Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Vaccines

[Ruth]

In completing this research, I started doing the math it seems that there are entirely too many of us walking around in the U.S. with an immune system that has been suppressed by disease or by chemical.

Facinating subject this one. But as far as autoimmune diseases go, I think you might mean that diseases have attacked the immune system overstimulating it, causing it to attack itself which neccesitates treatment using chemicals to supress it. And if the worse comes to the worse actually supplying the chemicals if the organs responsible for producing them can no longer manufacture them (Addisons Disease and perhaps even Diabetes - I'm not sure if Diabetes has an autoimmune component - may be..)

I found this site quite interesting.
_http://www.aarda.org/infocus_article.php?ID=33

Fundamentally, all autoimmune diseases are a consequence of impaired immune function that results from interactions of genetic and environmental factors. Despite important progress, much remains to be learned about these factors and their interactions. Advances in this area are providing a foundation for more effective therapies and prevention strategies.

Approximately one-third of the risk of developing an autoimmune disease can be attributed to heritable factors; the remainder is thought to be associated with non-inherited events. Some of these events arise from the randomness that characterizes human exposures; and others, from the diversity of the immune system itself--a diversity that enables the immune system to recognize a broad range of bacteria and viruses. These environmental factors account for the occurrence of autoimmune disease in only one member of a pair of genetically identical animals or identical twins.

Certain environmental agents play a clear role in instigating autoimmune processes. For example, drugs such as procainamide and hydrolyzine can induce a lupus-like syndrome in genetically-susceptible individuals that remits when the drug is discontinued. Other drug-induced autoimmune diseases have been described, including some of the hemolytic anemias, thrombocytopenias, and the leukopenias.

The possible role of exposure to various metals in autoimmune disease has been explored, primarily through laboratory and animal studies. Generally, metals inhibit immune cell proliferation and activation, with notable exceptions. Mercury, gold, and silver, for example, can induce lymphocyte proliferation and subsequent autoimmunity. Genetically-susceptible mice develop a lupus-like condition when dosed with mercury, silver, or gold. It is likely, however, that the autoimmune disorders that result from exposure to various metals occur through distinct mechanisms.

Abnormal immune responses may also be due to a deficiency of a specific substance. For example, selenium deficiency has been linked with autoimmune thyroiditis and cardiomyopathy in humans; some people with these disorders improve when given selenium supplements. As with studies of the role of metals, the mechanism of action remains unclear.

Other environmental exposures have been studied, but associating such exposures with specific disorders is difficult. Some epidemiologic information suggests an association between dietary iodine and iodine-thyroiditis, and between silica and both scleroderma and lupus in certain industrial settings. Additional research has explored possible relationships between autoimmune disease and exposures to organic compounds, principally the halogenated hydrocarbon trichloroethylene (TCE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). TCE metabolites have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and other autoimmune disorders. The evidence for PCB effects is sparse. Similarly, a few epidemiologic studies have examined occupational exposures to dioxins; however, firm epidemiologic evidence of a cause and effect association has yet to be shown. Similarly, investigations of exposure to pesticides and estrogenic compounds are areas of considerable research interest, but they require additional exploration.

Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure can exacerbate disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Other epidemiologic studies suggest that ultraviolet exposure may be protective in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis; however, conflicting animal studies indicate that ultraviolet exposure may increase autoimmune disease risk in genetically-predisposed individuals.

Infectious agents are the most often cited environmental factors implicated as triggers of autoimmune diseases. A classic example is the central role of the Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus in the development of rheumatic heart disease. Acute Guillain-Barr? syndrome has been associated with a number of bacterial and viral infections, and reactive arthritis has been linked to a variety of intestinal infections. Indirect evidence has implicated a number of infections in type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, and it has focused renewed attention on the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite these leads, the exact mechanisms by which infection induces a particular autoimmune disease are unknown. In the case of streptococcus, it is believed than an antigen of the microorganism resembles an antigen present in the heart and that a cross-reactive immune response to the infecting microorganism causes immune-mediated damage to the heart. The phenomenon is referred to as molecular mimicry. In other instances, microorganisms or local inflammation may alter antigens of the host so that the immune system sees them as foreign. Infections may also increase immune cell expression of co-stimulatory molecules and thus promote autoimmune responses.

--Source: Progress in Autoimmune Diseases Research, NIH Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee "Report to Congress," March 2005

So, only one third of the reasons for it may be genetic. The rest seems to be due to exposure to environmental factors such as diseases. Its kind of strange that on the one hand you have something like autoimmune diseases causing chronic illnesses and on the other AIDS which is a total collapse of the immune system due to the HIV virus compromising one of the cells involved in immunity. Maybe both of them have been either caused or made worse by human interventions. And then there's allergies - another overreaction by the immune system to outside stimulents called allergens. As many as one in 3 people have allergies (according to some sources). Maybe we are now 'too clean' or 'too healthy' for our own good?

_http://www.livescience.com/health/070914_too_clean.html

 

[Meg]

I'm wary of people like Dr. Fuhrman who attribute ALL auto-immune disorders to ONE CAUSE, and who, with evangelical fervor, espouse a one-size-fits-all cure-all. As your summary above illustrates, there is a huge range of disorders that fall into the category of "auto-immune" (many for want of anywhere else to put them, I suspect). I think the nature and "causes" of these conditions are as wide and varied as the individuals who suffer them, and that it is a matter of each individual exploring various treatment options to discover the unique combination of therapies that that may benefit them in particular. I am very skeptical, for instance, when I read Dr. Fuhrman's statement: "Autoimmune disease sufferers have an abnormality of the digestive tract that allows incompletely digested foodstuffs to pass through the intestinal lining and enter the bloodstream". Really? ALL of them? How many "autoimmune disease sufferers" has he examined and treated? How does he "diagnose" such an "abnormality of the digestive tract"? The best that the good doctor could claim is that he has a theory as to why SOME individuals may exhibit "autoimmune" symptoms, and that his particular treatment has helped SOME people overcome and/or reduce those symptoms.

That is true Pepper. Thanks for the critical eye. I'll read the chapter again and see if he addresses any of the questions/issues you mentioned.

Please don't get me wrong, I am NOT in any way saying that one should not aggressively seek treatment/therapy for physical ailments, either via traditional medical routes or "alternative" avenues; or that we should stop seeking treatments and "cures" for the diseases from which so many suffer. I simply question the underlying belief system that seems to prevail in both camps: i.e., that illness and disease should not exist, and that if you are ill, it's because you are not doing x, y, z, to get yourself "healthy".

The belief system is a social program created by the pathocracy, osit. It seems it is just another way to divide us and separate the people into "sick" and "healthy".

From a spiritual perspective, illness and disease can be much more complex. Why we have a particular disease may be more a spiritual question than a medical one. We may have chosen to be born with a "diseased" body in this particular incarnation in order to learn certain lessons; or we may (subconsciously) contract a temporary illness for the same reason. We may be expressing an inner psychological and/or spiritual conflict via our bodies, and the "answer" may not be physiological in nature. In that respect, self-knowledge, self-examination, self-observance may be as important as what we do or do not eat on a daily basis. What kind of a childhood we had may be as important in gaining knowledge about our disease as being tested for food allergies. I also recall the C's mentioning that certain physical symptoms could be inevitable "side effects" of being in the process of transitioning to 4th density, for instance.

