Disease Information for Disorders
InflammationInflammation is a natural reaction to injury or infection. The affected tissues swell, redden, become warm and tender, and may be painful. Things that can trigger inflammation include drug overuse, environmental toxins, free radical damage, infections, injury, trauma, and bacterial, fungal or viral infection, to name a few. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to identify the sources of inflammation.
Any organ or tissue of the body, internal or external, can become inflamed. Internal inflammation is often caused by bacterial infection, but can also be caused by disorders such as allergies, arthritis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disorders, osteoarthritis, peptic ulcer disease, or ulcerative colitis. External inflammation is most often the result of injury, but can also result from (or be aggravated by) allergies, infection, and other factors. Vitamin Supplement Suggested Dosage Comments Vitamin B Complex 50 mg of each major B vitamin 3 times daily (amounts of individual vitamins in a complex will vary). Needed for tissue repair Plus extra vitamin B12 2000 mcg daily Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids 3000-6000 mg daily in divided doses (For example 2-3 times a day) Essential to the healing process and in reducing inflammation. Use a buffered form. Essential Fatty Acids (Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed Oil or Fish Oil are good sources) 1000 mg daily Reduces inflammation Zinc 50 mg daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg daily (remember to look at other Vitamins to see if it is in them) Helps to control inflammation and promotes healing. Tumeric (curcumin) As directed on label Reduces inflammation |
ArthritisArthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. It is characterized by pain and stiffness (especially in the morning or after exercise), swelling, deformity, and / or a diminished range of motion. Bone growths or spurs may develop in the affected joints, increasing pain and decreasing mobility. There may be audible cracking or grating noises when the joint moves. Many people suffer from forms of arthritis, including fibromyalgia, lupus, Lyme, bursitis, scleroderma, Reiter's syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, and spondylitis.
Vitamin Supplement Suggested Dosage Comments Essential Fatty Acids (Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed Oil or Fish Oil are good sources) 1000-2000 mg daily Reduces inflammation Plus extra vitamin B12 1000 mcg daily Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids 3000-10,000 mg daily in divided doses (For example 2-3 times a day) Powerful free radical destroyer that also aids in pain relief, inflammation. Use a buffered form. Bromelain As directed on label, 3 times daily Stimulates production of prostaglandins. Reduces inflammation when taken between meals. Helps digestion of protein when taken with meals. Condroitin sulfate 500-1,000 mg daily Support for strengthening joints, ligaments and tendons Tumeric (curcumin) As directed on label Reduces inflammation |
InfertilityInfertility is usually defined as the failure to conveive after a year or more of regular sexual activity during the time of ovulation. It may also refer to the inability to carry a pregnancy to term. Infertility affects some 6.1 million American couples, and pinpointing the exact cause of the problem can be difficult. Ovulation, fertilization, and the journey of the fertilized ovum through the fallopian tube and finally into the uterus are highly intricate processes. Many events must work together perfectly for pregnancy to occur.
In 40 percent of infertile couples, problems affecting the male partner are either partially or wholly the cause of infertility. For men, infertility is most often the result of a low sperm count or an anatomical abnormality. A variety of factors can result in a low sperm count, including alcohol consumption; endocrine disorders; exposure to toxins, radiation, or excessive heat; recent acute illness or prolonged fever; testicular injury; and, very rarely, mumps induced wasting of the testicles. Varicoceles, abnormal enlargements of veins that drain the testicles, can cause infertility in men because of the veins of the testes no longer moderate the temperature of the testicles correctly, and this can negatively affect sperm. For women, the most common causes of infertility include ovulatory failure or defect, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Some women develop antibodies to their partners' sperm, in effect becoming allergic to them. Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease causes many cases of infertility. Psychological issues, such as stress or fear of parenthood, may contribute to infertility as well, although stress is usually the result of infertility, not the cause of it. Vitamin Supplement Suggested Dosage Comments Selenium 200-400 mcg daily. If you becoe pregnant, cut back to no more than 40 mcg daily. Deficiency leads to reduced sperm count and has been linked to sterility in men and infertility in women. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids 2000-6000 daily, in divided doses Important in sperm production. Keeps the sperm from clumping and makes them more motile. Vitamin E Start with 200 IU daily and increase gradually to 400-1000 IU daily. Needed for balanced hormone production. Has been known as the "sex vitamin" that carries oxygen to the sex organs and increases sperm count. Use d-alpha-tocopherol form. Zinc 80 mg daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg daily from all supplements. Important for the functioning of the reproductive organs. Zinc is found in high concentrations in semen. |