Sjogrens Disease: Alternative Treatments

I recently was diagnosed with Sjogerns. After many nights waking up with dry eyes and little if any saliva, my doctor diagnosed me with Sjogrens. What is Sjogrens, and how can it be treated with alternative therapies?

Sjogrens usually is related to some form of arthritis or autoimmune disease that the patient has. Therefore it is recognized as an autoimmune disease. In a patient with Sjogrens, extra antibodies are created and attack certain glands in the body. They mostly attack the salivary glands and the tear ducts, however the antibodies can attack the synovial fluids of the joints, thus furthering pain experienced with arthritis or Lupus. How is Sjogrens traditionally treated?

Doctors will first try recommending that the patient simply use over the counter dry eye tear drops and cough drops for extra saliva. My doctor also suggested that I always keep a bottle of water nearby me. IF these simple treatments do not work, the doctor can prescribe Restasis, which is an eye drop medication that attempts to restore normal tear duct production to the eyes. This medication stimulate the tear ducts to produce more tears. The doctor might also prescribe Salagen to stimulate saliva production. However, those of us with autoimmune diseases don't want to add more medication to our daily rituals. After all,I would like to keep my liver for a bit longer! Therefore, I researched ways to treat Sjogrens naturally.

The first thing I have added, and my doctor even suggested that I try it, is to add sprouting plant extracts or pills to my diet. Such plants include Wild African Potato Root, Lupine Sprouts, Fenugreek Sprouts, Barley Sprouts, Alfalfa Sprouts, Soybean Sprouts & African Sunflower Sprouts. Some of these can not be eaten and need to be taken in pill form. Others such as Alfalfa sprout can be taken. The benefit of taking or eating sprouting plants is that they contain Sterols and Strolins that are immune stimulator's that can possibly reverse poor function of the immune system. I had a difficult time finding a pill with Sterols and Strolins in them, but my local health food store provided me with a line called Naturleaf. I have been taking them for only two weeks now, so can't yet tell if they are making an added difference. (http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=271)

Another theory is that those with Sjogrens and other autoimmune diseases have acidic bodies. A friend of mine suggested I start to drink a combination of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid or she added that it might be simpler and more pleasant to drink about 8 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice and add a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda taken twice a day in 1/2 glass of water. This isn't a great drink, but at this point I am willing to try anything. I asked about adding sugar, and my friend stated that this would neutralize the effect of the baking soda, so it must be drank plainly.

A very simple remedy that has helped tremendously is my adding humidity into my home. Yes, I live in Florida, but our AC or heat runs most of the year, and dries out our home. I Bought a humidifier and placed it in whatever room I am in, and have even added Vic's or some other additive to open up my airways. I notice a great difference when I have the humidifier in my home.

Another home remedy that has also worked well is to chew gum containing Xylitol, This is an ingredient that stimulates the glands producing saliva. I have also found that drinking milk helps more than water. The only problem of course is that a bottle of milk gets old fast. But until I can find something else that works better, milk will do. Sodas are defiantly not good to drink, as sugar seems to dry out saliva.

I would strongly advise following his advise. But catching Sjogrens early , is an added benefit to using some of the above mentioned natural remedies. Also, I discuss my alternative natural treatments with my doctor as he can tell me if anything I am doing or taking could interfere with my other medications. The most important thing is to keep an open line of communication with your doctor. After all, if you trust him, he has your best interest at heart.