I agree completely. All is lessons. The alternative treatments helped a lot, but self observation, seeking answers, and exercising my gray matter has put me a better position to engage in the Work and has helped most of all.

 

[PepperFritz]

That is true Pepper. Thanks for the critical eye. I'll read the chapter again and see if he addresses any of the questions/issues you mentioned.

Again, just to clarify: I'm not saying that his theory is without basis for SOME people suffering from auto-immune disorders, or that his proposed treatment is not effective for SOME people -- I just have a problem with his drawing carte-blanche conclusions about the application to ALL such cases. You see the same tendency with those that espouse certain diets or fasting regimes, there's often an almost evangelical conviction that because such methods have proven effective for some people and some conditions, that they are ipso facto a cure-all for anything that ails anyone. People are attracted to very simple black-and-white ways of looking at things, and have a hard time accepting that some situations may involve quite complex factors that require a lot of time, patience, experimentation, self-observation and awareness, etc.

The belief system is a social program created by the pathocracy, osit. It seems it is just another way to divide us and separate the people into "sick" and "healthy".

It is actually even more prevalent in "New Age" circles. It goes hand-in-hand with with the "You Create Your Own Reality" and "The Law of Attraction" mantras. The underlying message is if you're sick, it's because you're not spiritually evolved, you haven't eliminated your inner "negativity". That belief system actually involves more of a "judgemental" attitude than traditional western medicine.

 

[mamadrama]

Thanks, for your research meg. Good information to have and explore further.

The theory is that such high-stress environments cause the body to enter into a state of perpetual "hyper vigilance" -- the immune system and "nerve body" never relax, or "turn off", when they should, because it is constantly prepared to defend against "attack".

Dr. Hamer, an Austrian doctor who had a high success rate with cancer therapy, did quite a bit of research about this. He believes that the correlation between key emotional shock events, the target brain areas and the related organs has developed as an adaptation of our human evolution from similar programs in the animal world. When we unexpectedly experience emotional distress, an emergency repair program is set in motion, a biological conflict program with the aim of returning the individual to normal.
Hamer gives the following example: A mother sees her child in a bad accident. In evolutionary terms small children recover faster when they receive extra milk. Therefore, the biological conflict program tries to stimulate milk production by increasing the number of breast cells. If the mother is right handed, that will instantly cause the appearance of a Hamer Herd in a specific part of the brain (According to Hamer, every cancer and related disease starts as a DHS that is Dirk Hamer Syndrome, which is a serious, acute-dramatic and isolating conflict-shock experience. It manifests on three levels simultaeously, psyche, brain, and organ. The theme of the psychic conflict determines the location of the focus or Hamer Herd in the brain, and the location of the cancer in the body.) which in turn relates to the left breast. When the child is well again, conflict resoluton begins and extra milk is no longer needed. The mother gets a benign form of tuberculosis in that breast which breaks up the excess breast cells. However, if the mycobacteria required for this are lacking, then the area may just calcify and remain as a dormant tumor.
The same process applies also to animals. A sheep that loses its lamb to a wolf is prone to develop teat cancer; the side depends on whether it is right or left footed. However, commonly the sheep resolves this conflict by bearing another lamb.
The following example may illustrate the orginal survival value of this mechanism. Lets assume a lion chases an antelope. The antelope must immediately mobilize all its resources to survive. The sympathetic nervous system takes over and in addition a specific brain center becomes active that stimulates lung activity. After successful escape the animal rests and the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant for a while to normalize body functions.
If instead a human gets a cancer diagnosis, even if the diagnosis is wrong, the same biological program is set into motion by the same fear of death that helped the animal escape. The stress level jumps and the brain-lung connection is activated but now there is nowhere to run. Until the conflict is resolved, which may take years, there will be constant stress as well as brain induced stimulation of lung activity, which now takes the form of increasing lung capacity by the incessant division of cells.
This process can only be stopped by switching off the trigger in the brain through defusing the original conflict shock. This happens when the patient subsequently has surgery or natural therapy, which he or she fully believes will lead to a cure. However, the same procedure in a patient who has doubts about its effectiveness will leave the conflict unresloved and the disease to progress.

_http://www.newmedicine.ca/german-new-medicine.php

 

[mamadrama]

Let’s start with autoimmune diseases in general. For a definition, when you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your body by mistake. There are a variety of treatments for autoimmune diseases. Speaking generally, some treatments are designed to add or remove components of the blood that are affecting the immune system. Most treatments suppress the immune system so it doesn’t attack your body.

The decrease in the body's production of melatonin is symptomatic of many diseases, including immune system disorders. One element to assist in healing is to increase the body's production of this hormone. Self-produced melatonin by self-stimulating the pineal gland is preferable to an external melatonin source, though that is beneficial as well. Dr. Ranjie Singh has done quite a bit of research on melatonin and offers a technique that is a combination of mind/body techniques that include breath work, meditation, intonation, and visualization that increases melatonin to as high a level if not higher than the increases obtained after ingesting 5mg of melatonin tablets orally. One of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus gland which on the physical level is responsible for producing immune system cells and on the energetic level, is the seat of Christ/Buddhic consciousness. Melatonin has been shown to reverse immune impairment and thymus atrophy caused by psychological and physiological stress. It does so by tuning the entire neuro-immuno-endocrine system. FWIW

 

[anart]

The decrease in the body's production of melatonin is symptomatic of many diseases, including immune system disorders.

It is also a natural consequence of aging.

One element to assist in healing is to increase the body's production of this hormone. Self-produced melatonin by self-stimulating the pineal gland is preferable to an external melatonin source, though that is beneficial as well.

This is interesting - do you have data to back it up?

Dr. Ranjie Singh has done quite a bit of research on melatonin and offers a technique that is a combination of mind/body techniques that include breath work, meditation, intonation, and visualization that increases melatonin to as high a level if not higher than the increases obtained after ingesting 5mg of melatonin tablets orally.

So, his techniques increase melatonin levels via 'breathing exercises' 'intonation' (which I assume means chants or tones or something along those lines) and visualizations? Since he's presenting research, I'm sure he has clinical data to back up his claims?

One of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus gland which on the physical level is responsible for producing immune system cells and on the energetic level, is the seat of Christ/Buddhic consciousness.

How do you know this is the "seat of the Christ/Buddhic consciousness'? What is the 'Christ/Buddhic consciousness'?

Melatonin has been shown to reverse immune impairment and thymus atrophy caused by psychological and physiological stress. It does so by tuning the entire neuro-immuno-endocrine system. FWIW

This is also interesting - how does it 'tune the entire neuro-immono-endocrine system'?

 

[mamadrama]

One element to assist in healing is to increase the body's production of this hormone. Self-produced melatonin by self-stimulating the pineal gland is preferable to an external melatonin source, though that is beneficial as well.

This is interesting - do you have data to back it up?

