Many thanks to Richard and the team at the Guardian for this and many other 'down to earth' series. I have an autoimmune condition that has improved greatly through a plant based wholefood diet. This has allowed me to increase my exercise and fitness and reduce my medication to zero. Am I cured? , NO, but it is manageable for now. That may not last but I feel on top of it for now.
You're lucky to feel better than before n wish n pray you feel more better 🙏. One of my best friend is suffering with autoimmune disorder so I can understand the things related to this disease. Wish the world can find more ways to heal this disease 🙏
I've been deep diving and overwhelmed in this area for years with my ME. Really interested in this series and exploration of gut health in the next episode.
I think a comment about Gábor Máté would be really useful here. He's a physician who speaks (among other things) about society's impacts on our bodies (incl on autoimmune conditions)!
As a chronically ill disabled person I find that some holistic approaches use a lot of ableist language, especially with ideas of a fix which for many disabled people isnt what they want. This isnt to say some holistic approaches can have benefits especially via placebo or the power of the mind but I'm always curious when people claim to have proof. It is usually anecdotal or nonexistent
I was about to say exactly this! The focus on 'cure' assumes that we are the problem. The onus should not be on me to 'cure' myself via expensive, private therapies (which won't do that anyway), it should be on society to provide the resources to help us manage our conditions so we can live our lives!
No, the cure is not coming from without it comes from within, that’s the point. I say this as someone with a chronic debilitating illness of 30 years. A doctor or society will not hand you back your health, you have to work it out yourself.
I never fall those sort of stuff and I've got eczema (which I've had since I was a toddler) I'm 28 now and will soon be 29 and my eczema used to be the worst part of me when was younger, because I did not really know what my body didn't like (tolerate) or what was/were the triggers that made my body react in that manner. fast forward to the present, It has gotten so much better now, my w skin has improved so much that I'm always mind blown how adaptable and powerful the human skin is and also the human gut which is where the human immune system is at too and the human microbiome.
I also have had eczema all of my life and had it bad in my teenage years as well. Got Hashimotos (Autoimmune Underactive Thyroid) at 21 and cut out gluten and dairy. My eczema has been very manageable ever since, but I really struggle with my Hashimotos despite taking medication and said gf/df diet.
Yes. You'd probably call it quackery because it does not involve taking pharmaceuticals. Going for a walk in nature, for example, or volunteering in wildlife rehabilitation or learning how to draw or sculpt. Anything that makes you focus on things outside of yourself and stops you from ruminating about how much quackery makes your blood pressure rise.
I believe, managing and, even, curing chronic as opposed to acute illnesses requires patients to play an active role in tracking and managing their wellness. Sufficient sleep, good food taken at suitable but time-restricted fashion and with some supplementation, adequate and appropriate exercises, morning sunshine for immune system, and proper breathing perhaps coupled with some mindfulness practice are probably the way forward to ameliorate long-term adverse health conditions, I suspect. Keeping abreast scientific literature from modern medicine is also a must, I feel, for those who are more, well, motivated.
Thanks for bringing this to my awareness. How we treat our bodies is SO important, and with all of the environmental changes and pollution induced by human activity it becomes ever more apparent how deciphering exactly what the body needs: sunlight, fresh air, water, food, and movement entails to a healthier, long life. I definitely need this reminder, I used to be much more active when I was younger.
Many people, including myself, have reversed their autoimmune symptoms with the A.I.P. (Autoimmune Protocol) diet -- which initially eliminates: dairy, grains, seeds, nuts, nightshades, additives, and legumes. It is challenging, but there are many resources out there. I am vegan, so I do Vegan A.I.P. After you begin healing -- you can begin to add foods back in. It gave me my life back.
I've struggled since I was diagnosed at 11yrs old with RA and gut issues. At 44yrs, I'm pretty done with doctors running tests and trying to prescription drugs that just make me feel sick. Yoga, exercise, cold therapy, and most of all diet. It works for me better than these dudes in white jackets treating me like I'm not a whole person just trying to get through life
it is however (speaking as someone who was diagnosed with RRMS 7 years ago too) remarkably common an attitude....if I had a penny for every time I was told my MS could be "cured" by holistic quackery (i do live in Bristol, UK, mind and there's plenty of hippiecrites here) I would be a rich person. I think if we all allowed people to stick with what works for them then we'd all be in a better place....as you say what works for some will not work for others.
