A PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVE Clinical
Transcription
A PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVE Clinical
Clinical Treating Autoimmune Disease BY KERRY BONE A PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVE PART 2 In the first issue of the Modern Phytotherapist, a multifactorial model for the development and treatment of autoimmune disease was described. This model proposed two basic, simultaneous requirements for the development of autoimmune disease. These were the primary lesion, which may be linked to an infection, and a state of immune system dysregulation. With this model, many event sequences are possible. The simplest example is that the same microorganism acts as both the primary lesion and the source of immune dysregulation. This may be the case for the autoimmune destruction which can occur with HIV-1 infection. In another example, a person may be in a state of immune dysregulation and then react inappropriately to an infection. The infection passes, but the state of immune dysregulation persists and, because of the influence of the infection, develops into a self-sustaining autoimmune process. In this instance, best results will be achieved by concentrating treatment on the immune dysregulation and the self-sustaining inflammatory processes. Another possible event sequence is that there is a chronic presence of a micro-organism to which the immune system is reacting in a normal way. However due to molecular mimicry the microorganism is also capable of inducing a cross-reaction with self tissue. But this cross-reaction only occurs to a mild, non-damaging degree because the immune system is behaving normally. This chronic presence could also include a potentially pathogenic organism in the bowel flora. Other events then create a state of immune dysregulation and the immune system begins to aggressively cross-react and destroy self tissue. In this instance, both the primary lesion (the micro-organism presence) and the cause of immune dysregulation require equal attention. Another variation is possible which could be relevant to the development of multiple sclerosis. Here, at a certain age, a viral infection creates a clone of 16 Modern Phytotherapist lymphocytes which are capable of cross-reacting with self tissue. However, because there is no immune dysregulation, no damaging cross-reaction occurs and these cells persist as memory cells after the virus has gone. They are then reactivated by exposure to the same virus, or one that is antigenically similar. If this event coincides with a state of immune dysregulation, autoimmune disease may develop. In this example the best approach to treatment is to (i) prevent the potential triggering effect of the second viral exposure or infection and (ii) decrease the immune dysregulation and self-sustaining inflammatory processes. The involvement of micro-organisms in the development of autoimmune disease is a controversial and confusing issue. Because an autoimmune disease is not an infection, but rather might be an abnormal response to micro-organisms under particular circumstances, it would be unreasonable to expect a single species of microorganism only to be implicated in each autoimmune disease. This makes an “infectious” aetiology difficult to prove, particularly if the implicated micro-organisms vary from region to region and from person to person. As might be expected from the model, studies in the current scientific literature have implicated the association of several microorganisms with each autoimmune disease. These studies do provide useful information and will be reviewed below. Immune system dysregulation may be caused by several factors acting together. For example the adverse effects of infection, food intolerance and stress may combine to create a state of immune dysregulation. Each contributing factor should be identified and addressed in the treatment protocol. The type of micro-organism responsible and the sequence of events leading to disease must be determined for each patient. Often this determination will not be possible, but a careful case history and an up-to-date knowledge of the particular disease label, eg “Crohn’s disease”, will greatly assist this process. For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical A Simple Case History Prescriptions were as follows: A simple case history helps to illustrate the practical application of the model. Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis may be caused by the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerulus of the kidney following infection with streptococci. However autoimmune processes involving molecular mimicry can also be involved.1 Usually the disease occurs in children or adolescents, follows an acute course, and resolves within weeks. However the patient I treated had his first episode of proteinuria at 18, and then regularly had attacks ever since. Each attack was characterised by malaise and proteinuria and had been treated with high doses of corticosteroids, but not antibiotics. So presumably for this patient, the disorder was regarded as autoimmune, albeit probably with an infectious origin. He sought herbal treatment because the frequency of attacks had recently increased in association with greater stress at work. General Formula The case history revealed that attacks occurred during times of stress or being “run down” and could be preceded by a sore throat or upper respiratory viral infection. I concluded that a viral throat infection followed by a streptococcal secondary infection acted as the primary lesion. The immune dysregulation was probably caused by stress and the viral infection. The treatment approach was as follows: Dose: 2 mL in 15 mL taken as a deep gargle twice a day. The gargle is swallowed after use. 1 A general immune-enhancing, tonic and antiinflammatory formula to prevent infections and decrease resultant immune dysregulation. 2 Regular use of a herbal gargle. The gargle had immune-enhancing and antiseptic properties to prevent viral or bacterial overpopulation of the mucous membranes of the throat. 