Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (125 page)

What begins as a local infection triggers an autoimmune disease. In the paper “Enteropathic arthritis, Whipple’s disease, juvenile spondyloarthropathy, and uveitis,” published in
Current Opinions in Rheumatology
1994, Finnish rheumatology researcher Marjatta Leirisalo-Repo states, “An association between inflammatory bowel disease and enteroarthritis and the spondyloarthropathies has been known for awhile … and it now seems evident that chronic gut inflammation is either associated with or is even the cause of chronicity of peripheral arthritis and the development of ankylosing spondylitis.”

It is important to make an early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis so that progression of the disease can be slowed or halted. Because it usually appears as a low backache, many people will tend to seek chiropractic help or massage therapy or take anti-inflammatory medications. But such remedies can’t correct dysbiosis in the intestinal tract. Because many men commonly have low-back pain, they often have irreversible damage before a correct diagnosis is made.

In people with ankylosing spondylitis, also think about gluten intolerance. In one study of 30 people by Togrol, 36.7 percent were found to have antigliaden antibodies. Three of these people (10 percent) also had positive anti-endomysial antibodies. I personally know two men with AS who have experienced positive benefit from being on a gluten-free diet. Other studies have failed to show any significant difference in gluten intolerance in people with AS in comparison with control groups.

Leaky gut syndrome is present in people with ankylosing spondylitis. Unfortunately, NSAIDs are commonly used to treat ankylosing spondylitis, causing even greater intestinal permeability. This, in turn, causes more sensitivity to foods and environmental substances.

About half the people with ankylosing spondylitis experience dramatic improvement when they eliminate dairy products. Thirteen out of 25 people who were studied had good results, and another 4 had moderate improvements. Of the respondents whose results were good, 8 were able to discontinue NSAID medication. Six patients from this study remained dairy-free for more than two years because they were so satisfied with the results. The elimination of dairy products is a simple and effective treatment to try. Although the mechanism for this improvement is unclear, it is suggested that a dairy-free diet modifies the bacterial ecosystem of the gut, which may have benefits. Another hypothesis is that milk allergy causes chronic irritation to the gut as well as gut permeability.

Klebsiella and other disease-producing microbes that can contribute to ankylosing spondylitis use sugars as their main food source. Some physicians are experimenting with a low-starch diet and are getting good results. Eliminate all breads, grains, pasta, cookies, candy, root vegetables, and legumes. Be patient: you may get amazing results, but you will need to stay on the diet for at least six months before you really reap the benefits.

I recently queried two friends with AS about what has been most helpful. They both responded that exercise and stretching have given the best response.

The letters following each list item indicate the illness that that test can be used to detect. Note that O = osteoarthritis, RA = rheumatoid arthritis, PA = psoriatic arthritis, and AS = ankylosing spondylitis.

Elisa/Act allergy testing for foods, molds, medications, and chemicals (O, RA, PA, AS)

Organic acid testing (O, RA, PA, AS)

Comprehensive digestive stool analysis (O, RA, PA, AS)

Intestinal permeability screening; stop use of NSAIDs for three weeks prior to test (O, RA, PA, AS)

Candida testing, either separately or in CDSA (O, RA, PA, AS)

Heidelberg capsule testing for HCl status (RA)

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth breath test (RA)

Liver function testing; people with rheumatoid arthritis are also shown to have reduced function in the detoxification pathways (RA)

Some of these suggestions will significantly help your arthritis; others may not help at all. You can look for products that combine these nutrients and herbs. Be patient and give whatever you try time to work. Try one or two at a time until you find a program that suits your body’s unique needs and your lifestyle. Recommendations work for all types of arthritis, unless I’ve specifically noted a type after the suggestion.

Try an alkalizing diet.
Bring your body into acid-alkaline balance. See
Chapter 17
for a discussion.

Exercise.
It’s important to use your body as much as you can without aggravating the condition. Yoga, walking, swimming, stretching, water exercises, physical therapy, massage, and acupressure massage may all be of help. Do something nearly every day.