Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (155 page)

Nutrient testing, including homocysteine

H. pylori testing

Essential fatty acid testing

Scleroderma isn’t one illness; it’s many, and finding your own triggers and solutions will be a personal journey. Here are ideas that will help you on the journey. Very little research on using nondrug approaches has been done; you will be a pioneer.

Look for and treat infections.
H. pylori, esophageal and oral candidiasis, and other infections are associated with scleroderma. I could find only rare references to SIBO in association with scleroderma; however, my instincts tell me to at least explore the possibility. You may be able to keep the infections at bay with use of colloidal silver, berberine from goldenseal or Oregon grapes, grapefruit seed extract, oregano oil, garlic capsules, or combination herbs. Each of these substances has wide antimicrobial properties, low toxicity, and a low incidence of negative side effects. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications.

Test for hydrochloric acid sufficiency.
See
Chapters 3
and
11
.

Try an elimination-provocation diet and make dietary changes.
Explore the relationship between your scleroderma and food and environmental sensitivities. While I cannot find any research on this, I have seen this approach work for several of my own clients who have scleroderma.

Check for food sensitivities and celiac.
Gluten sensitivity and food sensitivities are common in people with scleroderma. Try the elimination diet. (See
Chapter 15
.)

Check for high homocysteine levels.
Methylation issues can be demonstrated by checking homocysteine levels. High homocysteine levels are common in people with scleroderma. There are also labs offering methylation panels that delve deeper.

Check hormone levels.
In a case study with two women, estriol treatment provided considerable beneficial effects.

Check vitamin D.
Low levels of 25-OH D have been found in many studies of people with scleroderma. More than 80 percent were found to be vitamin D insufficient and 23 to 32 percent vitamin D deficient. As with other autoimmune diseases, bringing levels up to at least 50 ng/ml and possibly toward the upper normal range of between 80 and 100 ng/ml may be optimal. For maintenance take 2,000 IU vitamin D
₃
daily; to bring levels up take between 5,000 to 10,000 IU vitamin D
₃
daily for 8 to 12 weeks and retest.

Test for essential fatty acids.
Supplement accordingly. People with scleroderma have oxidation of fats due to a lack of antioxidants.

Take zinc.
You can test for red blood cell zinc levels, or do taste testing for zinc sufficiency with liquid zinc sulfate. People are often zinc deficient. Take 50 mg zinc daily. Try this for two to three months. Work with a clinician on this because you can take too much zinc and possibly deplete copper as a result.