3 Containment of upper respiratory infections. This particular treatment was to be used during infections instead of that described in 1) above. For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 35 mL Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) 1:2 15 mL Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) 1:2 25 mL Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa) 1:2 25 mL 100 mL Dose: 7.5 mL with water twice a day. Herbal Gargle Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 40 mL Propolis 1:10 60 mL 100 mL Infection Formula Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 40 mL Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1:1 15 mL Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 1:2 5 mL Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 1:2 40 mL 100 mL Dose: 5 mL with warm water 5 to 6 times a day during infection. Commence treatment at the first sign of infection and stop taking general formula. Resume general formula when over infection. Initially, another attack occurred about one month after treatment began. In the 3 years since, only one attack has occurred after the patient was up late and drank heavily while under considerable stress. The reduced frequency of attacks can be attributed to the herbal treatment, since the patient currently experiences just as much stress at work as at the time of the first consultation. Modern Phytotherapist 17 Clinical Ankylosing Spondylitis Good Evidence to Implicate Molecular Mimicry As described in Part 1 of this article, there is good evidence to implicate molecular mimicry in the cause of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This has direct implications for its treatment. After reviewing the factors implicated in AS, I will then explore its treatment in greater detail. • Ankylosing spondylitis is often grouped with reactive arthritis. Both diseases occur predominantly in individuals who are positive for the HLA-B27 tissue marker. For cases of reactive arthritis and Reiter’s syndrome, a clear association with an infecting organism such as Salmonella, Shigella, Chlamydia, Yersinia or Campylobacter is observed. Reactive arthritis can follow urogenital or intestinal infection with these bacteria. In the case of AS there is no clear proof of infection, and considerable controversy still surrounds the concept of an infectious aetiology. AS almost always follows a chronic course, whereas only 10% of patients with reactive arthritis have evidence of active disease 20 years after the onset. However, evidence is growing that AS is triggered by the asymptomatic presence of pathogenic bacteria, particularly in the intestine. The bacteria may not occur in sufficient numbers to cause a frank infection, but this fact may also help to sustain their persistence in the body, a persistence which can lead to a chronic course of disease. • • The following evidence exists for a bacterial trigger for AS: • • Considerable evidence exists that bacteria such as Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia immunologically cross-react with HLAB27.2 (It is doubtful whether severe disease occurs in the small number of AS patients who are HLA-B27 negative.)2 More than 50% of AS patients with peripheral arthritis have inflammatory gut lesions.3 The degree of gastrointestinal inflammation was significantly correlated with the degree of joint inflammation in 45 patients with AS.4 The chronic gut lesions resemble inflammatory bowel disease.3 Recently it was demonstrated that the intestinal secretory immune system was significantly overstimulated in active AS, and this was reflected by raised serum levels of IgA.5 18 Modern Phytotherapist • When the gastrointestinal anti-inflammatory drug sulphasalazine was given, there was normalisation of immune activity in those patients who responded clinically. Another study found that chronic lesions of the gut were frequently found in patients with AS.6 Of the above micro-organisms, Dr Alan Ebringer found that only Klebsiella could be consistently isolated from faecal cultures obtained from British patients with AS.2 In a study of 63 AS patients by Ebringer’s group, an increased recovery of Klebsiella could be obtained during the clinically active phases of the disease.7 A second study showed that a positive culture of Klebsiella in patients with inactive disease was subsequently followed by a relapse.8 The same research team found that the presence of Klebsiella was strongly associated with episodes of anterior uveitis in AS patients.9 Some scientists in other countries have confirmed this association with Klebsiella, but several other research groups have not. It is possible that other organisms might be associated with AS in other countries (see below). Another group of scientists found that a substantial portion of patients with AS have antibodies which react to both HLA-B27 and Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase.10 Amino acid sequence similarities (ie molecular mimicry) had previously been demonstrated between Klebsiella nitrogenase and HLA-B27 (see part 1 of this article). However molecular mimicry between the two proteins was not confirmed by a research team from Finland.11 Since 1980, the British group led by Ebringer has concentrated on finding antibodies to Klebsiella in the bloodstream of patients with active AS. This association has been confirmed in several controlled studies using several different techniques to measure anti-Klebsiella antibodies.2 However, in a New Zealand study, antibodies to Yersinia were also associated with AS in 4 out of 15 cases.12 Twenty-nine control subjects had no serum antibodies to Yersinia. Recently, research on the association between reactive arthritis, AS, HLA-B27 and infection has taken a different course. Previous studies have concentrated on serum antibodies and their cross-reactivity. Antibodies are the products of B lymphocytes. However HLA-B27 is a Class 1 HLA antigen which is thought to govern the reactivity of CD8+ cells (cytotoxic T lymphocytes). For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical If the disease association is a consequence of antigen presentation, the disease should be mediated by CD8+ cells, in a T lymphocyte version of molecular mimicry. In what has been described as “the missing link” in the cause of the HLA-B27-associated arthropathies, B27-restricted CD8+ cells, which showed specificity for both autoantigens and arthritogenic bacteria such as Yersinia, have been isolated from the synovial fluids of patients with reactive arthritis and AS.13 • Non-secretors of ABO blood group antigens are more susceptible to infection. The fact that nonsecretors of ABO are 2.6 times more likely to have AS supports an infectious aetiology for AS.14 • The site of the bacterial trigger for AS is not necessarily always the bowel. An association between AS and chronic bacterial prostatitis has long been observed. The incidence of chronic prostatitis in male AS patients was 83%, compared to 33% in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.15 This association was confirmed in a later study.16 The fact that the prostate may harbour a bacteria which contributes to AS could explain the higher incidence of this disorder in males. Consideration of the above and other similar findings led Dr John Vaughan to conclude in a recent review: “The probability that AS is due to a peculiar immunologic relationship between the patient and his enteric organisms, and that this is determined by his HLA-B27 molecules, seems great.”17 The information on possible sources of immune dysregulation in AS is less clear. However, enhanced gastrointestinal permeability, the so-called leaky gut, could be such a source. Normally, small amounts of lipopolysaccharides (endotoxin) enter portal venous blood and are eliminated by phagocytic cells in the liver.18 Increased mucosal permeability may result in the increased