Until my uncle remarried, I had never heard of chemotherapy being used for anything other than cancer. When my new aunt told me she took something called Methotrexate for her rheumatoid arthritis, I assumed it was some kind of painkiller or anti-inflammatory.
“No,” she said, with a strange, dreamy kind of smile. “It’s chemotherapy.”
I was so flabbergasted by this revelation, I exclaimed out loud, “They give you chemo for an autoimmune disease!?” So incredulous was I that I momentarily forgot the rest of the family was in the next room waiting for us to finish cooking dinner.
Her eyes went wide and she looked at me that way someone might regard a ticking box left on their doorstep; like I might explode at any moment. I forced a smile and changed the subject but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I had to do some research.
How Chemotherapy “Treats” Autoimmune Disease
Methotrexate, the most common type of chemotherapy for autoimmune disease, “treats” your condition by dampening the activity of your immune system to prevent it from attacking your own healthy tissues. This drug is most commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
This chemotherapy drug is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis, polymyositis, Crohn’s disease, and certain types of vasculitis. It works by blocking an enzyme called dihydrofolate reductase. Unlike most drugs for chronic conditions, Methotrexate is so powerful, it can only be taken once a week.
Side Effects of Methotrexate for Autoimmune Disease
While using chemotherapy for autoimmune disease can temporarily mitigate symptoms, it’s an artificial and temporary solution. When you use anything to suppress your immune system, you run the risk of permanent damage.
The side effects of Methotrexate include:
- Nausea and Vomiting
In most cases of autoimmune disease, there is some type of abnormality in the gut flora, which disrupts normal immune function. Patients with a history of gastritis or stomach ulcer are advised to avoid chemotherapy for autoimmune disease. Despite this, many are prescribed the drug anyway. Debilitating nausea and violent vomiting are a common side effect.
- Liver Damage
Despite the fact Methotrexate is given in the lowest possible doses and only to be taken once per week, patients must receive blood tests every 6-12 weeks to test for liver damage. The risk of liver damage can double or even triple when this drug is combined with alcohol.
- Hair Loss
Autoimmune disease affects young women more than any other age group. It is unfortunate that so many of these women will lose their hair in clumps when taking chemotherapy for autoimmune disease.
- Sun Sensitivity and Easy Burn
Methotrexate has been shown to induce sun sensitivity and cause easy burning of the skin. This can cause those with autoimmune disease to have no choice but to shun the sun and the immune-stimulating vitamin D it provides.
- Malaise
Many who use Methotrexate report a deep, almost debilitating malaise that is as bad as or worse than the fatigue caused by their autoimmune disease.
- Nutritional Deficiencies
When chemotherapy is used to treat autoimmune disease, it often leads to profound nutritional deficiencies. Methotrexate significantly depletes folic acid and may interfere with the uptake of vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin E, and glutamate.
- Pregnancy Complications and Birth Defects
Methotrexate has been used to cause medical abortions in the case of ectopic pregnancies. Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should avoid this drug like the plague as it can cause significant pregnancy complications and birth defects.
- Severe Infection
Any time you use a drug to artificially suppress your immune system, you are at risk for developing serious infections. A simple cold or flu could send you to the hospital with pneumonia. A case of athlete’s foot or a spider bite could lead to a cellulitis, a fast-spreading skin disease that could lead to amputation and death.
Dangerous Drug Interactions Associated with Methotrexate
Methotrexate has been shown to react negatively with NSAID pain relievers, antibiotics, and dietary supplements.
Autoimmune Disease Can and Should be Treated Naturally
Here at Health Scams Exposed, we believe that using chemotherapy for autoimmune disease is nothing short of insanity. There is no reason to subject your body to this type of drug over the course of months, years or even decades given the associated risks.
When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system has become overstimulated and confused. It believes your own healthy tissues are foreign entities that must be destroyed. Despite what your doctor may have told you, suppressing your immune system is not your only option for treating your autoimmune disease.
Not by a long shot.
Here is what we recommend:
- Make Dietary Changes
The best and most effective thing you can do right now to treat your autoimmune disease is to make dietary changes. An anti-inflammatory diet is your first step to giving your immune system the nutritional support it needs to stabilize.
A gluten-free diet has proven helpful in treating the chronic pain and fatigue associated with autoimmune disease. Avoidance of corn, soy, lactose, and peanuts may also be beneficial as these foods have been shown to trigger allergic and inflammatory response.
The Ketogenic Diet has been shown to effectively treat chronic disease and even reverse cancer. The Paleolithic Diet, which is similar but a bit less restrictive, has also been shown to nourish the body while healing chronic disease.
Both of these diets remove junk food from your diet completely, which, if nothing else, you must do in order to heal.
- Address Nutritional Deficiencies
The two best vitamin supplements you can take for autoimmune disease are vitamin D3 and probiotics. Scientific studies have shown that vitamin D3 deficiency is prevalent in those with autoimmune disease and that testing for vitamin D deficiency and subsequent supplementation is critical to healing from autoimmune disease. Probiotics improve your gut health and immunity while easing chronic inflammation.
- Remove Synthetic Chemicals
If you have autoimmune disease, you should live in as clean and toxin-free an environment as possible. Removing synthetic cleaning products, cosmetics, and bathing products from your environment and replacing them with natural alternatives will give your immune system a much-needed break from constantly defending you from a toxic onslaught.
- Resolve Emotional Trauma
There is emerging evidence that unresolved emotional trauma can have a profound impact on your immune system. Becoming involved in a support group or speaking with a therapist or social worker can help you heal from the traumatic events of your past. Alternatively, you may turn to the Emotional Freedom Technique and/or the soothing energy of Reiki for deep spiritual healing.
- Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
When you’re living with a chronic illness, there is nothing your body needs more than sleep. Rest, relax, nap, and dream as often as possible. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, a chelated magnesium supplement can help ease you into a restful sleep without the side effects of prescription drugs.
Your autoimmune disease doesn’t have to be a life sentence of pain and prescription drug side effects. There is always hope for healing. When you use your chronic condition as an opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth, you will look at your life in a brand new way.
And that is when true healing can begin.
*****Recommended Research*****
The Autoimmunity Bible
I’m not one to throw the word “bible” around though this is the name of the valuable autoimmunity resource created by diet consultant and nutritionist Julie Liu.
You see Julie does not just talk the talk… This great work is a detailed account of how she cured herself from autoimmune disorder, Lupus specifically, and how you can follow these same steps.
As a lifelong health professional Julie became frustrated with the lack of useful advice and help she received from her doctors. Not being one to just give up, her research led her to an effective holistic method of healing called, The Norton Protocol.
If you or someone you know suffers from autoimmune disease I’d encourage you to check out her work here:
The Autoimmunity Bible and Norton Protocol
This is one of the most complete works I’ve ever found on this subject. Plus if it doesn’t work for you Julie will give you your money back.
Check out the full details on The Autoimmunity Bible and Norton Protocol today.
To Your Health,
Jessica Coffey
Publisher – Health Scams Exposed
