Integrative approach for Autoimmune disorders

Amit Gumman

BAMS, DAc, ND, PhD, MPH

MD (West Indies)

Diplomate – Acupuncture, NCCAOM

What is Autoimmunity?

Autoimmunity: Inappropriate response of the immune system against self components.

Activations of self reactive clones of T or B cells, generating humoral or cell mediated response against self antigens.

Immune system

Under reaction to external challenge = Infection Fail to recognize internal threat = Cancer Over reaction to external stimulus = Allergies Over reaction to perceived internal challenge = AD

Our immune system is eaves dropping on our conversations.

Major health problem.

NIH estimates up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from AD. (cancer 9 million, heart disease 22 million).

3% of world population.

Researchers have identified 80-100 different AD and suspect at least 40 additional diseases of having an

autoimmune basis.

Statistics

NIH research funding for AD in 2003 came to $591 million. Cancer funding came to $6.1 billion,heart and stroke to $2.4 billion.

Top 10 leading causes of death in female children and women in all age groups up to 64 years of age.

Autoimmune disease

AD refers group of illnesses that involve almost every human organ system.

Nervous, gastrointestinal, endocrine systems, skin, eyes, blood, blood vessels and other connective tissues.

The underlying problem is - the body's immune system becomes misdirected and attacks the very organs it was designed to protect.

Enhanced immune system in women.

Risk factors

Genetics Environmental factors Gender Sex hormones Infection

Systemic Autoimmune disease

Rheumatoid arthritis, Juvenile RA (joints,lung, skin) Lupus (skin, joints, kidneys, heart, brain, RBC) Scleroderma (skin, intestine, less commonly lung) Sjogrens (salivary glands, tear glands, joints) Goodpasture's syndrome (lungs, kidneys) Wegener's granulomatosis (blood vessels,

sinuses,lungs,kidney) Polymyalgia Rheumatica (large muscle groups)

Guillain-Barre syndrome (nervous system)

Localized Autoimmune Diseases

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (pancreas islets) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves disease (thyroid) Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis (GI) Multiple sclerosis Addison’s disease (adrenal) Primary biliary cirrhosis, Sclerosing cholangitis,

Autoimmune hepatitis (liver) Temporal Arteritis / Giant Cell Arteritis (arteries of the

head and neck)

Diagnosis

History Physical examination Medical history Blood tests, including those to detect auto

antibodies Biopsy Radiological studies

Treatment

Anti-inflammatory drugs Corticosteroids Pain-killing medication Immunosuppressant drugs Physical therapy Treatment for the deficiency Surgery High dose immunosuppression

Ayurveda - Dhanvantari

Concept of AGNI – IGNITE

A Awareness: The center of awareness in each cell. That awareness is governed by Agni

G Governor: Digestion, assimilation and transformation of matter into energy. Governs the structural and functional activities of all cells and tissues.

N Nutrition: of all bodily tissues; Neutralization of toxins in the tissues.

I Intelligence: Cellular, molecular, quantum intelligence for selectivity and choice.

Functions of Agni

Pakti Darshana

Matroshana Prakruti varna

Shauryam Harsha

Prasada Raga

Dhatu poshanam Ojah kara

Teja kara Prana kara

Buddhi Medha kara

Dhairyam Dirgham

Prabha Bala

Ama Location

DHATU VATA PITTA KAPHA RASA Ginger Mahasudarshana Kanchanara Tulsi Neem Ginger Sudarshana Mahasudarshana

RAKTA Loha Bhasma Manjista ManjistaKatuka Abhraka Guduchi

Amalaki

MAMSA Ashwagandha Kaishore guggulu KharaskaraBala Guduchi satva Shringi BhasmaVidari Vidari

DHATU VATA PITTA KAPHA MEDA Yasti madhu Shanka pushpi Kutki

Vidari Neem ChitrakShilajit

ASTI Yograj Guggul Kaishore guggul Punarnava gugg Kama Dudha Praval panchamrit Gokshura guggu

MAJJA Jatamamsi Jatamamsi Brahmi Sarasvati Brahmi Sarasvati

Vacha

ARTAVA Ashoka Shatavari Shilajit Vidari Ashoka Kraunch

Aloe Vera SHUKRA Ashwa Shankhapushpi Kraunch

Kraunch Shilajit Vidari

AMA VATA MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

INTERNAL Langhana – Reducing therapy, fasting Dipana – Metabolic Ignition Pachana – Digest and reduce Ama Lekhana – Scraping action Virechana – Purgation Niruhana – Enemas with medicated decoctions Vedana Nashana – Pain management, physical and emotional Vata anulomana – Evacuation of Vata

AMA VATA MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

EXTERNAL Svedana – Herbalised Upanaha Ushna parisheka – Warm fomentations Lepa – Applications of herbal pastes.

Research Immunomodulatory activity of Semecarpus anacardium extract in

mononuclear cells of normal individuals and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Singh D, Aggarwal A, Mathias A, Naik S.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Dec 6;108(3):398-406. Epub 2006 Jun 2.

Curcumin: the Indian solid gold. Aggarwal BB, Sundaram C, Malani N, Ichikawa H.Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:1-75.

Acupuncture - AD The different immunomodulation of indirect moxibustion on

normal subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Kung YY, Chen FP, Hwang SJ. Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei Veterans General

Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1992;17(2):126-8

Experimental study on the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on interleukin-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Xiao J, Liu X, Sun L, Ying S, Zhang Z, Li Q, Li H, Zhang Z, Jin B, Wang S. General Hospital of PLA, Beijing. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Apr;34(2):83-8.

Research

Effect of preventive acupuncture and moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on the expression of HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA in spleen and the contents of serum IL-2, TNF-alpha in menopausal rats. Li XH, Wang HB, Xu LL, Song XL, Zheng L, He YW, Zhang LF.

Bridging gaps Acupuncture/Acupressure/Auriculotherapy Moxibustion/Marma Chikitsa/Cupping Ayurveda, Yoga, Pranayam Meditation: Mindfulness, Guided, Mantra/ sound/ Prayer Psychotherapy: Individual, couple,family,caregiver,group Hydrotherapy, Swimming, Water aerobics

Bridging gaps

Homeopathy Energy Medicine: Reiki, Pranic Healing, Therapeutic

touch, Quantum… Naturopathy: Juice, Colonics, Magnetic field, Light

therapy, Enzymes Hypnotherapy Tai Chi, Qi gong

Multiple sclerosis Crohns Chronic fatigue Ankylosing spondylitis Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Fibromyalgia Scleroderma Lupus Raynauds Reflex sympathetic dystrophy Endometriosis Autoimmune retinopathy Polymyositis Myelitis Polymyalgia rheumatica Sjogrens Vitiligo