exposure of the body to such proinflammatory bacterial fragments. Studies have demonstrated an increased intestinal permeability in AS.19 - 21 These findings also support the notion that asymptomatic gut inflammation, possibly due to pathogenic bacteria, is a factor in the pathogenesis of AS. Other factors which have been associated with AS and may reflect on immune dysregulation include trauma22 and delayed hypersensitivity.23 Reactive arthritis and Reiter’s syndrome have been reported For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. after hepatitis B vaccination24,25 and this could also be a factor in some cases of AS. Treatment Approach From the above, a key part of the treatment approach to AS is to reduce the presence of Klebsiella or other potentially pathogenic organisms. This will not only reduce the stimulus for immune cross-reactivity, but will also decrease gastrointestinal inflammation and the resultant increased permeability. Klebsiella in the bowel uses starch as a major source of nutrition, so a low starch diet should decrease its numbers. Ebringer recommends that patients with AS should avoid bread, pasta, cereals of all sorts, rice, potatoes and sugary foods. They can eat unrestricted amounts of vegetables (excluding starchy root vegetables such as potatoes and yams), fruit, eggs, cheese, fish and meat.26 Legumes such as soya beans and uncooked bananas contain a significant proportion of indigestible starch which may act as a food source for Klebsiella. They should also be avoided. Ebringer claims that the majority of 200 patients on this diet have had their disease process halted. However a significant result may take 6 months or more.26 To date, these results have not been published in a scientific journal, possibly because of their controversial nature. Patients with AS could also be placed on the Bowel Flora Regime (see Inflammatory Bowel Disease later in this article). Herbal treatment for AS should be selected from the following: • • • • Immune-enhancing herbs such as Echinacea, Picrorrhiza and Astragalus to eliminate pathogenic organisms. Gastrointestinal antiseptics such as Berberis (Barberry), Hydrastis (Golden Seal), Allium sativum (Garlic) and Propolis to eliminate pathogenic organisms from the bowel. Gastrointestinal healing and anti-inflammatory agents such as Calendula, Filipendula (Meadowsweet), Matricaria (Chamomile) and Propolis to reduce inflammation and heal the gut wall. Echinacea and Silybum (St Mary’s Thistle) to reduce the systemic impact of a leaky gut wall. Modern Phytotherapist 19 Clinical • • • Suitable treatment for the prostate if chronic prostatitis is present, using herbs such as Pygeum. Anti-inflammatory herbs such as Salix (Willow Bark), Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) and Bupleurum to help control symptoms and break the vicious cycle sustaining the tissue destruction. Tylophora or Stephania may be useful to control cross-reacting CD8+ cells. Myasthenia Gravis Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by an antibodymediated assault on the muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction. Binding of antibodies to the AChR leads to loss of functional AChR’s and impairs the neuromuscular signal transmission, resulting in muscular weakness. About 90% of patients have thymic abnormalities and 10% have thymoma. In contrast to AS, and despite the fact that MG is a well-defined autoimmune disease, there is only weak circumstantial evidence associating infectious agents with the onset of MG. MG associated with thymoma is probably an indirect result of the tumour, although a virus may be involved (see below).27 In patients who do not have thymoma, it has been postulated that MG may be traced to an exposure to microorganisms carrying molecules that, with respect to immune surveillance, mimic AChR.27 Molecular mimicry has been demonstrated between AChR and viruses and bacteria. Notably, crossreactivities have been demonstrated between AChR and proteins from herpes simplex virus,28 poliovirus,29 Eschericia coli, Klebsiella, Yersinia and Proteus vulgaris.30 Sera from patients with MG were shown to contain antibodies which reacted strongly to two proteins from Yersinia.31 However, it was not shown that these antibodies also bound to AChR. Antibodies against a certain type of dextran, derived from the cell walls of bacteria found in bowel flora, can create further antibodies which cross-react with AChR.32 It was then shown that 12 of 60 MG patients had antibodies against this dextran, whereas none of the 40 controls did. However, it has not been proven that these antibodies against dextran then lead to the production of anti-AChR antibodies. However, earlier studies failed to isolate a virus from the thymuses of patients with MG.34 MG occurred in five individuals within a few weeks of rabies virus vaccination.35 The rabies virus binds to AChR, and thus a consequence of the anti-viral response is that some antibodies will be against AChR and invoke, in this instance, a transient case of MG. The scientific studies provide few leads for the herbal treatment of MG in accordance with the model described in Part 1 of this article. However, attention to the possible presence of naked and enveloped viruses, and to the normalisation of bowel flora (eg see Bowel Flora Regime below), may yield results. The successful application of the treatment model is described in the following case histories. Case Histories (Provided By Nicholas Burgess) Case History 1 A 30 year old woman presented with MG, which was mainly ocular, but had been manifesting in her arms for the last 3 months. She took the drug pyridostigmine bromide, 120 mg per day and was also taking a multi-vitamin, potassium and vitamin C, 1,000 mg x 2 daily. Onset was six months prior to her first visit. It started with a drooping eyelid and then double vision. Specialist stated thymus was normal, so thymectomy unnecessary. Patient also experienced severe dysmenorrhoea and had occasionally lost consciousness from the pain. Has had ovarian cysts removed. Also suffers severe migraines, but not since taking pyridostigmine bromide. Prior to initial onset of the MG, patient had experienced severe gastroenteritis and had taken over one month to recover. She then had a severe bout of ‘flu. Patient had very low energy and often felt lethargic, especially since the gastroenteritis. She also has a lot of flatulence. Spends a lot of time worrying about the disease, although not really depressed. Sleeps well, but has an atrocious diet, high in dairy, refined carbohydrates and chocolate. