Sue Visser

Lupus is not an infectious disease; it is a manifestation of a malfunction within the immune system that could have been caused by an infectious disease, even a virus. When Covid-19 swamped the world in 2020, some members of our close family were also infected. A few days after having lunch with them, my husband Jim woke up with a flaming red, itchy face and neck.  He had previously shaken off what he regarded as “an oncoming bout of flu” by taking our wild olive leaf and Artemisia remedies. Yet the mysterious rash persisted, and his ordeal with what has subsequently developed into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) took center stage.

Lupus is a debilitating disease whereby the immune system attacks its own healthy cells. It can affect the skin, joints and muscles, kidneys, heart, brain, lungs, blood and blood vessels, intestines, hearing, and balance. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, anemia, rashes in sun-exposed areas, aching muscles, painful and stiff joints, confusion, seizures, inflammation around the heart or lungs, sores in the mouth, vasculitis, blood clots, and changes in the urine.

The rash on Jim’s chest and face flared up from time to time and reddened his whole face. Jim said that his skin burnt like hell, and the bumpy red lesions spread along his arms and all over his torso. It got worse on sunny days, being sensitive to UV light. We suspected subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) as was evident by the sores on parts of his skin (especially the typical facial malar/butterfly rash) that have been repeatedly exposed to the sun such as the face, neck, upper trunk and arms. Lupus is called the disease of a thousand faces. Some of them can provide us with clues to help reveal causes and cures that are associated with other chronic inflammatory diseases, so I hope this story will be of benefit to people in the same predicament. It has a happy ending!

Blame It on the Universal Scapegoat – Covid-19

Evidently Covid-19 can trigger autoimmune-based diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus—so the “flu” that Jim warded off was most likely a volley of Covid-19 spike proteins. Abnormal levels of inflammatory cytokines, autoantibodies, and pro inflammatory T cell responses can thus lead to the sort of rampant inflammation and tissue damage we call lupus, meaning “wolf” in Latin. Responses like this can stem from the innate (first line attack) as well as the adaptive (programmed) immune system.

Another issue is the built-in complement system that supports the innate immune system.⁴ Under normal circumstances this pre-programmed pathway helps to boost antibodies (not self) and phagocytic cells to remove microbes and damaged cells from the body. It also promotes inflammation—the hallmark of lupus and other autoimmune conditions. Covid-19 spike proteins have now been found to trick the complement system into responding to autoantibodies (against self) that are generated by the adaptive immune system.

Stress Affects Inflammation and a Whole Lot More

Chronic inflammation can occur both during and after the acute viral phase of Covid-19 because of altered attack signals—as well as autoantibodies triggered by certain foods, toxins, and allergies. According to recent studies, Covid-19 victims also suffer from increased levels of autoantibodies. This is because the immune system is now overreacting to inflammatory triggers associated with certain foods—even those we usually eat.

Stress makes everything worse; the adrenal glands can’t keep up and cortisol gets depleted. Adrenaline and epinephrine as well as norepinephrine can also stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules. Stress makes your system more acidic and dampens cortisol’s ability to regulate inflammation.

T-cells are the part of the immune system associated with the thymus gland. When these cells get the wrong message, they can turn against your own cells (self) and will regard them as pathogens (non-self).

Glucocorticoids, including cortisol, are important for regulating the immune system and reducing inflammation. Chronic stress disrupts the production of these hormones on a continuous basis.

A lack of cortisol is a leading cause of physical and mental health conditions, including chronic fatigue /Lyme’s disease, diabetes, depression, and immune disorders. Low cortisol levels are very apparent in lupus patients. 

Autoantibodies, receptors, hormones, and cytokines are implicated in the complex pathogenesis of SLE. To treat such a condition, one needs to pinpoint the exact causative factors. How and why did all this happen to a Baby Boomer who is healthy and robust and has had no allergies or any chronic ailments? According to Google, Jim was generating antibodies that had turned against his own tissues.  He started seeking relief from 5 mg prednisone twice a day. The burning has not abated, and we are wary of upping the dosage. Jim now also suffers from the painful and disfiguring red skin syndrome, evidently a result of using steroid medications. The effects on his skin are currently worse than the original condition we hoped it would treat. More about that later…

From the Cloak of Covid to Another Suspect – Estrogen!

