Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist & IBS specialist

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autoimmunity

Can we cure autoimmune disease?

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Our immune system is meant to protect us from disease. But it can also damage our own cells and tissues. This is what happens in autoimmune disease. But why would our own immune system turn against us? And what can we do about it, if anything?

How a healthy immune system works

A healthy immune system protects us in several ways. We have barriers that keep out dangerous substances. For those substances that get through, we have specialised cells that can tackle them in other ways.

Being able to recognise substances is an important part of this process. More importantly, being able to recognise the difference between self and non-self. In autoimmune disease, the immune system recognises self-tissues as foreign and destroys them.

[Read more…] about Can we cure autoimmune disease?

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by bacteria

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritic condition of the joints. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness, but these conditions are very different. While osteoarthritis is considered a disease of wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Which means that instead of protecting the body against an invader, the immune system turns on it’s own body tissues, in this case the joints, especially of the hands, feet and wrists.

In developed countries such as the UK, around 1% of the population may have rheumatoid arthritis. It is a condition that tends to run in families, and it affects around three times as many women as men.

Understanding the underlying causes and triggers for a condition like rheumatoid arthritis can help us understand how we might be able to prevent its occurrence or progression. So this is an important part of the research into rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Scientists searching for the cause of rheumatoid arthritis believe that bacteria play an important part. In particular, at least for rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of Proteus bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections have been implicated. [Read more…] about Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by bacteria

Which therapy – chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis

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This is the second post in a series of posts about the potential benefits of complementary therapies for people living with chronic pain. In case you missed it, you can find the first post here.

This post focusses on research related to several complementary therapies and rheumatoid arthritis. As reported in a review article in the British Medical Journal.

Acupuncture and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of the joints, that involves chronic inflammation, deformity and chronic pain. People with rheumatoid arthritis usually take long term medication, such as NSAIDs and anti-rheumatics for pain, swelling and stiffness. These conventional treatments are associated with significant side effects and risks. [Read more…] about Which therapy – chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis

Topical herbal and natural treatments for psoriasis

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Psoriasis is the chronic skin condition that causes red and crusty patches of skin with silvery scales. These often occur on the elbows or knees but can appear anywhere on the body. This recent systematic review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology discusses natural treatments for psoriasis. Here, I summarise the findings for some of the remedies in the review.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera gel is often used for inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis. It has superb wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

I have written previously about Aloe vera here and here.

Avocado oil

A combination product of avocado oil with vitamin B12 showed similar symptomatic improvement to calcipotriol for psoriasis after 12 weeks. Skin levels of vitamin B12 is lower than normal in psoriatic skin, and even in apparently healthy skin of psoriasis patients. Participants said the avocado oil and B12 combination was more tolerable than the calcipotriol treatment. Though some people did report some local itching from the B12 avocado ointment. [Read more…] about Topical herbal and natural treatments for psoriasis

The autoimmune diet that puts autoimmune disease into remission

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If you had an autoimmune disease wouldn’t you want to know about a diet that helped in just six weeks? Well, that is what this study shows. 73% of people with inflammatory bowel disease were helped in weeks by an autoimmune diet.

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

The inflammatory bowel diseases are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In these diseases something triggers the immune sytem to attack the tissues of it’s own body. So, inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune condition affecting the gut.

Autoimmune conditions often run in families. So, some people have a greater risk of these diseases due to their genes. This does not necessarily mean that if someone in your family has an autoimmune condition you will also develop it. Rather, scientists are learning that while your genes may make you susceptible, other factors may be much more influential. [Read more…] about The autoimmune diet that puts autoimmune disease into remission

Women have a higher risk of developing autoimmune disease

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The prevalence of autoimmune disease appears to be increasing. While nearly four fifths of people with autoimmune conditions are women.

Of course whether someone develops an autoimmune condition depends on many factors. We know that genetics have an influence on who is more likely to develop a disease. Yet the research shows that genetics account for less than 10% of disease. What is clear now is that non-genetic factors are more important.

The World Health Organisation recently said that more than 50% of deaths are caused by environmental factors. Such factors include air pollution, smoking and diet. [Read more…] about Women have a higher risk of developing autoimmune disease

A different approach to Meniere’s disease

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Meniere’s disease is an uncommon, chronic condition of the inner ear. The part of the ear that helps to control balance. It can be a frightening disease with a serious impact on wellbeing and quality of life.

The disease often starts between the ages of 40 and 50. Triggered by injury or disease. Research suggests other causes may be genetic, allergic or autoimmune. In any case, it changes the volume or composition of the inner ear fluid. [Read more…] about A different approach to Meniere’s disease

What is autoimmune disease?

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Our immune system is a complex and intricate system that our health relies on. It is comprised of several different types of cells and substances. These work together to defend our body against infections and illnesses. From an early age our immune system learns the difference between which cells are “us” and which are not. When the immune system detects something foreign in the body it attacks and destroys it.  But sometimes our immune system mistakes our own cells for foreign material. This results in the destruction of our own cells and leads to autoimmune disease. But what is autoimmune disease? Why does it happen? And is there anything we can do about it? [Read more…] about What is autoimmune disease?