Since ancient times, the mysterious tiny pineal gland in the brain was thought to be the “seat of the soul.” Later, modern medicine became convinced that the pineal gland, like the human appendix, served no useful function. According to Singh, it was banished from the textbooks of medicine, psychiatry and psychology. Yet, the mystical schools and esoteric philosophies continued to insist that this gland was of profound importance to human health and that its activities could be modulated by the process of meditative intonations of certain syllables along with vivid visualization and specialized breathing. Needless to say, their views were scoffed at.
However, over the past decade, research on this gland and its hormone melatonin (MLT) has been growing at a phenomenal rate. By 1997 the pineal gland’s importance was accepted by the medical community and it was considered the master gland of the body, the regulator of hormones, and known to play a crucial healing role in several diseases.
Low melatonin levels are symptomatic of the body indicating the brain-immune-endocrine-bioelectric and cellular systems are not working in harmony, ie. they lack bio-resonance. Your pineal gland is your body’s natural biological clock so to speak. It ensures the proper rhythmic activities of all your hormonal and cellular systems. It secretes its hormones in a pulsatile (rhythmic) manner which is how it maintains the proper regulated stages of cell growth and division. So for genuine long term health and healing, the melatonin must be produced from within one’s own pineal gland.

Dr. Ranjie Singh has done quite a bit of research on melatonin and offers a technique that is a combination of mind/body techniques that include breath work, meditation, intonation, and visualization that increases melatonin to as high a level if not higher than the increases obtained after ingesting 5mg of melatonin tablets orally.

So, his techniques increase melatonin levels via 'breathing exercises' 'intonation' (which I assume means chants or tones or something along those lines) and visualizations? Since he's presenting research, I'm sure he has clinical data to back up his claims?

In Singh’s study, which was conducted at the University of Western Ontario Research Park over a 12 month period, all participants (including those with cancer) experienced large increases in their pineal melatonin levels. Most increases ranged from 50% to 10 times higher with an average of three times higher than the baseline. In addition, it was found that heart rate and blood pressure significantly decreased (a healthy indicator) and finger temperature significantly increased (also a healthy indicator). There were significant increases in altered positive states of conciousness, while the mood disturbance and anxiety scores in all participants were significantly decreased.
Other independent research by 5 scientists at the University of Massachusetts-Dept. of Psychiatry also suggest an important relationship between: meditation and increased melatonin levels with possible therapeutic implications for breast and prostate cancer.
Some other scientifically based books on the topic if you’re interested are: The Pineal Gland and Cancer, The Melatonin Miracle: Nature’s Age-reversing, Disease Fighting, Sex-enhancing Hormone, Melatonin: Biosynthesis, Physiological Effects, and Clinical Applications, and Melatonin: your body’s natural wonder drug.

One of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus gland which on the physical level is responsible for producing immune system cells and on the energetic level, is the seat of Christ/Buddhic consciousness.

How do you know this is the "seat of the Christ/Buddhic consciousness'? What is the 'Christ/Buddhic consciousness'?

The superconscious mind (or spirit) is called by many names by many religions in many different cultures. Some of these names are: Buddha consciousness, Christ consciousness, the Collective Mind, the Universal Mind, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Holy Spirit, Brahman, God, the Clear White Light, Allah, Higher Self, the Mind of Christ, etc. The reference to the Christ/Buddhic consciousness has little to do with Jesus but refers to the manifestation of the Christ consciousness - the perfect union of the human with the divine.

In esoteric healing and traditional schools of spirituality and self-actualization (Vedic, Chinese, Egyptian and Essene) there is a recognition of the energetic anatomy of the human body and its correspondence to healing which involves the chakras. In this system, the thymus (sometimes referred to as the high heart chakra) is located in the heart or 4th chakra which governs the heart, lungs, blood, and circulation and is the centre for compassion, love, group consciousness and spirituality.
The high heart chakra is located above the heart chakra and below the throat chakra. Positioned between the heart and throat, the thymic chakra acts as a bridge between emotions and reason, and works to balance and integrate the channels of higher consciousness and body wisdom (the senses). Due to this, the thymic chakra appears to provide a direct connection between our soul body and physical body, essentially the place of the Cherub.
It is associated with the thymus gland which balances and regulates the immunological system of the body. In a way akin to how the thymus gland works to purify the body by filtering out unhealthy substances through the lymphatic system, the thymic chakra works to purify the upper 3 chakra centers from etheric congestion caused by unhealthy choices and misdirected desire. If an individual works to change unhealthy patterns, it is said in esoteric healing the heart ascends to the high heart, connecting with the sacred heart, or Christ consciousness.

Melatonin has been shown to reverse immune impairment and thymus atrophy caused by psychological and physiological stress. It does so by tuning the entire neuro-immuno-endocrine system. FWIW

This is also interesting - how does it 'tune the entire neuro-immono-endocrine system'?

See explanation above: Your pineal gland is your body’s natural biological clock so to speak. It ensures the proper rhythmic activities of all your hormonal and cellular systems. It secretes its hormones in a pulsatile (rhythmic) manner which is how it maintains the proper regulated stages of cell growth and division.

Hope that answers most of your questions :)


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[mamadrama]

Fluoride also has a hugely negative impact on the pineal gland according to Jennifer Luke's PhD thesis on fluoride and its accumulation in the pineal gland. When Luke found out that the pineal gland (it produces serotonin and melatonin) - was also a calcifying tissue, like the teeth and the bones, she hypothesized it would concentrate fluoride to very high levels. The gland is not protected by the blood brain barrier and has a very high perfusion rate of blood, second only to the kidney.

Luke had 11 cadavers analyzed in the UK. As she predicted she found astronomically high levels of fluoride in the calcium hydroxy apatite crystals produced by the gland. The average was 9000 ppm and went as high as 21,000 in one case. These levels are at, or higher, than fluoride levels in the bones of people suffering from skeletal fluorosis. It is these findings which have just been published.

It is the ramifications of these findings which have yet to be published. In the second half of her work she treated animals (Mongolian gerbils) with fluoride at a pineal gland research unit at the University of Surrey, UK. She found that melatonin production (as measured by the concentration of a melatonin metabolite in the urine) was lower in the animals treated with high fluoride levels compared with those treated with low levels.

Luke hypothesizes that one of the four enzymes needed to convert the amino acid tryptophan (from the diet) into melatonin is being inhibited by fluoride. It could be one of the two enzymes which convert tryptophan to serotonin or one of the two which convert serotonin to melatonin.

So it seems like it is a good idea to detox the body for fluoride if you live in an area where the water is fluoridated or know you have been extensively exposed to fluoride (it's also in household products like non-stick frying pans).

 

[anart]

The superconscious mind (or spirit) is called by many names by many religions in many different cultures. Some of these names are: Buddha consciousness, Christ consciousness, the Collective Mind, the Universal Mind, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Holy Spirit, Brahman, God, the Clear White Light, Allah, Higher Self, the Mind of Christ, etc. The reference to the Christ/Buddhic consciousness has little to do with Jesus but refers to the manifestation of the Christ consciousness - the perfect union of the human with the divine.

