Since I feel sick today, I have been on my computer learning all sorts of things. I found some MG related information and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on these links.

1-The Autoimmune Epidemic by Dpnna Jackson Nakazawa
http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/...e_epidemic.htm
I reserved this book from the local library and I look forward to reading it. Has anyone read it?

2-Hydrangea root may help immune disorders:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152822.php
I thought this was an interesting study although I don't know if it can help MG symptoms. Does anyone know of other studies being done to help those with MG?

3-Herbal Supplements-Specifically the Blood Purifier & Immune Stimulant categories in this link.
http://www.treelite.com/downloads/Systematic-Guide.pdf
I am considering trying some herbs and/or vitamins to improve my health. I know this needs to be done carefully and with my doctors knowlege. What I was wondering is, does anyone take herbal supplements or specific vitamins or even eat certain foods that improves your MG symptoms? I know for example that Tea & Coffee help MG when I drink them in small quantities.

4-North American Ephedra - I usually drink tea made from the native Ephedra plant during the Holiday season because I am very allergic to all the chemical "scents" of Christmas and I find that it helps a little (in fact all those chemicals have contributed to me being very sick today - no more shopping for me for a while). Drinking Ephedra (or Mormon Tea) is somewhat of a family tradition that goes back a long time. I am hesitating to drink it this year since I have MG. I am finding information that says Ephedra may help MG but also that it is bad for MG, but most of the information is about the Asian Ephedra that has the chemical Ephedrine in it. American Ephedra does not contain ephedrine, but does have all sorts of good minerals and it makes me feel good. Does anyone know anything about it? If my doctor has nothing against it, I am going to drink some. It tastes similar to Jasmine Tea.

I know that not everyone likes herbal medicine, but I am a big fan, especially when it is in small quantities and not as a daily supplement. Anything can be bad for us when we eat it everyday. Lots of things are good for us when eaten on occasion.

Just so everyone knows, I love plants and am currently studying plants including the food & medical uses of native plants.

I hope everyone is feeling well today.

I think it is not a coincidence that our PETS are getting more autoimmune issues just like humans are. Our vet says, that autoimmune disease in cats is epidemic now.

In this case the vaccines I believe are at fault. There are two major diseases now in cats caused by vaccines. 1) chronic kidney disease from distemper, 2) vaccination induced sarcoma from rabies and other others.

Hyperthyroidism in cats (similar to Grave's in humans) is being traced to fire retardant chemicals in furniture, fabrics and bedding.

I think these markers are also affecting HUMANs.
What do we have in common with our cats?
1) fire retardants in the home everywhere
2) food additives like gluten. (cats in the wild do not consume gluten or corn)
3) common and mulitiple exposure to vaccines.
4) eating processed foodstuffs, and less whole foods.

There is no doubt that autoimmune issues are increasing for us.
I think the environment has a huge part to play in this problem.

Desertflower, ephedrine sulphate is sometimes used in MG -- to increase muscle strength. I stumbled upon this by accident, myself. I take Primatene tablets (ephedrine) sometimes for asthma (Albuterol does nothing for me). I noticed that the Primatene made my MG symptoms less noticeable -- asked my GP AND Pulmo IF it would be ok to take the Primatene "sometimes" -- if I really "needed" some extra strength. My GP had recently done an EKG -- and my Pulmo had completely checked out my lungs -- so, they gave the go-ahead -- but, both said ONLY once in a while -- like maybe once every couple of weeks or once a month if I was taking it for reasons OTHER than asthma. I have had a couple of situations where this really "pulled me through".

I would caution -- DO NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR DOCTOR'S COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE AND FULL APPROVAL!! Ephedrine, unsupervised, can be a killer!! Ephedrine suphate is a prescription medication.

There is definately something up with cats and thyroid disease/Kidney disease...Two of our cats have had hyperthyroidism, and the other two had kidney disease. We've had 6-cats in total. It looks like my Charley might be hyperthyroid too. He's having the muscle twitching that my other cats had and weight loss.

My aunt has an absolutely adorable pitbull that I think may have lupus. He has a rash, what seems like joint pain and the worst gas ever (at least that's what my nose thinks)...Poor cutie

I found this thread very interesting and just wanted to add my bit-

first, a lot of widely used "modern", "conventional" medications are based on plants and herbs-the best example is aspirin, but there are a lot of others.

second, not everything that is "natural" is good and lacks possible side effects. in fact, most pharmacologically active natural substances can have very serious potential side effects.

third, in order to verify the safety and efficacy of a pharmacologicaly active substance, it has to be tested in a large number of people, prefarably with a variety of conditions.

