The Healthy Way

Monday, May 14, 2007

Find cause of iron overload

Q: Dear Elena: My wife suffers from iron overload and possibly from fibromyalgia. She suffers from arthritis as well.

From our research, we firmly believe that the iron overload was the cause of arthritis and fibromyalgia.

We both wish to bring to your attention the fact that iron overload is one of the most misdiagnosed ailments. It can lead to death. There are very few GPs, and even specialists, who have the required knowledge to detect the problem.

Blood tests are a must and should be done by a hematologist (not by a standard lab). In your field of natural medicine, are there any products which you could recommend that would alleviate the pain and suffering that my wife goes through every day?

Thank you.

Signed, N.R.

A: Dear N.R.: It is possible that your wife's symptoms are caused or exacerbated by iron overload. However, it could be also caused by other imbalances. Fibromyalgia and arthritis can be due to multiple other causes on top of having excessive iron in the body. I would have to see her full blood work and possibly an MRI report to establish the connection.

Iron overload is a serious problem that can cause organ failure along with joint pain and the likes.

Iron overload disease may be associated with liver cancer, other liver disease, diabetes, bradyarrhythmias, and arthritis.

It stems from the fact that deposits in the joints and soft tissues cause inflammatory disease thus causing pain inflammation and changes on a cellular level.

A natural approach would be to use herbal or homeopathic anti-inflammatory substances such as Wobenzyme, Curcumin and Bromelain preparations as well as drainage remedies to clear the inflamed tissues.

Silymarin is widely used to prevent and correct liver cell damage due to iron deposits in the liver. Silymarin and its active constituent, silybin, have been reported to work as antioxidants scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Studies also suggest that they protect against tumour promoters and slow calcium metabolism.

The old fashion way of getting rid of excess iron is to give blood. It is a better alternative to chemical iron-chelators and has few side-effects.

It is important to establish the cause of your wife's iron over-load as it is usually seen more in men than in women, unless she is suffering from a blood disorder such as thalassemia.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online here