Estrogen has many faces with opposing features, depending on their types of attachments. A concurrent deficiency of zinc, chromium, magnesium, melatonin, and beta-sitosterol causes an enzyme known as the 5 alpha reductase enzyme to slip out of control; and, assisted by aromatase, it unleashes dihydrotestosterone into the bloodstream. Aromatase is normally kept in check by melatonin, a hormone that is generated when we sleep. Testosterone can be a precursor to estrogen in males as well females (outside of their ovaries). Normally, the 5-alpha reductase enzyme prevents testosterone (good) from breaking down into dihydrotestosterone (bad).

Dihydrotestosterone generates 16-estradiol in both males and females. In men this takes place in adipose tissue and in the testes. In women the biosynthesis of 16-estradiol takes place in the ovaries. From here it splits into less aggressive or “good” forms of estrogen called estrone and estriol—provided the liver is healthy. Supplements of 200 mg beta-sitosterol and melatonin can help to keep the breakdown of testosterone in check. (Or you can process 1 cup of fresh pumpkin seeds in a liter of juice plus water. Nettle root supplements also help to bind testosterone and block the receptors).

The methylated version or estrogen called 17β-estradiol plays a protective role. (Even with all those attachments, a methyl donor like MSM or vitamin B12 can make it body-friendly.) However, 17β-estradiol can oxidize into a more disruptive version called 16-estradiol to instigate cytokine production and inflammation by activating T cells. Furthermore, it triggers autoantibody cell production and increases reactivity to external and internal antigens under certain circumstances. It is also responsible for unchecked cell division—or what we call cancer. Estrogen is a paradoxical hormone. For this reason, 16-hydroxyestrone is known as a “bad” estrogen, associated with cancer due to its many (16 un-methylated) attachments.

A 2021 study by Ram P. Singh and colleagues indicates that 16-estradiol stimulates proinflammatory cytokines and influences interferon genes and pathways. On the other hand, 2-hydroxyestrogen is a weak estrogen, deemed helpful and protective against cancer. Another study found that urinary concentrations of the 2-hydroxylated estrogens (good) were 10 times lower in patients with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and SLE than in healthy controls and that the ratio of 16-hydroxyestrone (bad) to 2-hydroxyestrogen(good) was 20 times higher in RA and SLE patients than in controls. Their cortisol levels are also much lower – even prior to the onset of lupus owing to adrenal stress and an insufficient cortisol output.

Some immune cells, especially T-cells, have estrogen receptors on their membranes and respond to 16-estradiol by increasing antibodies such as IgG and IgM. A number of other studies also suggest that 16-estradiol plays a role in both triggering the onset of lupus as well as exacerbating the symptoms. Women have higher levels of this hormone, especially if they are on the birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy. Taking a 2/16-estradiol ratio test will confirm the ratio. Evidently saliva tests give the most reliable readings. This serves as another diagnostic tool for lupus in addition to the butterfly rash.

Progesterone – How It Fixes Things and How to Raise Your Own Levels

Some years ago, after I discovered that progesterone levels can be raised by chewing some raw sweet potato. I have enjoyed sharing my experiences with other women. According to many reports received from around the world, it works! I sailed through the menopause, and I have never had to replace any hormones, even as a grandma. Chew, chew, and chew before swallowing it. The idea is to absorb the juice into the blood vessels under the tongue for direct access to the bloodstream where an almost nature-identical progesterone molecule is hydroxylated and voila – helps to raise progesterone! (Thank you, Townsend Letter, for sharing the full story.)

Because progesterone levels also decline in men, Jim is taking my sweet potato tincture to balance out his testosterone and estrogen. Please note that this is not the same as eating mounds of cooked sweet potato, as some have assumed.