@@edsiebert5986 I don't have MS, but I get told the same thing for my hEDS. I live in Brighton and people keep telling me to try yoga- which actively makes my condition worse. It's a very annoying attitude. There are one or two alternative therapies (acupuncture and osteopathy) that I've tried that have helped me manage pain, but they certainly aren't affordable on a regular basis. So many alternative therapies are actually very dangerous and I definitely agree with the scientist who said to avoid anything that claims 'detox' or a complete cure.
I'd advise anybody interested in this to read Gabor Mate The Body Says No where he explains the effect of emotions on illness and particularly how long term stress harms the body. He shows how suppressing emotions causes chronic hidden stress and how reconnecting with yourself through psychotherapy can improve physical conditions and provides some of the science to back it up. Another incredibly useful book is the Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk .
I have adrenal insufficiency - which is life threatening. It’s often caused by an autoimmune condition. It can be a huge struggle mentally and physically. I’ll never be cured, so the best I can do is find ways to manage it and improve the quality of life through a more holistic approach - fundamentally sleep, exercise, diet and finding joy in life.
@@berenicemarchese1593 it’s difficult I know. I hope you are getting the right endocrine advice and have people with the same condition to talk to a support you. I feel better if I sleep well. I also have to keep up on my fitness. Dealing with stress is also another focus. I’m far from ideal. I don’t think I will feel “normal” again but it’s a step in the right direction. Best wishes.
The latest research I have seen suggests that there is a link between respiratory infections in adolescence and MS symptoms appearing several years later. The hypothesis being that the respiratory infections somehow trigger the genetic components that alter the way our t-cells respond to perceived threats. I don't know how widely accepted this hypothesis is yet, but it certainly tracks with my own experience--I had to go to the emergency room on a few occasions as a young teen for nebulizer treatments after bouts of bronchitis, and I was diagnosed with MS at 18-years old after 80% of my lower body became numb with pins and needles. I really resented a lot of the people who suggested shit like diets and chiropractors and other woo-woo that--while good intentioned--seemed ignorant and insensitive to the seriousness of my condition. My course of MS has been blessedly mild thus far (I'm now 39 years old), but relapses occur frequently enough to keep me concerned. Living in the US as a self-employed individual, health insurance is a constant source of instability and frustration. Thanks for making this.
Q: What do we call ''Alternative Medicine'' that provably, scientifically works? A : We call it ''Medicine'' ''Alternative'' is a euphemism for ''rejected''
I once went to a bloke who prescribed a pint of petrol per diem for my spinal stenosis from a rugby injury. It didn’t cure the condition (I had lumbar surgery for that) but it definitely improved my mileage from 500 m to over 10 km a day. ⛽️
“Self-indulgence to the point of narcisism”…one very nice way of explaining how much social media revealed the human stupidity…shamanism can be quite beautiful in comparison…
@@Ciachoo Because Dr. Gabor Mate has studies this field extensively. It would be prudent to include someone as respected as Dr. Mate in the discussion of autoimmune diseases. I'm just wondering if this is more of a fluff piece, where they only discuss alternative and uproven "fluff". I'm just wondering if this will go deep, or if it's just all for fun.
@@nancyneyedly4587 That's a bit surprising. Last time I checked, he is a psychologist, and he's a specialist on addiction. That's like practically unrelated to the topic of autoimmune diseases and it's simply impossible to be an expert on those diseases having specialised on something else for decades. He "studies the field extensively"? How many papers did he write in the topic of immunology? How many scientific papers did he write in all medicinal fields?
Yeah I’m afraid we still need to stick to proper testing regimes (preferably double blind, but at least controlled studies). otherwise we will have no real and reliable idea whether any of this stuff works. If something actually works it should hold up to testing. This is not about men in white coats, it’s about generating reliable information.
