What is peripheral neuropathy?

An estimated 20 million people in the United States have some form of peripheral neuropathy, a condition that develops as a result of damage to the peripheral nervous system — the vast communications network that transmits information between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and every other part of the body. (Neuropathy means nerve disease or damage.) Symptoms can range from numbness or tingling, to pricking sensations (paresthesia), or muscle weakness. Areas of the body may become abnormally sensitive leading to an exaggeratedly intense or distorted experience of touch (allodynia). In such cases, pain may occur in response to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain. Severe symptoms may include burning pain (especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. Damage to nerves that supply internal organs may impair digestion, sweating, sexual function, and urination. In the most extreme cases, breathing may become difficult, or organ failure may occur.

Peripheral nerves send sensory information back to the brain and spinal cord, such as a message that the feet are cold. Peripheral nerves also carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles to generate movement. Damage to the peripheral nervous system interferes with these vital connections. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral neuropathy distorts and sometimes interrupts messages between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Peripheral neuropathies can present in a variety of forms and follow different patterns. Symptoms may be experienced over a period of days, weeks, or years. They can be acute or chronic. In acute neuropathies such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system and impairs sending and receiving nerve signals), symptoms appear suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves heal. In chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly and progress slowly. Some people may have periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Many chronic neuropathies worsen over time. Although neuropathy may be painful and potentially debilitating, very few forms are fatal.

In diabetic neuropathy, one of the most common forms of peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage occurs in an ascending pattern. The first nerve fibers to malfunction are the ones that travel the furthest from the brain and the spinal cord. Pain and numbness often are felt symmetrically in both feet followed by a gradual progression up both legs. Later, the fingers, hands, and arms may become affected.

How are the peripheral neuropathies classified?

More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own symptoms and prognosis. In general, peripheral neuropathies are classified according to the type of damage to the nerves. Some forms of neuropathy involve damage to only one nerve and are called mononeuropathies. More frequently however, multiple nerves are affected, called polyneuropathy.

Some peripheral neuropathies are due to damage to the axons (the long, threadlike portion of the nerve cell), while others are due to damage to the myelin sheath, the fatty protein that coats and insulates the axon. Peripheral neuropathies may also be caused by a combination of both axonal damage and demyelination. Electrodiagnostic studies can help healthcare providers determine the type of damage involved.

What are the symptoms of peripheral nerve damage?

Symptoms vary depending on whether motor, sensory, or autonomic nerves are damaged. Motor nerves control voluntary movement of muscles such as those used for walking, grasping things, or talking. Sensory nerves transmit information such as the feeling of a light touch or the pain from a cut. Autonomic nerves control organ activities that are regulated automatically such as breathing, digesting food, and heart and gland functions. Some neuropathies may affect all three types of nerves; others primarily affect one or two types. Doctors may use terms such as predominantly motor neuropathy, predominantly sensory neuropathy, sensory-motor neuropathy, or autonomic neuropathy to describe the types of nerves involved in an individual’s condition.

Motor nerve damage is most commonly associated with muscle weakness. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and fasciculations (uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin), muscle atrophy (severe shrinkage of muscle size), and decreased reflexes.

Sensory nerve damage causes a variety of symptoms because sensory nerves have a broad range of functions. Larger sensory fibers enclosed in myelin register vibration, light touch, and position sense. Damage to large sensory fibers impairs touch, resulting in a general decrease in sensation. Since this is felt most in the hands and feet, people may feel as if they are wearing gloves and stockings even when they are not. This damage to larger sensory fibers may contribute to the loss of reflexes. Loss of position sense often makes people unable to coordinate complex movements like walking or fastening buttons, or to maintain their balance when their eyes are shut.

Smaller sensory fibers without myelin sheaths transmit pain and temperature sensations. Damage to these fibers can interfere with the ability to feel pain or changes in temperature. People may fail to sense that they have been injured from a cut or that a wound is becoming infected. Others may not detect pain that warns of impending heart attack or other acute conditions. Loss of pain sensation is a particularly serious problem for people with diabetes, contributing to the high rate of lower limb amputations among this population.

Neuropathic pain is a common, often difficult to control symptom of sensory nerve damage and can seriously affect emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Often worse at night, neuropathic pain seriously disrupts sleep and adds to the emotional burden of sensory nerve damage. Neuropathic pain can often be associated with an oversensitization of pain receptors in the skin, so that people feel severe pain (allodynia) from stimuli that are normally painless. For example, some may experience pain from bed sheets draped lightly over the body. Over many years, sensory neuropathy may lead to changes in the skin, hair, as well as to joint and bone damage. Unrecognized injuries due to poor sensation contribute to these changes, so it is important for people with neuropathy to inspect numb areas for injury or damage.

Autonomic nerve damage symptoms are diverse since the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves of the peripheral nervous system control nearly every organ in the body. Common symptoms of autonomic nerve damage include an inability to sweat normally, which may lead to heat intolerance; a loss of bladder control; and an inability to control muscles that expand or contract blood vessels to regulate blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure when a person moves suddenly from a seated to a standing position (a condition known as postural or orthostatic hypotension) may result in dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Irregular heartbeats may also occur.

Gastrointestinal symptoms may accompany autonomic neuropathy. Malfunction of nerves controlling intestinal muscle contractions can lead to diarrhea, constipation, or incontinence. Many people also have problems eating or swallowing if autonomic nerves controlling these functions are affected.

What causes peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy may be either inherited or acquired through disease processes or trauma. In many cases, however, a specific cause cannot be identified. Doctors usually refer to neuropathies with no known cause as idiopathic.

Causes of acquired peripheral neuropathy include:

Physical injury (trauma) is the most common cause of acquired nerve injury.

• Injury or sudden trauma, such as from automobile accidents, falls, sports-related activities, and surgical procedures can cause nerves to be partially or completely severed, crushed, compressed, or stretched, sometimes so forcefully that they are partially or completely detached from the spinal cord. Less severe traumas also can cause serious nerve damage. Broken or dislocated bones can exert damaging pressure on neighboring nerves.

• Repetitive stress frequently leads to entrapment neuropathies, a form of compression injury. Cumulative damage can result from repetitive, awkward, and/or forceful activities that require movement of any group of joints for prolonged periods. The resulting irritation may cause ligaments, tendons, and muscles to become inflamed and swollen, constricting the narrow passageways through which some nerves pass. Ulnar neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome are examples of the most common types of neuropathy from trapped or compressed nerves at the elbow or wrist.

Diseases or disorders and their related processes (such as inflammation) can be associated with peripheral neuropathy.

• Metabolic and endocrine disorders impair the body’s ability to transform nutrients into energy and process waste products, and this can lead to nerve damage. Diabetes mellitus, characterized by chronically high blood glucose levels, is a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy in the United States. About 60 percent to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage that can affect sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves and present with varied symptoms. Some metabolic liver diseases also lead to neuropathies as a result of chemical imbalances. Endocrine disorders that lead to hormonal imbalances can disturb normal metabolic processes and cause neuropathies. For example, an underproduction of thyroid hormones slows metabolism, leading to fluid retention and swollen tissues that can exert pressure on peripheral nerves. Overproduction of growth hormone can lead to acromegaly, a condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement of many parts of the skeleton, including the joints. Nerves running through these affected joints often become entrapped, causing pain.

• Small vessel disease can decrease oxygen supply to the peripheral nerves and lead to serious nerve tissue damage. Diabetes frequently leads to impaired blood flow to nerves. Various forms of vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) frequently cause vessel walls to harden, thicken, and develop scar tissue, decreasing their diameter and impeding blood flow. Vasculitis is an example of nerve damage called mononeuritis multiplex or multifocal mononeuropathy, in which isolated nerves in two or more areas are damaged.

• Autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, can lead to nerve damage. Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis are among the autoimmune diseases that can be associated with peripheral neuropathy. When the tissue surrounding nerves becomes inflamed, the inflammation can spread directly into nerve fibers. Over time, these chronic autoimmune conditions can destroy joints, organs, and connective tissues, making nerve fibers more vulnerable to compression injuries and entrapment. Chronic conditions may alternate between remission and relapse. Acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, better known as Guillain- Barré syndrome, can damage motor, sensory, and autonomic nerve fibers. Most people recover from this autoimmune syndrome although severe cases can be life threatening. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) usually damages sensory and motor nerves, leaving autonomic nerves intact. Multifocal motor neuropathy is a form of inflammatory neuropathy that affects motor nerves exclusively. It may be chronic or acute.

• Kidney disorders may cause neuropathies. Kidney dysfunction can lead to abnormally high amounts of toxic substances in the blood that can damage nerve tissue. A majority of indviduals who require dialysis because of kidney failure develop polyneuropathy.

• Cancers can infiltrate nerve fibers or exert damaging compression forces on nerve fibers. Tumors also can arise directly from nerve tissue cells. Paraneoplastic syndromes, a group of rare degenerative disorders that are triggered by a person’s immune system response to a cancerous tumor, also can indirectly cause widespread nerve damage. Toxicity from the chemotherapeutic agents and radiation used to treat cancer also can cause peripheral neuropathy. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of people who undergo chemotherapy develop peripheral neuropathy and it is a leading reason why people with cancer stop chemotherapy early. The severity of chemotherapyinduced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) varies from person to person. In some cases people may be able to ease their symptoms by lowering their chemotherapy dose or by stopping it temporarily. In others, CIPN may persist long after stopping chemotherapy.

• Neuromas are benign tumors that are caused by an overgrowth of nerve tissue that develops after a penetrating injury that severs nerve fibers. Neuromas are often associated with intense pain and sometimes they engulf neighboring nerves, leading to further damage and even greater pain. Neuroma formation can be one element of a more widespread neuropathic pain condition called complex regional pain syndrome or reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, which can be caused by traumatic injuries or surgical trauma. Widespread polyneuropathy is often associated with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder in which multiple benign tumors grow on nerve tissue.

• Infections can cause peripheral neuropathy. Viruses and bacteria that can attack nerve tissues include herpes varicellazoster (shingles), Epstein-Barr virus, West Nile virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex members of the large family of human herpes viruses. These viruses can severely damage sensory nerves, causing attacks of sharp, lightning-like pain. Postherpetic neuralgia is long-lasting, particularly intense pain that often occurs after an attack of shingles. Lyme disease, diphtheria, and leprosy are bacterial diseases characterized by extensive peripheral nerve damage. Diphtheria and leprosy are rare in the United States, but the incidence of Lyme disease is on the rise. 

 
The tick-borne infection can involve a wide range of neuropathic disorders, including a rapidly developing, painful polyneuropathy, often within a few weeks of being infected. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and is associated with a severe motor neuropathy. The inflammation triggered by infection sometimes results in various forms of inflammatory neuropathies that develop quickly or slowly.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS is associated with several different forms of neuropathy, depending on the nerves affected and the specific stage of active immunodeficiency disease. A rapidly progressive, painful polyneuropathy affecting the feet and hands can be the first clinically apparent symptom of HIV infection. An estimated 30 percent of people who are HIV positive develop peripheral neuropathy; 20 percent develop distal neuropathic pain.

Exposure to toxins may damage nerves and cause peripheral neuropathy.

• Medication toxicity can be caused by many agents in addition to those for fighting cancer. Other agents that commonly cause peripheral neuropathy as a side effect include those used to fight infection such as antiretroviral agents for treating HIV. In addition, anticonvulsant agents and some heart and blood pressure medications can commonly cause peripheral neuropathy. In most cases, the neuropathy resolves when these medications are discontinued or dosages are adjusted.

• Environmental or industrial toxins such as lead, mercury, and arsenic can cause peripheral neuropathy. In addition, certain insecticides and solvents have also been known to cause neuropathies.
• Heavy alcohol consumption is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Damage to the nerves associated with long-term alcohol abuse may not be reversible when a person stops drinking alcohol, however, doing so may provide some symptom relief and prevent further damage. Chronic alcohol abuse also frequently leads to nutritional deficiencies (including B12, thiamine, and folate) that contribute to the development of peripheral neuropathy.

Genetic mutations can either be inherited or arise de novo, meaning they are completely new mutations to an individual and are not passed along by either parent. Some genetic mutations lead to mild neuropathies with symptoms that begin in early adulthood and result in little, if any, significant impairment. More severe hereditary neuropathies often appear in infancy or childhood.

Advances in genetic testing in the last decade have led to significant strides in the ability to identify the genetic causes underlying peripheral neuropathies. For example, several genes have been found to play a role in different types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a group of disorders that are among the most common forms of inherited peripheral neuropathies. These neuropathies result from mutations in genes responsible for maintaining the health of the myelin sheath as well as the axons themselves. Key characteristics of Charcot- Marie-Tooth disorders include extreme weakening and wasting of muscles in the lower legs and feet, gait abnormalities, loss of tendon reflexes, and numbness in the lower limbs.

How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are highly variable. A thorough neurological examination is required to sort out the cause of the symptoms and involves taking an extensive medical history (covering symptoms, work environment, social habits, exposure to toxins, alcohol use, risk of HIV or other infectious diseases, and family history of neurological diseases). In addition, tests are usually performed to identify the cause of the neuropathy as well as the extent and type of nerve damage.

A physical examination and various tests may reveal the presence of a systemic disease causing the nerve damage. Tests of muscle strength, as well as evidence of cramps or fasciculations, indicate motor fiber involvement. Evaluation of the person’s ability to sense vibration, light touch, body position, temperature, and pain reveals any sensory nerve damage and may indicate whether small or large sensory nerve fibers are affected.

Blood tests can detect diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, liver or kidney dysfunction, other metabolic disorders, and signs of abnormal immune system activity. An examination of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord can reveal abnormal antibodies associated with some immune-mediated neuropathies. More specialized tests may reveal other blood or cardiovascular diseases, connective tissue disorders, or malignancies. Genetic tests are becoming available for a number of the inherited neuropathies.

Based on the results of the neurological exam, physical exam, patient history, and any previous screening or testing, the following additional tests may be ordered to help determine the nature and extent of the neuropathy:

• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests can measure the degree of damage in large nerve fibers, revealing whether symptoms are caused by degeneration of the myelin sheath or the axon. The myelin covering is responsible for the very fast speed of nerve conduction. During this test, a probe electrically stimulates a nerve fiber, which responds by generating its own electrical impulse. An electrode placed further along the nerve’s pathway measures the speed of impulse transmission along the axon. Slow transmission rates and impulse blockage tend to indicate damage to the myelin sheath, while a reduction in the strength of impulses at normal speeds is a sign of axonal degeneration.
• Electromyography (EMG) involves inserting a fine needle into a muscle to record electrical activity when muscles are at rest and when they contract. EMG tests detect abnormal electrical activity in motor neuropathy and can help differentiate between muscle and nerve disorders.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show muscle quality and size, detect fatty replacement of muscle tissue, and can help rule out tumors, herniated discs, or other abnormalities that may be causing the neuropathy.

• Nerve biopsy involves removing and examining a sample of nerve tissue, most often from the lower leg. Although this test can provide valuable information about the degree of nerve damage, it is an invasive procedure that is difficult to perform and may itself cause neuropathic side effects.

• Skin biopsy is a test in which doctors remove a thin skin sample and examine nerve fiber endings. This test offers some unique advantages over NCV tests and nerve biopsy. Unlike NCV, it can reveal damage present in smaller fibers; in contrast to conventional nerve biopsy, skin biopsy is less invasive, has fewer side effects, and is easier to perform.

