LDN - Low Cost Effective Treatment

Estimates indicate that there are at least 80 known autoimmune diseases (AID) that have been identified by the NIH and that anywhere from 30-50 million Americans are currently living with one. Individuals with cancer, immune deficiencies, and other infections usually have lower endorphin levels which leads irregular cell proliferation.

Diseases that are partially or largely triggered by a deficiency of endorphins (including cancer and autoimmune diseases), or those who are accelerated by a deficiency of endorphins (such as HIV/AIDS), LDN helps restore the body’s normal production of endorphins LDN works by boosting Endorphin levels. It also prevents immune system overactivity, which is the crux of autoimmune disorders, and blunts the release of inflammatory and neurotoxic chemicals in the brain.

How does this mechanism work?

LDN attaches to opioid receptors in the brain and in all types of immune cells, which temporarily blocks endorphins from attaching to them. This signals your body to increase endorphin production. The increased endorphin production helps orchestrate the activity of stem cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, T and B cells and other immune cells, hence improving your immune function.

Along with endorphins, cytokines are also thought to be better modulated with low dose naltrexone therapy.

Cytokines are immune system proteins, but when in overdrive, they begin to attack the body’s own tissue. This is why many people with autoimmunity have a difficult time fighting infections.  Specific cytokines have autocrine, paracrine, and/or endocrine activity and, through receptor binding, can elicit a variety of responses, depending upon the cytokine and the target cell. Among the many functions of cytokines is the control of cell proliferation and differentiation and the regulation of angiogenesis and immune and inflammatory responses.1

It is a pretty well tolerated treatment, but patients do report headaches, insomnia, and vivid dreams that usually improve within a few weeks. If insomnia is a problem, please consult your physician

Numerous studies have been published about successfully use of  LDN to reduce pain, fight inflammation, and treat other symptoms of many autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Celiac, Psoriasis, Sjogren’s, Autism, Scleroderma