Another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Why progesterone? Clinical research indicates that higher levels of estradiol and 16-estrogen are present in SLE patients of both sexes and that it exacerbates lupus symptoms and also triggers inflammation on the receptors of immune cells. Conversely, progesterone lowers estradiol by modifying aromatase activity, according to research-based evidence. This is beneficial for both men and women.

Progesterone acts as a natural suppressor of inflammation. It also stimulates the release of anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines, while it directly inhibits Th1 cytokines, which are pro-inflammatory. As an anti-inflammatory agent, progesterone has also been shown to reduce the response of natural killer (NK) cells as well as other known initiators of inflammation.

To get even more technical, “matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a role in inflammation, and their activity is significantly elevated in SLE patients compared to healthy controls.” The solution is progesterone  as it reduces lipid peroxidation and the production of the inflammatory triggers called isoprotanes. Lipids and fat go hand in hand with inflammation. So, speak to your doctor about ways to increase progesterone for what seems to be a worker of miracles. Jim is already responding well to the sweet potato tincture, and it is worth reminding doc about all these wonderful benefits.

What Has Estrogen Got to Do with Fat?

Eating excessive sugars and other refined carbohydrates at one time increases blood glucose. Insulin binds them into triglycerides that we call low density cholesterol, in other words, fat. Fat cells increase and swell up with fluid when estrogen levels get too high. An interesting study of rats showed that the stomach controls estrogen levels in the bloodstream in response to the blood-based triglyceride levels. On the other hand, adipose tissues also secrete estrogen with the help of abundant fatty acids. It is a viciously fat circle!

Fat cells produce inflammatory chemicals. Birth control pills, hormone replacements, and certain estrogens from the diet provoke weight-gaining tendencies. The fatter you get, the more estrogen you can also make out of androgenic hormones like testosterone. Men also gain weight when estrogen gets out of control. Excessive estrogen shuts down thyroid activity and causes yet more weight gain along with sluggishness, junk food cravings, and depression.

A diet that is deficient in protein and zinc and is overburdened by refined carbohydrates, especially too much sugar and bad fats, will result in insulin resistance—another gateway to obesity, making matters worse. This is a problem that is common to both sexes – dihydrotestosterone dominance and insulin resistance.

How Do We Correct the Estrogen Ratio?

Iodine breaks down the complex 16-form of estrogen into simpler 2-estrogens that help to prevent cancer and fibrocystic disease. Iodine also binds to fat and produces anti-proliferative lipids from fatty acids. It lowers or down-regulates several estrogen-responsive genes and kills off pesky molds, fungi, and bacteria.  By maintaining a healthy population of beneficial gut flora we can also facilitate the 2/16 estrogen ratio.

It is a fallacy that the yeast we call candida is a “disease.” It is the food of your probiotic strains! It is only when you wipe out good bacteria with antibiotics or alternative anti-microbial agents that candida yeast overgrowth becomes a problem. As a result, it decomposes into over 71 deadly mycotoxins and other pathogens—a condition we call candidiasis. (It is often mistaken for Lyme disease and responds well to olive leaf remedies.)

For autoimmune diseases that have low adrenal output and high levels of circulating 16-estradiol, increasing weak estrogens can be helpful.  The chemical isoflavones that we call SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modulators) help to deflect 16-estradiol from the engaging alpha receptors. Best known are black cohosh, red clover and soy isoflavones. 

Consuming copious amounts of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower plus turmeric, green tea, mushrooms, oats, and red grapes are known to break down estrogen. Yet these seemingly healthy vegetables can inhibit thyroid hormones, especially broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, and soy-based foods. When eaten in moderation and according to blood type compatibility, they are beneficial to most people. But, as a blood type O secretor, I challenged the cauliflower – contraindicated for this group. I ate more than a cupful of it every day and also chewed some raw. Within a week I noticed an increase in weight and waistline as well as the creeping onset of sluggishness, brain fog, and lethargy. That was a long time ago, but I got the point!