What treatments are available?

Address underlying conditions

The first step in treating peripheral neuropathy is to address any contributing causes such as infection, toxin exposure, medication-related toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, or compression that can lead to neuropathy. Peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate axons, as long as the nerve cell itself has not died, which may lead to functional recovery over time. Correcting an underlying condition often can result in the neuropathy resolving on its own as the nerves recover or regenerate.

The adoption of healthy lifestyle habits such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, exercising, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption can reduce the effects of peripheral neuropathy. Exercise can reduce cramps, improve muscle strength, and prevent muscle wasting. Various dietary strategies can improve gastrointestinal symptoms. Timely treatment of injuries can help prevent permanent damage. Smoking cessation is particularly important because smoking constricts the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the peripheral nerves and can worsen neuropathic symptoms. Self-care skills such as meticulous foot care and careful wound treatment in people with diabetes and others who have an impaired ability to feel pain can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Such changes often create conditions that encourage nerve regeneration.

Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments. Strict control of blood glucose levels has been shown to reduce neuropathic symptoms and help people with diabetic neuropathy avoid further nerve damage.

Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions leading to neuropathy can be controlled in several ways. Immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisone, cyclosporine, or azathioprine may be beneficial. Plasmapheresis — a procedure in which blood is removed, cleansed of immune system cells and antibodies, and then returned to the body — can help reduce inflammation or suppress immune system activity. Large intravenously administered doses of immunoglobulins (antibodies that alter the immune system, and agents such as rituximab that target specific inflammatory cells) also can suppress abnormal immune system activity.

Symptom Management

Neuropathic pain, or pain caused by the injury to a nerve or nerves, is often difficult to control. Mild pain may sometimes be alleviated by over-the-counter analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). More chronic and discomforting pain may need to be addressed through the care of a physician. Medications that are used for chronic neuropathic pain fall under several classes of drugs: antidepressants, anticonvulsant medications, antiarrythmic medications, and narcotic agents. The antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications modulate pain through their mechanism of action on the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, or brain and tend to be the most effective types of medications to control neuropathic pain. Antidepressant medications include tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline or newer serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine hydrochloride or venlafaxine. Anticonvulsant medications that are frequently used include gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate, and carbamazepine, although other medications used for treating epilepsy may also be useful. Mexiletine is an anti-arrythmic medication that may be used for treatment of chronic painful neuropathies.

For pain that does not respond to the previously described medications, the addition of narcotic agents may be considered. Because the use of prescription obtained pain relievers that contain opioids can lead to dependence and addiction, their use is recommended only after other means of controlling the pain have failed. One of the newest narcotic medications approved for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy is tapentadol, a drug with both opioid activity and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibition activity of an antidepressant.

Topically administered medications are another option for neuropathic pain. Two agents are topical lidocaine, an anesthetic agent, and capsaicin, a substance found in hot peppers that modifies peripheral pain receptors. Topical agents are generally most appropriate for localized chronic pain such as herpes zoster neuralgia (shingles) pain. Their usefulness for treating diffuse chronic diabetic neuropathy is more limited.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive intervention used for pain relief in a range of conditions, and a number of studies have described its use for neuropathic pain. The therapy involves attaching electrodes to the skin at the site of pain or near associated nerves and then administering a gentle electrical current. Although data from controlled clinical trials are not available to broadly establish its efficacy for peripheral neuropathies, TENS has been shown in some studies to improve peripheral neuropathy symptoms associated with diabetes.

Other complementary approaches may provide additional support and pain relief. For example, mechanical aids such as hand or foot braces can help reduce pain and physical disability by compensating for muscle weakness or alleviating nerve compression. Orthopedic shoes can improve gait disturbances and help prevent foot injuries in people with a loss of pain sensation. Acupuncture, massage, and herbal medications also are considered in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Surgical intervention can be considered for some types of neuropathies. Injuries to a single nerve caused by focal compression such as at the carpal tunnel of the wrist, or other entrapment neuropathies, may respond well to surgery that releases the nerve from the tissues compressing it. Some surgical procedures reduce pain by destroying the nerve; this approach is appropriate only for pain caused by a single nerve and when other forms of treatment have failed to provide relief. Peripheral neuropathies that involve more diffuse nerve damage, such as diabetic neuropathy, are not amenable to surgical intervention.

What research is being done?

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world.

NINDS-funded research on neuropathy ranges from clinical studies of the genetics and natural history of hereditary neuropathies to basic science investigations of the biological mechanisms responsible for chronic neuropathic pain. Other efforts are focused on understanding how immune system dysfunction contributes to peripheral nerve damage. Together, these diverse research areas will advance the development of new therapeutic and preventive strategies for peripheral neuropathies.

Specific genetic mutations have been identified for some of the known hereditary neuropathies. NINDS therefore supports studies to identify other genetic defects that may play roles in causing or modifying the course of disease. The Inherited Neuropathies Consortium, focused on Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies, seeks to better characterize the natural history of several different forms and to identify genes that modify clinical features in these disorders. Better knowledge of genetic causes may help identify people who are at high risk for developing peripheral neuropathy before symptoms appear. Understanding the role of genetic mutations may also lead to the development of gene therapies that prevent or reduce cumulative nerve damage. In addition, advances from genetics research inform studies to understand disease mechanisms. For example, scientists are using animal models to study how inflammation and nerve damage result from mutations in the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) gene, the cause of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in some people.

Several NINDS-funded studies aim to determine why nerve axons degenerate in different types of peripheral neuropathies. Rapid communication between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system depends on myelination, a process through which special cells called Schwann cells create an insulating sheath around axons. Research has shown that Schwann cells play a critical role in the regeneration of nerve cell axons in the peripheral nervous system. By better understanding myelination and Schwann cell function, researchers hope to find targets for new therapies to treat or prevent nerve damage associated with neuropathy.
One promising area of research focuses on a class of molecules called neurotrophic factors. These substances, produced naturally by the body, protect neurons from injury and enhance their survival. Neurotrophic factors also help maintain normal function in mature nerve cells, and some stimulate axon regeneration. Several NINDS-supported studies seek to learn more about the effects of these powerful chemicals on the peripheral nervous system.

Another area of research aims to better understand inflammatory peripheral neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), in which the body’s immune system attacks peripheral nerves, damaging myelin and impairing signal conduction along affected nerves. NINDS-funded researchers are investigating the mechanisms by which the body’s immune system stops recognizing peripheral nerves as “self” and starts attacking them. GBS is usually preceded by a microbial infection, some as common as food poisoning or the flu, and researchers hypothesize that antibodies generated by the immune system to fight bacteria also attack nervous system proteins. Studies to test this hypothesis may lead to treatments that prevent these antibodies from damaging nerves. As a different strategy, researchers are studying the blood-nerve barrier in inflammatory nervous system disorders and developing ways to reduce the movement of immune cells from the bloodstream into nerve tissue, which may reduce inflammation, demyelination and nerve injury.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which uses a coil either held above or placed on the scalp that delivers electromagnetic pulses to activate electrical currents in general or specific parts of the brain, has shown some analgesic effect in treating various pain conditions. Current studies are examining the effectiveness of TMS in treating peripheral and chronic neuropathies.

In addition to efforts to treat or prevent underlying nerve damage, other NINDSsupported studies are informing new strategies for relieving neuropathic pain. Researchers are investigating the pathways that carry pain signals to the brain and are working to identify substances that will block this signaling.
 

Autoimmune Disease

Can the lemon water help autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or vasculitis?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its tissues, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and damage. Lupus symptoms vary, and early lupus symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, fever, and a lupus rash, especially after being in the sun. Many experts believe endometriosis is caused by an autoimmune disorder.

