Therapy and Supplementation

The Importance of Sleep:

Sleep is not usually considered “therapy” but based on its importance to human health and its ability to reduce inflammation, it can easily be looked at as a daily therapy. Not getting an adequate night’s sleep is detrimental to the entire human body. Sleep is necessary and plays a huge role in regulating inflammation and stress, both of which need to be kept to a minimum. With a disease such as Scleroderma, reducing inflammation is key to preventing further disease. Be sure to get enough sleep each day so your body can heal and reduce its inflammatory burden from daily activities, exposures, metabolism, and stress. Do not deprive yourself of sleep. Instead, value each time you sleep just as you would any other form of therapy for healing.

Taking Supplements and Vitamins:

When many people are diagnosed with a disease they often turn to taking supplements with the hopes of making themselves healthier. If you are currently contemplating the purchase of many antioxidant, vitamin, or mineral supplements I urge you to reconsider and keep reading. Taking supplements is not recommended unless you actually have a diagnosed nutrient deficiency that needs immediate attention. This recommendation also applies to multivitamins. Many supplements are expensive and do very little for your health; however, there are a few exceptions such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, and DHA/EPA.

Antioxidant supplements such as vitamin A, C, E, and beta-carotene do not improve health outcomes. In fact, it has been found that taking antioxidant supplements can actually be detrimental to health and contribute to higher death rates of all-cause mortality. At the very least, these supplements are ineffective at reducing risk of disease. Supplements are isolated and/or manufactured compounds lacking the complexity of nutrients found in natural foods. Instead of using supplements, look to health-promoting foods for your nutrition. In addition, the FDA does not strictly regulate supplement manufacturing or purity. A supplement is only pulled from the market once noticeable harm has come to consumers. The supplement industry has grown dramatically and the majority of the supplements on the market have never been tested to ensure consumers are getting what they pay for. As previously mentioned, supplements are often expensive but consumers could be paying for cheap vegetable oil in a capsule. If you choose to take certain supplements, be skeptical and do your research on the company you plan to buy from. For more information on antioxidant supplement use, please refer to this article written by Ph.D, R.D. Roman Pawlak.

Also, there are some third-party companies that test supplements for quality and purity such as labdoor.com and consumerlab.com. Every supplement on the market has not been tested by these companies but some have. Please go to Labdoor.com to see some supplements that have been tested and evaluated for safety, purity and effectiveness. An account on Labdoor.com can be made for free. An account on Consumerlab.com is not free but there is a lot of helpful information that can help you make wise choices on supplements.

Turmeric/Curcumin:

Locally grown Turmeric root from Nita Haddock

Known for its bright yellow staining power and role in flavoring curries, turmeric is a spice that has recently become popular for treating all types of inflammatory conditions, due to its high antioxidant content. One of the compounds in turmeric responsible for its medicinal qualities is called curcumin. Historically, turmeric has been used medicinally in Chinese and Indian cultures for thousands of years. Today, people suffering from many conditions seek out turmeric/curcumin supplements. While turmeric does have very high antioxidant content, I encourage you to use caution when looking for supplements for the same reasons stated above. It can be hard to guarantee that the supplements you are purchasing are doing anything for your health. As was stated previously, supplements are often expensive so choose wisely if you decide to take them.

The logic behind using turmeric and curcumin to treat Scleroderma is sound. A great deal of medical research has investigated the anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric/curcumin. The compounds in turmeric are effective at preventing lung fibrosis and inflammation associated with Scleroderma. Turmeric is safe to use but please use caution when introducing anything new into your diet, as side effects are always possible.

