What do I do if I need steroids for an exacerbation from Dr. Bob Lawrence

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What do I do if I need steroids for an exacerbation from Dr. Lawrence

Dr. Lawrence from the UK uses LDN as his autoimmune disease treatment

and has hundreds of patients on LDN.

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.

The information 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.

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However anyone who is currently on steroids would need to follow a

doctor's advice if coming off them.

Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre : Dr Bob Lawrence's Advice

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

Dr Lawrence's fact sheets

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

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

What is 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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