AutoImmunity & Osteoarthritis

Autoimmunity & Osteoarthritis

Kyle D Christensen, DC     November 2019

 

Ever wonder why a dog is old at 12 years, when at 12 years old us humans are just getting started. The old notion was the old bones suffer from wear and tear and can only last so long. When I look at my face in the mirror, I am puzzled by the fact that my skin cells are completely replaced every 27 days. That means every month, I get a new face! So why then are my dying old cells replaced with cells that look like 60 years old and not those nice 22 year-old looking cells I used to have.

 

It turns out that our immune systems are integrally involved in both the aging and degenerative processes. The body actually produces antibodies (think the immune system's attack force) against the bones and other organs, tissues and glands that results in the effects of aging and degeneration. The normal aging process is controlled or regulated through the immune system. When the immune system is overly stressed, organs, glands and tissues can be targeted by creating antibodies against our own tissues!

 

Here are a few articles from the scientific literature that discusses this:

Autoantibodies to osteopontin in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

The Journal of Rheumatology 2001 Jul:28(7):1492-5.

 

Screening of an autoantibody signature of early knee osteoarthritis: data from the osteoarthritis initiative     Annuals of the Rheumatic Diseases Friday, 15 June 2018

 

Immunopathogenesis of osteoarthritis

Journal of Clinical Immunology (2013) 146, 185-196

 

If wear and tear were the cause of arthritis, then anyone and everyone who worked hard would have it. And the more active people would have more wear and tear. Yet we see, especially in the longevity studies, many people well advanced in age, who have labored physically their whole lives have minimal degenerative changes or arthritis.

 

Here's another piece of evidence that is commonly seen or experienced. Grandma has left hip pain. The right one is fine, but the left is disabling. She has x-rays and MRI and it is determined that her left hip is bone to bone - No more cartilage- no wonder you can hardly walk. The right side is fine. She is schedule for hip replacement, which is successfully performed and she feels so much better. Then something interesting happens. Within 3 to 6 months the right hip begins to hurt and within a year the right hip is just as bad as the left one was and requires replacement surgery. This second joint that rapidly degenerated was not the result of wear and tear as many assume, but rather it was the immune system attacking the other joint.

 

You see, antibodies for the hip joint had been created which actually caused the destruction of both joints. The immune systems focus was initially on the left hip because that is where all of the action was. The immune system is designed to eliminate anything that is determined to be harmful or unnecessary. Usually a virus or bacteria or some other pathogen but also dead or dying (necrotic) tissues. However, with stress, injury, disease or repeated trauma, the lymphatic system (which is designed to carry away waste or damaged tissue) can become overwhelmed. The excess cells needing to be removed from an area can flood into the bloodstream where they don't belong.  Necrotic or damaged bone or cartilage cells that get pushed into the bloodstream sets off the immunological alarm resulting in the immune system creating an antibody (in essence putting a flag on the misplaced cells in the bloodstream signaling the immune system to attack and eliminate this!).

  

As a result, the immune system has now been programmed to attack damaged bone or cartilage cells of the hip variety. If the initial issue with the bone or cartilage is not fixed and these damaged cells continue to leak into the bloodstream the immune system will follow the breadcrumb trail of dead cells to the source.  It finds bone and cartilage cells at the hip and the fight begins there. The destruction of the hip joint, which may have started out with a fairly minor injury, is now under full attack and can be compromised or degenerate fairly quickly. Once the damage hip is replaced with an artificial one, the immune system doesn't stop. The antibodies looking for damaged hip cells continues and with even a minor injury or stress to the remaining hip, the immune system can kick back into gear - cleaning up bad or damaged hip cells. The same scenario is true for knees, lungs, the brain, skin, or any other organ as well.

 

This all suggests that perhaps the key to slowing the aging process and the breakdown of the body is fostering a healthy immune system. The integrity of the immune system is moderated by many factors: genetics, diet, sleep, relationships, physical activity, and stress management are among some of the key factors.

 

For this article, lets consider osteoarthritis, which is often thought of as the joints simply wearing out. If what the research describes is true, then the key to relief is not simply taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, but rather deal with the immunological factors. Namely, the stopping or controlling of the immune system response that is attacking the joints.

