Incredibly, approximately 50 million Americans, or 20 percent of the population, have some sort of autoimmune condition. For most of these condtions, the best that modern medicine can do is to keep some of the symptoms at bay - the root cause of the condition is rarely, if ever, addressed. 

What is important to know is that having an imbalanced immune system is like having two separate conditions:  the actual condition, like chronic fatigue syndrome, and its specific symptoms, and an underlying condition with more generalized symptoms, that can be described as the “autoimmune process”. 

The autoimmune process is an underlying, general autoimmune dysfunction which deserves special attention.  What this means is that it is important to address not only the symptoms of your actual condition, but also the underlying symptoms and causes that are common to the process of autoimmunity.

Symptoms Checklist

The following are some of the most common symptoms of an immune system gone awry:

• Muscle and Joint Pain
  
• General Muscle Weakness
  
• Greater Susceptibility and More Frequent Infections
  
• Intolerance to Cold or Sensitivity to Heat
  
• Rashes and Skin Conditions
  
• Fatigue
  
• Insomnia
  
• Low-grade Fever
  
• Swollen Nymph Nodes/Glands
  
• Night Sweats
  
• Numbness and Tingling in Hands and Feet
  
• Low Blood Pressure

• Tremors and Seizures
  
• Dry Eyes
  
• Weight Loss
  
• Hair Loss
  
• Dry Mouth
  
• Shortness of Breath
  
• Heart Palpitations
  
• Abdominal Pain, Cramping and Tenderness
  
• Dizziness and Vertigo
  
• Depression
  
• Concentration and Memory Problems
  
• Swollen Legs, Ankles, Eyes and Face

Sterols and sterolins increase DHEA levels naturally. This reduces the stress hormone cortisol and the pro-inflammatory immune factor interleuken-6 (IL-6). Reducing these inflammatory agents is the key to halting pain and other symptoms. Several double-blind placebo controlled studies and testimony of thousands of people from around the world have attested to the effectiveness of sterols and sterolins - symptoms abate within several weeks, inflammation decreases and pain subsides.

Colostrum is nature’s original prescription for health. Biologically active colostrum helps stimulate a compromised immune system or modulate an overactive immune response

The best colostrum we have come across on the market is a Bioactive Colostrum manufactured by WellWisdom and distributed here in the United States. This is the finest biologically active colostrum available. 100% non-denatured, this native protein is never subjected to any heating or processing that would damage the full range of the original proteins or active peptides.

For those of you who have difficulty using powdered colostrum and would prefer capsules, we also carry another excellent colostrum product called New Zealand Colostrum.

New Zealand Colostrum is 100% pure colostrum that is free of any additives such as whey powder or magnesium stearate. It is also free of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and other pathogens.

New Zealand Colostrum is a nutracuetical grade colostrum that is standardized from pasture-fed New Zealand cows for maximum purity and effectiveness.

The leading manufacturer of glyconutrients is a network marketing company called Mannatech. We carry our own glyconutrient product that has all essential saccharides and is equally effective as Mannatech's Ambrotose, only it is much less expensive and has no added fillers.

It is called Evenbetternow™ Glyconutrients (formerly called Optimal Cell Support Glyconutrients), and it was developed by a team of professionals who, over a period of 2.5 years, conducted rigorous studies on the effectiveness of these glyconutrients.

Alkalizing Products

People with an imbalanced immune system are generally very acidic, due to the large number of toxins and free radicals circulating in their body. Vast improvements can be felt by adding alkalizing supplements to the diet.

We carry two alkalizing products: One is called VAXA's Buffer pH, which helps to reduce acidic build-up and effectively rebalances your body's ph on a sub-cellular level. The other is called Alkalife Alkaline Drops which alkalizes the water you drink. The drops are a very gentle way to begin flushing acid wastes out of the body.

Alkalizing supplements are very important for autoimmune conditions; alkalizing the body helps you dump metal and chemical toxins faster and inhibits the growth of bacteria, viruses, candida yeast and other pathogens.

AlkaLife® drops were invented by Sang Whang, a Korean scientist and the author of "Reverse Aging". He invented AlkaLife® to make alkaline water available to the general public at a low and reasonable cost. It is designed to boost the pH value of any drinking water, changing it into healthy alkaline water. AlkaLife contains a patented ratio of potassium and sodium hydroxides to maintain the proper mineral ratio in the body.

The recommended dosage is 2 drops in an 8-10 oz glass of water and drinking 5 glasses a day.