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was found in six of eight thymuses of patients with thymoma or thymic hyperplasia.33 Four of the six patients had MG. 20 Modern Phytotherapist For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical Treatment Outline Dietary changes were a main priority, especially the elimination of dairy and excessive reliance on convenience foods and refined carbohydrates. Patient told to eat much more fruit and vegetables. I decided it was necessary to use gastrointestinal tonics and liver tonics to improve the patient’s digestive function, tone the gut wall and improve liver screening of ingested toxins. This, together with the dietary changes, would help to improve her bowel flora. At the second consultation two weeks later, the patient felt much the same. Symptoms, if anything, had possibly worsened and she was extremely upset following speaking to her neurologist who told her that the disease was progressive and that she was bound to feel worse as time went by. I decided to change my approach in a few ways. Holistically, I realised that she was very nervous and had been under so much stress that she needed an adrenal tonic and relaxant. I also decided to use a different approach as regards the immune system and the gut, so I prescribed: For the Gut Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) 1:5 10 mL Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis) 1:3 40 mL 50 mL Dose: 15 drops with water before meals. For the immune system etc Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) 1:2 15 mL Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) 1:2 10 mL Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa) 1:2 25 mL Withania (Withania somnifera) 1:2 30 mL Hemidesmus (Hemidesmus indica) 1:2 20 mL 100 mL Dose: 5 mL with water t.d.s. Again the aim of the treatment was to improve digestion and bowel flora. The Rehmannia was the adrenal tonic, Withania was included as a tonic and Viburnum opulus as a relaxant. Picrorrhiza was given as an immune enhancer to help her body eliminate For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. pathogenic viruses or bacteria. Hemidesmus was to break the vicious autoimmune cycle. On the changed mixture, she rang in two weeks to say that she was feeling quite a bit better and that she thought the mixture was helping. There were still mild problems with the arms, but not nearly as bad. Out of ten days, she had six days with no symptoms, two days with mild symptoms and two days where symptoms were bad. So I re-prescribed the same formula for a month. After one month, she was feeling well and had been totally symptom-free for over ten days. Prior to that, she had only the occasional bad day and nothing really bad for a month. She had cut back her dose of pyridostigmine bromide to 40 mg in the morning and then two doses of 30 mg. Her main problems were in the morning. Energy levels had definitely improved. Since she complained about taste, I changed the mixture slightly at this point by adding 5 mL of Flavouring Mixture per 100 mL of above formula. I repeated the digestive formula unchanged. I said to her that I would like her to continue on this regime now for two months before another consultation. After one month the patient was having tests with a gynaecologist and was told not to take the pyridostigmine bromide for a few days before the tests. She discovered that she felt really well without the pyridostigmine bromide. One month later, (this is now four months after initial consultation) the patient underwent three hours of testing by her neurologist and was told the disease has gone into complete remission except for very slight ocular weakness. She now had no period pain, and although she had experienced migraines, was doing extremely well. Changed formulas for before and after meals by adding Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) to the digestive drops and Zingiber (Ginger) to the main formula. Two months later, another appointment with specialist who said that she is the healthiest myasthenia patient he has ever seen. She was told to stop taking the pyridostigmine bromide and just use it if she needs it, “like an aspirin”. Same treatment continued. Patient rang the day I wrote this account to say she has not had a single symptom or any pyridostigmine bromide for two full months. The case continues. Modern Phytotherapist 21 Clinical Case History 2 Patient, 29 years, woman, with quite bad MG. Difficulties with speech, swallowing, weight loss, drooping eyelids, weakness in arms, tiredness, and difficulty chewing. Diagnosed 18 months before first coming to see me. Disease is much worse in the early mornings. Taking 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide every three hours and specialist had recommended a thymectomy. Case history includes tonsillectomy and gastric ulcer (stress related). She had taken antacid preparations (aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate, simethicone) constantly between the ages of 16 and 25. Has a difficult job, which involves considerable physical and mental work. Has difficulty sleeping, diet poor, based on convenience foods, refined carbohydrates, drinking lots of tea and coffee. Very little in the way of fruit and vegetables or fresh food. Has a very poor appetite and has virtually constant diarrhoea. She also has a lot of flatulence. Has had cystitis on and off for two years before the diagnosis, she has psoriasis on elbows and her scalp. She gets severe premenstrual tension and period pain, and has been taking the birth control pill for the last two years. Constitutionally a very cold person, she gets headaches once a week, at least. Treatment outline: 1 Holistic Considerations - Work on the diet first, high amounts of fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and good quality proteins. The virtually-constant diarrhoea implied that working on the gut flora, including using slippery elm and Hydrastis, was a high priority. Digestive stimulants before meals were needed. She was a very nervous and anxious person and needed some kind of nerve tonic and even an antidepressant. 2 Symptoms - Takes pyridostigmine bromide, so I decided to deal with the perceived underlying causes. 3 Perceived Cause - I decided to use immunostimulants and antivirals, especially focusing on the gut. 22 Modern Phytotherapist I prescibed the following: Herbal Fourmula Gentian (Gentiana lutea) 1:5 30 mL Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 1:2 20 mL 50 mL Dose: 20 drops with water before each meal. Herbal Formula St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 1:2 30 mL Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis) 1:3 10 mL Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 20 mL Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) 1:2 10 mL Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1:1 20 mL Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) 1:2 10 mL 100 mL Dose: 5 mL with water after meals t.d.s. In the above formulas, the Hypericum acted as an antiviral and antidepressant and nervine tonic. Picrorrhiza and Echinacea were to boost immune function to resolve the influence of pathogenic organisms. Hydrastis was for the gut and flora, Glycyrrhiza was anti-inflammatory and tonic, and Zanthoxylum was a circulatory stimulant. The Gentiana and Zingiber were digestive stimulants, and Zanthoxylum and Zingiber were particularly indicated