You can make use of blood type lists on the internet or use the charts from my book, but it is better to personally muscle test or use a pendulum to check out  every suspect item as some of them seem to have been listed by Dr Peter D’Adamo for reasons other than blood type sensitive lectins and antigens. Since I discovered that Jim, after 47 years of marriage, has an intense reaction to some of his old favorites, I have cut them out and hope this offers a degree of relief from his burning face and neck. But he certainly is not overweight or insulin resistant.

Blame It on Your Blood Type: ACE-2 Receptors Get Hit by Spikes and Antigens

There are also sinister links to viral infections and your blood type to consider. Who was to know that blood type specific antigens share a common spike protein binding domain with pandemic-related viruses? They both target the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) on host cells to set off inflammation. The ACE-2 site has a similar structure to our carbohydrate-binding proteins called galectins, which are specific to the ABO blood group antigens. Both of these agonists can trigger inflammation, an underlying factor of most of our ailments such as arthritis, cardiovascular issues, dementia and so on. They can perpetuate pain, inflammation, blood clotting, and respiratory problems—despite the absence of viruses.

Blood type B has D-galactose-based antigens that are common to certain viruses, so the B’s have less resistance to them. However, it is one’s intolerance to wheat that facilitates the production of gliadin-based autoantibodies that attack glucosamine in joints, thyroid and adrenal tissues, and skin. Wheat intolerance is therefore blood type specific. It is also a major instigator of gallstones in over 90% of the cases, and hence more inflammation.

The autoantibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are prevalent in blood type A, especially if the person has had Covid-19. Some blood types are more prone to different autoimmune conditions, depending on their food tolerances. People with blood type group A are advised to avoid the solanum or nightshade family of vegetables as they are instigators of inflammation for them in particular. Potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, and aubergines are rich in solanum, a chemical that can stimulate or amplify autoimmune responses. Jim can tolerate a tiny bit of tomato and the odd potato but definitely not as many aubergines and green peppers, yet we blood type O secretors thrive on them.

Gluten Intolerance and Gliadin-Triggered Autoantibodies

One typical blood-type specific reaction causes certain food particles to stick together in bundles so they cannot be broken down by digestive enzymes. It lingers for longer in the intestines and becomes a source of food for larger parasites like flukes and worms.  These critters exacerbate a leaky gut, and gliadin and other antigens escape into the bloodstream. The immune system sets off the attack signal, and as in the case of autoimmune disorders, mistakes your own tissue as an intruder. An unhealthy intestinal environment adversely affects the beneficial probiotic gut flora that help with the digestion and assimilation of food and the release of serotonin for elevation of one’s mood.

Gluten-based reactivity conveniently overlaps with many other ailments, including long Covid-19. Seriously—why eat something that does all this to you and keep blaming it on spike proteins and vaccinations? I have often chatted about this on a local radio station and can offer some useful self-treatment protocols for people who battle with weight problems and inertia.

Gluten intolerance at an acute (recently ingested) level is expressed as rashes, respiratory problems, excessive mucous, headaches, drowsiness, heartburn, a raise in body temperature, or just a heavy feeling in the stomach or esophagus. Long-term effects damage thyroid and adrenal tissue and contribute to asthma, ADD, cancer, and anemia to name a few.

Gliadin (from gluten) causes an immune response from the body. Gliadin looks like transglutaminase, an enzyme specifically abundant in the thyroid. The body’s antibodies attack both the gliadin and transglutaminase. The thyroid and adrenal glands are under attack whenever gliadin is in the blood stream. A lack of iodine is also associated with autoimmune inflammation or thyroiditis to a large degree, owing to antibodies to constituents of thyroid cells. 

Although celiac disease is universally associated with a gluten (or wheat) sensitivity, so are the following autoimmune diseases: insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes), thyroid disease (Grave’s disease – overactive and Hashimoto’s disease – underactive), Addison’s disease (affecting the adrenal glands), autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Some posts on the internet refer to “non-celiac wheat sensitivity” as a source of inflammatory autoantibodies and others insist that total gluten avoidance is necessary to manage such autoimmune diseases. Measuring the patient’s circulating anti-gliadin antibodies (IgG and IgA) is one way to narrow down the offending foods in order to cut them out. This can circumvent the unnecessary use of long-term dependence on ever increasing doses of cortisol and immunosuppressive drugs.

