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Autoimmune disease, parasites, and complexity
In the following TEDx talk, science journalist and author Moises Velasquez-Manoff explains why "the immune system needs its version of gravity. In this case, gravity consists of things we've traditionally thought of as evil (microbes and certain parasites)."
However, he says, "we may be living in a kind of immunological weightlessness and aspects of our immune system may have atrophied. And that weakness may explain our baffling vulnerability to certain [autoimmune] diseases or worst."
Moises Velasquez-Manoff, who has alopecia areata, is the author of the book An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases (2013), which he also discusses at length on the always insightful and intellectually stimulating Econtalk podcast. You can learn more about his work at www.moisesvm.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DebFromCA on
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Interesting - thanks for sharing. I believe microbes are an important part of our existence - especially for gut health. My research and reading has taken me down the path to viruses as being the source of many - if not all - "autoimmune" and "autoinflammatory" dis-ease. I have been treating myself using non-allopathic anti-virals...with fairly good results. I guess the way I see it is that you have to keep the beneficial microbes happy and healthy while suppressing the viruses at work. I have frontal fibrosing alopecia. Although as yet I do not have hair regrowth, I seem to have contained the loss of hair.
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Permalink Reply by rj, Co-founder on
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DebFromCA, I'd love for you to share your progress with the rest of Alopecia World. Please keep us updated through your blogs and discussion posts.
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Deb, I have been diagnosed with frontal fibrosing alopecia too. What are non-allopathic anti-virals?
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Hi Terri - right now I am taking l-lysine, monolaurin and cat's claw. These are the antivirals. I have taken reishi mushroom but it was a little more expensive and the cat's claw is an excellent antiviral. I also take good zinc, nascent iodine, B12, D, turmeric (curcurmin) and magnesium supplements. Also flax seed oil and Hawaiian spirulina. I eat mostly whole fruits and veggies - especially wild blueberries. I do eat small amounts of meat but not everyday. No gluten, hardly any dairy (only when I'm out and it's on a salad or something) and no eggs. But most importantly I am making sure I get 8 hours of sleep; I exercise - walking, housework, rebounding - I don't do gyms ;-) ; and I have eliminated the sources of stress that I could and relearned how to handle the stress of daily living that is left. I believe the sleep and stress issues are huge in recovery. I try to meditate but usually I get overtaken by events and don't. But I believe meditation is also important. I still have a lot of my eyebrows but I've lost about 1 1/2" of my hairline. I'm fortunate though because I can hide it with bangs. And...I still believe I can overcome this thing.
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I have always tried to get plenty of exercise. No gym for me either. I also try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and gave up gluten a year ago when diagnosed. A history a stomach and other issues went away when I gave up gluten. I also lost about an inch and a half of hairline but my eyebrows are about gone. I do notice more itching when sressed or accidently glutened. Thanks for the tips on antivirals. I hope I can overcome this thing too. It's hard enough getting older without having to deal with losing our hair too. Good luck to you!
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Permalink Reply by Mary on
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Deb, I have frontal fibrosing alopecia as well. I live in North County San Diego Area. I see you are in CA. Do you know of a support group in my area? I have been looking but have had no luck finding one so far. I am thinking about starting my own group.
Thanks,
Mary
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Permalink Reply by chris for hair on
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Interesting talk, however, even though I am not a scientist, I believe that the issue really is that we have been taught that if anything is out of the ordinary, we should rush to the doctor for an examination and diagnosis. The medical community is set up to try to fix every complaint, usually with medications, and this creates an environment that is NOT conducive to good health.
Our feverish need to eradicate anything we perceive as "abnormal" is in effect, creating a monster that eventually will cause even bigger problems down the road. Alopecia is not fun, it robs many people of their self esteem and feeling of self worth. However, it is not life threatening, and we have choices in whether we want to cover the symptom, or not.
To me, thinking of taking ANY drug to eradicate this condition is ludicrous. Searching for immediate answers will end in frustration.
I have Lupus. When the AID"S epidemic started I told my husband they will finally open the door to learning about the immune system...This has happened, but it has been over 30 years, and still they do not understand. Live your life. Don't jump on every philosophy that comes along. I still do not think they are close to an answer.
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Good points,Chris. Indeed, I've noted elsewhere how the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries feast on such magnification of the medically mundane while gnawing away at the self-confidence of "patients."
However, I think Moises' concern isn't completely unlike your own. In fact, in some ways we're already far down the road to bigger problems.
I'd also point out that acceptance and openness are not mutually exclusive. I see this in my wife, for example, who lives life to the fullest as a bald and beautiful alopecian while maintaining an emotionally and physically healthy posture towards medical developments in general and scientific research in particular.
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Your wife is lucky to have you, as I am sure, you are lucky to have her.
I am encouraged that some understanding of the role of the immune system, and all we have done to assault it is coming to light. Hopefully down the road things will be much more simple to understand.
I just hope/say please don't jump on every new theory because there is still a long road ahead before anyone understands these issues. Read,look, talk, think, but hold out if anyone suggests they know. Do all you can to investigate and make a good decision.
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Jesus Christ was born in a manger. Therefore his environment was rich in microbes, parasites and animal poo!
Born into lowly circumstance; did the Prince of Peace have a kingly immune system ?
Of course he did!
I buy into the argument that "natural" environment exposure is healthy; especially when you are very young. I had asthma and various ailments when I was a child. Later I developed an under-active thyroid + Alopecia. Apart from that I'm well!
The speaker believes that the immune system can be trained/educated.
This presupposes that the "Immune brain" is blind in areas, uneducated and can throw self centered tantrums; that later in life can lead to death.
So much for evolution!
My Immune system should be hot!. It's come all the way from East Africa...
Educating t cells for Alopecia is something I will follow
BUT as Chris pointed out.
Research takes years and years. Best to live your life.
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Hello. I would like to continue your discussion and talk about the use of cbd products for the treatment of alopecia, because I recently read a very interesting article on the US National Library of Medicine website where there is a detailed review and proposed decision on the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of alopecia. By the way, not so long ago my friend gave me a jar of full spectrum cbd gummies and it's quite nice for good relaxation and calming the nerves.
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