Autoimmune conditions– how to help heal them and support your Immune System.
The many benefits of Cloves–very high in antioxidants.
What is Pyncogenol?
More that 80 diseases can be classified as autoimmune. Some of the most well known conditions include:
- Graves disease Celiac Disease
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis Crohn’s disease
- Type 1 diabetes Ulcerative colitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis Multiple sclerosis
Autoimmune illness means that your immune system can’t tell the difference between your own cells and foreign invaders. So your immune system forms antibodies that literally attack your own tissues, causing inflammation, pain and other damaging symptoms.
When you approach autoimmune conditions from a holistic, comprehensive view, you realize that is that ALL autoimmune disease is connected. It is a single immune system problem with many manifestations. All conditions listed above have the same cause…your immune system turning against you. Below are 3 ways to that you can treat autoimmune disease.
- Control your symptoms
- Identify and eliminate immune system triggers
- Restore your immune systems health
Step #1 Control your symptoms
Treatments may involve natural therapies as well as short tem meds (such as steroids, but they have side effects)
- Curcumin—The active ingredient in turmeric, is the top choice for lowering inflammation
- Fish oil/krill oil, white willow bark, proteolytic enzymes (serrapeptase) and boswellia all have natural anti-inflammatory properties. (to name a few)
- For thyroid issues: Natural supplements such as Armour Thyroid, Bio-identical hormones, and DHEA can be used.
- Nascent Iodine supports a healthy thyroid and benefits the immune system in many other ways.
Step #2 Identify and eliminate immune system triggers
Reducing your exposure to toxins both in your food and your home is paramount for healing autoimmunity. Eat organic. Use biodegradable products for all home cleaning/laundry etc. Don’t burn scented candles. Get rid of Teflon cookware. Use only natural pesticides and fertilizers.
Get tested for food and environmental allergies if needed.
Step #3 Restore your immune systems health
Balancing Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes can help restore health. When we are born, Th2 lymphocytes are overactive and Th1 lymphocytes are suppressed. Nature provides a powerful immune strengthening substance called colostrum in mother’s milk.
Colostrum contains transfer factors, molecules which boost a newborn’s Th1 immunity, while quieting down the blood based antibody response involving Th2. This makes the newborn less vulnerable to cellular viruses, and lowers his risk of having an antibody response to his mother’s blood.
A supplement exists that mimics colostrum’s powerful immune-balancing effects with transfer factors derived from animal sources. Examples are: Wellness Transfer Factor, Researched Nutritionals Transfer Factors , 4Life Transfer Factor Plus.
White peony extracts, called peony glucosides, can also balance Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes.
Transfer factors help switch off inflammatory messengers in the immune system (called cytokines) The herb paeoniflorin acts in the same way and also reduces pain.
Vitamin D3, fish/krill oil can help rebalance the system.
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing stress, exercising, and acupuncture are all helpful to create homeostasis in the immune system.
Reduce or eliminate sugar.
What Is Clove Oil?
Indigenous to Indonesia and Madagascar, clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) can be found in nature as the unopened pink flower buds of the tropical evergreen tree. Picked by hand in late summer and again in winter, the buds are dried until they turn brown. The buds are then left whole, ground into a spice or are steam-distilled to produce clove essential oil.
The island of Zanzibar (part of Tanzania) is the world’s biggest producer of cloves. Other top producers include Indonesia and Madagascar. Unlike most other spices, clove can be grown throughout the entire year, which has given native tribes that use it a distinct advantage over other cultures because the health benefits can be enjoyed more readily.
Cloves can be anywhere from a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch in length. They generally are composed of 14 percent to 20 percent essential oil. The main chemical component of the oil is eugenol, which is also responsible for clove oil’s strong fragrance. In addition to its common medicinal uses (especially for oral health), eugenol is also commonly included in mouthwashes and perfumes, and it’s also employed in the creation of vanillin.
9 Benefits of Clove
The health benefits of clove oil are vast and include supporting the health of your liver, skin and mouth. Here are some of most common medicinal clove oil uses today:
- Skin Health and Acne
Scientific research demonstrates clove oil’s ability to effectively kill off both the planktonic cells and biofilms of a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus. What does this have to do with skin health and, more specifically, acne? S. aureus is one of several strains of bacteria that have been scientifically linked with the pathogenesis of acne.
As a natural remedy to eliminate acne, take 3 drops clove oil and mix with 2 teaspoons raw honey. Mix together and wash your face as usual.
- Fights Candida
One of the most powerful clove oil uses is fighting candida — which is something that I have spoken of at length — and something that continues to plague Americans because of their high-sugar, acidic diets.
Published in the journal Oral Microbiology & Immunology, a study was conducted to see how clove fared against other antifungal treatments and observed that it was as effective as nystatin, a drug commonly prescribed to manage yeast infections of the mouth (thrush), which has a slew of ugly side effects.
Also, in addition to eliminating candida, clove essential oil is effective at killing intestinal parasites. I personally recommend it as an effective treatment for a short-term parasite cleanse.
