Mercola's success in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis pain

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I've snipped this article, to get to the meat of it, but please check out the full article at:http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/27/rheumatoid-arthritis-part-one.aspxRevised Antibiotic-Free Approach

Although the antibiotics frequently worked and the six-month period

of worsening that was part of Dr. Brown's protocol was virtually

eliminated, I always felt like I had failed because I had to resort to

the use of antibiotics.

This has now changed, as I have been able to implement a major change in my revision of the protocol that allows for a completely drug-free treatment of RA. The major change seems to be the use of nutritional typing,

along with energy techniques. Since we have integrated nutritional

typing with full use of EFT to address the stressors that seem to be

universally present in RA, we have been able to cause RA to routinely go into remission without the use of antibiotics.

To say I am excited is a serious understatement.

nutritional typing allows each patient to get a unique diet that is

right for their body. It is very easy to understand how a physician who

successfully treats one patient with a particular diet would come to

the conclusion that the diet that person was on was the "cure" for RA,

when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Another person

with the same disease could quite possibly need an entirely different

diet to receive any benefits, that is how powerful nutritional typing

can be.

If you haven't yet read the book The nutritional typing Diet,

I would strongly encourage you to do so as it reviews these topics

extensively (it is definitely a book that belongs on the shelf of

anyone with any interest in nutrition).

There are some general principles that seem to hold true for all nutritional types and these include:

Eliminating sugar and grains (you can read more about this below) Having unprocessed, high-quality foods, organic if possible Eating your food as close to raw as possible Having omega-3 fish oil

I am overjoyed beyond belief that after 14 years of treating RA I

can finally offer a drug-free, effective and rapid solution for most of

those with RA with the aid of nutritional typing. However, it is clear

that a perfect diet alone will rarely cause the RA to go into remission.

This is because RA is an autoimmune illness. It does indeed appear

to be caused by an infection, as Dr. Brown speculated. But the central

issue is why did the person acquire the infection in the first place?

It is my experience that this infection is usually acquired when a

person has a stressful event that causes a disruption in their

bioelectrical circuits, which causes an impairment in their immune

system. This impairment predisposes them to developing the initial

infection and also contributes to their relative inability to

effectively defeat the infection.

The antibiotics clearly seem to help most people fight the

infection, but, as I mention above, there are better ways that address

the underlying foundational cause of the illness.

I am quite convinced that energy techniques are required to resolve

this energetic disruption. Prayer can certainly be one of them.

However, in my experience, most have not utilized prayer in a way that

rallies their body's resources to resolve the problem.

In my experience, energy psychology techniques are very helpful in

this area and can be easily integrated with prayer. I happen to use EFT in my practice and you can download my free 25-page report to find out more about this technique

However, the emotional trauma that causes RA is nearly universally

quite severe and is best treated by a professional. Trying to treat

this trauma by yourself is somewhat similar to a general surgeon trying

to perform an appendectomy on him or herself. Although it is possible,

it is not generally recommended (Interesting aside: I read an article

in JAMA about 10 years ago in which a surgeon in the late 1800s

actually did this. Unfortunately, he died from complications.).

Dr. Partirica Carrington has actually compiled some guidelines on how you can find an EFT practitioner.

In the following sections I have included information about the

antibiotic therapy for RA for anyone who is interested. However, I now

recommend my drug-free approach for anyone fighting this illness.

Nutritional Considerations

Limiting sugar is a critical element of the treatment program. Sugar

has multiple significant negative influences on a person's

biochemistry. Its major mode of action is through elevation of insulin

levels. However, it has a similarly severe impairment of intestinal

microflora. Patients who are unable to decrease their sugar intake are

far less likely improve.

One of the major benefits of implementing the dietary changes is

that one does not seem to develop worsening of symptoms the first three

to six months that is described in Dr. Brown's book. Most of my

patients tend to not worsen once they start the antibiotics. I believe

this is due to the beneficial effects that the diet has on the immune

response.

