Autoimmune diseases
The exact causes of autoimmune reactions have not yet been fully scientifically proven. It is clear that in the case of manifest autoimmune diseases and autoimmune reactions, inflammation occurs in the system!
However, these are not directed against a foreign antigen (e.g. pathogen) but against the body’s own cells and tissue. In this context we speak of autoantibodies; cytokines are produced and cytotoxic T cells form clones that attack the body’s own tissue.
How does this misinformation come about? That our otherwise well-organized immune system attacks and wants to destroy the body’s own tissue.
Possible causes of autoimmune processes?
• Molecular mimicry
This means that certain parts of pathogens have such a clear similarity to the body’s own structures in terms of their surface information that the immune system is sensitized. This can occur as part of a viral infection. Viruses do not have their own metabolism and therefore need a host. To do this, viruses convert part of their DNA/RNA and store this DNA in the host cell.
In our opinion, this is a very important reason for its emergence, as certain viruses sometimes circulate in the body for their entire life or sit silently in nervous ganglia and only wait for the right, ideal moment to damage our immune system. A classic example is the herpes simplex virus, EBV / and many others.
• Genetic factors
There are families in which autoimmune diseases occur more frequently. This suggests that there could be a genetic component in the development of autoimmunopathies. This is currently still being researched!
However, existing studies show that genetic predisposition alone cannot trigger autoimmune diseases.
• Gender
Epidemiologically, more women than men suffer from autoimmune diseases. This suggests a hormonal component in its development! It is also important to note that men and women react differently immunologically, for example to stressful stimuli.
• Environmental factors/vaccinations
There is no uniform scientific consensus on the question of which environmental factors contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease. Stress and emotions, nutrition, lifestyle, growing up in industrialized nations, environmental toxins, vaccines and infections are discussed.
From the perspective of alternative medicine, all possible triggers mentioned here are also actual triggers, which is why therapy must be intervened and regulated as best as possible.
Above all, the detection of toxic heavy metals are damage mechanisms and are considered contributory causes of autoimmune processes (mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, aluminum (also contained in vaccines and medications), nickel and others.
• Stress/emotionality
Chronic stress can influence a wide range of body functions, especially the hormone and neurohormone system (here specifically: hypothalamus – pituitary – thyroid – adrenal axis). In our opinion, it is a common trigger – practice shows that women prefer to develop hormonal imbalances due to these factors, just one Stress reduction is not sufficient without stabilizing the hormone axis listed.
• Antibiotics and gut microbiome
Antibiotics should be used to treat bacterial infections and are considered safe to use and have few side effects. Is that really the case? Decades of uncritical use for banal infections plays just as much of a role as the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in animal husbandry.
There are several interfaces between antibiotics and autoimmune diseases. They are now being heavily discussed as (co-) triggers of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. In alternative medicine, a good, strong and balanced microbiome is the most important part of health. In individual autoimmune therapy, stool tests (laboratory in Germany), including the assessment of the microbiome, are a matter of course and are crucial to therapy.
• Deficiencies in vitamin/mineral and hormonal balance
Many people still believe that additional intake of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is not necessary. Even in nutritional medicine they also receive confirmation that it is not necessary, or in order to maintain an adequate nutrient supply they pay attention to conscious nutrition. We don’t want to offend anyone here, but this is simply wrong. If you consider how many patients are treated with medication and how many medications cause changes in vitamin – mineral and hormone metabolism. (Read some examples on our homepage under the „Orthomolecular Medicine“ section.)
Another reason is an imbalance in the microbiome, which is why the need for individual substances is sometimes significantly higher than what can be supplied with food. Absorption and absorption disorders are also increasing every year, so that severe deficits arise here too.
From the perspective of alternative medicine, orthomolecular medicine is one of the most important components of therapy. It must be noted that very high doses are sometimes administered and supplementation is only made after laboratory tests (saliva/hair/stool and others). Regular follow-up checks are also important. So that toxic overdoses do not occur.
• Silent inflammation
Chronic inflammatory processes are often silent, but can trigger the immune system and in this way affect both the pathogenesis and the course of autoimmune diseases.
Chronic inflammation, usually caused by viruses and bacteria but also other focal stresses (e.g. a tooth covered in pus, constant irritation and inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) and many other possibilities), can persist in the body for a very long time without the person affected directly being affected spurt. This is called silent inflammation.
Silent inflammation must therefore always be taken into account in therapy. The ideal examination here is CRP hs (C reactive protein highly sensitive), differential blood count, copper.
Conclusion :
Detailed laboratory tests are therefore the first priority for any incipient or manifest autoimmune disease. Laboratory values such as CRP (normal), blood counts, rheumatoid factors and so on are hardly relevant to us. In order to find the right approach, additional alternative medical examinations in the above-mentioned points should be arranged after the initial consultation. Only after this has been submitted can an individual treatment plan for regulatory therapy be made.
If you go new ways, discover a completely different form of therapy that is free of side effects! Your body will be very grateful for this.
Interested? Arrange a consultation appointment today. Please bring with you all findings/reports and a list of medications that you are currently taking or have previously taken.
Your NMC team Krk