To do a candida or parasite cleanse, you can take clove oil internally for two weeks. Also, consume large amounts of probiotic-rich foods and/or take a probiotic supplement and make sure to eliminate processed sugar and grains.
- Toothache Relief
One of the most well-known clove oil uses, as a remedy for toothaches, was first documented in 1640 in the French “Practice of Physic,” although there is reason to believe that the Chinese were applying this homeopathic remedy for over 2,000 years.
Today, clove is widely accepted as a reliable solution for dry socket and for relieving the pain and discomfort associated with various dental disorders. The Journal of Dentistry, for instance, published a study in 2006 proving that clove essential oil had the same numbing effect as benzocaine, a topical agent commonly used before needle insertion.
Additionally, research has suggested that clove oil has even more far-reaching effects. The Indian Department of Public Health Dentistry recently conducted a study that evaluated clove’s ability to slow tooth decalcification, or dental erosion, compared to eugenol, eugenyl-acetate, fluoride and a control group. Not only did clove oil lead the pack by significantly decreasing decalcification, it was observed that it actually remineralized teeth. Clove oil and will help you steer clear of the dangers of fluoride products!
- High Antioxidant Content
Second only to raw sumac bran, ground clove has the astounding ORAC value of 290,283 units! This means that per gram cloves contain 30 times more antioxidants than blueberries, which have a value of 9,621.
In a nutshell, antioxidants are molecules that reverse the damage caused by free radicals, including cell death and cancer. Research has shown that antioxidants slow aging, degeneration and protect the body against bad bacteria and viruses.
Because of its high antioxidant count and eugenol levels, clove is also known as the ultimate “protective” herb and has been used in essential oil blends such as “Thieves” oil.
- Digestive Aid and Ulcer Helper
One of the traditional clove oil uses has been for the treatment of common complaints related to the digestive system, including indigestion, motion sickness, bloating and flatulence (accumulation of gas in the digestive tract).
Research also demonstrates that clove oil may be able to help when it comes to ulcer formation in the digestive system. A study using various animal models published in 2011 finds that clove oil has both gastro-protective and anti-ulcer properties. The oil of cloves significantly enhanced gastric mucus production, which protects the lining of the digestive tract and prevents erosion that contributes to gastritis and ulcer formation.
- Powerful Antibacterial
Clove oil has been shown to inhibit gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as yeast. This is huge, especially since gram-negative bacteria are often resistant to antibiotics and other antibacterial interventions.
To evaluate its effectiveness as an antibacterial agent, researchers from the University of Buenos Aires set out to determine which bacteria are most sensitive to clove’s potency. According to their study, clove has the greatest antimicrobial ability over E. coli and also exerted considerable control over Staph aureus, which causes acne, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes pneumonia.
- Immune System Booster
There’s a good reason why clove oil is included in the Four Thieves Oil Blend. With its potent antibacterial and antiviral abilities, clove oil can help boost the immune system to fight off, or even prevent, the common cold and flu. With its potent ability to kill the offenders that make us sick, clove oil is commonly highlighted as a top natural remedy for guarding yourself from illness, especially during cold and flu season.
- May Help Lower Blood Pressure and Boost Heart Health
If you’re struggling with high blood pressure, or hypertension, clove oil may be able to help. Animal research published in 2015 in the British Journal of Pharmacology reveals that the eugenol found in clove oil may be able to dilate major arteries in the body while also reducing systemic blood pressure. The study concludes, “Eugenol may be therapeutically useful as an antihypertensive agent.”)
A scientific study also isolated another impressive active compound of cloves called acetyl eugenol. The researchers found acetyl eugenol to be a “potent platelet inhibitor” in human blood cells, which means it prevents the clumping together of platelets in the blood. Platelet aggregation (platelets clumping together) is one of the factors that lead to the formation of a thrombus or blood clot.
This is definitely a significant finding since antiplatelet, or blood thinning, medications are commonly used to treat coronary heart disease and to reduce the risk of heart attack. Clove is known to act as a natural blood thinner, so much so that it’s not recommended to combine clove oil with other conventional blood thinners.
- Anti-inflammatory and Liver Protective
Although it has been suspected for centuries to treat inflammatory conditions, the Journal of Immunotoxicology just recently published the first-ever study proving that the eugenol in oil of cloves is indeed a powerful anti-inflammatory.
This study demonstrates that low doses of eugenol can protect the liver against disease. It was also observed that eugenol reverses inflammation and cellular oxidation (which speeds the aging process). In addition, researchers noted that taking large doses internally could harm the digestive lining and using it externally can irritate sensitive skin. So, as with all essential oils, it’s important not to overdo it! Clove oil (and all essential oils) are extremely concentrated, so remember that a little truly goes a long way.