It is also possible for gluten sensitivity to masquerade as lupus. Imagine the frustration of being diagnosed with the wrong condition, taking medications for lupus erythematosus—only to find out a few years later that a gluten-free diet would have been more helpful!

A Long-Forgotten Cure for Lupus?

Twenty years ago, Dr. Reading, a naturopath, turned to common sense and cured 100% of his lupus patients by eliminating all gluten and all dairy products from their diets. He also treated his patients with intravenous doses of vitamins and minerals. I had never suspected wheat as an instigator: Jim is blood type A-secretor, the group that thrives on grains and wheat. Dr. Reading treated hundreds of patients by simply removing the gluten and dairy-based foods that acted as ongoing sources of antigens.

Jim is a turophile, a cheese lover/addict despite his blood type related intolerance to most things cheesy! I managed to bully him into a gluten and modified dairy trial, being able to dowse and muscle test him in double blind tests using food samples taken from his regular diet. I cannot repeat his cursing upon having to cut out bread, blue cheese, mature cheddar, brie, and camembert!

After the initial self-pity, he noticed the flare ups became less intense. The main culprit was bread and mature cheddar cheese, so now he makes do with rice cakes, goat cheese, and a smear of feta. Not a happy man! 

I suspect the “allergenic addiction” factor has a large part to play. Immunoglobulin-bound molecules of the offending food repeatedly injure the gut, brain, joints, skin, organs, and glands every time you eat the offending foods you crave. The result – skin rashes, itching, hives, acne, weakness in limbs, sore muscles, muscular aches and pains, and joint pains, to name a few. These cravings are what make us re-ingest the allergen to perpetuate the syndrome.

Treating Autoimmune Conditions with Immunosuppressive Drugs and Cortisone?

While skin disease and joint inflammation are common to autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, such uncontrolled inflammation may affect virtually any organ. At the onset of lupus only Jim’s skin was affected. Later on, his feet and ankles started playing up, making it painful to walk; and his gait became unsteady.

They say there is no cure for lupus and treatment with corticosteroids is necessary to control disease activity. We began with conservative doses of prednisone but were suspicious of immunosuppressive agents and cytotoxic drugs. Obviously if you are immunocompromised, you are more susceptible to infections – including Covid-19! I presume that the idea is not to deactivate the immune system, despite hearing about lupus patients who were “cured” by immunosuppressive drugs. Unfortunately, the indiscriminate use of drugs may cause more damage than the lupus itself.

Back to Square One – After Bread and Cheese!

After months of progress with alternative lupus treatments and cutting back on prednisone, I gave Jim carte blanche in the kitchen to make his own supper one evening. I waited and watched. He wolfed down some white fluffy rolls, plastered in what he called “tiny slivers” of all his favorite cheeses, plus more on the side! During the night, he was once again scratching around for Nurofen, antihistamines, and herbal tranquillizers. By the morning, his face had flared up like a beetroot, and his neck was covered in red, flaming lesions. Fortunately, he had never exceeded 5 mg twice daily of prednisone.  After a few days break from using this elusive drug, taking it again for this flare up is what seems to have caused a further complication.

Jim grumbles that his face still flares up at night. I began to note the bad nights, when he begged to go back to taking prednisone. Without a doubt, this occurred on the days after being in the sun, playing bowls all afternoon, or not using sunscreen or wearing a hat every day. On rainy days he had less of a problem, and any food sensitivity issues were not really triggering it.  But something else was still responsible for the red lesions all over his neck, turning his nose a purplish red and making his face either red and itchy or dry and flaky.