 9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women. This tells me that there is a definite connection between the causes of endometriosis and the causes of lupus, especially in regard to the environmental factors that affect women, such as the use of cosmetics and other personal care products.

According to Lupus.org, “Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. Inflammation is a condition in which tissue is damaged by blood cells entering the tissues. In inflammatory diseases, these cells are mostly white blood cells. White blood cells circulate and serve as our major defense against infection. Ordinarily, white blood cells destroy bacteria and viruses. However, they can also damage normal tissue if they invade it.”

I encourage you to read further down the page on that Lupus site, where you will see an explanation on how lupus might be caused by an immune or "allergic" reaction in the vessel walls. The substances which cause allergic reaction are called antigens. The antigens stimulate the production of antibodies which bind to the allergens to get rid of them.  Commit to re-hydrating your body, first and foremost.

The process of rehydration can literally take months or even a few years of drinking enough water consistently every day to stop the drought management in the body.

The type and quality of water you drink can also make a big difference.

Dehydration and Autoimmune Diseases

Every autoimmune disease is highly complex and I don’t mean to oversimplify the causes and treatments. However, I believe that the most essential root cause of just about every autoimmune disorder is caused by chronic dehydration.

Dehydration is closely linked to the production of antigens and the inflammatory process in the body. In addition, dehydration significantly affects digestion and elimination.

Health scientists have revealed that nearly 80 percent of our immune system function originates in our gastrointestinal tract.

That says a lot about how important proper digestion and elimination really is.

How Lemon Water Can Assist with Autoimmune Disease

Lemon water significantly aids digestion and elimination, helping to prevent toxic build-up in the gut, leaky gut syndrome, and various other conditions which contribute to the production of allergens in the body, which cause inflammation and disrupt immune system function.

After laying the foundation with hydration and lemon water, a comprehensive program of managing stress, proper diet and nutrition supplementation, body cleansing, and regular moderate exercise is usually necessary to help restore balance.

The body’s innate intelligence is beyond our comprehension. I know that if we give the body what it needs (specifically water, oxygen, and real food) and reduce the stuff it does not need (tobacco, alcohol, processed food, chemicals and numerous other toxins from air, water, food), it is possible to not only manage the symptoms of autoimmune disorders, but to potentially reverse these conditions.

Health Benefits of Drinking Water
The Healthy Cell Concept

Common sense tells us that if we have healthy cells, we will have a healthy body. So, what constitutes a healthy cell?

I could write a whole book on this topic. It is fascinating and inspiring to delve into the workings of the highly intelligent and complex functioning of the human body, especially at the cellular level.

However, to summarize, I believe the simplest answer to cellular health is this:

A healthy cell is one in which the nutrients can easily get into the cell and the toxins can efficiently get out.

Cell Water Turnover

This process is referred to as “cell water turnover” and I believe the efficiency of this process is the essence of physical health.

Adequate hydration is obviously essential to cell water turnover.
Our cells need nutrients to survive. Not only is water the transport fluid for nutrients to get into the cells, water itself is a nutrient.

In fact, oxygen and water are the most important nutrients for the human body. Thus, water plays an important metabolic role in all functions in the body.

Eliminating waste is another one of the essential health benefits of drinking water and efficient cell water turnover. This is the factor that I think people overlook the most.

According to Dr. William J. Yarwood, who practiced natural healing and nutritional therapy with thousands of patients over 30 years:

“All diseases are nothing more than different expressions of toxicity."

He says it works like this: “Genetically, each of us has stronger and weaker areas in our bodies. As you accumulate toxins during your lifetime, your toxins congregate in the weakest areas of your body because that is where they get the least resistance.

“When enough toxins have accumulated in a part of your body, they will manifest themselves in the form of a disease that is indigenous to that part of the body.”

With rare exceptions, I believe optimal health ultimately comes down to the quality of the environment within the body. And that environment is primarily composed of water.

Living in a Fish Bowl

Over the years I have heard a number of health practitioners make the analogy of human health to living in a fish bowl. I like fish and, for some reason, the analogy always makes me smile, so I will share it here in case you haven’t heard it.

Think of the environment inside your body as a fish bowl and your cells are like the fish. If you’ve ever had an aquarium or fish bowl, you know that if you don’t change or filter the water regularly, the fish will die. Why is this?

Because fish eat and eliminate waste (as in cell water turnover). If the wastes in the water are not removed, they build up and can eventually choke the fish (our cells) to death.

When water is deficient, wastes build up in the fluid that surrounds the cells, preventing nutrients from getting into the cell.

When toxins accumulate, they can deprive the cells of oxygen and even cause cell mutation, a primary cause of cancer. Likewise, when water is lacking in your body, one of the first functions that is affected is detoxification.

All of the detoxification functions in the body—including breathing, sweating, urinating and defecating—require water. 
However, the body is ingenious at adapting. When dehydrated, it will safely store toxins in various places in the body, such as in fatty tissue, in arterial deposits or in the joints.

In other words, it will store the toxins in safe places—away from the major organs. So our life is preserved in the short term, but the long-term health consequences are significant. Because those stored toxins are only "safe" for a while.

All Bodily Functions Are Affected by Water

As important as it is, efficient cell water turnover is only one of the numerous health benefits of drinking water daily. In addition to water, healthy foods nourish life and fuel energy.

Since most adult bodies are about 70 percent water, it is easy to comprehend how important water is.

You might be interested to know that babies are approximately 80 to 90 percent water and many elderly people are only 50 to 60 percent. This information, in itself, gives us a clue into the health benefits of drinking water for slowing the aging process.

Water regulates ALL the functions in the human body. Just a few of the most important functions include the following:

• The flow of blood and lymph through the body
• The functioning of our brains
• The cushioning and regulation of organs
• The transfer and absorption of nutrients into cells and tissues
• The removal of waste out of the cells
• The movement of nerve impulses through the nervous system
• The balance of hormones
• The regulation of body temperature
• The lubrication and cushioning of joints

Specific Health Benefits of Drinking Water

As far as I am concerned, EVERY health condition, illness and disease is affected by water, as explained above.
Drinking enough pure water has been shown to help the body heal itself from many sicknesses, including:

• General pain and inflammation in muscles and joints
• Tension headaches and migraines
• Tension headaches and migraines
• Weight loss
• Water retention
• Skin problems, including acne, eczema and psoriasis
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Spinal problems
• Hearing and sight problems
• Dysfunction of the kidney or liver
• Hormonal problems
• Diabetes
• Gall and kidney stones
• Circulation issues
• Cancers
• Heart disease and strokes
• Mental disorders and addictions
• Impaired memory and brain function
• Autoimmune disorders, such as Lupus and fibromyalgia

This is not to say that water alone will cure every disease. However, I do believe proper hydration is often the missing link and should be an essential part of every health program.

Importance of Drinking Water
Functions and Recycling of Water in the Body

The importance of drinking water daily is often overlooked, even though every function in the human body is dependent on water. In short, without water, nothing lives.



Consider this: the adult human body is about two-thirds water, and most of the key organs and fluids in the body consist primarily of water.

The following percentages are estimates and vary slightly from expert to expert and from person to person:

• Brain 85%
• Heart 79%
• Blood 85%
• Intestines 75%
• Lungs 79%
• Liver 90%
• Kidneys 83%
• Muscle 76%

Functions of Water in the Body

In addition to the high water content in the body, basic physiology reveals the importance of drinking water in how the body functions.
Water is essential for EVERY function in the human body. Other pages on this site will explain these functions in more detail.

Just a few of the most vital functions include the following:

• Brain functioning
• Organ regulation and cushioning
• Blood and lymph flow
• Nutrient transfer and absorption at the cellular level
• Nerve impulse movement throughout the nervous system
• Hormone balancing
• Temperature regulating
• Joint lubrication and cushioning
• Waste removal

The Body's Water Recycling System

Thus, we know water is critical to the survival and maintenance of the human body. But what is the importance of drinking water daily?