In esoteric healing and traditional schools of spirituality and self-actualization (Vedic, Chinese, Egyptian and Essene) there is a recognition of the energetic anatomy of the human body and its correspondence to healing which involves the chakras. In this system, the thymus (sometimes referred to as the high heart chakra) is located in the heart or 4th chakra which governs the heart, lungs, blood, and circulation and is the centre for compassion, love, group consciousness and spirituality.
The high heart chakra is located above the heart chakra and below the throat chakra. Positioned between the heart and throat, the thymic chakra acts as a bridge between emotions and reason, and works to balance and integrate the channels of higher consciousness and body wisdom (the senses). Due to this, the thymic chakra appears to provide a direct connection between our soul body and physical body, essentially the place of the Cherub.
It is associated with the thymus gland which balances and regulates the immunological system of the body. In a way akin to how the thymus gland works to purify the body by filtering out unhealthy substances through the lymphatic system, the thymic chakra works to purify the upper 3 chakra centers from etheric congestion caused by unhealthy choices and misdirected desire. If an individual works to change unhealthy patterns, it is said in esoteric healing the heart ascends to the high heart, connecting with the sacred heart, or Christ consciousness.

You state all of this 'chakra information' as if it is true. Why would you think that? What is your source? Or is this just what you've come to believe?

I'm not saying that 'chakras' don't exist - I just have no reason to think that humanity's popularized understanding of them is accurate - especially the 'new age spirituality' shtick that relies so heavily on such interpretations - so - when someone speaks about this information as if it is fact, red flags are raised.

 

[mamadrama]

In esoteric healing and traditional schools of spirituality and self-actualization (Vedic, Chinese, Egyptian and Essene) there is a recognition of the energetic anatomy of the human body and its correspondence to healing which involves the chakras. In this system, the thymus (sometimes referred to as the high heart chakra) is located in the heart or 4th chakra which governs the heart, lungs, blood, and circulation and is the centre for compassion, love, group consciousness and spirituality.

You state all of this 'chakra information' as if it is true. Why would you think that? What is your source? Or is this just what you've come to believe?

I'm not saying that 'chakras' don't exist - I just have no reason to think that humanity's popularized understanding of them is accurate - especially the 'new age spirituality' shtick that relies so heavily on such interpretations - so - when someone speaks about this information as if it is fact, red flags are raised.

Anart,
If you research estoerica and the traditional schools of spirituality that I mentioned above, you will find they all contain the chakra system. Personally, I learned about chakras at a school for natural healing where I was enrolled in a 2 year program of study that included esoteric healing, subtle energies of the body, and meditation with a few herbal classes thrown in as well. I did not say the chakra system was fact, although it's pretty likely these traditions think it to be. Since I have no reliable way to know for sure, it is a working hypothesis.

 

[anart]

Anart,
If you research estoerica and the traditional schools of spirituality that I mentioned above, you will find they all contain the chakra system.

Yes, I have - quite extensively, actually - thus my questions to you, to get a better understanding of 'where you are coming from' and my previously stated conclusions.

I did not say the chakra system was fact, although it's pretty likely these traditions think it to be. Since I have no reliable way to know for sure, it is a working hypothesis.

Good to hear that you consider it a working hypothesis -that means you're willing to change the hypothesis! From your previous post, that was not apparent.

 

[mamadrama]

I have been reading about natural ways to detox the body and came across these notes by Maria Abdin of the Prensa Samizdat Research Service on fluoride detoxification.

During sauna-based detoxification, and during heavy exercise, fluorine appears to mobilize from body stores. In sufficient quantities, such dumping can cause the symptoms of acute fluorine poisoning and have serious consequences. The fluorine re-entering the circulation can cause acidity (possibly hydrofluoric acid or related compound). Several measures have been found helpful adjuncts to sauna detox and general alleviation of fluoride-intoxication symptoms:

-- avoidance of acidic foods, such as citrus fruits

-- large quantities of supplemental calcium carbonate, which not only helps to de-acidify the body, but also binds fluorine --assisting in safe excretion of fluorine, and also helping replenish body calcium stores depleted by fluorine.

-- ingestion of a tablespoonful of lecithin twice daily, which helps protect nerve sheaths and kidney linings from corrosion/acidity

-- deep breathing of clean, fresh air when the body feels acidic and during the detox procedures, to help remove fluorine through respiration, and relieve some of the stress on the kidneys.

-- ingestion of copious amounts of fluorine-free water, to dilute body concentrations of fluoride and facilitate safe excretion

-- use of Stellaria spp. (common chickweed) as a tea. This plant, a common garden weed which is edible in apparently unlimited quantities without toxic effect, helps soothe inflamed kidneys. It should be gathered from areas free from animal contact and from pesticide/auto exhaust drift. Washed thoroughly, it can then be dried (maintaining color and activity) by placing in open container in a refrigerator, turning gently every day or so until thoroughly dried. It can then be stored in dark containers for a few months. Dose about half to full teaspoon of dried plant per 1 cup boiling water. Bring to boil, simmer a few minutes, then steep for 15-20 minutes. One or two swallows at a time as desired.

-- the sauna used in detoxification should either be "dry sauna," or if an Indian-type sweat lodge is used, then fluoride-free water should be used. Steam saunas using tap water may, in fluoride-containing water areas, add to the problem rather than helping to resolve it.

-- hair loss due to fluoride poisoning (also useful in treatment of organic mercury-related hair loss). After gently washing with "natural" shampoo and rinsing, gently rub into scalp "organic" cold-pressed olive oil to which has been added: a bit of strong nettle (Urtica sp, commonly available in health food stores) tea, and dissolved vitamin/mineral supplements as desired (not too much). After rubbing into scalp and hair, wrap head (paper towels, cloth, etc.) for about 20 minutes, then wash out.

Note: Once mobilization has been started, it may continue, with largest amounts of fluorine in circulation in the evenings. The supportive measures of water, calcium, deep breathing, and Stellaria tea can be utilized at any time as needed.

Sources:

Dreisbach, Robert H. and Robertson, William O., Handbook of Poisoning: Prevention, Diagnosis & Treatment --17th ed. (Norwalk, CT --Appleton-Lange 1987)

Waldbott, George L., et al., Fluoridation: The Great Dilemma (Lawrence, Kansas, Coronado Press, Inc. 1978)

Personal observation and experience.

 

[mamadrama]

Today's newsletter article from Mercola is on probiotics and your immune system. I've included another article on Mercola's website on supercharging your immune system. The second article includes a link to a video by Gary Null on a 25 year study of the rise in immune diseases and the role the gut plays in the immune system. I only watched about 10 minutes of it (it's an hour and a half long) and although there seemed to be some good information, there was some that was not so good, too such as encouraging the substitution of soy for animal protein. Also at the beginning of the video there are several cuts showing the inhumane treatment of animals at the slaughter house, which seem to be a heavy handed way to sell soy. osis

Probiotics Found to Help Your Gut`s Immune System


Probiotic bacteria, which are living microorganisms that have beneficial effects on human health, have mostly been studied as treatments for different gastrointestinal diseases and allergies. However, not much is known about what kind of effects they have on the immune system in healthy adults.

A new study shows that probiotics can modulate immune responses via your gut's mucosal immune system.

