* I will also add a disclaimer here that following any of the advice from this article is entirely at the decision/risk of the individual and I accept no responsibility for the outcome. You should always get properly tested and check with your healthcare provider.
Diet:
I am on a strict anti-inflammatory mostly vegan diet containing lots of fruits and veg which are mostly organic. I also consume celery juice most mornings, I consume minimal starch, am gluten and wheat free and have minimal dairy and when I do it is mostly organic. I do not consume sugar apart from a little molasses and coconut sugar now and again. I consume plenty of good fats in the way of nuts, seeds, coconut oil and plenty of avocados!
Supporting gut health is key for health in general, however, its of paramount importance for people with autoimmune conditions. There is a multitude of information and support available on the internet concerning this and I urge everyone to do their research.
Supplements:
As with all supplements and remedies you need to make sure you get good quality and as I stated previously get tested for what you need to take along with quantities needed. This is something I can do for clients as a Kinesiologist.
Supplements that help in dealing with autoimmune and arthritic conditions include;
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B
- Magnesium
- Mineral blend
- Boron
- Curcumin
- Glucosamine
- MSM
- Calcium
- Glutamine
- AcidophilusGarlic blend
- Colloidal silver
- L – Lysine
Exercise:
Exercise is really important for health in general. Find something that you enjoy and that can be done without aggravating underlying issues. I love walking and am back to doing more of this again. I have started using walking poles as there great for balance and for using the entire body when you walk. They take around 20% of the pressure off your pelvis and legs.
I also previously exercised daily on my rebounder or mini-trampoline. It is excellent as it is very low impact and an excellent way of getting your lymphatic system working. I am slowly getting back to this. It is important to get a good trampoline however and start very slowly.
Stretching is also important for lots of reasons and you can look online at the multitude of resources available.
Strengthening I am working with an excellent physiotherapist who has taught me some Foundation Training exercises to activate my posterior chain of muscles. They have been a game-changer for me, these exercises have helped me get properly mobile again.
The Bowen Technique:
There are many reasons why I think this is a great therapy for anyone with autoimmune conditions. I have been having Bowen for the past 15 years and it has always helped my body. Throughout this “health crisis,” the Bowen I received (Bowtech) from my colleague was the only therapy that put my body at ease. Bowen administered correctly is incredibly gentle helps put the body into parasympathetic state. When in this state the body can rest, repair and healing can take place.
Energy Techniques:
As a practicing Health Kinesiologist, I use techniques that balance the body’s energy system with clients and on myself daily. There are several techniques that I have been using to balance my immune system. For more information on this get in touch.