It has to do with the body’s water recycling system. The body recycles hundreds of gallons of water a day just to maintain normal biological functions.

During the recycling process the body comes up short of at least six to ten glasses of water per day.

This daily water shortage varies greatly depending on individual diet, lifestyle and environmental factors.

Read more on drinking enough water facts. . .

No Water Storage System in the Body

In addition to the daily water shortage issue, our bodies have no water storage system to supply water in times of drought—thus, the importance of drinking water regularly and throughout the day.


Contrary to popular belief, most of the water we need does not come from the foods we eat.

At best, if we are eating primarily whole, fresh foods, we may get as much as 20 percent of our daily water needs.

However, most people are eating a high percentage of processed foods, which have little if any water content.

In addition, many of the beverages we drink—such as alcohol, sodas, coffee and tea—are actually dehydrating to the body.
They act as diuretics and cause the body to lose even more fluids.

Drought Management in the Body

What happens to our bodies when we don’t drink enough? We start to experience mild dehydration symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, feeling irritable or anxious, constipation and other digestive disorders, and not sleeping well.

When dehydration continues, the body learns to adapt with a drought management program.

However, sooner or later the ill effects will begin to appear in the body in the form of pain and inflammation. The location of the pain and inflammation often depends on where acid wastes have built up most in the body.

According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj in Water for Health, for Healing, for Life,there are six conditions that denote chronic dehydration and drought management in the body. These conditions include:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Constipation
• High blood pressure
• Type II diabetes
• Autoimmune disorders

Importance of Drinking Water for Healing

The importance of drinking water is understated in this article. My intent here is to simply provide a glimpse into the amazing properties of water in relation to the maintenance of the human body.

Water also plays a key role in the body's ability to heal itself. 
For example, medical research tells us that drinking enough water daily (at least half our body weight in ounces of water) can decrease the risk of bladder cancer by 50 percent and decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent.

As you read other pages on this blogsite, you will find more in depth information and guidelines about how drinking water can aid in disease prevention and healing of many illnesses, disorders, ailments and diseases.

Drinking water daily is quite simply the easiest and most effective way to provide a solid foundation for optimal health, fitness and longevity.
 

The history of lupus can be divided into three periods: classical, neoclassical, and modern. This article concentrates on developments in the present century which have greatly expanded our knowledge about the pathophysiology, clinical-laboratory features, and treatment of this disorder.

Lupus in the classical period (1230-1856)

The history of lupus during the classical period was reviewed by Smith and Cyr in 1988. Of note are the derivation of the term lupus and the clinical descriptions of the cutaneous lesions of lupus vulgaris, lupus profundus, discoid lupus, and the photosensitive nature of the malar or butterfly rash.

The word ‘lupus’ (Latin for ‘wolf’) is attributed to the thirteenth century physician Rogerius who used it to describe erosive facial lesions that were reminiscent of a wolf's bite. Classical descriptions of the various dermatologic features of lupus were made by Thomas Bateman, a student of the British dermatologist Robert William, in the early nineteenth century; Cazenave, a student of the French dermatologist Laurent Biett, in the mid-nineteenth century; and Moriz Kaposi (born Moriz Kohn), student and son-in-law of the Austrian dermatologist Ferdinand von Hebra, in the late nineteenth century.

The lesions now referred to as discoid lupus were described in 1833 by Cazenave under the term “erythema centrifugum,” while the butterfly distribution of the facial rash was noted by von Hebra in 1846. The first published illustrations of lupus erythematosus were included in von Hebra's text, Atlas of Skin Diseases, published in 1856.

Lupus in the neoclassical period (1872- 1948)

1872;Systemic lupus identified as distinct from cutaneous lupus.

 

The Neoclassical era of the history of lupus began in 1872 when Kaposi first described the systemic nature of the disorder: “...experience has shown that lupus erythematosus ... may be attended by altogether more severe pathological changes, and even dangerous constitutional symptoms may be intimately associated with the process in question, and that death may result from conditions which must be considered to arise from the local malady.”
Kaposi proposed that there were two types of lupus erythematosus; the discoid form and a disseminated (systemic) form. Furthermore, he enumerated various signs and symptoms which characterized the systemic form, including: 

• subcutaneous nodules
• arthritis with synovial hypertrophy of both small and large joints
• lymphadenopathy
• fever
• weight loss
• anemia
• central nervous system involvement

The existence of a systemic form of lupus was firmly established in 1904 by the work of Osler in Baltimore and Jadassohn in Vienna. Over the next thirty years, pathologic studies documented the existence of nonbacterial verrucous endocarditis (Libman-Sacks disease) and wire-loop lesions in individuals with glomerulonephritis; such observations at the autopsy table led to the construct of collagen disease proposed by Kemperer and colleagues in 1941. This terminology, ‘collagen vascular disease,’ persists in usage more than seventy years after its introduction.

Lupus in the modern era (1948-present)

The sentinel event which heralded the modern era was the discovery of the LE cell by Hargraves and colleagues in 1948. The investigators observed these cells in the bone marrow of individuals with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus and postulated that the cell “...is the result of...phagocytosis of free nuclear material with a resulting round vacuole containing this partially digested and lysed nuclear material...”.
 

1948;The Lupus Erythematosus cell is discovered.

 

This discovery ushered in the present era of the application of immunology to the study of lupus erythematosus; it also allowed the diagnosis of individuals with much milder forms of the disease. This possibility, coupled with the discovery of cortisone as a treatment, changed the natural history of lupus as it was known prior to that time.

Two other immunologic markers were recognized in the 1950s as being associated with lupus: the biologic false-positive test for syphilis and the immunofluorescent test for antinuclear antibodies. Moore, working in Baltimore, demonstrated that systemic lupus developed in 7 percent of 148 individuals with chronic false-positive tests for syphilis and that a further 30 percent had symptoms consistent with collagen disease.

Friou applied the technique of indirect immunofluorescence to demonstrate the presence of antinuclear antibodies in the blood of individuals with systemic lupus. Subsequently, there was the recognition of antibodies to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the description of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (nuclear ribonucleoprotein [nRNP], Sm, Ro, La), and anticardiolipin antibodies; these autoantibodies are useful in describing clinical subsets and understanding the etiopathogenesis of lupus.

First animal model developed

Two other major advances in the modern era have been the development of animal models of lupus and the recognition of the role of genetic predisposition to the development of lupus. The first animal model of systemic lupus was the F1 hybrid New Zealand Black/New Zealand White mouse. 

This murine (mouse) model has provided many insights into the immunopathogenesis of autoantibody formation, mechanisms of immunologic tolerance, the development of glomerulonephritis, the role of sex hormones in modulating the course of disease, and evaluation of treatments including recently developed biologic agents such as anti-CD4, among others.

Other animal models that have been used to study systemic lupus include the BXSB and MRL/lpr mice, and the naturally occurring syndrome of lupus in dogs.   

Genetic component recognized  

The familial occurrence of systemic lupus was first noted by Leonhardt in 1954 and later studies by Arnett and Shulman at Johns Hopkins. Subsequently, familial aggregation of lupus, the concordance of lupus in monozygotic twin pairs, and the association of genetic markers with lupus have been described over the past twenty years. 
 

1954;It is discovered that there is a genetic component to lupus.

Molecular biology techniques have been applied to the study of human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) Class II genes to determine specific amino acid sequences in these cell surface molecules that are involved in antigen presentation to T-helper cells in individuals with lupus. These studies have resulted in the identification of genetic-serologic subsets of systemic lupus that complement the clinico-serologic subsets noted earlier. 

It is hoped by investigators working in this field that these studies will lead to the identification of etiologic factors (e.g., viral antigens/proteins) in lupus.