Another effective alkalizing supplement which we ourselves were using until we purchased a water ionizer, which purifies and alkalizes the water straight from our tap, is VAXA's Buffer-pH+™. Besides balancing an overly acidic pH, VAXA's Buffer-pH+™ also replaces minerals that have been drawn out of the body tissues to counteract over-acidity. VAXA's Buffer-pH+™ buffers overly acidic residues and removes them safely from the body, while replacing important minerals that may have been leached out of the bones and tissues by an overly acidic diet and lifestyle.

The recommended dose is 4 - 5 capsules daily, depending on your level of acidity; this can then be reduced to a maintenance dose of 2 capsules daily after the first few days of monitoring your pH.

Fish oil contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids. Choose a pharmaceutical grade fish oil that has been ultra-purified and stabilized and is free of dioxins, DDT, PCBs or heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium.

We carry a fish oil supplement called Arctic™ Cod Liver Oil. Arctic Cod Liver Oil is molecularly distilled and is guaranteed free of heavy metals, PCB's and other toxins.

Besides digesting your food, enzymes play a particular role in autoimmune conditions because enzymes play a role in making the cell markers which differentiates self from non-self. As autoimmunity develops, enzymes are destroyed throughout the body, and these enzymes need to be replaced.

Digestive enzymes are very important for all autoimmune conditions, and vital for digestive disturbances (it can make a huge difference).

Serrapeptase Proteolytic Enzymes

Serrapeptase is one supplement that is having tremendous results for inflammation and pain in all forms. This product's clinical studies and anecdotal evidence is so promising that we have included it in our Autoimmune Support Pak, and it is available to purchase separately as well.

Serrapeptase digests non-living tissue, blood clots, arterial plaque and inflammation in all forms. Besides reducing inflammation, one of serrapeptase's most profound benefits is reduction of pain - physicians in Europe and Asia are using it as an alternative to saliclates (aspirin), ibuprofen and other NSAIDS.

Mega-Zyme® enzyme formula provides the highest potency pancreatic complex available to help break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins in the lower intestine.

Mega-Zyme® contains 10X full-strength, undiluted pancreatic extract for optimum natural advantages. The enzymes in Mega-Zyme® are most similar to your body's own natural enzymes.

Contains No sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, dairy products, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring and preservatives.

Glutathione is the most important antioxidant to overall immune health. It controls interleuken-6, 4 and 10, which reduces allergic reactions and inflammation. Glutathione assists in the detoxification of heavy metals, which is extremely important for autoimmune health.

Unfortunately glutathione is not very effective when taken in supplement form. The best way to increase glutathione levels in the body is to take a non-denatured whey protein powder. Two of the best protein powders in the world are ImmunoPro® Rx and RenewPro™. ImmunoPro Rx has been used worldwide by the top healthcare professionals since 2000. It is the most potent and the purest whey protein available anywhere. It has the highest level of naturally occurring glutathione precursors (vital for detoxification), covalent bonded cysteine, lactoferrin, immunoglobulins and active peptides.

Probiotics are dietary supplements consisting of beneficial microorganisms such as acidophilus and bifidus. Take a product that contains at least one billion active organisms daily and that guarantees the delivery of the active cultures to the intestinal tract. When microorganisms are plentiful and flourishing, they inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms, boost the immune system and improve digestion.

Probiotics are very important for autoimmune conditions, but particularly for pain/fatigue syndromes, candida infections, leaky gut syndrome, and digestive disturbances.

pearls IC™ Intensive Care Probiotics (30 capsules) features True Delivery™Technology which guarantees the active cultures SURVIVE stomach acids, ARRIVE in your intestines and THRIVE to provide exceptional support.

pearls IC ™ provide more strains to promote deep intestinal care and long-term colon health.

It's the power of yogurt - intensified!

The COX-2 enzyme has received a lot of media attention for its role in inflammatory conditions. Keep in mind that almost all autoimmune conditions have inflammation as a component. The COX-2 inhibitor drugs have serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Herbal COX-2 inhibitors may be better choices.

We carry an herbal COX-2 inhibitor called Inflama-Care. It contains herbal COX-2 inhibitors such as ginger root, tumeric, skullcap, oregano, boswellia and white willow bark, as well as MSM, Bromelain and Quercitin, all anti-inflammatory substances.

Colloidal Silver is pure ionic metallic silver. It is recommended by doctors as the ultimate immune system support. It is tasteless, non-addictive and non-toxic. It is proven effective against almost all bacteria, viruses, and yeast pathogens.

