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It seems like more and more patients that we see in the pharmacy are dealing with autoimmune disorders (AD). According to Amy Myers, MD, author of the Autoimmune Solution, "In the past 50 years, the incidence of autoimmunity in the US has tripled”. Statistics show that up to 5% of the US population suffers from AD, which adds up to about 15 million.

Some of the most common AD’s include: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, sjorgrens syndrome, and hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The AD spectrum or umbrella may have up to an additional 80 disease states.

In todays article we will discuss some of the causes and conventional treatments with a follow-up article discussing ways to deal with the disorder without medications.

The way our bodies handle inflammation is really quite amazing. When we come in contact with something that is foreign or if we sustain an injury, our natural response is to create an inflammatory reaction. We send “inflammatory mediators” such as white blood cells, macrophages and lymphocytes to the site to address the breach in our defenses.

Eventually when our bodies have the issue under control, the inflammation subsides and we get back to a normal state. In an autoimmune state, we start the inflammatory process like we normally would but instead of things returning to normal, the inflammation is ongoing and does not subside.

A common question is “why does inflammation continue?” The answer lies in determining what the cause is. Microbes (bacteria, virus or parasite), toxins, allergens, poor diet and stress can all be causes of this ongoing inflammation. For some, it can be a lifelong search to find the cause, for others taking medications to deal with the problem may be the only option that they know of.

The pharmaceutical options work well for many but come along with a huge price tag, up to $60,000 per year, with serious side effects and in the end are only a band aid to the ongoing disease process, they are not a cure.

A better potential band aid would be the use of low dose naltrexone a drug that has been around for 50 years. The patent has expired many years ago and therefore drug companies are not willing to invest in it because they would not have the exclusive rights to the drug.

It is a safe, low side effect and inexpensive way to treat autoimmune conditions. In its low dose, it needs to be compounded by a compounding pharmacy. It is, once again, a band aid, but in my opinion it is a better band aid than what is currently available. The cure, however, lies in the cause and I will discuss that in my next article.

Stop by the pharmacy for more information on low dose naltrexone or research for yourself online https://www.ldnresearchtrust.org. Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!