for her cold constitution. She rang ten days later and reported that she had a severe flu. So I gave her a diaphoretic tea and some more Echinacea to take separately. She recovered quite well. I also repeated the same mixtures and arranged to see her in a further two weeks. At the next appointment, she had been feeling quite a lot better, and had seen the specialist who said that the myasthenia was mild and that there would be no need for a thymectomy. She was not feeling nearly as tired. Bowels were still quite loose and she was continuing her stressful occupation as normal. For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical Diet still had very little protein. Recommended taking some good quality protein foods (she was quite a thin woman). Continued on similar treatment for one month. with diarrhoea and abdominal cramping, so I felt that we should try something different. With a view to resolving the Helicobacter I changed the treatments to: At third consultation, there had been a major improvement. Feeling a lot better. Improved speech and swallowing. Still some difficulty with chewing and the drooping eyelids. Sleeping well and diarrhoea improved. Also, patient now taking pyridostigmine bromide only three times per day. No problems with focusing. The next week, the patient rang to say that she was experiencing “a lot of activity in her gut” and I said this was to be expected. She seemed to be doing well with regard to the myasthenia. I recommended that she continue. One month later, has had holidays and has been feeling great. This was except for one weekend prior to appointment, where she had diarrhoea again from having lunch in a restaurant with friends and not being careful of her diet. Finally recommended giving up dairy products, going on a strict dairy-free diet. From this point on, she improved markedly. The dairy was probably providing a potent source of immune dysregulation. She had taken up meditation daily. The diarrhoea and looseness of the bowels had gone completely since she gave up the dairy products. Two months later patient doing extremely well, except diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori. Protracted discussion followed, about the pros and cons of the medically suggested antibiotic regime. Previously the patient had reacted extremely badly to antibiotics, Herbal Formula Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 45 mL Propolis 1:10 50 mL Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) 1:5 5 mL 100 mL Dose: 2 mL with water before each meal. Herbal Formula Calendula (Calendula officinalis) 1:2 20 mL Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa) 1:2 30 mL Withania (Withania somnifera) 1:2 30 mL Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) 1:2 10 mL Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1:1 10 mL 100 mL Patient continued on this regime, was doing quite well and was down to taking pyridostigmine bromide twice a day, but continued the high-stress lifestyle, and refused to change. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease represent a group of chronic inflammatory disorders of the bowel of unknown origin. The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is relatively stable, while Crohn’s disease (CD) continues to rise in frequency as industrialisation increases worldwide.36,37 UC and CD share many features, but they are independent and perhaps distantly related diseases. Although evidence supports a genetic predisposition to both UC and CD, for example first degree relatives of patients have a 10-fold increased risk of developing the same disease,38 environmental factors probably predominate, especially for UC. The probability of an identical twin having the same disease is only 6.3% for UC, but it is 58% for CD.39 However, the above association for CD observed for twins might still reflect on environmental factors. A recent study described the clustering of CD in two French families living in nearby towns.40 In the first family, all members developed CD. One of the sons who developed CD in 1974 met a girl whom he subsequently married in 1983. She developed CD in 1991. In the second family, 7 of the 11 children developed CD. Extensive testing for pathogens did reveal one possible association. Antibodies to Breda virus were detected in 6 of 10 affected family members and 2 of 5 unaffected family members. Moreover, for both families, there seemed to be a distinct periodicity in disease emergence: 7 cases from 1970 to 1974 and 4 cases from 1982 to 1984. The authors concluded that the findings were suggestive of a causative infectious micro-organism with a considerable latency interval between exposure and the emergence of clinical disease. Dose: 5 mL with water t.d.s. For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Modern Phytotherapist 23 Clinical Epidemiological studies have provided other interesting associations. Smoking protects against UC, but is a risk factor for CD, as is passive smoking in the infant.41,42 Smoking also hastens the recurrence of CD after remission.43 Use of oral contraceptives was associated with an increased risk for both CD and UC, as was lack of regular physical activity.44 A Swedish study of CD and UC found that the risk of CD was increased by a high sugar intake, and decreased by a high fibre intake.45 These findings support those from earlier studies.46 The most striking finding of the above Swedish study was the large increase in risk for both UC and CD (about 4 times) from eating fast foods at least twice a week. CD has also been associated with the consumption of recycled cooking oil. 47 A number of epidemiological studies have revealed associations which may reflect on bowel flora and disturbed immunological function. Sufferers of CD were more likely to have experienced during childhood an increased frequency of infections, otitis, pharyngitis, tonsillectomy and antibiotic treatment for these.48 In contrast, patients with UC were only linked to an increase in childhood infections. Urban living during childhood increased the risk for CD only.48 Patients with CD are slightly more likely to have had their appendix removed, but those with UC were considerably less likely to have had an appendectomy.49 Lack of exposure to enteric infections in childhood may predispose to UC.50 However the fact that appendicitis has been linked to delayed enteric infection argues against this association.51 Moreover, a recent study found that CD, but not UC, was significantly more common in subjects whose first houses had running hot water and a separate bathroom - indicators of increased hygiene and hence reduced exposure to childhood enteric infections.52 The link between CD and domestic hygiene may explain the increasing incidence of CD. Strong evidence now exists to support the hypothesis of a microbial trigger for CD. Although the association of bacteria, viruses and bowel flora with CD may confound a clear infectious cause, such a multiplicity of factors is consistent with our proposed