Antibiotic Therapy With Minocin

There are three different tetracyclines available: simple

tetracycline, doxycycline, or Minocin (minocycline). Minocin has a

distinct and clear advantage over tetracycline and doxycycline in three

important areas.

Extended spectrum of activity Greater tissue penetrability Higher and more sustained serum levels

Bacterial cell membranes contain a lipid layer. One mechanism of

building up a resistance to an antibiotic is to produce a thicker lipid

layer. This layer makes it difficult for an antibiotic to penetrate.

Minocin's chemical structure makes it the most lipid soluble of all the

tetracyclines.

This difference can clearly be demonstrated when one compares the

drugs in the treatment of two common clinical conditions. Minocin gives

consistently superior clinical results in the treatment of chronic

prostatitis. In other studies, Minocin was used to improve between

75-85% of patients whose acne had become resistant to tetracycline.

Strep is also believed to be a contributing cause to many patients with

rheumatoid arthritis. Minocin has shown significant activity against

treatment of this organism.

There are several important factors to consider when using Minocin.

Unlike the other tetracyclines, it tends not to cause yeast infections.

Some infectious disease experts even believe that it even has a mild

anti-yeast activity. Women can be on this medication for several years

and not have any vaginal yeast infections. Nevertheless, it would be

prudent to have patients on prophylactic oral Lactobacillus acidophilus

and bifidus preparations. This will help to replace the normal

intestinal flora that is killed with the Minocin.

Another advantage of Minocin is that it tends not to sensitize

patients to the sun. This minimizes the risk of sunburn and increased

risk of skin cancer. However, one must incorporate several precautions

with the use of Minocin. Like other tetracyclines, food impairs its

absorption. However, the absorption is much less impaired than with

other tetracyclines. This is fortunate because some patients cannot

tolerate

Minocin on an empty stomach. They must take it with a meal to avoid

GI side effects. If they need to take it with a meal, they will still

absorb 85% of the medication, whereas tetracycline is only 50%

absorbed. In June of 1990, a pelletized version of Minocin became

available. This improved absorption when taken with meals. This form is

only available in the non-generic Lederle brand and is a more than

reasonable justification to not substitute for the generic version.

Clinical experience has shown that many patients will relapse when they

switch from the brand name to the generic. In February 2006 Wyeth sold

manufacturing rights of Minocin to Triax Pharmaceuticals (866-488-7429).

Clinically it has been documented that it is important to take Lederle brand Minocin. Most all generic minocycline is clearly not as effective. A large percentage of patients will not respond at all or not do as well with generic non-Lederle minocycline.

Traditionally it was recommended to only receive the brand name

Lederle Minocin. However, there is one generic brand that is acceptable

and that is the brand made by Lederle. The only difference between

Lederle generic Minocin and brand name Minocin is the label and the

price.

The problem is finding the Lederle brand generic. Some of my

patients have been able to find it at Wal Mart. Since Wal Mart is one

of the largest drug chains in the US, this should make the treatment

more widely available for a reduced charge.

Many patients are on NSAID's which contribute to microulcerations of

the stomach which cause chronic blood loss. It is certainly possible

they can develop a peptic ulceration contributing to their blood loss.

In either event, patients frequently receive iron supplements to

correct their blood counts.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT MINOCIN NOT BE GIVEN WITH IRON.

Over 85% of the dose will bind to the iron and pass through the colon

unabsorbed. If iron is taken, it should be at least one hour before the

minocin or two hours after. One recent uncommon complication of Minocin

is a cell-mediated hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Most patients can start on Minocin 100 mg. every Monday, Wednesday,

and Friday evening. Doxycycline can be substituted for patients who

cannot afford the more expensive Minocin. It is important to not give

either medication daily, as this does not seem to provide as great a

clinical benefit.

Tetracycline type drugs can cause a permanent yellow- grayish brown discoloration of the teeth.

This can occur in the last half of pregnancy and in children up to

eight years old. One should not routinely use tetracycline in children.