It was found that probiotics have an anti-inflammatory potential. They caused a decrease in serum CRP levels, and a reduction in the bacteria-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Sources:
Eurekalert June 11, 2008
World Journal of Gastroenterology April 7, 2008; 14(13): 2029-2036 (Free Full-Text Report)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Most people, including many physicians, do not realize that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to maintain optimal health. Remember, a robust immune system is your number one defense system against ALL disease.

Although I do not recommend taking supplements on a regular basis (as food is your best source of vital nutrients), a high quality probiotic is one of my exceptions. In fact, it’s the one supplement recommended to all new patients in my clinic.

This is because the nutritional root of so many health concerns are related to an imbalance of intestinal bacteria (the optimal balance is about 85 percent “good bacteria” and 15 percent “bad”).

Proper food choices will help shift the bacteria. But, just like your lawn, sometimes you may need to "reseed" areas that have become barren for whatever reason.

Normally, you don’t need to take probiotics forever, but I have found them to be incredibly helpful at certain times, such as when you stray from the food program and consume excess grains or sugar, or if you have to take antibiotics.

I also take them when traveling to foreign countries or when eating at suspicious restaurants, and I’ve found that using a high-quality probiotic every 30-60 days will typically help maintain a well-functioning digestive system.

The Vital Functions of Probiotics

The friendly bacteria that reside in your gut have a number of very important functions, including:

Digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates. Without good gut bacteria, your body cannot absorb certain undigested starches, fiber, and sugars. The friendly bacteria in your digestive tract convert these carbohydrates into primary sources of important energy and nutrients.


Producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins. Probiotics help in the production of both vitamin K and B vitamins, and promote mineral absorption. They also aid in metabolism and the breakdown of toxins.


Keeping bad bacteria under control. A large part of the influence of the "bad" bacteria is on your intestinal lining (mucousal barrier) that is over 300 square meters, or about the size of a tennis court. Simply stated, friendly bacteria compete with the bad guys for room and board, but since beneficial bacteria are more at home there, they win most of the battles for nutrition and attachment sites within your colon.
The good bacteria tell your body how much nutrition they need and your body responds by supplying just that much and no more - so that any excess bad bacteria are starved out. The helpful bacteria also produce a substance that kills harmful microbes.

Preventing allergies. Friendly bacteria train your immune system to distinguish between pathogens and non-harmful antigens, and to respond appropriately. This important function prevents your immune system from overreacting to non-harmful antigens, which is the genesis of allergies.


Providing vital support to your immune system. Beneficial bacteria have a lifelong, powerful effect on your gut’s immune system and your systemic immune system as well. The bacteria play a crucial role in the development and operation of the mucosal immune system in your digestive tract. They also aid in the production of antibodies to pathogens.
As you can see, probiotics perform a wide variety of functions, which renders them useful and beneficial for a number of health concerns, including the prevention or control of:

Food and skin allergies in children
Vaginitis
Premature labor in pregnant women
Inflammatory bowel disease
Recurrent ear and bladder infections
Chronic diarrhea
Probiotics Found Beneficial for Athletes as Well

Another recent study that confirms the use of probiotics to boost your immune function was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine earlier this year

In that study, probiotic supplements were able to significantly reduce the number and length of infections suffered by long-distance runners.

Strenuous training can affect your immune system and make athletes vulnerable to coughs and colds. But athletes in the study were able to cut the number of days they showed symptoms in half, by taking probiotic supplements.

Are All Probiotics the Same?

Not necessarily, which was also confirmed by this latest study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Here the researchers looked at three different kinds of probiotic bacteria:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. Lactis
Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii
They concluded that probiotics seem to have strain-specific anti-inflammatory effects in healthy adults.

In this case, the CRP (a sensitive marker of inflammation) was lower in the Lactobacillus and Propionibacterium groups, showing greater effectiveness as anti-inflammatories, compared to the groups receiving the Bifidobacterium or placebo.

In addition to checking out which bacterial strains are included, other main features you should look for when purchasing a probiotic supplement are:

No need for refrigeration
Long shelf life
Can survive stomach acid so that it reaches your small intestine
Stays resident in your digestive tract long enough to be effective
Even though I’ve come to the conclusion that no one solution works for everyone, the Bacillus Coagulans strain has been proven highly effective. It’s the one I use personally, and the one we recommend in my Natural Health Center. Its main benefits are that it is present in spore form, and survives the acidic environment of your stomach -- making it to your small intestine where it does the most good. They also survive high temperatures and do not need to be refrigerated, which adds convenience.

What’s Even Better Than a Probiotic Supplement?

Historically, people used cultured or fermented foods to support their intestinal and overall health, way before the invention of the probiotic supplement.

Cultured foods like yogurt, some cheeses, and sauerkraut are good sources of natural, healthy bacteria. And fermented foods, such as natto, can give your body the similar benefits of consuming a whole bottle of good bacteria, at a fraction of the cost.

One of the best and least expensive ways to get healthy bacteria through your diet is to obtain raw milk and convert it to kefir, which is really easy to make at home. All you need is one half packet of the kefir start granules in a quart of raw milk, which you leave at room temperature over night. By the time you wake up in the morning you will likely have kefir. If it hasn’t obtained the consistency of yogurt you might want to set it out a bit longer and then store it in the fridge.

A quart of kefir has far more active bacteria than you can possibly purchase in any probiotics supplement, and it is very economical as you can reuse the kefir from the original quart of milk about ten times before you need to start a new culture pack. Just one starter package of kefir granules can convert about 50 gallons of milk to kefir.

Don’t even think of using pasteurized milk, however, as pasteurized milk has its own set of negative health ramifications and should be avoided at all cost.



Related Articles:


The Benefits of Probiotics

100 Trillion Bacteria in Your Gut: Learn How to Keep the Good Kind There


Early probiotic experience may include excessive drainage syndrome (ridding the intestine of pathogenic bacteria and yeast and re-establishing normal flora.) As unwanted microbes begin to die off and are processed out of the intestine, toxins may be released causing headaches, diarrhea, gas, bloating, or constipation. Not to worry - this is actually a good sign - the intestine is being cleansed of these toxin releasing and illness-promoting microbes but it can be uncomfortable for a few days.

If you have ever taken an antibiotic prescription & have not replaced your normal gut flora, you probably need a probiotic supplement. Good bacteria occupy cell receptors & help defend us against the bad bacteria. If there are no available receptors, the bad bacteria have no place to call home. Most of the pathogenic bacteria are gram negative. Lactobacillus plantarum (a nonpathogenic bacteria) is a gram positive microbe that occupies receptors used by gram negative microbes like Salmonella & E. coli.

So, look for a probiotic that includes: Lactobaccillus plantarum & Bifidobacteria. Bifidobacteria are believed to be responsible for synthesizing B vitamins in the gut. L. Plantarum seems to preserve omega-3 fatty acids & has shown a strong ability to reduce or eliminate pathogenic microbes. (Source: Immunonutrition: Role of biosurfactants, fiber, and probiotic bacteria. Nutrition 1998: 14:585-594 by S. Bengmark MD PhD)

How to Supercharge Your Immune System

Gary Null’s video “Supercharge Your Immune System” is based on 25 years of clinical nutrition research and working with thousands of individuals who suffer from immune disease.