Pycnogenol—Maritime Pine Bark Benefits
1.Lowers GlucoseLevels and Diabetic Symptoms
Pine bark extract has been studied with regard to its ability to hel p diabetic patients. A study was conducted by the Guang An Men Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Research Institute with 77 diabetes type II patients to determine if the extract of the French Maritime pine bark provided anti-diabetic effects. Patients were given 100 milligrams of Pycnogenol®, a branded version of pine bark extract, for 12 weeks, with continued anti-diabetic treatment.
The effects of the pine bark extract showed significant lower levels of blood glucose and improved endothelial function when compared to placebo, concluding that supplementation of Pycnogenol for treating conventional diabetes may be beneficial
- Helps Prevent Hearing Loss and Balance
Ototoxicity is ear poisoning and can occur when exposed to certain drugs or chemicals, such as cisplatin, that damage the inner ear or the vestibulocochlear nerve. This nerve affects our balance and hearing by sending signals to the brain. This condition can be temporary or permanent — however, some studies have indicated that pine bark extract may help alleviate these symptoms due to its high presence of antioxidants
Thus, this powerful extract works as a natural ear infection remedy while improving balance and preventing hearing loss.
- Staves Off Infections
Studies have been conducted to review the effects of pine bark extract on pseudomonas infectious wounds. These wounds occur most frequently in hospitals or in those with weakened immune systems, such as after surgery. However, healthy people are not immune and can also develop mild infections, in particular after being in improperly chlorinated hot tubs or swimming pools.
In one particular study published in Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, researchers investigated the antibacterial activity of pine bark extract essential oil on staph infections, E. coli and pseudomonas infections. The antibacterial activity was assessed indicating that the essential oil of pine bark, specifically the proanthocyanidins, were effective against P. aeruginosa, significantly inhibiting its growth. Additionally, the results showed that the extract has significant “anti-pseudomonas activity,” making it a potential natural remedy and possible preventive measure for infections.
- Protects the Skin from Ultraviolet Exposure
Who doesn’t want amazing skin? Pine bark extract may be the perfect treatment since it’s an antioxidant dynamo.
There is a seemingly growing problem with skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the confusion of how to get vitamin D from the sun while avoiding these skin-damaging rays. A review was conducted of French maritime pine bark extract, specifically using the nutritional supplement Pycnogenol. The study provided clear evidence that Pycnogenol does, indeed, offer photo-protection — however, it came out even better than expected, showing that it may be used to reduce hyperpigmentation of human skin while improving the “skin barrier function and extracellular matrix homeostasis.”
- Decreases Erectile Dysfunction
If you knew you could resolve your erectile dysfunction and, therefore, naturally remedy impotence issues, wouldn’t you? Erectile dysfunction has increased over the past decade or two, creating a pathway for various medications to land on the shelves of numerous medicine cabinets. But, as you know, going for the natural approach can make a huge difference in overall health.
According to a Japanese study, the combination of Pycnogenolt and L-arginine may produce the results you’re looking for, making the bedroom a much happier place. Forty-seven Japanese men with mild erectile dysfunction were given supplementation L-arginine and French maritime pine bark extract over a period of time. The studies revealed that the sperm concentration greatly increased after about eight to 16 weeks of treatment, to include improved orgasmic function. No side effects were noted, unlike its synthetic counterpart.
- Reduces Inflammation As I mentioned, pine bark extract is superior when it comes to antioxidants. These antioxidants scavenge those damaging free radicalsin an effort to eliminate them, ultimately preventing disease.
Studies were conducted in Turkey on subjects who underwent abdominal surgery to determine if the pine bark extract could help reduce the inflammation. They were given Pycnogenol for a period of 10 days. The outcome showed significant healing when compared to those subjects who were not given any drug or remedy, concluding that Pycnogenol may be an effective remedy for healing of surgery-related lesions.
- Helps Increase Athletic Performance
Pine bark extract has been studied regarding its relationship to exercise performance, oxidative stress and inflammation to body that has been imposed by exercise. Research indicates that Pycnogenol provides an increase in endurance performance of trained athletes. It does this by improving the time it takes the body to reach a fatigued state through increased serum NAD+ levels. Additionally, athletes have endured less cramping and muscle pain when using the extract. It’s likely that muscle recovery time improved as well due to the high antioxidants pine bark extract contains.
- Helps alleviate asthma symptoms
Taking pycnogenol daily, along with asthma medications, seems to decrease asthma symptoms and the need for rescue inhalers in children and adults with asthma.
- Helps with allergies.
Some research shows that taking pycnogenol before allergy season begins might reduce symptoms
10.Mental function. Research suggests that taking pycnogenol improves mental function and memoryin both young adults and the elderly.
11. Blood clots in deep veins (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). There is some evidence that taking a specific combination product (Flite Tabs) might help to prevent DVTduring long-haul plane flights. The product combines a blend of 150 mg of pycnogenol plus nattokinase. Two capsules are taken 2 hours before the flight and then again 6 hours later. Also, taking pycnogenol 100 mg before a flight, 6 hours after the flight, and the following day appears to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the veins during long flights.