I fully agree that vaccinations are a two sided-sword, just like any medical intervention, and the risk benefit ratio should be weighed. one problem that people have to be aware of that is public health decissions (such as vaccinations) are uniform and can't take into account the specific risk/benefit ratio of a specific sub-group or even more so a specific patient in the population. so unless it is totally contraindicated or the safety is obviously questionable, those issues can't be addressed, and should be addressed by the specific patient and his/her physician.

and last but not least- treatment with ephedrine was discovered by an educated MG patient, and was I believe one of the first treatments for this illness.

Ephedrine -
"Harriet Isabel Edgeworth, American biochemist, 1892 - , discovered the beneficial effect of ephedrine upon myasthenia gravis. Recorded in 1930."(3) Dr. Edgeworth noticed the first symptoms of myasthenia gravis in 1918 while she was employed as a chemist. Over the following years her symptoms slowly worsened until the winter of 1925 when she was hospitalized for the first time and a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis was confirmed. Over the following year she consulted with various researchers and volunteered herself as a subject for experimental treatment. Over the following three years she became increasingly worse until she was "totally helpless, had constant diplopia, was unable to chew, and had difficulty in talking, swallowing and breathing." "In the summer of 1929, while taking (for an entirely different purpose) tablets containing 1/8 grain (0.008 gm) ephedrine and 1 1/2 grain (0.1 gm.) amidopyrine, I noted a surprising improvement." Over the following years Dr. Edgeworth collaborated with researchers in a trial and error testing of ephedrine which showed conclusively that ephedrine was effective in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.(8) Her first report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (J.A.M.A.). (9)

alice

You know, I looked up mercury poisoning, when I recently had my root canal. I felt so sick after that mercury filling was drilled out on the first visit to the dentist. There were 2 days actually I could not sit up! I was so weak...etc. My doctor was concerned and also noticed in my last blood tests, which were done during this time of the dental process that my c-reactive protein went from 1.0 to 1.5!

I searched and found a site run by a woman who had all her fillings removed at once. Then she provided a picture of herself, and her face showed severe ptosis of one eye and drooping muscles on her face. This is an alarming site, just to warn you.
here is the link:
http://www.mercurypoisoned.com/symptoms.html

My dentist has an assistant who uses a suction device to remove it all from your mouth. But from what I read, the vapors you inhale from the drilling are enough to cause serious problems.

But I am concerned about this problem myself. Since I have not had the "weakness" of my back muscles since, my doctor thinks I have excreted it.

I think we all are exposed to nasty things in our environment, toxins, metals, and infectious organisms. Vaccines in my opinion are sources of nasty stuff. The flu vaccines have 25mcg of mercury per injection from multidose vials. You can find that on rxlist.com ..the ingredients!

Thanks for the link! I knew that the amalgam fillings were poisonous but not like this. I recommend further reading on this link, including this page,http://www.mercurypoisoned.com/linda_brocato.html

My MG symptoms started a few weeks after having old fillings (three I think) taken out and replaced NOT with mercury stuff but with the ceramic-like white fillings (I don't know what it is called just now). Never again will I get mercury put in my body!

I just went to the mirror and counted 4 remaining amalgam fillings in my mouth. I want them out! I imagine that the biggest risk to health is when they are removed, but how big is the risk of living with them in your mouth? Why don't we wear some kind of nose mask while having these fillings drilled on to minimize breathing the dust?

Remembering my past experiences with dentistry work, I do believe that I always had some reaction for about 1 month after having a new amalgam filling-headaches & face weakness, even as a kid. Mercury poisoning?

No more mercury for me or my family! No mercury vaccines or fillings!

Where I live, there are doctors who will chelate you if you have all the fillings removed at once.
This is the drug used:
http://www.rxlist.com/chemet-drug.htm

From what I have seen, most people do excrete the mercury, but also it can be stored in fat, so if you suddenly lose alot of weight it might be released AGAIN!

I only have 6 teeth left myself with amalgams.

I find this very interesting too:
http://stanford.wellsphere.com/denta...illings/833866

Don't brush too hard!