Ironically, reaching for prednisone after almost weaning himself off of it was the real wolf in sheep’s clothing as I have only just recently established. Symptoms  that can appear after you stop using prednisone include thin, raw, red, sunburnt-like skin, easy bruising, and flaking skin. Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production can cause fatigue, a loss of appetite, nausea, muscle weakness, and a bloated belly to name a few. He ticked all the boxes. He seemed to have developed “red skin syndrome” (RSS). They say that when this happens, your medication will gradually become less and less effective at clearing your skin. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is indeed a side effect of prednisone – the stuff you take when your skin goes red and flares up!

Patent drugs do not address the cause of an ailment. One is left between a rock and a hard place, becoming drug dependent and interfering with innate pathways that facilitate an endogenous supply of steroid hormones as well as anti-inflammatory components.

Although prednisone can reduce inflammation and suppress overactive immune system responses, long-term corticosteroid use can cause the adrenal glands to stop producing cortisol. The same applies to taking a hormone replacement (HRT or nature identical hormones) as opposed to activating its precursor. “If you take it, you will no longer make it” is what I like to remind ladies who get into trouble with HRT. Women who suffer from estrogen imbalances and progesterone deficiencies are more prone to lupus because they have more estrogen and less testosterone than men.

Pantothenic acid also known as vitamin B5 reduces uric acid and inflammation and enhances adrenal functions. In some cases, it can be used as a substitute for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. People who are taking steroids such as prednisone for treating health conditions such as asthma and autoimmune disease should reduce their medication dosage. With the help of pantothenic acid, they can be slowly weaned of their dependency on anti-inflammatory drugs. Daily doses of 200 mg – 800 mg are recommended in this case.  

Cannabis for the Immune System: Yes or No?

Researchers at the University of South Carolina state, “’Recent findings show THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can change critical molecules of epigenome called histones, leading to suppression of inflammation.’” They suggest its use for the treatment of autoimmune disease, such as arthritis, lupus, colitis, and MS as well as diseases associated with chronic inflammation. As we all know, THC is the psychoactive, addictive component of the Cannabis sativa (marijuana) and is popular with drug addicts around the world.

Apart from dampening the immune system, THC also produces psychoactive effects, slowed reaction time, and altered perceptions of time, and more… No thank you, not with side effects that include dry mouth and itchy, red tell-tale eyes, increased anxiety, paranoia, depression, headaches, light headedness, dizziness as well as sleepiness and lethargy.

Alternatively, naproxen and ibuprofen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can be prescribed but come with another list of side effects, including stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, dizziness, and headaches. You will also end up becoming totally dependent on them, having to increase the doses to get the same effect. However, they don’t turn you into a ”pothead.”

Dietary Modifications and Supplements to Ward Off Inflammation. Yes!

All tissues in the body have a pre-programmed response that is activated by prostaglandins or messengers that also behave like hormones. We need to embrace the anti-inflammatory effects of simple everyday foods such as omega-3 oils and unsaturated fatty acids to enhance the effects of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins called PGE1 and PGE3 and to reduce the pro-inflammatory effect of PGE2, based on saturated fats, especially arachidonic acid that comes from animal fats. Uncontrolled prostaglandin activity unleashes even more histamine, making you feel itchy, swollen, bloated, and hot under the collar.

There is mounting evidence that a vitamin D deficiency, if not the cause of lupus, is certainly behind the severity of cases. Vitamin D, like progesterone, stimulates the Th2 anti-inflammatory response, while inhibiting the inflammatory Th1 cytokines. They are both are made from cholesterol–progesterone in various organs and cells, and vitamin D3 by the action of UVB sunlight. Progesterone and vitamin D also regulate gene expression, and they have a positive fundamental effect on cell differentiation and growth, with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. They also positively affect the nervous system by stimulating neurotrophic factors, reducing oxidative stress and regulating autoimmune responses.

Current intake recommendations of 200 to 600 IU vitamin D per day may be insufficient. Other references suggest that the minimum daily dose should be between 5000 IU and 10,000 IU per day. Doses of 200 mg – 500 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), as already mentioned, are supportive of adrenal function and serve as an alternative to taking cortisol-based medications such as prednisone.

Also effective for short-term relief from skin reactivity are antihistamines, painkillers, and homeopathic remedies such as Apis, Urtica, and Hypericum for relief from the burning.