Over the last decade or so, we have witnessed significant advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of lupus, and of the immunological derangements which lead to the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Advances have been made in the assessment of the impact of the disease in general, and in minority population groups, in particular and efforts are being made towards defining lupus biomarkers which may help both to predict disease outcome and to guide treatments.

Lupus therapies then and now 

Finally, no discussion of the history of lupus is complete without a review of the development of therapy. Payne, in 1894, first reported the usefulness of quinine in the treatment of lupus. Four years later, the use of salicylates in conjunction with quinine was also noted to be of benefit. 
 

1950;Nobel Prize awarded to scientists who discover the effects of corticosteroids.

 

Cortisone/corticosteroids were introduced for the treatment of lupus in the middle part of the 20th century by Hench. Presently, corticosteroids are the primary therapy for almost all individuals with lupus.
Antimalarials, used in the past principally for lupus skin and joint involvement, are now recognized to prevent the occurrence of flares, the accumulation of damage, and the occurrence of early mortality. 

Cytotoxic/immunosuppressive drugs are used for glomerulonephritis, systemic vasculitis, and other severe life-threatening manifestations of lupus. Newer biologic agents are now used, either off-label or after approval by regulatory agencies in the U.S., Europe, and other countries. 

Other potential drug products are being investigated as new disease pathways are being discovered.

Looking forward

The history of lupus, although dating back at least to the Middle Ages, has experienced an explosion in this century, especially during the modern era over the past 60 years. It is hoped that this growth of new knowledge will allow a better understanding of immunopathogenesis of the disease and the development of more effective treatments.

Use Water Cure Protocol Formula (Click for Results)

 

Wisdom of Water : Cure Obesity, Cancer, Depression

Wisdom of Water Cure Obesity, Cancer, Depression

To Our Creator : In Awe with Humility, Dedication and Love.

The Common Cause & Natural Cure for Obesity, Cancer, Depression are Dehydration & Re-hydration, respectively.

You are not sick, you are dehydrated!
Regain your vibrant health with water.

CHAPTER 8 :THE IDEAL DIET FOR ALL DEHYDRATION-PRODUCED DISEASES

Chronic dehydration produces many symptoms, signs, and eventually degenerative diseases.  The physiological outcomes of the sort of dehydration that produces any of the problem mentioned earlier in this blog (read earlier posts) are almost the same.  Different bodies manifest the early symptoms of drought differently, but in persistent dehydration that has been camourflaged by prescription medications , one by one the other symptoms and signs will kick in, and eventually the person (victim of dehydration) will suffer from multiple "disease." 

You saw it in the case of Andrew Bauman. We in medicine have labeled these conditions as outright diseases or have grouped them as different "syndromes."  In recent years, we have grouped some of the syndromes - with some typical blood tests - and called them autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, insulin-dependent diabetes, and so on. 

Medical research has until now been conducted on the assumption that many conditions -- which I consider to be states of dehydration or its complications -- are diseases of "unknown etiology." From the presently held perspectives of human health problems, we are not allowed to use the word cure. You can at best "treat" a problem and hope it goes "into remission."

From my perspective , most painful degenerative diseases are states of local or regional drought -- with varying patterns. It naturally follows that, once the drought and its metabolic complications are corrected, the problem will be cured if the dehydration damage is not extensive.  I also believe that to evaluate "deficiency disorders" -- water deficiency being one of them -- we do not need to observe the same research protocol that are applied to the research of chemical products. Identifying the shortage and correcting the deficiency are all we need to do to cure the problem.  Deficiency disorders are curable ; we can use the word cure to refer to the results ! 

It is now clear that the treatment for all dehydration-produced conditions is the same -- a single treatment protocol for umpteen numbers of conditions.  Isn't that great ! One program or one solution solves so many problems and avoid costly and unnecessary interference with the body.

The first step in this treatment program involves a clear and determined upward adjustment of daily water intake.  Persistent dehydration also causes a disproportionate loss of certain elements that should be adequately available in the stored reserves in the body.  Naturally, the ideal treatment protocol will also involves an appropriate correction of associated metabolic disturbances.  In short, treatment of dehydration-produced diseases also involves correction of the secondary deficiencies that water deficiency imposes on some tissues of the body. This multiple-deficiency phenomenon caused by dehydration is at the root of many degenerative diseases, including the autoimmune conditions like lupus and AIDS and, naturally, cancer. 

HOW MUCH WATER AND WHEN? 

The human body needs no less than two quarts* of water and some salt every day to compensate for its natural losses in urine , respiration, perspiration.  Less than this will cause a burden on the kidneys, which will have to work harder to concentrate the urine, excreting as much chemical toxic waste with as little water as possible.  This process explains why so many people end up needing dialysis in the final years of their drastically shortened lives. 

By and large, an average-sized body needs about four quarts* of water a day.  You give it two quarts* in the form of water ; the other two quarts are supplied from metabolism and the water content of food, such as fresh fruits and colorful vegetables. The body needs these four quarts of water to produce around two quarts of urine -- an amount that will prevent your kidneys from working too hard to concentrate the urine ( thus the light-colored urine of well-hydrated people).  Your lungs use more than a quart of water a day -- this much water is evaporated in the process of breathing.  The rest of the water is needed for perspiration and proper hydration of the skin, which is constantly losing water into the air around it.  Some water is also needed for keeping feces moist to facilitate bowel movements.  In hot climate more water is needed for this purpose.

A rough rule of thumb for those who are heavy set is to drink 1/2 ounce(U.S. fluid-ounce measurement) of water for every pound of body weight per day. Example, a 200-pound person thus needs at least 100 fluid-ounces of water daily. 

Water should be taken anytime you are thirsty, even in the middle of a meal. Water intake in the middle of a meal does not drastically affect the process of digestion, but dehydration  during food intake does affect digestion.

Drink at least two glasses of water first thing in the morning to compensate for the water loss during eight hours of sleep. Here are the best times to take water during the rest of the day.

Half an hour before each major meal of the day, drink one or two glasses of water and give it time to establish its regulatory processes before you introduce food into your system.  Those people suffering from obesity, depression, or cancer should make sure to drink two glasses of water. During that half-hour, the water is absorbed into the system and is once again secreted into the stomach, preparing it to receive solid foods.  When you drink enough water before eating food, you avoid many problems of the gastrointestinal tract, including bloating, heartburn , colitis, constipation, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, hiatal hernia, cancer of intestinal tract, and of course extra weight gain.

Two to two and a half hours (2 to 2.5 hours) after you've eaten, drink another 8-12 fluid-ounces of water (depending on the amount of food consumed) .  This will stimulate the satiety hormones and wrap up the digestive processes in the intestinal tract. It will also keep you from experiencing a false sensation of hunger when your body is simply craving more water to complete the digestion of already eaten food. 

Water should be taken at regular intervals throughout the day to avoid thirst. Remember this fact, when you first feel thirsty, your body has already entered into 2 percent dehydration. So you must drink water to prevent dehydration to kick in. Be sure to drink water before any physical activity, such as going for a walk, window shopping or other more strenuous forms of exercise that cause sweating. I will explain how much salt to take later. 

CORRECTING THE COMPLICATIONS OF DEHYDRATION

 A change of lifestyle is vital for the correction of any dehydration-produced disorder. The backbone of the WaterCure program is : 

1. Sufficient water and salt intake daily.

2. Regular exercise. WHAT ARE THE BEST FORMS OF EXERCISE? (Check Here Later 233)

3. A balanced, mineral-rich diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as colorful as available , and the fats needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and nerve insulation.  Please abandon your  cholesterol hang-up (if any).

4. Exclusion of caffeine and alcohol.

5. Meditation to detoxify stressful thoughts. You might try this.

6. Exclusion of artificial sweeteners.

Also remember that the sort of dehydration that manifests itself in asthma leaves other scars within the body.  This is why asthma in childhood is so devastating and can expose a child to so many health problems in later life, as you saw in the case of Andrew Bauman. My understanding of the damaging effects of cellular dehydration during childhood is the reason I have been concentrating my effort on eradicating asthma among children.  