model for the development of autoimmune disease. In the case of CD, a virus probably provides the primary lesion. This is possibly followed by a long latency period until a combination of effects from bacteria, imbalanced bowel flora, diet and stress trigger a state of immune 24 Modern Phytotherapist dysregulation which results in active disease. A similar theory for the cause of CD has been recently proposed by French scientists.52 Viruses In 1991, at the Third Oceania Symposium on Complementary Medicine, I reviewed the known factors involved in the aetiology of CD. At the time, I could state that there had been no clear association of viruses with the onset of CD. Since then, the situation has changed dramatically. Early research failed to find convincing evidence for viruses. Intestinal tissue filtrates from patients with CD frequently produced a cytopathic effect, and the presence of small RNA viruses was implicated.53,54 However, the transfer of tissue from patients with CD failed to reproduce the disease.55 Later it was shown that a cytopathic effect could also be produced by normal bowel tissue.56 No evidence for persistent viral infection was found in CD tissue using several different techniques.57 This inconclusive situation remained for over a decade until a team of British scientists re-examined the association of viruses with CD. A group led by Dr Andrew Wakefield at the Royal Free Hospital in London completed a study of CD tissue specimens. Based on this study they proposed that the primary lesion in CD was a vasculitis caused by multifocal intestinal infarction.58 They further proposed that this injury was consistent with a cellmediated response to a persistent viral infection of mesenteric microvascular endothelium. Of the viruses known to infect vascular endothelium, the measles virus was of particular interest for two reasons: it localizes to the intestine and it can persist for many years. They began to search for the measles virus. Intestinal tissue from 10 patients with CD were all found to contain measles virus RNA.59 Moreover measles virus RNA was found within vascular endothelial cells associated with inflammatory foci in 9 out of the 10 CD patients. Other tests also supported the presence of measles virus.59 A Swedish epidemiological study subsequently found that children born during the 3-month period following a measles epidemic were significantly more likely to develop CD in later life.60 However no association with measles was observed for UC.60 Wakefield is of the opinion that measles vaccination may be responsible for the rise of CD cases in For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical children. This rise is 7-fold in Scotland over the last 20 years, whereas cases of measles infections there have dropped dramatically. However, vaccination may not be the only explanation for this rise. Moreover, fewer cases of measles infection might not necessarily reflect that general exposure to the virus is less. Mycobacteria Considerable research attention has been given to the possible association of mycobacteria with CD. The original account by Crohn described a disease that closely resembled intestinal tuberculosis. Johne’s disease, which occurs in cattle and other ruminants, is very similar to Crohn’s disease and is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. In 1984 Chiodini and co-workers reported the isolation of a strain resembling M. paratuberculosis from the intestinal tissue of 3 patients with CD.61 This report initiated both interest and controversy about a mycobacterial aetiology for CD. One problem is that, on culture, mycobacteria isolated from CD tissue initially appear as cell wall-deficient forms that are difficult to identify by conventional techniques.62 With the development of the enzyme PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which replicates DNA, DNA from M. paratuberculosis has been detected in cultures from CD patients.62 M. avium has also been identified in the intestinal tissue of patients with CD.63 Many other groups of investigators have isolated mycobacteria from CD patients,64,65 although not all patients and not all studies have yielded positive results.63 - 67 In a study reported by Sanderson and coworkers, M. paratuberculosis DNA was identified in gut wall tissues from 65% of CD patients, 4.3% of patients with UC and 12.5% of control patients.68 Other researchers found raised antibodies specific to M. paratuberculosis in 84% of patients with CD.69 Such findings led a scientist working in the field to conclude that the evidence for a mycobacterial association with CD is “stronger now than it has been before”.65 One problem which has led to scepticism about the above statement is that there is inconclusive evidence that CD results from an actual mycobacterial infection. Only the presence of mycobacteria has been proven. PCR technology can detect very small amounts of bacterial DNA, as low as several hundred bacteria per g of tissue. From an immunological For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. point of view, it is difficult to see how so few organisms alone could elicit such a strong inflammatory response, especially since the form of M. paratuberculosis implicated in CD may lack a cell wall.70 However, in accordance with the model proposed in Part 1 of this article, mycobacteria are possibly acting as a source of immune dysregulation, and the main inflammatory stimulus is elsewhere, for example the measles virus. Therefore the presence of mycobacteria is still a significant finding, despite their low numbers. Another problem with the mycobacterial theory is that antimycobacterial chemotherapy has yielded inconclusive results.71,72 However, slowly growing bacteria such as mycobacteria require long periods of treatment, and mycobacteria also exhibit bacterial persistence. This means that antibiotic therapy is unlikely to be successful in eliminating the pernicious influence of mycobacteria in CD. A superior approach is to: • • promote their killing by enhancing immune mechanisms encourage healthy bowel flora which may crowd out or destroy pathogenic bacteria Other Bacteria Other bacteria have been implicated in CD, but results are often conflicting. For example, one study found that 93% of patients with CD had antibodies against Chlamydia, compared to 26% in the control group.73 However, another study failed to find evidence of Chlamydia infection in CD patients.74 This discrepancy could be due to the testing of different patient populations. That is, depending on environmental circumstances, Chlamydia may act as a pathogenic factor in CD. Antibodies to Klebsiella were also higher in a population of CD patients.75 Coryneform bacteria were found in lymph nodes of 27 of 76 patients with CD, but only 3 of 41 controls.76 Such organisms may take on a cell wall-deficient form in lymph nodes or other tissue. Bacterial variants, that is, cell wall-deficient forms of bacteria have been isolated from CD tissues in several studies.77, 