Jim has been eating gluten-free bread for a while with just a little cheese, but his intake is strictly monitored using dowsing and muscle tests. In naturopathic practice this is easier to control than daily IGA and IGG test panels – or a total exclusion mandate. I find that a patient’s tolerance to certain foods may vary from day to day: some brands test better than others. 

Although the Blood Type Diet is a valuable screening tool, it does not address an individual’s unique or acquired allergies. Jim’s blood type A semi-pacifist but smoldering response to stress affects cortisol in a different way to my explosive “punch and kick” blood type O reaction. I let it out – he keeps it in, allowing suffocated stress to eat away at his adrenals and thus lowers his cortisol output. When the adrenal glands fail to function, our bodies are not able to produce progesterone.

Antioxidants are needed to ward off free radical damage and the resultant inflammation. In addition to toxins and environmental factors, the body generates oxidative stress and hence free radicals during normal cellular and metabolic processes such as respiration, cell signaling, neurotransmission, muscle relaxation, peristalsis, platelet aggregation, blood pressure modulation, and immune system control, especially phagocytosis. A good all-round supplement combination should include enough vitamin A, C, E, polyphenols, and minerals such as zinc and selenium. Many would argue that we need excessive doses, but it is best to first include as many dietary sources as we can and then top up with supplements.

Water-soluble components lose their efficacy after a few hours; therefore, liposomal vitamin C or intravenous treatments are effective alternatives to reduce inflammation and help the adrenal glands to generate more cortisol. Humans cannot produce their own vitamin C, and so we need to take it daily. Water-soluble vitamins need a top up every 3 – 4 hours, so adding a vitamin B complex plus vitamin C fizzy tablet to your drinking water with some magnesium and zinc is highly beneficial. Magnesium works synergistically with vitamin C and pantothenic acid in steroid synthesis. 

Glutathione is our primary antioxidant, and it works at an intracellular level, while vitamin C works at an extracellular level. They work synergistically. Glutathione is made by the body on a constant basis. Glutathione is also a recycler of free radicals. Once vitamin C has donated its electrons to free radicals, glutathione will help to restore these electrons. Glutathione is considered the body’s ‘master’ antioxidant and is found in every cell of your body. It is made up of three amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. It is produced by the liver and recycled continuously. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is probably the most accessible form of glutathione that quickly metabolizes into intracellular glutathione.

Glutathione contains sulfur that helps to detoxify our tissues. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) acts as a sulfur donor in addition to stimulating glutathione and other relevant molecules to reduce the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress. L-glutamine and MSM help us to generate glutathione.  MSM has been shown to upregulate the activity of glutathione enzymes in the presence of elevated oxidative stress. Whey protein contains cysteine, another of the amino acid building blocks for glutathione synthesis. Supplements are readily available.

We are also targeting GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) receptors, trying to enhance its anti-inflammatory effects by adding glutamate (from protein and MSG also called monosodium glutamate) and lactic acid (probiotics, pickles and sauerkraut) to his diet. Evidently, during the manufacturing process of GABA, the highest yield was obtained when MSG was added  at the beginning of the fermentation process. B6 is also needed as a co-factor with the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) enzyme to convert glutamate into GABA. Glutamate (also referred to as glutamic acid +sodium) is actually the precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and it should be automatically converted into GABA to maintain the balance; anytime glutamate levels start to build up too high, then it is converted to GABA to inhibit the excitatory effect.

Most people get reactive when I mention glutamate or MSG, but we do need this “nasty chemical” to activate both the dopamine as well as the GABA receptors during a single synapse. It gets a bad name when the GAD enzyme is deactivated by gluten, hence the hyper-excitability that glutamate is associated with. Trying to eliminate glutamate would be difficult because we make it all the time out of protein. Addressing a patient’s gluten intolerance and supplementing with magnesium is another option.