In this comprehensive, must-see video, you’ll learn the real causes of cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, allergies and many other forms of immune dysfunction.

-http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/07/11/how-to-supercharge-your-immune-system.aspx

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
A research scientist at the Institute of Applied Biology for over 27 years, Gary Null, Ph.D., has spent his career investigating health issues and searching for the truth. Null is a New York Times best-selling author, the host of the talk radio program, "The Gary Null Show," and a producer of documentary films, DVDs and PBS television programs. Null empowers all who will listen with life-changing facts that promote wellness. Gary has interviewed me for several of his films. He is an awesome leader in the health freedom and education movement and we are fortunate to have his courageous example.


Here are my recommendations to supplement his excellent video for keeping your immune system in top shape, many of which coincide or dovetail with Null’s suggestions: Of course these are just a summary, but if you want a more comprehensive review please consider my new book Take Control of Your Health, which is loaded with key insights to improve your health and immune system.


Avoid Sugar

Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately. It is especially imperative to avoid sugar if you feel you are coming down with something, but keeping sugar out of your diet for the long haul will do wonders for your health and make your body stronger. Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect like ketchup and fruit juice.

Get Enough Rest

Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you’re tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight off disease. Regular rest will keep you strong and ensure that your body has the strength to fight off any potential invaders. Be sure to check out my article on Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep.

Eat Garlic Regularly

Garlic is a triple-whammy: it’s antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day. It is important to note that the garlic must be fresh to give you optimal health benefits. The active ingredient is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless and should not be used. When you use the garlic, compress it with a spoon prior to swallowing it, or put it through your juicer to add to your vegetable juice. If you swallow the clove intact you will not convert the active ingredient, allicin, to its active form.

Don’t Let Stress Become Overwhelming

We all face some stress everyday, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off illnesses. It has been estimated that up to 90 percent of illness and disease is stress-related. If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a type of psychological acupressure. EFT is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma.

Exercise

When you exercise you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it has a chance to spread. In a sense, exercising helps your immune system to be more efficient in weeding out and acting upon viruses and diseases. You can review my exercise guidelines for some great tips to get started.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. If your immune system is strong, it should be able to fight off the virus if it does enter your body, but washing your hands provides a bit of extra protection. Be sure you don’t use antibacterial soap for this -- antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. You can read my article on hygiene mistakes for more information.


Related Articles:


Depression and Anger Affect the Immune System

Good Night's Sleep Essential for Immune System

Immune System Used to Fight Cancer

 

[Meg]

From the Sott page today- The article highlights how leaky gut and malnutrition might responsible for the onset of autoimmune diseases. It also mentions that it might not be just gut barrier permeability that attributes. The Blood-nerve barrier, Blood-retina barrier, bladder epithelial barrier, arterial-endothelial barrier, and the placental barrier are also mentioned.

Most autoimmune diseases are official conditions "of unknown etiology" according to conventional medical science. Genetic factors appear to predispose individuals to autoimmune diseases, yet factors in the modern lifestyle must contribute to the conditions - autoimmune diseases are rare or nonexistent in primitive humans following a traditional diet and lifestyle. The cutting edge of research into the cause or trigger for these diseases focuses on loss of the integrity of natural barriers within the organism. The most important of these is the gut barrier, which, when it becomes pathologically permeable, becomes the key to the development of "leaky gut syndrome." Factors in the modern environment that damage the gut and other physiological barriers, such as vitamin and mineral malnutrition and injurious pharmaceutical drugs, may be responsible for the onset of autoimmunity.

Leaky gut syndrome

The gut barrier is paradoxical in that it must allow the passage of nutrients while keeping out offending antigenic substances and microorganisms in the gut. The gut is typically partly "leaky," allowing particles as large as bacteria and entire undigested proteins to cross it, and it is normal to find gut bacteria in the portal blood, on the "wrong" side of the gut barrier. These and other antigens or pathogens are typically controlled by the extensive gut lymphatic material and by the liver. If gut permeability increases, however, large amounts of antigenic material can overwhelm these systems, and a cascade of inflammatory events may ensue that can trigger or exacerbate autoimmunity. A full discussion of the "leaky gut" syndrome is beyond the scope of this publication. For an excellent and well-referenced review, see Leo Galland's book chapter (Galland, 1997) or his on-line article (Galland, 1998). Leaky gut can result in vicious-cycle type pathologies. Gut inflammation can impair absorption of nutrients, and the resulting malnutrition can result in further reduction of the barrier integrity or an increase in inflammation. The hyper permeable gut can allow food antigens across the barrier, initiating allergic reactions that further impair the gut integrity. Toxic overload on the liver's antioxidant systems can likewise impair the liver's ability to handle the overload.

The presence of a leaky gut syndrome associated with various illnesses, including autoimmunity, has been a theory of alternative medicine since the mid-1980s, but studies and trials that support the theory now abound in the scientific literature. Research studies indicate that gut permeability may be pathologically increased by antibiotic therapy (Rutgers et al; Whang et al), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Jenkins et al; Louis et al; Nylander et al; Wallace), food allergies (de Boissieu et al; Louis et al; Troncone et al,1994), alcohol (Bjarnason et al), stress (Saunders et al), and poor nutrition (Rodriguez et al). Research also shows that the gut does not increase in permeability due to normal aging (Saltzman et al), that mother's milk can protect against permeability-inducing injuries (Crissinger et al.), and that administration of probiotics can restore normal permeability (Salminen et al.). Various researchers have also linked increased intestinal permeability with autoimmune diseases in general (Parke; Zananian), arthritis (Paganelli et al; Parke); ankylosing spondylitis (Martinez-Gonzales et al); collagen autoimmune diseases (Tsutsumi et al), Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative colitis (Geboes; Ma; Stevens; Zanjanian), and autoimmune skin disorders (Kieffer and Barnetson; Paganelli et al; Parke.) A key factor in research into intestinal permeability has been the cellobiose/mannitol sugar permeability test, a simple lab test which assesses the absorption of sugars of high and low molecular weights across the intestinal barrier by measuring urine concentrations (Troncone et al, 1995; Bijlsma et al.)

Molecular mimicry

A second contemporary concept in autoimmunity may explain the devastating effects of compromise of the gut barrier. Molecular mimicry describes a condition in which protein sequences in bacteria, viruses, foods, or other antigens are similar or identical to sequences in human tissues. Thus antibodies to the mimicking substance may attack the corresponding tissue in the body. Molecular mimicry has long been recognized as the cause of autoimmune disease that appears in the aftermath of acute infections, but recent research demonstrates that the phenomenon is much more widespread than previously thought, and that antibodies to gut bacteria and undigested food proteins may also attack various human tissues. Molecular mimicry between the gut bacterium Klebsiella spp and the body's tissues has been recognized as a probable causative factor in autoimmune ankylosing spondylitis at least since 1977 (Ebringer). For a recent literature review, see Karlsen and Dyrberg (Karlsen and Dyrberg). Antibodies to some of the materials flooding into the system through a leaky gut could thus trigger the onset or an exacerbation of autoimmunity. See Table 1 on the facing page.