We carry a type of colloidal silver called Silver Biotics™ that is 200-300 percent more effective than any other silver product.

Colloidal silver is very important for autoimmune conditions as it helps clear up many bacterial and viral strains that may be impacting your immune system.

There are two types of alpha lipoic acid - the "S" kind and the "R" kind. The S stands for synthetic, and is what is commonly available in health food stores. It is much cheaper than the R kind, but does not have the same health-enhancing properties as the R kind. So be sure to choose R-lipoic acid. We carry one called R-Plus™ R-lipoic Acid.

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that plays an essential role in producing energy in the cells,and researchers have now realized that it is a potent immune nutrient.

CoQmelt is formulated using patented Fast-Melt technology designed to allow the tablet to begin dissolving immediately upon contact with saliva. As the tablet melts the liquid is swallowed.

There are many good candida yeast fighters, but two of them with excellent reputations are ThreeLac™ and Nutribiotic® Grapefruit Seed Extract. I myself used both to conquer my problems with candida.

Candida yeast fighters are very important for all autoimmune conditions, and vital for those with known candida yeast infections.

Here is a simple test to check for candida:

First thing in the morning, before you put anything in your mouth, get a clear glass. Fill with water and work up a bit of saliva, then spit it into the glass of water. Check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour. If you have a candida yeast infection, you will see strings (like legs) traveling down into the water from the saliva floating on the top, or "cloudy" saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water. If there are no strings and the saliva is still floating after at least one hour, you are probably yeast free.

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is an amazing nutrient that aids in depression, sleep disturbances, and eases the inflammation of muscle and joint pain. It also appears to support joint health and liver function. I can personally attest to the amazing sleep enhancing properties of SAMe when absolutely nothing else worked, including pharmaceutical medications.

SAMe increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. "SAMe is as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in alleviating depression", concluded a research review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in November 2002. And in a study of more than 1000 participants with depression, the SAM-e group showed greater improvement than the depressive patients who took the antidepressant medication Zoloft (70 percent vs. 60 percent).

SAMe has few, if any, side effects, and appears to alleviate symptoms of depression faster - within one or two weeks - compared to pharmaceuticals.

SAMe should not be used by those who are currently on antidepressant medications.

SAMe is highly recommended for muscle and joint pain, pain/fatigue syndromes, and anyone suffering from major sleep disturbances and depression.

Green drinks are a superfood because they contain tons of phytonutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, chlorophyll and fiber.

They consist primarily of green grasses such as wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa and other plant concentrates and herbs.

Green drinks are important for all autoimmune disorders, but especially those with gastrointestinal conditions, joint and muscle-related conditions, and pain/fatigue syndromes.

Patients with these disorders have been scientifically proven to respond positively to these nourishing drinks.

SeaGest™ Intestinal Care is a unique, pre-digested, whole food supplement made form pure white fish found in the depths of the North Pacific Ocean.

SeaGest™ is clinically proven to support the structure of the intestinal lining and promote intestinal health.

Doctors have seen extraordinary improvements in patients using this product.

• Evenbetternow™ Detoxifying Bentonite Clay (5 lbs) for Bathing
• Moducare® Sterols and Sterolins
• New Zealand Colostrum Capsules
• Evenbetternow™ Glyconutrients
  (2 Jars)
• Serrapeptase

• BASIC SUPPORT PAK
  PLUS the following:

• Nutribiotic® Grapefruit Seed Extract
• pearls IC™ Probiotics
• ImmunoPro Whey Protein
• Silver Biotics
• Nordic Naturals Arctic™ Cod Liver Oil

What is Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmunity is, simply put, the process by which the immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and organs.
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Causes of Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases do not have one specific cause; rather, there seems to be a combination of factors involved.
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Detoxification Therapy
Detoxifcation therapy is the cornerstone in any autoimmune healing program. Sick bodies are toxic bodies, and these toxins must be eliminated.
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Sterols and Sterolins
These immune supplements have been shown in clinical trials to have anecdotal usage to provide nutritional support for autoimmune diseases.
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Create an Immune Repair Plan
Learn how to put together your own autoimmune repair plan based on the research on autoimmunity.
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Resources and Consultants
This page lists some autoimmune resources and consultants that may be helpful to you.
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Author's Autoimmune Disease Experience
Author shares her own personal experiences with autoimmune diseases and how she found her way back to health.
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Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease
Although the different autoimmune diseases vary widely in terms of symptomology, the following are the most commonly experienced symptoms.
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