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[MS_Community] What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawrence

What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawrence

« Thread Started on Feb 27, 2007, 8:28pm »

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Dr. Lawrence from the UK has MS and uses LDN as his treatment.

Dr. Lawrence's thoughts below...

Another frustration is the repeated question: " What do I do if I

need steroids? " My response to this is simple! You DO NOT need steroids!

Because exacerbations are due to oxidative stress, usually

associated with an infective, traumatic, or emotional event, the more suitable

treatment is antioxidants - at high dosage! Apart from the basic antioxidans

that we all know (zinc, copper, selenium, vit C, E, and beta carotene) there is

a vast and increasing list of other antioxidants that may also be used:

flavonoid OPCs; alpha lipoic acid, acety N-carnitine; phosphatidyl serine; etc,

etc. Used at high dosage these are as capable as steroids in reducing the

intensity and development of relapses or exacerbations without the downside and

adverse effects of steroids.

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--- In lowdosenaltrexone ,

The below is by Dr. Lawrence's assistant giving further explanation.

Action to Take in MS, in the Event of a Relapse or Exacerbation

While taking LDN, relapses of MS are much less likely to occur, but

may be associated with any situation of physical or emotional stress. This

should more precisely be referred to as a reactive exacerbation as, in this

situation, the increase in symptoms is not directly related to a spontaneous

increase in MS activity.

Such stress-associated exacerbations are invariably due to some kind

of exceptional circumstance that imposes an additional demand on the immune

system, thus reducing the ability of the immune system to deal adequately with

the disease itself. The most likely event prompting this response is either

infection, injury or trauma of some kind.

In this circumstance, when MS symptoms are seen to increase

significantly, many MS patients will be tempted to accept the routine advice of

conventional neurologists, which is to submit to a course of steroid

drugs. This choice is both inappropriate and ill-advised.

Steroid use in any auto-immune disease, such as MS, will have a

strong adverse effect by suppressing both the immune system and adrenal

function. Thus, when these drugs are stopped, these reactions will result in an

increase in both the risk of further relapse, and the rate of disease

progression. In addition, when steroids are used, it will become necessary to

stop taking the LDN, further disrupting the level of disease stability.

Thus, if a relapse should occur, for whatever reason, the most

important action is to continue the LDN without a break.

In addition, the nutrient therapy, which is also effective in

protecting and promoting the function of the immune system, should be continued

at optimum

levels.

Because relapses of MS are related to what is referred to as

oxidative stress, the most effective therapy will be the antioxidants.

These nutrients will therefore include, most importantly, zinc and

copper, at the dose required by the zinc taste test; and all the routine

antioxidants (selenium; vitamin C; vitamin E, and beta carotene), at optimum

dosage. This will mean doubling the dose beyond that considered appropriate for

routine use. Thus, doubling the dose will provide vitamin C, 2000 mg; vitamin E,

800 international units; selenium, 400 mcg; beta carotene, 30 mg.

Vitamin D and EPA fish oil will also be required within this overall

therapeutic context.

The anthocyanidins too are very effective antioxidants, permitting

the recycling and re-use of both vitamin C and vitamin E within the body.

Anthocyanidins, otherwise known as oligomeric pro-anthocyanidins, or

OPCs, are plant derived flavonoids that have a powerful antioxidant activity.

The recommended dose during a normal state of activity of the MS is

between 250 and 500 mg/ day. During a significant exacerbation this dose may be

increased beyond that to as much as 500 to 1000 mg/ day.

Examples of anthocyanidins include pine bark extract, often sold as

pycnogenol. As a patented product, for the modest dose provided, usually 30mg,

this is relatively very expensive. Conversely, grapeseed extract is one of the

cheapest flavonoids available. Others include green tea extract, and extracts

from many dark-coloured seeds, such as bilberries, blueberries or blackberries.

This overall method will be far more effective at controlling any

increase in disease activity with no threat of further relapse, as occurs with

an intense phase of treatment with steroids.