Some good nuggets here. Main one. Listen to your body and different modalities work in different ways for different people. Make it your life's journey to prioritise your health
I bet if he hired Lina as a personal trainer and dietician for six months he’d see dramatic results. That level of expertise isn’t available to the average person, sadly
@@theGuardian Hi Rich, thanks for your reply. I think by that comment I meant that her skills and expertise seemed uniquely beneficial as an athlete who manages the disease herself. But yes, not assuming she’s hiring herself out as a Personal trainer, haha. Looking forward to the next installment! Great content
Great series :) I have a chronic illness and what works for me is a mix of movement, diet, Chinese herbs and western medications. I started with the tablets prescribed by my western doctor but it turned out it was not enough to keep my illness at bay, so I started to look for other/additional remedies.
weirdly thinking something is helping makes you feel better, in a minor way alternative therapies work for those who believe they work. The therapies rarely cure the targeted disease. Eat better food, think more positively, regular exercise, have fun, keep everything in moderation - life likely to be improved.
Hi Ava, my daughter is neuro diverse too, alongside her physical health disability stuff going on. She has autism and adhd and they are part of her personality. Like you, she wouldn’t want someone to ‘cure her’ and neither would I , because She wouldn’t be the person she is. I think that person is pretty amazing. She has certainly taught me a lot. Including, that this isn’t just a diagnosis or a label but much bigger than that It is a fundamental part of who you are . People need to understand that. Of course , I wish somethings would be easier for her, as I sure some things may be frustrating in your life. That is down to society not changing to make life work better for you guys and all of us who are disabled in any way shape or form.
@@luxy8703 yes! You get it! I’m so happy to see somebody else understand what it’s like. Yes, sometimes things will be harder for us, because of autism & adhd, but it’s part of who we are. You have no idea how happy I am that you understand. You’ve made my day, thank you
I think Richard should try a carnivore diet or more specific a lion diet first. Nutrition with Judy, dr Ken Berry , dr anthony chaffe and foodlies are resources to start on getting information on how to navigate going through this diet. All the best Richard.
90% of our immunity is in the gut .and there is a Vagus nerve which directly connects the brain to the gut. hence read more on the gut microbiome. that what helps. al the triggers are in the gut which triggers the brain
I can see a big future for think kind of treatment, I can see if not direct health benefits could very much help with mental health that could effect your overall health.👍
3:18 “… and that can be proved …”. So where’s the published proof? This is an example of why there are professional registers - so the public can check credentials, training & qualifications: AND can be protected against malpractice and false claims. His claiming that many conditions start “here” (pointing to his head) is an insulting blame culture.
It’s not “it” there are many different approaches and subjects here. Also you would have to try many of them to have that conclusion or know many people who have. Stress and bad diet isn’t good. Things that lead away from those must be worth while…
Totally right to focus on the gut microbiota. Do a test and try to find out the association between composition and certain diseases. Try to f8nd an artificial intelligence company to help you in the journey. Already a number of conditions are related to alzheimer and the gut. Good luck
If you have unquestioningly adopted the mainstream model to the point that you automatically preframe anything outside of it as being “the alternative” worthy of incredulity, you are not a skeptic. Quite the opposite actually.
@@lindaj5492 yes I understand that “skepticism” is one of the tenets of the current widespread science-based ideology, however it means nothing in real world application. The phrase “trust the science” - which we’ve seen plastered everywhere over the past two years - is antithetical to skepticism and legitimate science, for example. Have the skepticism, curiosity, and genuine interest in the truth to look beyond the surface and you’ll see similar hypocrisy everywhere. The current scientific establishment is little more than a religious cult.
Rhere was no reason for him to yell at the cat other than for the camera. They dont eat vegetables, what's the problem. Does he have an open air mouse farm?
At the risk of stirring the pot here, I saw a cat from down the road attempting to access a bird box with a family of blue tits inside. I actually really like cats but I also very much like garden birds and I worry about the damage cats can do to local wildlife populations. But that's probably a separate video. Thanks for watching! - Rich
@@theGuardian Clarification! Yeah cats will absolutely massacre their way through wildlife. Thought it was a deeper metaphor of you shooing away the mystical xD
Atomic Therapy, Fitness, Nutrition try something real greetings i live with morbus bechterew. What real is if you have fun your symptomes will get better
