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Naturopathic Medicine
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Herbs, Vitamins, Nutrition
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Raynaud’s Syndrome, Raynaud’s Disease
Description
Raynaud’s disease is a bilateral vasospastic disorder manifested by intermittent attacks of extreme pallor, then cyanosis of the fingers (rarely, of the toes) brought on by cold exposure. It may accompany emotional upset. With warming, vasodilatation and intense redness develops, followed by swelling, throbbing, paresthesias. Raynaud’s disease resolves with warming.
Causes
Raynaud’s phenomenon may be idiopathic (Raynaud’s disease) or secondary to other conditions, including: connective tissue disorders (e.g., scleroderma, RA, SLE), obstructive arterial diseases (arteriosclerosis obliterans, thromboangiitis obliterans, thoracic outlet syndrome), neurogenic lesions, drug intoxications (ergot and methysergide), dysproteinemias, myxedema, primary pulmonary hypertension, and trauma. Idiopathic Raynaud’s disease is most common in young women (60 to 90% of reported cases).
Raynaud’s syndrome may involve increased sensitivity of alpha-2-adrenergic receptors in digital vessels in the primary type. Serotonin receptors (5-HT2 type) may be involved in secondary Raynaud’s. Platelet and blood viscosity abnormalities are also implicated. Current research focuses on prostaglandin metabolism, microcirculation, and the role of the endothelial cells. The clinical association between Raynaud’s phenomenon and migraine headaches, variant angina, and pulmonary hypertension suggests that there is a common mechanism for vasospasm. The threshold for the vasospastic response in Raynaud’s disease is lowered by anything that activates sympathetic outflow or releases catecholamines (e.g., emotion) in addition to local cold.
Risk factors include smoking and an existing autoimmune or connective tissue disorder.
Conventional Labs
Lab tests are used to screen for underlying secondary causes (CBC, ESR, RA, ANA, immunoelectrophoresis, esophageal motility studies). A cold challenge test will elicit characteristic color changes in hands. Nailfold capillaroscopy is used to detect enlarged, irregular capillary loops of other connective tissue diseases (primary Raynaud's should show normal vasculature).
The next step, after you have been diagnosed with a disease, is to find out what is the specific cause, and then choose supplements that address that cause, as well as supplements that alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Finding and addressing the cause of disease is the step that most holistic practitioners (and all health food store clerks) skip -- and it is absolutely essential!
Finding the Cause of Disease with Specialty Alternative Medical Lab Tests
There are many specialty alternative medical lab tests that are designed specifically to find the cause of disease. These tests are not taught in medical school, and they are usually not reimbursed by insurance companies (because conventional lab tests are only used to diagnose disease). As such, most medical doctors don't know anything about them!
Figuring out which specialty lab test you need is what naturopathic medical doctors are taught. My book, Finding the Cause of Disease with Specialty Alternative Medical Lab Tests was written to help naturopathic medical students learn this art. The PDF Ebook is available for $9.99 and includes descriptions of these lab tests and which specific lab tests are recommended for each disease.
If your disease is associated with imbalances in hormones, you might want to review the Salivary Hormone Panels section in my store. The lab test kits are mailed to your home and include an prepaid envelope to mail them back to the lab company for analysis. I have entered a few salivary hormone lab tests in the Store.
There are many more alternative medical lab tests available, and I will be adding them to the store soon. Please chack back regularly!
I recommend that you make an informed choice, and the goal of this web site is to provide you with the information to make a wise choice when it comes to your health and wellness.
As you can see, I don't sell any vitamins on this web site. There are thousands of vitamin stores that will sell you whatever vitamin you want, and many of them offer discounts.
If, for whatever reason, you decide that you aren't interested, I'd like to recommend two other web sites that have high-quality vitamins and information.
Life Extension Foundation and Vitamin Research Products
Also, if you are interested in some high-quality basic nutritional supplements, I recommend visiting the Store You will find my recommendations for a multiple, tasty chewable fiber wafers, high-potency probiotics, and fish oils.
Good luck in your journey towards health and wellness!!
© 2002