 

A special type of supplement known as a protomorphogen has proven to not only give symptomatic relief of osteo or degenerative arthritis but also has the ability to stop its progression and even reverse it. The specific supplement for the bones and joints is Ostrophin PMG by Standard Process.

 

A protomorphogens (pro-toe-more-fo-gen) or PMG supplements manufactured by Standard Process will help your organ/gland or tissue that may be having a problem as result of autoimmunity. Protomorphogens are the protein from the DNA of the cells. Protomorphogens act as decoys, tying up the autoantibodies and calling off the immune attack of the organ, gland or tissue. PMGs buys time for the body to heal by diverting the antibodies away from the tissue so it can heal. PMGs calms down the autoimmune response to that tissue. PMGs are made from and are for specific organs, glands or tissues.

 

Four Functions of Protomorphogens (PMG)

1. Acts as a Decoy: The immune system Antibodies attacks the PMG in the digestive tract instead of the organ or gland

2. Oral Tolerance/desensitization/tolerization: Consuming an antigen (the PMG) orally makes the immune system less aggressive against itself.

3. A Rich source of mirco-RNA, which help regulate gene expression in all cells while helping to rebuild healthy DNA.

4. Nutrition: protein & trace minerals in the PMG provide nutritional building block to restore and rebuild damaged or compromised organs, glands and tissues.

 

https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/Literature/Protomorphoge-Extracts

 

The following is a suggested treatment protocol for Osteoarthritis:

• Ostrophin PMG - 3 tablets morning and 3 tablets evening on an empty stomach (30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating)
• Cataplex C - 6 per day - to form collagen in the body
• Calcifood Wafers 6 to 9 per day - to provide calcium that is extremely bioavailable
• Cataplex D - 4 per day - to pull calcium from the digestive tract into the bloodstream
• Cataplex F - 6 per day (or Cod Liver oil 2-6 capsules daily) - to pull calcium from the bloodstream into the muscles, tissues, and bones.  

Bone regenerates slower than other tissues so expect to stay on this protocol for 12 months or longer.

 

Want to simplify and save a little money? - use Standard Process' Bone Health Daily Fundamentals. Conveniently packaged in packets that can be carried in purse or pocket.

  

For Immediate Symptomatic pain relief many are finding great success with our 3 KINGS herbal formula. Called 3 KINGS because it contains Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The gold of this formula are the herbs: turmeric and fenugreek. The classic herbs in this inspired formula carry with them healing power to body, mind and spirit. Turmeric was referred to as the golden spice and was considered more valuable than the precious metal gold during the time of Christ. It is thought that the Spice Traders, known as the Magi or 3 Kings, presented to the Christ child Gold (Turmeric), Frankincense and Myrrh as gifts of healing as well as wealth. I don't know if the turmeric part of this story is true but it works nicely for the purposes of this herbal formula, doesn't it.

 

We now combine the rich tradition of Gold/Turmeric, Frankincense and Myrhh for your benefit to reduce pain and inflammation. These herbs have been document to assist in the recovery of Arthritis, Autoimmune disease, Neurologic Diseases, Type II Diabetes, Lung conditions, Alzheimers Disease as well as Cardiovasular Disease. Fenugreek has been added to this formula because of the great enhancing effect when combined with turmeric. Fenugreek has repeatedly been shown to increase the bioavailability (the bodies ability to use) of turmeric by 24.8 to 45.6 times! Wow! We just couldn't leave it out.

 

We sell this formula in a kit allowing you to save significantly by encapsulating these powdered herbs yourself. Make over 1,000 - 500mg capsules for under $100.

 

Don't want to capsule them yourself? No problem! We also carry Medi-Herb's Turmeric Forte tablets, which also contains the essential Turmeric-Fenugreek combination.

 

Now back to our beloved aging dog. Yes, these bone restorative supplements can also be used for them.

Standard Process' Veterinary supplement: Musculoskeletal Support combined with Calcifood (either wafer or powdered) will bring mans best friend back into romping activity.

 

Blessings,

 

Dr Kyle Christensen

November 2019