Thursday 24 July 2014

NSD Book Chapter

I have been working on this book chapter for Andrea that outlines my story, the diet I follow, a few recipes, and some other health info. Let me know if it helps you, or if you have any suggestions.

Here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Vu4xEjJ3eknqi0-An7wgMtLdiOYi5SoL6xuo5X1L64/edit?usp=sharing


Homemade Eczema Cream (Vit B3 & Coconut oil)


Homemade Vit B3 Cream

This topical cream worked well for my eczema/dermatitis, but the cream I made is very strong and not suitable for sensitive parts of the body as it will sting. This is how I made it ..
Ingredients:
  • 1 part Glycerin (Glycerol) - can get this in any chemist. This helps dissolve the B3 and increases absorption 
  • 2 parts B3, crushed in a mortar & pestel - I used the niacinamide form of B3
  • 2 parts Virgin Coconut Oil, melted
Mix these together and place in a small glass or ceramic container. I suggest making another cream with a reduced concentration of B3 for sensitive areas (genitals, anus, face). It isn't quite as potent as the prednisolone creams but it does the job, and I prefer to use a vitamin rather than an immune suppressant. Always start by using a small amount on a small area of the body first as a test ..

Abstracts, Quotes, Etc

The quotes below are why I tried B3 (nicotinamide). Oh and found some other people were using coconut oil too..



This one shows that B3 can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotinamide
Skin conditions
Nicotinamide has demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions that may be of benefit to patients with inflammatory skin conditions.[4] These conditions include acne vulgaris, and the compound can suppress antigen-induced, lymphocytic transformation and inhibit 3',5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase. Nicotinamide has demonstrated the ability to block the inflammatory actions of iodides known to precipitate or exacerbate inflammatory acne.
NicAzel and Nicomide are the names of oral acne medications that include nicotinamide as their most predominant ingredient, based on this area of research. Nicotinamide is also found as part of a new adjunct supplement combination called, AzerizinTM. According to the makers of Azerizin, this adjunct is part of their prescription dietary supplement product, which they claim helps manage inflammatory skin conditions. Nicotinamide is also used topically as a 4% or 5% gel or cream - as effective as topical 1% clindamycin (8-week double-blind trial) performed at the New York University College of Medicine.[5] Unlike topical Erythromycin or Clindamycin it does not precipitate bacterial resistance in treating inflammatory acne. Nicotinamide acne treatment is also available as Nicotinamide pads and cream.


This shows that B3 can the effectiveness of neutrophil immune cells by up to 1000 times in people who have a silenced/inactive gene
Title: C/EBPe mediates nicotinamide-enhanced clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in mice
The myeloid-specific transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein e (C/EBPe) is a critical mediator of myelopoiesis. Mutation of this gene is responsible for neutrophil-specific granule deficiency in humans, a condition that confers susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infection. We found that C/EBPe-deficient mice are severely affected by infection with S. aureus, and C/EBPe deficiency in neutrophils contributes to the infectious phenotype. Conversely, exposure to the epigenetic modulator nicotinamide (vitamin B3) increased expression of C/EBPe in WT myeloid cells. Further, nicotinamide increased the activity of C/EBPe and select downstream antimicrobial targets, particularly in neutrophils. In a systemic murine infection model as well as in murine and human peripheral blood, nicotinamide enhanced killing of S. aureus by up to 1,000 fold but had no effect when administered to either C/EBPe-deficient mice or mice depleted of neutrophils. Nicotinamide was efficacious in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings. Our findings suggest that C/EBPe is an important target to boost killing of bacteria by the innate immune system.

Also, if you look here there are good reports regarding topical use of coconut oil:


Safety

This safety note is really more targeted at people taking mega doses of Vit B3 orally, but may prove to be relevant if you use very large amounts of B3 Cream all over your body!


http://www.thedermreview.com/niacinamide/
Safety Issues
While niacinamide can be used to treat many different skin conditions, it should not be used by people with liver disease, patients with active ulcers or a history of ulcers, or anyone with gout. Also, if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol, you should abstain from using a niacinamide cream as it may react with the increased levels of alcohol in the body. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not consume more than 35 mg of niacin daily if taking a vitamin or a dietary supplement. Finally, if you use a niacinamide cream for the treatment of acne, dermatologists suggest that you start with a small amount of the cream on your skin so you can take note of any negative skin reactions. If you notice redness or peeling of the skin, you should discontinue use of the niacinamide cream and contact your skin care specialist.




Thursday 10 July 2014

Did Natto bring my immune disorder into remission?

This week I stopped eating Natto to see if my eczema would clear, and unexpectedly my sensitivity to starch returned ! I had a full blown reaction after eating some hummus. Last night I started eating the Natto again and lo and behold my Ankylosing Spondylitis is calming down again. It is now about a tenth of what it was seven hours ago, normally it would take about 36 hours more for it to reduce this much.

So it looks like Natto is helping :D

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Leaky gut soup?

A colleague at work recommended a soup for treating leaky gut. Basically you throw these things together and either slow cook them over a couple of hours, or use a pressure cooker:

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Bones (beef bones)
  • Vegetables
  • Some protein - chicken was suggested
She will get back to me with some more detailed info on this..