Molecular mimicry and cross reactivity between gluten protein and human tissues has recently been documented. Gluten has long been known to produce celiac disease in some individuals. Celiac disease is accompanied by the autoimmune destruction of the intestinal wall as antibodies to gluten attack the epithelial cells of the intestine (Tuckova et al). It has recently been recognized that the antibodies to gluten may not significantly affect the intestine, but instead attack other tissues throughout the body (Kamaeva et al.) Kamaeva et all suggest that molecular mimicry of the gluten protein has been identified in autoimmune thyroid disease, systemic lupus, autoimmune nephritis, psoriasis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. Cross reactive anti-gluten antibodies were found in 19 of sixty patients with various autoimmune disease, including 4 of 16 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 1 of 8 cases of systemic lupus evaluated in the study. The study implies that removal of gluten from the diet may improve these other conditions just as it does for celiac disease.. Milk protein has been implicated in similar pathologies, with one study finding a direct proportion between circulating autoandibodies and the antibody to the casein protein in cow's milk. The researchers also found that 10% of the subjects they measured in the general population had cross reactive autoantibodies between cow's milk protein and body tissues (Cunningham-Rundles et al.). Soy protein has also been implicated in autoimmune diseases, especially autoimmune thyroiditis (Fort et al 1990; Fort et al 1986).

Other barriers
The gut barrier is not the only one implicated in autoimmune disease. Researchers have theorized that autoimmune pathologies may involve imperfections of the blood-brain barrier (Claudio et al. 1995), the blood-nerve barrier (Brosnan et al; Yu et al), the blood-retina barrier (Claudio et al, 1994), the bladder epithelial barrier (Bullock et al; Neal et al.), the arterial-endothelial barrier (Wisser), and the placental barrier (Nelson).

Microchimerism

The association between pregnancy and the onset of several autoimmune diseases, including SLE, is well-established. A mechanism called "microchimerism" may explain the phenomena. Microchimerism describes a condition in which fetal cells, including components of the immune system, can enter maternal blood and remain there, for decades sometimes. Maternal immune cells can also enter the fetal blood, reproduce there, and linger into later life. Male fetal DNA has been found in mother's blood as long as twenty-seven years after birth, and as many as 4% of the white blood cells in infants have been found to have originated in the mother's blood. White blood cells may remain in the foreign blood, replicating and producing antibodies, for long periods of time. Both situations are implicated by association with autoimmune disease such as scleroderma and lupus. For a review, see Nelson, who first proposed the connection between microchimerism and autoimmunity in 1996 (Nelson)..

The pathologies described above may explain why autoimmunity is a modern disease, and rarely seen in primitive societies following traditional dietary and lifestyle patterns. The malnutrition in key vitamins and minerals common with the modern diet may injure barrier integrity. Modern anti-inflammatory drugs, available over-the-counter and widely consumed either through medical prescription or self-medication, as well as other prescription drugs, may induce leaky gut. In general, conventional medicine can do little for autoimmunity other than turning off the inflammatory mechanisms with drugs. This may be important in life threatening situations, but, if leaky gut and accompanying molecular mimicry are not corrected, the disease can be expected to progress, now complicated by drug side effects. Ironically, some of the drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases themselves can produce leaky gut syndrome.

Implications for natural medicine

Natural medicine, on the other hand, may present possibilities for preventing and treating the underlying pathologies. The following strategies might be considered in any case of autoimmunity.

1) Maintain or restore barrier integrity through optimal nutrition.

2) Balance fats and oils in the diet to promote sufficient levels and balance in the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

3) Withdraw and/or avoid non-essential pharmaceutical drugs that can induce leaky gut, especially antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids.

4) Screen for and eliminate food allergens.

5) Recommend avoidance of alcohol or treatment for alcoholism

6) Counsel or make referrals for stress reduction. Consider spa therapy for rest during acute attacks.

7) Prescribe gut-healing anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and/or carminative herbs.

One consideration when seeking to apply the principles of traditional herbal systems such as traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, or Unani Tibb is to bear in mind that autoimmunity itself is a disease of modern society, especially of the twentieth century. Leaky gut syndrome and the related issues above were probably rare as the above systems were being developed, and preexisting protocols do not exist in those systems for autoimmune diseases. Assessment of the clinical picture and the history for the development of and presence of leaky gut syndrome, and treatments to reduce gut permeability might be prudent first steps to take in the treatment of autoimmunity, regardless of the traditional system being used.

References

Bjarnason I, Peters TJ, Wise RJ.The leaky gut of alcoholism: possible route of entry for toxic compounds. Lancet. 1984 Jan 28; 1(8370): 179-182.

Bijlsma PB, Peeters RA, Groot JA, Dekker PR, et al. Differential in vivo and in vitro intestinal permeability to lactulose and mannitol in animals and humans: a hypothesis. Gastroenterology 1995 Mar;108(3):687-96

Brosnan CF, Claudio L, Tansey FA, Martiney J. Mechanisms of autoimmune neuropathies. Ann Neurol 1990;27 Suppl:S75-S79

Bullock AD, Becich MJ, Klutke CG, Ratliff TL. Experimental autoimmune cystitis: a potential murine model for ulcerative interstitial cystitis. J Urol 1992 Dec;148(6):1951-1956

Claudio L, et al. Evidence of persistent blood-brain barrier abnormalities in chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 1995; 90(3): 228-238.

Claudio L, et al. Ultrastructural studies of the blood-retina barrier after exposure to interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Urol Clin North Am 1994 Feb;21(1):31-39

Crissinger KD and Burney DL Intestinal oxygenation and mucosal permeability with luminal mother's milk in developing piglets. Pediatr Res 1996 Aug;40(2):269-75

Cunningham-Rundles C, Feng ZK, Zhou Z, Woods KR. Relationship between naturally occurring human antibodies to casein and autologous antiidiotypic antibodies: implications for the network theory. J Clin Immunol 1991 Sep;11(5):279-290

de Boissieu D, Dupont C, and Badoual J. Allergy to nondairy proteins in mother's milk as assessed by intestinal permeability tests. Allergy 1994 Dec;49(10):882-4

Ebringer R, Cooke D, Cawdell DR, Cowling P, Ebringer A. Ankylosing spondylitis: klebsiella and HL-A B27. Rheumatol Rehabil 1977 Aug;16(3):190-196

Fort P, Moses N, Fasano M, Goldberg T, Lifshitz F. Breast and soy-formula feedings in early infancy and the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in children. J Am Coll Nutr 1990 Apr;9(2):164-167

Fort P, Lanes R, Dahlem S, Recker B, Weyman-Daum M, Pugliese M, Lifshitz F. Breast feeding and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in children. J Am Coll Nutr 1986;5(5):439-441

Galland, L. The Four Pillars of Healing : How Integrated Medicine Can Heal You. New York: Random House, 1997

Galland L. Leaky Gut Syndromes: Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Http://www.healthy.net/library/articles/galland/Leakygut.htm

Geboes K From inflammation to lesion. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 1994 Sep;57(5-6):273-284

Jenkins AP, trew DR, Crump BJ, et al Do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase colonic permeability? 1991; Gut 32:66-69