WHY IS WATER SO IMPORTANT FOR THE PREVENTION AND CURE OF OBESITY,  DEPRESSION , AND CANCER ? 

Here are the primary functions of water in the human body : 

1. Water is the vehicle of transport for circulating blood cells --- the core of the immune system.

2. Water is a solvent for critical materials, including oxygen and the minerals that maintain the body cells in their healthy plum-like state.

3. Water is the bulk material that fills empty spaces in the body. There is no vacuum between the cells. 

4. Water is the adhesive that binds solid parts of the cell together by forming a membrane or protective barrier around the cell.  In dehydration, this adhesive responsibility is passed on to cholesterol.

5. The neurotransmission systems of the brain and nerves depend on rapid movement of sodium and potassium in and out of the membranes along the full length of the nerves. Water that is loose and not bonded with something else is free to move across the cell membrane and turn the "element-moving" pumps. 

6. Some of the element-moving pumps are voltage-generating pumps.  Thus, efficiency of neurotransmission systems depends on the availability of free and un-engaged water in nerve tissues.  In its osmotic urge to get into the cell, water generates energy by turning the pump units that force potassium into the cell and push sodium outside the cell -- much like water turning the turbines at a hydroelectric dam - water reservoir to make electricity. 

7. A cell membrane has two layers ; between these layers is a constantly moving canal of water in which most outside messages are processed/ in dehydration, the enzyme activity in this canal becomes less efficient , and the cell becomes correspondingly less active in its natural functions.  This is when cholesterol gets used in the cell membrane to prevent further dehydration . Fig 8-1. Model of Hydrated and Dehydrated segments of a bi-layer cell membrane and the channel of water that circles round the cell in between the two layers of the membrane. The channel acts as a "water highway," where all the chemical exchanges of the cell with tis outside world is carried out. 


Membrane Potential ( CLICK FOR FURTHER LEARNING)

In dehydrated cell membrane: Cholesterol plaques plug the cell membrane pores to prevent water loss. In dehydration, cholesterol is an adhesive that binds cell membrane structure together. Body will activate hypertension to get the water through the membrane. 

(Protein scaffolding of the cell membrane) <<CLICK>>

In well-hydrated cell membrane: Cell membrane pores are not obstructed and water can seep through (i.e. by infusion, flow rate of 0.001 cm per second) the membrane to get inside the cell. (Click here to learn more, The wide range of membrane permeabilities of different compounds in the cell. )

8. Up to now, however, it has been assumed that all energy storage in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the substance that "burns" and gives out "heat" to "cook" any of the chemical reactions allowing a cell to function is from from food intake.  This is why water has not received much attention as a source of energy in the energy-generating systems in the human body. 

9. Water is the central regulators of energy and osmotic balance in the body. Sodium and potassium stick to the protein of the pump and act as the magnets of the dynamo.  When water rotates the pump proteins, electricity is generated.  The rapid turn of these cation pumps generates energy that is stored at many different locations in three different pool types : 

(A). ATP is one type of energy pool.
(B). Another energy storage pool is GTP ( guanosine triphosphate).
(C). A third system is in the endoplasmic reticulum that captures and traps calcium.  For every two units of calcium that are trapped, the energy equivalent of one unit of ATP is stored in the connection of the two calcium atoms.
For every two units of calcium that are separated from one another and released, one unit of energy -- to make a new unit of ATP -- is also released. This mechanism of calcium entrapment, as a means of energy storage, makes the bone structure of the human body not only its scaffolding but also its "Fort Knox"-- sort of like investing your cash in gold reserve, Hence, when there is severe dehydration and, consequently, a decreased supply of hydroelectric energy, the body taps into the bones for their energy storage. Thus,  the primary cause of osteoporosis in persistent dehydration. 

To prevent osteoporosis, or soft bones , you need to increase bone density by making the absorption of calcium more efficient. Toward this end, more vitamin D has to be made from solar conversion of cholesterol deposits in the skin to cholecalciferol -- vitamin D3.

Are You Taking the Right Type of Oral Vitamin D?

Cholesterol is the building block for practically all hormones of the body ; vitamin D is also produced from cholesterol.  This connection of high turnover of stored energy in the bone structure to an increased need for vitamin D activity to rebuild the bones is the signal for the liver to make more cholesterol as the precursor** to vitamin D. Note: **In chemistry, a precursor is a compound that participates in a chemical reaction that produces another compound. In biochemistry, the term "precursor" often refers more specifically to a chemical compound preceding another in a metabolic pathway, such as a protein precursor.

It is a marker of scientific ignorance to attempt to lower cholesterol levels via chemicals drugs. Increased water intake and exposure to some sunlight is a less harmful way to regulate cholesterol levels of the circulating blood. 

Cholesterol-lowering medications are dangerous. Forewarned is forearmed. I have mentioned some of their problems earlier in this blog. Here is another eye-opener for you. Duane Graveline, M.D. -- a former N A S A astronaut, USAF(United States Air Force) flight surgeon, and space medicine research scientist -- published an article in the August-September 2004 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients called "Transient Global Amnesia : A Side Effect of Statin Treatment." Dr. Graveline's own devastating experience led him to research this problem. 

He has identified complete memory loss as one of the side effects of cholesterol-lowering medications. He states : ". . . thousands of case reports of memory dysfunction started flooding in from patients across the country, all with the same common thread -- association with statin drug use. And the amnesia is just the tip of the iceberg of the true incidence of memory impairment associated with Lipitor, Mevacor , and Zocor.  For every case of amnesia, thousands of cases of extreme forgetfulness , incapacitating confusion and profound disorientation have been and are being reported. Neither patients nor doctors  are aware of this side effects."

10. The foods that we eat are the products of energy conversion from the initial electrical-energy-generating properties of water and sunlight.  All living and growing species, humans included, survive as a result of energy generation from water. One major problem in the scientific evaluation of the human body is the lack of understanding of the magnitude of our body's  dependence on hydroelectricity for energy.

11. The electricity produced at the cell membrane also forces nearby proteins to align their receptive points and prepare for chemical reactions. 

WATER IS THE FIRST NUTRIENT THE BODY NEEDS

Here are some of the other reasons why your body needs water every day. 

1. Without water nothing lives.

2. Comparative shortage of water suppresses and eventually kills some aspects of the body.

3. Water is the main source of energy -- the "cash flow" of the body.

4. Water generates electrical and magnetic energy inside each and every cell of the body -- it provides the power to live. 

5. Water prevents DNA damage and makes its repair mechanisms more efficient -- less abnormal DNA* is made. * DNA is abbre- viation for DeoxyriboNuclei Acid. 

6. Water increases greatly the efficiency of the immune system in the bone marrow where the immune system is formed (all its mechanisms) -- including its efficiency against cancer. 

7. Water is the main solvent for all foods, vitamins, and minerals. It is used in the breakdown of food into smaller particles and their eventual metabolism and assimilation.

8. Water energizes food, and food particles are then able to supply the body with this energy during digestion.  This is why food without water has absolutely no energy value for the body. 