If you do choose to use turmeric/ curcumin there are a few things to consider. If you are choosing a supplement, you may want to look for one that includes something called piperine. Piperine is a compound found in black pepper. This compound works with turmeric to help your body absorb more of the curcumin. If you are using fresh or dried turmeric root in food, it is always a good idea to include some black pepper a long with it for the same reason. Dietary fat should also be consumed with turmeric or curcumin to increase absorption. Like many other foods, turmeric has a high content of “anti-nutrients,” one of them being oxalate. Anti-nutrients prevent specific nutrients from being absorbed by your body due to their ability to bind or chelate with them. These anti-nutrients are what make it difficult for your body to get all of the benefit from fresh turmeric root. This does not mean there is no benefit to eating fresh turmeric root. It just means that if you want to get the full benefit from the antioxidants in your turmeric, you should consider fermenting it to make the curcumin more bioavailable.  Fermentation is capable of reducing a lot of the oxalate and anti- nutrients in the turmeric. There are many ways to ferment your turmeric. Below is a brief list of ideas. Also, please see my recipes for a fermented turmeric tonic and fermented turmeric tea!

For more information on turmeric/curcumin supplementation, go to consumerlab.com and scroll down until you see the section titled: Answers to questions Found

A few ways to ferment turmeric:

  •  Grate it and add it to any fermented vegetable or condiment. Ex: sauerkraut, pickles, mustard
  •  Add it to fermented tonic drinks such as water kefir
  • Add it to milk kefir or yogurt
  • Add it to nut-milk kefir
  • Use it to make a turmeric & ginger-bug for natural homemade sodas and tonics
  • Soak your turmeric in kefir whey

Evening Primrose Oil and Coconut Oil:

Evening primrose oil is typically used as a supplement for treating Raynaud’s phenomenon as well as other symptoms of Scleroderma due to its GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content. Some research has indicated the regular usage of evening primrose oil may improve blood flow and pain in the limbs as well as improve skin texture, skin lesions, and telangiectasia common in Scleroderma. GLA found in evening primrose oil can also be found in borage oil.

If you suffer from malabsorption due to intestinal manifestations of Scleroderma or cannot seem to gain weight, you may want to consider incorporating coconut oil into your diet or daily routine. Coconut oil is known for its high medium chain fatty acid content. Medium chain fatty acids can be of huge benefit to those struggling with malabsorption, as they are easily absorbed into the body and subsequently used for quick energy. When choosing coconut oil, look for unrefined/virgin coconut oil. As with most oils, avoid refined forms. If you drink warm beverages or smoothies in the morning, a spoonful of coconut oil can easily be added to either beverage as a way to start the day.

Vitamin D:

Taking vitamin D as a supplement is something I do recommend, especially during winter months. Lack of sun exposure common in modern life has made many of us vitamin D deficient without ever knowing it. Vitamin D is synthesized by our bodies after exposure to the sun’s rays. There are dietary sources of Vitamin D such as animal fats, butter, animal organ meats,  fish, dairy products, eggs and some mushrooms, but it is unlikely that most people get enough from these limited food sources. Having darker skin also puts individuals at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because it takes much longer for darker skin to begin producing vitamin D during sun exposure. If you do not spend a lot of time in the sun on a daily basis, it’s likely you’re not getting enough vitamin D. This deficiency is very common today. To find out if you are vitamin D deficient, you can seek medical help but it can also be determined based on lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and diet. You should also be aware that tanning beds do not allow for significant formation of vitamin D unless they use a special bulb that emits a higher amount of UVB light than UVA light. Tanning bed use is not recommended as it significantly increases cancer risk.

Taking vitamin D supplements is safe and effective. It is important to correct a vitamin D deficiency because it can cause widespread inflammation as well as other health issues. In addition, vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune disorders. The principles of Scleroderma defiance are based largely on preventing inflammation that worsens Scleroderma outcomes. If vitamin D deficiency is left unchecked, inflammation will result. If you believe you have Vitamin D deficiency, taking 1,000 to 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3 in supplemental form every day should do the trick. If purchasing a supplement, also be sure that it is vitamin D3 and not vitamin D2. Unless you prefer D2 over D3 due to its source of production.

