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Case Study: Autoimmune Disease and Chemical Sensitivity

by M.M. Van Benschoten, O.M.D., L.Ac.

Mr. A developed pemphigus, an autoimmune disorder characterized by blisters, vesicles, and bullae of the skin and mucous membranes. The onset of the symptoms followed immediately after two days exposure to solvents in the form of lacquer based paints. The medical literature associates the disease process with exposure to pesticides, chemicals, metal vapors, and ultraviolet light.1,2,3,4,5 Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies pemphigus as a syndrome where Heart fire and Spleen damp generate Kidney and Spleen deficiency with damp turbidity and toxins. Externally, wind-heat toxins obstruct the skin and flesh.

According to our clinical experience, exposure to environmental toxins via inhalation damages Lung yin, giving rise to Heart fire. When Lung yin is injured, Kidney yin also suffers, allowing Heart fire to generate inflammatory lesions. Immune responses in pemphigus include excessive activity of interferon gamma, interleukins5,6,8,10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.6,7,8,9,10

Dan Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae) and Ku Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) reduce interferon gamma; Jiang Huang (Rhizoma Curcumae Longae) reduces interleukin6,8 and TNF-alpha. Tu Fu Ling (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae) and Fen Bi Xie (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae) inhibit interleukin 1-beta and TNF-alpha. Yin tonics, Tian Men Dong (Radix Asparagi), Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi) and Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), protect against the damaging effects of formaldehyde, a common airborne environmental toxin.11 Other solvent and petrochemical exposures including jet fuel, paints, and cleaning solutions can be addressed with yin tonics that benefit the Lungs, and immunosuppressive herbs that reduce the inflammatory response.

Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis), Fu Ling (Poria), and cooked Shu Di Huang (Cooked Rehmannia) can reduce the damp toxins and inhibit TNF-alpha, assisting the resorption of fluids and down-regulating inflammation. Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) and Shu Di Huang (Cooked Rehmannia) also help with the clearance of circulating immune complexes which can accumulate in target tissues causing damage. The prescription Shen Qi Zhi Mu Tang Jia Jian includes many of these components, and can be modified to address the immunological origin of the disease.12

About the Author:

Matt Van Benschoten, O.M.D., L.Ac.

Dr. Van Benschoten is a graduate of the California Acupuncture College of Los Angeles, with 28 years of clinical, research, and teaching experience in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and medical Qi Gong. He is the author of more than fifty papers on acupoint diagnostic methods, chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS, autoimmune disease, breast cancer, mercury toxicity, and indoor mold exposure. His clinical practice focuses on multi-drug resistant infections, immune dysfunction, and environmental illness.

To learn more about autoimmune disorders and multiple chemical sensitivities, Dr. Van Benschoten is speaking on the following topic for Lotus Institute. All classes are approved for 8 CEUs/PDAs by the California Acupuncture Board, Illinois Acupuncture Board, and NCCAOM.

Class by the Author:

Autoimmune Disorders, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities & Chinese Medicine

12/5/09 Los Angeles, CA

REFERENCES

1Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007 May;32(3):256-60. Epub 2007 Mar 13. Pemphigus and associated environmental factors: a case-control study. Valikhani M, Kavusi S, Chams-Davatchi C, Daneshpazhooh M, Barzegari M, Ghiasi M, Abedini R. Pemphigus Researh Center, Razi Hospital,
2Isr Med Assoc J. 2003 Jun;5(6):410-2.Pemphigus in Israel--an epidemiologic analysis of cases in search of risk factors.Wohl Y, Brenner S. Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
3Int J Dermatol. 2001 Sep;40(9):562-9.Pemphigus vulgaris: environmental factors. Occupational, behavioral, medical, and qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Brenner S, TurE, Shapiro J, Ruocco V, D'Avino M, Ruocco E, Tsankov N, Vassileva S, Drenovska K, Brezoev P, Barnadas MA, Gonzalez MJ, Anhalt G, Nousari H, Ramos-e-Silva M, Pinto KT, Miranda MF. Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Elias Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. derma@tasmc.health.gov.il
4Eur J Dermatol. 2000 Dec;10(8):614-6. Pemphigus vulgaris in association with silicosis. Haustein UF. University of Leipzig, Department of Dermatology, Liebigstr. 21, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. ufh@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
5Acta Derm Venereol. 1986;66(2):170-2. Skin lesions as a sign of subacute pentachlorophenol intoxication.Lambert J, Schepens P, Janssens J, Dockx P.
6Isr Med Assoc J. 2008 Jun;10(6):424-7. In vitro interferon-gamma release test in patients with drug-induced pemphigus. Goldberg I, Shirazi I, Brenner S. Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
7Mediators Inflamm. 2008;2008:875394. Serum concentration of interleukin-6 is increased both in active and remission stages of pemphigus vulgaris.Narbutt J, Lukamowicz J, Bogaczewicz J, Sysa-Jedrzejowska A, Torzecka JD, Lesiak A. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Lodz, 94-017 Lodz, Poland. joanna.narbutt@onet.pl
8Cytokine. 2008 Mar;41(3):315-21. Cytokine profiles in pemphigus vulgaris patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulins as compared to conventional immunosuppressive therapy.Keskin DB, Stern JN, Fridkis-Hareli M, Razzaque Ahmed A. Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA, USA.
9Int J Dermatol. 2008 Jan;47(1):61-3. A mixed immunoblistering disorder exhibiting features of bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus foliaceus associated with Spirulina algae intake.Kraigher O, Wohl Y, Gat A, Brenner S. Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
10Br J Dermatol. 2007 Mar;156(3):454-9. Serum chemokine profile in patients with bullous pemphigoid. Nakashima H, Fujimoto M, Asashima N, Watanabe R, Kuwano Y, Yazawa N, Maruyama N, Okochi H, Kumanogoh A, Tamaki K. Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
11J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Feb;84(2-3):125-9. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root in rodents. Nwafor PA, Okwuasaba FK. Department of Pharmacology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria. nwaforp@unimaid.edu.ng
12Dermatology in Traditional Chinese Medicine pg 355, Xu Yihou, Donica Publishing 2004


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