78 These organisms were Pseudomonas-like. Mollicute-like organisms (MLO) are cell walldeficient intracellular bacterial pathogens. They cannot be cultured by microbiological techniques Modern Phytotherapist 25 Clinical and can only be detected in cells with an electron microscope. Recently, MLO were found in the white blood cells of patients with CD.79 Given the stronger evidence for the association of measles virus and mycobacteria with CD, the above research may not carry much significance. However, it does illustrate the potentially elusive nature of putative pathogens in autoimmune disease. Bowel Flora There is little doubt that the faecal stream plays an important part in the progression of CD.80 - 82 Bowel flora are likely to be a strong source of immune dysregulation in CD. Monocytes from CD patients showed enhanced stimulation by bacterial cell wall products such as lipopolysaccharide.83 Bacterial wall fragments in the bowel wall of CD patients caused enhanced immune responsiveness of monocytes.84 When 36 tissues from 16 patients with CD were examined, no evidence of the presence of many pathogenic bacteria and viruses were found.85 However, E. coli and streptococcal antigens were found in 69% and 63% of the 16 cases studied, respectively. Both E. Coli and streptococci are normal inhabitants of bowel flora. The above results suggest that some of the granulomas in CD may result from the immunological processing of bowel flora antigens following their penetration through a compromised mucosa.85 Serum antibodies to bowel flora bacteria are increased in CD patients.86 Pathogenic forms of E. coli adhere to the gut mucosa. E. coli isolated from patients with UC and CD showed a significantly greater index of adhesion when compared to normal controls.87 Bowel Permeability A leaky gut would enable enteric antigens to penetrate the mucosa to an increased extent, and the capacity for removal or degradation of this antigenic load could then be exceeded. This would create a state of immune dysregulation. Several studies indicate permeability abnormalities for both the small and large intestine in CD.88 In fact, so characteristic is this enhanced permeability that it is considered a good marker of active inflammation occurring in CD patients in remission.89 Circulating levels of lipopolysaccharide are increased in patients with active CD.90 There is a general leakiness of the intestinal mucosa in CD which is not dependent on the presence of inflammatory lesions.88 It has been 26 Modern Phytotherapist postulated that increased permeability may be a primary expression of CD and an important pathological factor.88 In support of the concept that increased permeability is a pathogenic factor, CD has been associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). These drugs are responsible for increased gut permeability and small intestinal inflammation.91,92 A group of researchers from Jersey recently reported that of 60 new cases of colitis, 23 had developed while the patient was taking NSAID.93 None of these 23 patients had a known pre-existing IBD. Diclofenac and mefenamic acid were the most frequently observed associations. On endoscopic examination, some cases were indistinguishable from UC. Diet Food is a potential source of many immuneprovoking antigens, and food is probably therefore a potent source of immune dysregulation in CD. It is a well-accepted observation that many patients with CD improve substantially when they are placed on an elemental diet, that is, a predigested liquid diet free of antigenic challenge consisting of amino acids, dextrin, vitamins, vegetable oil, minerals and so on.94 An elemental diet also decreases small intestinal permeability in CD.95 The concept of using an exclusion diet to treat CD was first proposed by a group at Cambridge,96 and all subsequent publications have originated from England. The Cambridge group found that during a controlled trial of 20 patients with CD, 7 of 10 patients on an exclusion diet remained in remission for 6 months, compared to none of the 10 on a normal fibre-rich diet.96 In an uncontrolled study, an exclusion diet allowed 51 of 77 patients to remain well on diet alone for periods up to 51 months, with an average annual relapse rate of less than 10%.96 In both trials, remission was first induced using an elemental diet or total parenteral nutrition. Patients were introduced a single food each day, starting with those such as chicken and fish which, from experience, are unlikely to provoke symptoms, leaving until later cereals and dairy products which are much more likely to cause symptoms. Foods most likely to cause symptoms were, in descending order, wheat, dairy products, brassicas, corn, yeast, tomatoes, citrus, eggs, tap water, coffee, bananas, potatoes, lamb and pork.96 For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical These results were confirmed in a recent large-scale controlled trial on 78 patients.97 Corticosteroid therapy was compared to an exclusion diet. Patients on the exclusion diet also received placebo. Results for diet treatment were favourable, median remission periods were 3.8 months in the corticosteroid group and 7.5 months in the group treated by diet. Intolerances discovered were predominantly to cereals, dairy products and yeast. The authors concluded that diet provides a further therapeutic strategy in active CD.97 This conclusion has been challenged by a contemporary study.98 While this study did identify food intolerances in CD patients, and several of these were confirmed by a double blind challenge, there was no significant difference in the duration of remission between patients who did or did not identify food sensitivities.98 The authors concluded that food sensitivities in CD are variable, often do not persist and are not of sufficient importance to justify exclusion diets. However, it can be argued that CD patients who are not food sensitive are not a valid control group for CD patients who are. Moreover, the fact remains that many CD patients are food sensitive and do improve on an exclusion diet, a therapy which, although demanding, is completely harmless when properly followed. Patients with CD but not UC were found to have significantly high levels of antibodies to bakers yeast in blood samples. These results were confirmed in a later study which also found that raised antibodies to yeast occurred in CD patients regardless of whether they were yeast intolerant or not.100 The pathogenic importance of these findings has not been established. Other Factors A study of the epithelial cells from the small intestines of CD patients has provided a clue to a possible major source of immune dysregulation in CD.101 Phagocytic lysosomes containing lamellar layers of lipid were found in all patients. It was proposed that the content of these lysosomes were a combination of lipid and bacterial fragments.101 Lipids emulsified with bacterial fragments are used experimentally to create a powerful immune response known as the