For more information on vitamin D, please check out this article written by Dr. Roman Pawlak, Ph.D, R.D.

Fish oil/algal oil: DHA and EPA

If you are vegan, vegetarian, or don’t eat seafood in general, it is recommended that you take a supplement to supply your body with two essential omega-3 fatty acids: DHA and EPA. These essential fatty acids benefit the entire body and have the potential to decrease inflammation. DHA and EPA must come from food sources, otherwise they cannot be made by the human body. Seafood and algae are the two main sources of DHA and EPA. In supplemental form, DHA and EPA can be obtained from things such as fish oil, cod liver oil, and vegan algal oil. When choosing a fish oil/cod liver oil supplement, ensure that it contains both DHA and EPA as well as vitamins D and A. Choose a supplement with the best D to A ratio as possible. For example, a D to A ratio of 5:1 is much better than a 10:1 ratio. In other words, avoid supplements that contain little to no Vitamin D in comparison to the amount of vitamin A.

Vitamin B12:

If you are a vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to be aware of your vitamin B12 needs. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, primarily in meats. This vitamin is absolutely essential for optimal health. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can have severe consequences, so please take a supplement if you do not consume animal meats. In addition, please read this article on Vitamin B12 written by Dr. Roman Pawlak Ph.D, R.D., who has spent much of his career studying vitamin B12 and Vegetarian Nutrition.

Vitamin B12 deficiencies can occur even if animal meats are consumed on a regular basis. This could be due to a variety of causes but in the context of Scleroderma, it would likely be occurring from disease complications in the gastrointestinal tract. If you know you suffer from gastrointestinal issues related to Scleroderma, you may not be properly absorbing the vitamin B12 from your food. If you suspect this may be an issue have your doctor check your vitamin B12 status. If you decide to get tested make sure your doctor is not just testing your serum B12 level but also testing for more reliable measures of B12 status such as Methylmalonic acid (MMA), Homocysteine, and Holotranscobalamin II. For more information on vitamin B12 please see the previously mentioned article.

If you would like to ingest more vitamin B12 as well as other B vitamins with your food, a great product is something called Nutritional Yeast. Nutritional Yeast is easy to add onto many foods. You can cook with it, but know that you will not get as many vitamins from it if it is cooked because B-vitamins are sensitive to heat and will degrade. The fiber and protein content in one serving of nutritional yeast also make it an easy way to boost nutrition.  If you do purchase nutritional yeast, be sure to store it in the refrigerator and/or out of direct sunlight.

Acupuncture:

Many people are skeptical of acupuncture techniques or may believe it has no medical value as a viable treatment for a variety of health conditions. This is simply not true. Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, especially in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). It may seem hard to believe that inserting needles into one’s skin improves health, but it does. Research has validated the efficacy of acupuncture techniques as well as proved that acupuncture points follow and act upon a relatively unknown body system called the Primo Vascular System (PVS). This system was discovered by a North Korean scientist in the 1960’s and was subsequently named the Bonghan System (BHS). In recent medial history, the study of this system has been revisited and proven its existence in mammalian life. After its rediscovery, it was renamed as the PVS. This body system runs through the entire body and is composed of channels, nodes and ducts filled with fluids, biochemical substances, and stem cells. Unfortunately, limited research has gone into studying acupuncture as a treatment for Scleroderma symptoms, but the research that has been done is promising.

Although limited, acupuncture techniques have been tested on Scleroderma sufferers.   Improvements in many areas of symptomology were seen including skin thickness, skin tightness, fatigue, lesion pigmentation, gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, and relaxation of facial and hand muscles. In addition, improvements in laboratory data measuring inflammation have also been seen following acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture is safe and provides an alternative method of treatment, especially for those who experience a lack of results from pharmaceuticals.

For more information on acupuncture, please see the attached document from the Brody School of Medicine.

Medical Acupuncture Program

 

References:

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