Kamaeva OI, Reznikov IuP, Pimenova NS, Dobritsyna LV. Antigliadin antibodies in the absence of celiac disease. Klin Med (Mosk) 1998;76(2):33-35

Karlsen AE, Dyrberg T. Molecular mimicry between non-self, modified self and self in autoimmunity. Semin Immunol 1998 Feb;10(1):25-34

Kieffer M, Barnetson RS Increased gliadin antibodies in dermatitis herpetiformis and pemphigoid. Br J Dermatol 1983 Jun;108(6):673-678

Louis E, Franchimont D, Deprez M, Lamproye A, et al. Decrease in systemic tolerance to fed ovalbumin in indomethacin-treated mice. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1996 Jan;109(1):21-6

Ma TY. Intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction in Crohn's disease. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1997 Apr;214(4):318-27

Martinez-Gonzales et al. Intestinal permeability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and their healthy relatives. Br J Rheumatology 1994;33:644-647

Neal DE Jr, Dilworth JP, Kaack MB. Tamm-Horsfall autoantibodies in interstitial cystitis. J Urol 1991 Jan;145(1):37-39

Nelson JL. Microchimerism and Autoimmune Disease NEJM 1998;338(17).

Nylander O, Andersson H, Wilander E, and Sababi M. Prostaglandins reduce hydrochloric acid-induced increase in duodenal mucosal permeability by a mechanism not related to stimulation of alkaline secretion.

Paganelli R, et al. Intestinal permeability in patients with chronic urticaria-angioedema with and without arthralgia. Ann Allergy 1991;66:181-184

Parke AL. Gastrointestinal disorders and rheumatic diseases. Curr Opin Rheumatol 1991 Feb;3(1):160-165

Pizzorno, J. Total Wellness. Rocklin, California: Prima Publishing, 1997

Rodriguez P, Darmon N, Chappuis P,Candalh C, et al. Intestinal paracellular permeability during malnutrition in guinea pigs: effect of high dietary zinc. Gut 1996 Sep;39(3):416-22

Rutgers HC, Batt RM, Proud FJ, Sorensen SH, et al.

Intestinal permeability and function in dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. J Small Anim Pract 1996 Sep;37(9):428-34

Salminen S, Isolauri E, Salminen E. Clinical uses of probiotics for stabilizing the gut mucosal barrier: successful strains and future challenges. REVIEW ARTICLE: 90 REFS. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1996 Oct;70(2-4):347-58

Saltzman JR, Kowdley KV, Perrone G, and Russell RM Changes in small-intestine permeability with aging. J Am Geriatr Soc 1995 Feb;43(2):160-4

Saunders PR, Kosecka U, McKay DM, and Perdue MH. Acute stressors stimulate ion secretion and increase epithelial permeability in rat intestine. Am J Physiol 1994 Nov;267(5 Pt 1):G794-9

Stevens TR, Winrow VR, Blake DR, Rampton DS. Circulating antibodies to heat-shock protein 60 in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Clin Exp Immunol 1992 Nov;90(2):271-274

Troncone R, et al. Increased intestinal sugar permeability after challegne in children with cow's milk allergy or intolerance. Allergy 1994:49:142-146

Troncone R, Mayer M, Mugione P, Cucciardi M, et al. Cellobiose/mannitol sugar permeability test in children in relation to jejunal morphometry. Ital J Gastroenterol 1995 Dec;27(9):489-93

Tsutsumi A, Sugiyama T, Matsumura R, Sueishi M, Takabayashi K, Koike T, Tomioka H, Yoshida S. Protein losing enteropathy associated with collagen diseases. Ann Rheum Dis 1991 Mar;50(3):178-181

Tuckova L, Karska K, Walters JR, Michalak M, Rossmann P, Krupickova S, Verdu EF, Saalman R, Hanson LA, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H. Anti-gliadin antibodies in patients with celiac disease cross-react with enterocytes and human calreticulin. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1997 Dec;85(3):289-296

Wallace JL. Pathogenesis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy: recent advances. Eur J Gastro Hepatol 1993;5:403-407

Whang EE, Dunn JC, Mahanty H, McFadden DW, et al. Endotoxin inhibitor prevents sepsis-induced alterations in intestinal ion transport. Am J Surg 1996 Oct;172(4):341-4

Wissler RW Update on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Am J Med 1991 Jul 31;91(1B):3S-9S

Yu RK, Ariga T, Kohriyama T, Kusunoki S, Maeda Y, Miyatani N. Autoimmune mechanisms in peripheral neuropathies. Ann Neurol 1990;27 Suppl:S30-S35

Zanjanian MH The intestine in allergic diseases. Ann Allergy 1976 Sep;37(3):208-218

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/161754-Gastrointestinal-Leaky-gut-molecular-mimicry-microchimerism-and-autoimmunity

And another:

Summary

Altered intestinal permeability is a key element in the pathogenesis of many different diseases. Hyperpermeability initiates a vicious cycle in which allergic sensitization, endotoxic immune activation, hepatic dysfunction, pancreatic insufficiency and malnutrition occur; each of these increases the leakiness of the small bowel. Effective treatment of the Leaky Gut Syndromes requires several components: avoidance of enterotoxic drugs and allergic foods, elimination of infection or bacterial overgrowth with antimicrobials and probiotics, and dietary supplementation with trophic nutrients. Direct measurement of intestinal permeability allows the clinician to plan appropriate strategies and to gauge the effectiveness of treatment, using objective parameters.

Diseases Associated with Increased Intestinal Permeability

Inflammatory bowel disease
Infectious enterocolitis
Spondyloarthropathies
Acne
Eczema
Psoriasis
Urticaria
HIV infection
Cystic fibrosis
Pancreatic insufficiency
AIDS, HIV infection
Hepatic dysfunction
Irritable bowel syndrome with food intolerance
CFIDS
Chronic arthritis/pain treated with NSAIDs
Alcoholism
Neoplasia treated with cytotoxic drugs
Celiac disease
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Autism
Childhood hyperactivity
Environmental illness
Multiple food and chemical sensitivities

Table 2

Symptoms Associated with Increased Intestinal Permeability

Fatigue and malaise
Arthralgias
Myalgias
Fevers of unknown origin
Food intolerances
Abdominal pain
Abdominal distension
Diarrhea
Skin rashes
Toxic feelings
Cognitive and memory deficits
Shortness of breath
Poor exercise tolerance

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/161753-Leaky-Gut-Syndromes-Breaking-the-Vicious-Cycle

 

[Meg]

You can be tested for Intestinal Permeability (leaky gut) as well.

The standard test for leaky gut syndrome is the mannitol and lactulose test. Both are water soluble molecules that the body can't use. Mannitol is easily absorbed by people with healthy intestinal linings. Lactulose is a larger molecule and is only slightly absorbed. A person drinks a solution contain both mannitol and lactulose. Urine is collected for six hours and the amount present in urine reflects how much was absorbed by the body. A healthy test shows high levels of mannitol and low levels of lactulose. If high levels of both molecules are found, it indicates a leaky gut condition. If low levels of both molecules are found, it indicatioes general malabsorption of all nutrients.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/TestLeakyGut.htm