adjuvant effect (see Part 1 of this article). This combination occurring in epithelial cells could be a strong stimulus to the pathogenesis of CD and may explain the success of For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. elemental diets in CD, since they are low in fat. Foreign bodies can also act as a source of immune dysregulation. In early studies foreign bodies were thought to be a factor in CD.102 However, a recent study found crystalline material infrequently in CD tissue from only 2 of 20 cases.102 Attempts to implicate minerals from swallowed toothpaste were inconclusive.102 However, it may be prudent to instruct CD patients against this practice. Leukotrienes and PAF have been implicated as factors which amplify intestinal inflammation.103,104 It has been postulated that free radicals may play a pivotal role in the inflammatory process in IBD.105 Phytotherapy For Crohn’s Disease Diet An individually determined exclusion diet, as outlined above, is an important part of therapy. However, if this is not practical, the case history may provide clues to food sensitivities. In particular, dairy or wheat avoidance should be considered. If there are no leads from the history, the most practical approach is to begin with dairy avoidance. If after about 2 months there is no improvement and a challenge does not produce aggravation of symptoms, wheat avoidance should be tried. Given the association of yeast antibodies with CD, all CD patients should avoid yeast, whether they are sensitive or not. A relatively low fat diet may also be prudent, and patients should be warned against junk food and recycled cooking oil. Bowel Flora Regime A correction of bowel flora in CD may reduce the dysregulation caused by an abnormal flora, and could also create an unfavourable environment for intracellular pathogens such as mycobacteria and viruses. Phytotherapist Hein Zeylstra has developed a successful treatment regime for IBD. The regime is outlined in Table 1. This approach originated from the naturopathic approach to Johne’s disease in cows described by Roger Newman-Turner senior. Although Hein Zeylstra provides no explanation as to why this approach may work, it is my interpretation that the regime has a favourable influence on bowel flora. Modern Phytotherapist 27 Clinical Basically, the routine is to periodically fast, taking fresh garlic (Allium sativum) and slippery elm (Ulmus rubra). Pathogenic bacteria in the bowel lumen would be weakened by fasting, since they rely on a ready source of nutrients. The garlic then reduces the population of all bacteria in the bowel lumen, and the slippery elm encourages only the growth of favourable bacteria. This last aspect of the therapy is because favourable organisms such as Bifidobacteria can utilise the mucilage in the slippery elm as a food source, whereas pathogenic bacteria cannot. Thus there is an increase in favourable bacteria. If the routine is repeated several times over a few months, a “normalisation” of bowel flora will result. According to Zeylstra the regime works faster in CD than UC, possibly because of the favourable effect of fasting on CD. Herbs For CD Immune enhancement with herbs such as Echinacea, Picrorrhiza and Astragalus will help resolve the presence of measles virus, mycobacteria and abnormal bowel flora. The measles virus is enveloped, so hypericin found in Hypericum would be active against this virus. Hypericum has also been shown to be active against mycobacteria in vitro.106 Other herbs with such in vitro activity include Allium sativum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum.106 Berberinecontaining herbs such as Berberis species and Hydrastis have a good broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and are useful to help correct bowel flora. Matricaria is useful for the symptoms of spasm and together with Calendula will help to repair a leaky gut. Because of the leaky gut, phagocytic screening by the liver should be increased using Echinacea and Silybum. Anti-inflammatory herbs which inhibit leukotriene production such as Zingiber are also indicated. Cell-mediated immunity is a factor in the pathogenesis of CD, so selective use of Tylophora 1:5 (2 mL per day for 10 days of each month) may be useful in the early stages of treatment. As with all autoimmune diseases, best results come with longterm treatment. 28 Modern Phytotherapist Case History Female patient aged 39 years. She had CD for 15 years (for 10 years her condition had been diagnosed as UC). Symptoms probably associated with the CD included an inflamed left knee and a skin rash. She had been in remission for 3 years, but about 6 months ago a relapse occurred. She was passing motions with blood every half hour (no wonder she had been diagnosed as having UC). Conventional medication had not been prescribed, as she reacts badly to drugs. History-taking revealed endometriosis, treated by laser. Her appendix had been removed about the time of the original onset of CD and it was rotten and abscessed. Given the history of appendicitis, emphasis was placed on lymphatics and regulating bowel flora. Treatment consisted of a dairy exclusion diet, slippery elm (Ulmus) 4 teaspoons per day, and fresh garlic (Allium sativum) up to 2 cloves a day. The bowel flora regime was not followed. In addition, a typical herbal liquid prescription consisted of (based on 1 week): Herbal Formula Calendula (Calendula officinalis) 1:2 20 mL Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 1:2 32 mL Poke Root (Phytolacca decandra) 1:5 3 mL Picrorrhiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) 1:2 10 mL Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis) 1:3 15 mL Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) 1:2 20 mL 100 mL Dose: 5 mL with water t.d.s. After 3 months there was a 90% improvement. The skin rash and joint pain were gone and her motions were normal. She noted her hair had become glossy - attributed to better nutrition. Deviation from the dairy-free diet caused exacerbation. Patient’s comment: “Why doesn’t my doctor know about this sort of treatment? In 15 years no-one ever mentioned anything about diet.” For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. Clinical Day 1 Days 2 and 3 Day 4 Days 5 to 14 Day 15 Fast - no food, but water and medicines are allowed. Continue as for Day 1. Twice during the day take one to two cloves of crushed fresh garlic with a copious quantity of water. This has the effect of flushing the fresh garlic quickly into the small intestine. At different times take one to two teaspoons of slippery elm powder with copious water. Gradually introduce allowed foods and continue with medicines and slippery elm. Follow exclusion diet and take medicines and slippery elm. Begin again as for Day 1 etc. Table 1: The Bowel Flora Regime as developed by phytotherapist Hein Zeylstra. This may need to be followed for several months. For professional use only. Not for Public Distribution. 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