If patients have severe disease, one can consider increasing the dose

to as high as 200 mg three times a week. Aside from the cost of this

approach, several problems result may result from the higher doses.

Minocin can cause quite severe nausea and vertigo. Taking the dose at

night does tend to decrease this problem considerably.

However, if one takes the dose at bedtime, one must tell the patient

to swallow the medication with TWO glasses of water. This is to insure

that the capsule doesn't get stuck in the throat. If that occurs, a

severe chemical esophagitis can result which can send the patient to

the emergency room.

For those physicians who elect to use tetracycline or doxycycline

for cost or sensitivity reasons, several methods may help lessen the

inevitable secondary yeast overgrowth. Lactobacillus acidophilus will

help maintain normal bowel flora and decrease the risk of fungal

overgrowth.

Aggressive avoidance of all sugars, especially those found in

non-diet sodas will also decrease the substrate for the yeast's growth.

Macrolide antibiotics like Biaxin or Zithromax may be used if

tetracyclines are contraindicated. They would also be used in the three

pills a week regimen.

Clindamycin

The other drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis is clindamycin.

Dr. Brown's book discusses the uses of intravenous clindamycin. It is

important to use the IV form of treatment if the disease is severe.

Nearly all scleroderma patients should take an aggressive stance and

use IV treatment. Scleroderma is a particularly dangerous form of

rheumatic illness that should receive aggressive intervention.

A major problem with the IV form is the cost. The price ranges from

$100 to $300 per dose if administered by a home health care agency.

However, if purchased directly from Upjohn, significant savings will be

appreciated.

For patients with milder illness, the oral form is preferable. If

the patient has a mild rheumatic illness (the minority of cases), it is

even possible to exclude this from their regimen. Initial starting

doses for an adult would be a 1200 mg dose once a week.

Patients do not seem to tolerate this medication as well as Minocin.

The major complaint seems to be a bitter metallic type taste, which

lasts about 24 hours after the dose. Taking the dose after dinner does

seem to help modify this complaint somewhat. If this is a problem, one

can lower the dose and gradually increase the dose over a few weeks.

Concern about the development of C. difficile pseudomembranous

enterocolitis as a result of the clindamycin is appropriate. This

complication is quite rare at this dosage regimen, but it certainly can

occur. It is important to warn all patients about the possibility of

developing a severe uncontrollable diarrhea. Administration of the

acidophilus seems to limit this complication by promoting the growth of

the healthy gut flora.

If one encounters a resistant form of rheumatic illness, intravenous

administration should be considered. Generally, weekly doses of 900 mg

are administered until clinical improvement is observed. This generally

occurs within the first ten doses. At that time, the regimen can be

decreased to every two weeks with the oral form substituted on the

weeks where the IV is not taken.

What To Do If Severe Patients Fail To Respond

The most frequent reason for failure to respond to the protocol is

lack of adherence to the dietary guidelines. Most patients will be

eating too many grains and sugars, which disturb insulin physiology. It

is important that patients adhere as strictly as possible to the

guidelines.A small minority, generally under 15%, of patients will fail

to respond to the protocol described above despite rigid adherence to

the diet.These individuals should already be on the IV Clindamycin.

It appears that the hyaluronic acid, which is a potentiating agent

commonly used in the treatment of cancer may be quite useful. It seems

that hyaluronic acid has very little to no direct toxicity but works in

a highly synergistic fashion when administered directly in the IV bag

with the Clindamycin.

Hyaluronic acid is also used in orthopedic procedures. The dose is

generally from 2 to 10 cc into the IV bag. Hyaluronic acid is not

inexpensive as the cost may range up to $10 per cc.One does need to

exert some caution with its use as it may precipitate a significant

Herxheimer flare reaction.

Patients will frequently have emotional traumas that worsen their

illness. Severe emotional traumas can seriously impair the immune

response to this treatment. Article continues with Page 2....see link~