==========

However anyone who is on steroids would need to follow a doctor’s

advice if coming off them.

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Re: What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawre

« Reply #1 on Mar 21, 2007, 9:24am »

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I added to the above. More good info. and links below too.

« Last Edit: Sept 28, 2007, 12:41pm by » Link to Post

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Re: What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawre

« Reply #2 on Jun 29, 2007, 5:55pm »

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Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre : Dr Bob Lawrence's Advice

http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseacti....FTOKEN=34561392

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Re: What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawre

« Reply #3 on Aug 7, 2007, 10:34pm »

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Dr Lawrence's fact sheets

" LDN Research Trust " Forum -> Dr Lawrence's fact sheets

http://forum.ldnresearchtrust.org/index.....31 & showforum=26

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Re: What do I do if I need steroids from Dr. Lawre

« Reply #4 on Sept 28, 2007, 12:41pm »

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Oxidative Stress

Even though the average life expectancy in the United States has

increased dramatically during this past century, our quality of life due to

chronic degenerative disease has taken a major hit. We are essentially " living

too short and dying too long " . Most of us can simply look forward to suffering

and dying from heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s dementia,

Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, macular degeneration, and the list goes on and

on, unless we literally attack the underlying cause of All of these

diseases—oxidative stress.

How long do you expect to live? Now envision what your last twenty

years will look like. I can assure you my patients today are not as concerned

with the number of years in their lives as they are the quality of life in those

years. Who wants to live to a ripe old age if he or she cannot even recognize

close family members because of Alzheimer’s dementia? Who looks forward to a

decade or two of suffering severe joint or back pain due to degenerative

arthritis?

One of my close friends told me recently that he simply wants to

live until he dies. Is this your desire? It certainly is mine. That is why I

recommend preventative rather than post-problem medicine—empowering people to

avoid getting major diseases in the first place. Over the past seven years, I

have changed my approach. I now strongly encourage and support my patients in

taking a three-fold approach to health: eating well, practicing a consistent

exercise program, and daily consuming high-quality nutritional supplements. I

now use medication as a last resort—not as my first choice.

Do you fear growing old? Have you accepted chronic disease or pain

as a given in your future? Are you willing to make necessary life changes to

ensure your health? I believe a full and abundant physical life does not need to

start slipping away at age forty. Each year of your life can be your very best.

But first you must understand the war that is waging within every one of our

bodies.

Oxygen is essential for life itself. But did you know it is also

inherently dangerous to our existence? I call this the " dark side " of oxygen.

And as a result, we are essentially rusting both inside and out. The same

process that causes a cut apple to turn brown or iron to rust is the cause of

all the chronic degenerative diseases we fear and even the aging process itself.

Consider the aging of our skin. Oxidative stress is the cause of

wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. The next time you are with a large

gathering of people of different ages, observe closely the change you see in

people’s skin. Aging is a process we all take for granted, but when you look

more closely, and compare a baby’s face, to that of a grandparent’s, the

effects of our largest organ being exposed to all the pollutants in the air,

sunlight, and cigarette smoke is baffling. This aging of the skin is an outward

manifestation of " oxidative stress, " which is occurring within every cell in

your body.

Over the past 7 years, I have reviewed well over 2,000 medical and

scientific studies in regards to nutritional supplements and their affect on

your health. These studies appearing in medical journals like the New England

Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, British

Lancet, and Annuals of Internal Medicine report that beyond any doubt the " root "

cause of well over 70 chronic degenerative diseases is " oxidative stress. " These

are the " who’s who " of diseases we all fear and want to avoid; diseases like

heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s dementia,

macular degeneration, lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. " So what, "

you may be wondering, " is ‘oxidative stress’? "

Within every cell of the body is a furnace called the mitochondria.

