| 7 Simple Tips for Dry Eyes and Mouth |
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Jacob Teitelbaum MD is Medical Director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers
(www.fibroandfatigue.com). Senior author of the landmark studies "Effective Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia -- a Placebo-controlled Study" & "Effective Treatment of CFS & Fibromyalgia with D-Ribose". Author of the best-selling book "From Fatigued to Fantastic!"(3rd ed-Penguin/Avery Oct 4, 2007) , "Three Steps to Happiness! Healing through Joy", and "Pain Free 1-2-3- A Proven Program to Get YOU Pain Free!" (McGraw Hill, 2006). He does numerous media appearances, including CNN and FOX National News and is a frequent guest on Oprah and Friends with Dr. Oz.. He lives in Kona, Hawaii. Visit his web site at www.Vitality101.com
You can benefit from Dr. Teitelbaum's wisdom and experience by visiting us at The Environmental Illness Resource regularly to read articles from his latest newsletter!
Monday, December 19th, 2011:
Have you ever suffered from dry eyes and mouth? Dry eyes and mouth are also very common in CFS and fibromyalgia, and fortunately in most cases this is not associated with Sjogren's (or damage that may have somehow occurred to the tear glands or salivary glands). It therefore often can be resolved by following the SHINE protocol. Whether your dry eyes and mouth are just from fibromyalgia, or whether you have Sjogren's or other causes, here are 7 simple tips that can be very helpful.
Three Key Oils Just like oil lubricates your car, dietary oils can help lubricate your body. Three key oils are especially important for dry eyes. 1. Fish oil. Fish oil is rich in the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, which studies show help with dry eyes.3 Eat a portion of oil-rich salmon or tuna daily. Or supplement your diet with VECTOMEGA (by EuroPharma). It supplies all the essential fatty acids you need in 1 to 2 tablets a day (instead of the 8 to 16 tablets needed with most other fish oils). 2. Sea Buckthorn Oil. The berries from this cold weather shrub contain a special essential fatty acid called Omega 7 (along with other helpful oils). Studies show that this little-known but remarkable nutrient is very effective at improving lubrication throughout the body — helping remedy dry eyes, dry mouth, and even vaginal dryness, while providing the bowel with protection from the dryness of Sjogren's.4,5,6 I've found that the product Hydra-7 (by EuroPharma) is an excellent source of Sea Buckthorn Oil (take 2,000 mg a day). For those with significant dry eye and mouth problems, this special oil can be a Godsend! A fringe benefit? Stomach, bladder and vaginal symptoms can also improve. Give it 6 weeks to work and 4 months to see the optimal effect (though the benefits often start within a week) 3. Evening Primrose oil (or borage oil). In one study, combining this oil with vitamin B6 and vitamin C improved dry eye symptoms in 76% of study participants7 (recommended dose 3,000 mg a day). If cost is an issue, you can substitute borage oil, which is less expensive. This oil also helps PMS as well, but is not anywhere near as important as the other two oils for dry mouth and eyes. Other Nutrients 4. High-dose B-complex vitamin (50 mg) and magnesium (200 mg). You'll find those dosages in the Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder (by Enzymatic Therapy). Drops, Drink and Gum 5. Suck on sugar-free lemon drops or drink sugar-free lemonade (sweetened with Stevia, Truvia or PureVia). The lemon in drops or lemonade stimulates saliva production. But notice I said sugar-free! Saliva protects against cavities, so sucking on cavity-causing sweets when you have dry mouth is a good way to wind up at your dentist's with a mouthful of holey teeth! 6. Chew sugar-free chewing gum. This actually helps protect against cavities. An additional bonus is that it also stimulates bowel function (peristalsis), which is decreased in Sjogren's, causing bowel problems of all kinds. In fact, studies show that simply chewing gum immediately after waking up from abdominal surgery (which puts the bowels to sleep) results in restoring bowel function more quickly, sometimes shaving several days off the average hospital stay.8 7. Watch your fibromyalgia medications. Many of the medications used to treat fibromyalgia (especially Elavil/amitriptyline) can also worsen the dry mouth commonly seen in FMS (see Treating Dry Eyes and Dry Mouth for a more detailed list).
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies a part of the body as "foreign" and attacks it. In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, the joints are attacked. In multiple sclerosis, it's the outer coverings of nerves. And in Sjogren's Syndrome — which affects more than 4 million Americans, 9 out of 10 of them women — the immune system attacks the tear glands and salivary glands. The result? Dry eyes and mouth — which doctors also call "Sicca Syndrome," whether it occurs because of Sjogren's, fibromyalgia, or everyday life. But Sjogren's can also cause widespread dryness in the body, producing symptoms like difficulty breathing, digestive upset, and poor bowel function. The Connection to Fibromyalgia For those with autoimmune illnesses such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's, it's critical to understand that it's common for any of these to cause a secondary fibromyalgia. If all the symptoms are blamed on Sjogren's, then the fibromyalgia, which is very treatable,1,2 may be missed. For more information on treating dry eyes and mouth, see Treating Dry Eyes and Dry Mouth.
Used with permission from Dr Jacob Teitelbaum's free newsletters-available at www.Vitality101.com
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