The reason Chinese people do not suffer from the so-called Chinese food syndrome is that they eat plenty of pickles and fermented food along with a sprinkle of MSG, so their synapses should work perfectly! There are a lot more dietary guidelines we can follow, but the idea is to start building up the levels of key components to support your flagging adrenals and reducing the disruptive effects of inflammation, or what we now call cytokine storms.

Reduce Stress and Communicate with Your Immune System

By taking frequent doses of magnesium plus the tissue salt known as MAG PHOS, Jim is calming down his immune-based reactivity. Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker–something that stops inflammation and facilitates the engagement of GABA on dopamine receptors, for the technically minded. It works like a beta-blocker and is a natural alternative to this class of cardiovascular drugs. 

A daily dose of bromelain has warded off the brunt of inflammation, and this pineapple-derived enzyme has definitely helped to prevent blood clots throughout the ordeal. Who knows what it would have been like without these natural miracle workers!

The immune system (albeit often wayward) needs to protect us and not be suppressed to the extent that we invite infections from around every corner. However, one must be wary of boosting an immune system that abounds with trigger-happy T-cells! No matter what organ or system is being attacked, all autoimmune diseases are similar in that they are caused by the destruction of healthy tissue instead of the real culprits we call pathogens. The immune system is what protects us from the baddies, so a little swelling, redness or a rash is appropriate when it is in defense mode. There must be more ways of teaching it not to attack the good guys in the process. As we know, yoga and tai chi as well as chi gong help you to mellow out and get in touch with your body. All of these techniques have a good track record in reducing inflammation.  

The Correct Mind-Set Plays the Most Important Role in Getting Well

If you have an iron-fisted will to get well no matter what, you will!  If you have the guts to say no to immune-bashing drugs and compromising with cortisol, then get to the cause instead of treating the symptoms. Exploring alternative avenues can help to harness the big bad wolf! Lupus may not be curable, but you can make it a lot more manageable.

My Own Story – Thyroid and Adrenal Insufficiency

I shook off my asthma 20 years ago by going gluten free—no corticosteroids required! I can now run without gasping for air, yet my friend takes along her asthma pump, drinks Cola, and eats bread. Twenty years ago, my sister, being genetically similar to me, was diagnosed with a shortfall of thyroid hormones. She continued eating bread and furthermore developed Addison’s disease. Both of us are blood type O secretors. Yet I do not depend on any Eltroxin or cortisol. 

I did feel like Superwoman when Eltroxin was originally prescribed for me after being diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. But thanks to a severe ticking off from a naturopath, I turned around, took supplements, and reconfigured my diet. I was also suffering from chronic fatigue—not surprising when you run a business, work till late into the night, and have two small children.

I relied on good old-fashioned advice from Adelle Davis. Jonathan Wright’s newsletters were one of my highlights. Later on, Townsend Letter became my tower of strength and has been for over 20 years. Remember the days before we Googled for answers? We used to read books! From stumbling into a martial arts dojo and nearly fainting during my first tai chi class, I took on the challenge of karate. Over the months I felt better, stronger, and more fulfilled. I proceeded to gain a 2^nd Dan in karate as well as kickboxing.

We make our own choices and I believe there are plenty of alternative treatments outside the box, even for “incurable” conditions such as lupus. 

About the Author

Sue Visser is the health researcher and product developer for Nature Fresh Health Products. She has developed over 45 products, beginning with her unique Calcium Complex formulation in 1997. With over 25 years of experience in complementary and especially traditional medicine, Sue shares her articles freely with doctors (SA Medical Academic) and other publications. For many years, Sue has given free presentations, radio shows, workshops and has appeared in the two TV series on local herbs (Nature’s Health – 2007 and 2009). She is the author of two books and dozens of research papers and published articles. Sue investigates current health trends, products and modalities on a constant basis and interacts with fellow South Africans at all levels to learn more about their health issues. Artemisia annua and other anti-malarial species, especially Olea Europa/Afra have now come to the fore as treatments for Covid-19. The new Nature Fresh prototypes are having very successful results with viral infections by using herbs that treat malaria.  Contact: sue@naturefresh.co.za ; info@naturefresh.co.za