As oxygen is utilized within the furnace of the cell to create energy and life

itself, occasionally a charged oxygen molecule is created, called a " free

radical. " This free radical has at least one unpaired electron in its outer

orbit essentially giving it an electrical charge. If this free radical is not

readily neutralized by an antioxidant it can go on to create more volatile free

radicals, damage the cell wall, vessel wall, proteins, fats, and even the DNA

nucleus of our cells. Chemically this reaction has been shown to be so volatile

that it actually causes bursts of light within our bodies!

Imagine yourself in front of a crackling fireplace and I’ll give

you the best illustration I have to explain the process of oxidation. The fire

burns safely and beautifully most of the time, but on occasion out pops a hot

cinder that lands on your carpet and burns a little hole in it. One cinder by

itself doesn’t pose much of a threat; but if this sparking and popping

continues month after month, year after year, you will have a pretty " ratty "

carpet in front of your fireplace.

The fireplace represents the furnace of the cell (the mitochondria),

the cinder is the charged " free radical, " and the carpet is your body. Whichever

part of your body receives the most free radical damage will be the first to

wear out and potentially cause one of these degenerative diseases. If it’s

your arteries, you could develop a heart attack or stroke. If it is your brain,

you could develop Alzheimer’s dementia or Parkinson’s disease. If it’s

your joints, you could develop arthritis.

Through biochemical research we’re learning that we are not

defenseless against this attack on our body by free radicals. Antioxidants are

like the glass doors or fine-wire mesh we place in front of our fireplace. The

sparks are still going to fly but our carpet will then be protected. As you

begin to imagine the war that is taking place within every cell in your body,

you can envision the two opposing forces: the enemy—free radicals; and your

allies—antioxidants and their supporting nutrients.

Living a healthy life becomes a matter of balance. You must have

enough antioxidants available to readily neutralize the number of free radicals

your body produces. If you don’t, " oxidative stress " will occur. When this

oxidative stress is allowed to persist over a prolonged period of time, you will

most likely develop a serious chronic degenerative disease.

Each of us must ask, " Am I getting enough antioxidants from my diet

to protect myself from this onslaught of free radicals or do I need to be taking

nutritional supplements? " This is the question that I’ve had to ask myself as

I have spent countless hours researching medical literature. You see I was

taught in medical school that you don’t need supplements—that you can get

everything you need from a good, healthy diet. And this is what I told my

patients for years. I was wrong.

Since balance is the key, we need to look closely at the individual

players that are at war within. The number of free radicals you produce each and

every day is never the same. All the pollutants in our air, food, and water

dramatically increase the number of free radicals we produce. Enormous stress,

excessive exercise, cigarette smoke, sunlight, radiation, and every drug

prescribed greatly increase the number of free radicals produced in the body. In

fact, there has never been a generation on this planet subjected to more

oxidative stress than this present one. We are literally under attack from our

polluted environment, stressful lifestyles, and over-medicated society.

This ongoing attack is depriving us of our most precious gift—our

health. But God did not leave us defenseless against this onslaught by free

radicals. In fact, we actually have our own army of antioxidants, which are able

to neutralize free radicals and render them harmless. In generations past, these

defense systems were sufficient. Unfortunately this is no longer the case. Our

bodies’ defense systems need additional allies.

Most antioxidants come from vegetables and fruit. This creates a gap

in our protection, because our foods have become significantly depleted in their

content of antioxidants and supporting minerals as a result of mineral depletion

in our soils, green harvesting, cold storage, foods that are highly processed,

our poor food choices and food preparation.

At a time when we are under the heaviest attack from the environment

around us, our natural defense systems are becoming overwhelmed and depleted. We

must do all we can to rebuild our antioxidant systems with a healthy diet, but

too you need to learn how complete and balanced nutritional supplementation with

high quality supplements (cellular nutrition) is our best hope in winning this

war within and protecting our health.

Bionutrition.org - Oxidative Stress

http://www.bionutrition.org/oxidative-stress.asp

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