9. Water increases the rate of absorption into the body of essential substances in food. 

10. Water is used to transport all substances inside the body.

11. Water increases the efficiency of red blood cells in collecting oxygen in the lungs. 

12. When water reaches a cell, it brings the cell oxygen and takes the waste gases to the lungs for disposal. 

13. Water clears toxic waste from different parts of the body and takes it to the liver and kidneys for disposal.

14. Water is the main lubricant in the joint spaces and prevents arthritis and back pain.

15. Water is used in the spinal discs to make them "shock-absorbing water cushions." (CLICK HERE to view Degenerative Disc DiseaseVideo)

16. Water is the best lubricating laxative and prevents constipation.

17. Water prevents heart attacks and strokes.

18. Water prevents clogging of arteries in the heart and the brain.

19. Water is essential for the human body's cooling (sweat) and heating (electrical) systems.

20. Water gives us power and electrical energy for all brain functions, particularly thinking.

21. Water is directly needed for the efficient manufacture of all neurotransmitters, including serotonin. 

22. Water is directly needed for the production of all hormones made by the brain, including melatonin. Sleep in the dark places so pineal gland can produce melatonin. The pineal gland is a tiny endocrine gland found in the brain. It produces and secretes the hormone melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate biological rhythms such as sleep and wake cycles. ... However, this normal circadian rhythm can be thrown off by factors including jet lag and working the night shift.


23. Water prevents Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in children and adults. 

24. Water increases efficiency at work; it expands your attention span.

25. Water is a better pick-me-up than any other beverage in the world -- and it has no side effects. 

26. Water prevent stress, anxiety, and depression.

27. Water restores normal sleep rhythms.

28. Water prevents fatigue -- it gives the energy of youth.

29. Water makes the skin smooth and prevent aging.

30. Water gives luster and shine to the eyes. 

31. Water prevent glaucoma.

32. Water normalizes the blood manufacturing systems in the bone marrow -- it helps prevent leukemia and lymphoma.

33. Water is absolutely vital for making the immune system more efficient in different regions to fight infections and cancer cells where they are formed.

34. Water dilutes the blood and prevents it from clotting during circulation.

35. Water decreases premenstrual pains and hot flashes. 

36. Water and heartbeats create the dilution and "waves" that keep things from "sedimenting" in the blood stream.  

37. The human body has no water storage to draw on during dehydration. This is why you must drink regularly and throughout the day. (Follow my 10%- 90-minutes formula.)

38. Dehydration prevents sex hormone production -- one of the primary causes of impotence and loss of libido.  Always drink a glass 45 minutes prior going into the love-chamber. 

39. Drinking water separates the sensations of thirst and hunger.

40. To lose excess weight, water is the best and safest way to go -- drink water on time and lose weight without much dieting. Also, you will not eat excessively when you are only thirsty for water.

41. Dehydration causes deposits of toxic sediments in the tissue spaces, fat stores, joints, kidneys, liver, brain, and skin.  water will clear these deposits. 

42. Water takes away the morning sickness of pregnancy. 

43. Water integrates mind and body functions. It increases the ability to realize goals and purpose.

44. Water prevents the loss of memory as we age.  water prevents Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease. 

45. Water reverses addictive urges, including those for caffeine. alcohol, and some drugs. 

BLOOD IS A RED RIVER OF WATER

Blood is normally about 94 percent water when the human body is fully hydrated (red cells are actually "water bags" that contain the colored hemoglobin).  Inside the cells of the body there should ideally be about 75 percent water.  Because of this difference in water levels outside and inside the  cells, an osmotic flow of water into the cells normally occurs. There are hundreds of thousands of voltage-generating pump units at the cell membranes, just like the turbines used in hydroelectric dams.  The water that flows through them rotates these pumps. This rush of water creates hydroelectric energy.  At the same time, and as part of the same process, element such as sodium and potassium are exchanged. 

Only water that is free and can move about -- the water you drink -- generates hydroelectric energy at the cell membrane.  The previously supplied water that is now busy with other functions cannot leave its binding position to rush elsewhere.  This is why water by itself should be considered the most suitable pick-me-up beverage and should be consumed at regular intervals during the day. The good thing about water as a source of energy is the fact that excess water is passed out of the body.  It manufactures the needed energy to top up the reserves in the cells and then leaves the human body with the toxic waste of the cells. It is not stored. 

When there is dehydration because a person is not drinking enough water, the cells become depleted of their ready energy.  They then  habitually depend on more energy generation from the intake of  food instead of water.  In this situation, the body is pushed into  storing fat and using its protein and starch reserves, because it is  immediately easier to break these elements down than the stored  fat.
This is why 40 percent of the people in the country are grossly overweight : Their bodies are engaged in perpetual crisis management of dehydration. 

WATER IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY
 The word hydrolysis ( loosening, dissolving, breaking, or splitting by the participating action of water ) is used when water becomes involved in the metabolism of other materials.  Activities that depend on hydrolysis include the breakdown of proteins into their component amino acids, and the breakdown of large fatty particles into smaller fatty acid units.  Without water, hydrolysis cannot take place.  It follows, then, that the hydrolytic function of water also constitutes the metabolism of water itself. What this means is that water itself needs to be broken down first -- hydrolyzed -- before the human body can use the various components in food. This is why we need to supply the human body with water before we eat solid foods. 

Now that we are on this point , let me once again share with you the figures that stress the importance of water as a supplier of energy, especially for brain functions. 

Figure 8-2. Energy is measured in kilo Joules. One kilo Joule is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 pound (or 0.4535 kilogram) (1 kilograms equals to 2.2 pounds) of water to 1 degree Fahrenheit. (Human Body temperature) 

MgATP (600) + H2O = ADP3- (1500) / ADPH2- (600) + Mg2+(998) / H+(1168) + H2PO4-(318) / HPO4,2-(1251)

One unit of magnesium-ATP from the stockpile of energy at the cell membrane has about 600 units of energy before it is hydrolyzed.  When it is hydrolyzed into its component parts , the total energy  content reaches to about 5,835 units. (These figures are taken from an article published by P. George and co-workers : Biochem Biophys Acta 223, no. 1, 1970.) (ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the main source of energy in cells, must be bound to a magnesium ion in order to be biologically active. What is called ATP is often actually Mg-ATP.^[4]  ) (Fig. 1. Views of ATP and related structures.  )  

All the foods that we eat and digest need to be hydrolyzed before the human body can tap into their contents. The benefits they offer the body become available because of the "magical" effect  of water, which breaks the products into their more easily digestible and water-energized components.

Dear honorable reader of Healthy Wealth blog-site, 
 Now you know why water is a nutrient and how it generates energy. Water dissolves all the minerals, proteins, starches, and other water-soluble components and , as blood , carries them around the human body for distribution. Think of blood as seawater that has a few breeds of fish in it -- red cells, white cells, platelets, proteins, and enzymes, all swimming to a destination. The blood serum has almost the same mineral consistency and proportions as seawater. 

The human body is in constant need of water. it is losing water though the lungs when we breathe out. The body is losing water in perspiration from the skin, in urine production, and in daily bowel movements. Water deficit causes constipation. A good gauge for the water needs of the human body is the color of urine. 
1. A well-hydrated person produces colorless  urine --- not counting the color of vitamins or color additives in processed edibles.  
2. A comparatively dehydrated person produces translucent-yellow urine. 
3. A truly dehydrated person produces urine that is orange in color.
4. Also: A well hydrated person is never constipated : a constipated person is truly a dehydrated person! 

In the next posts that follows, the importance of minerals and food components are briefly discussed.  For a more thorough understanding of the importance of nutrition in maintaining health and well-being, I recommend the following book. A Complete Illustrated Guide to Vitamins and Minerals : A Practical Approach to a Healthy Diet and Safe Supplementation by Denise Mortimore, BSc , PhD, DHD :ISBN 0607-2717-1. ) You will enjoy reading this  book.

Product Description of  A Complete Illustrated Guide to Vitamins and Minerals : A Practical Approach to a Healthy Diet and Safe Supplementation by Denise Mortimore, BSc , PhD, DHD.

From the Back Cover

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about vitamins and minerals you’ll find in this practical, easy-to-use guide to a healthy diet and the safe use of supplements. Each vitamin or mineral has its own entry, and the excellent text is supported by informative illustrations and diagrams. Also included in the guide:
• What is a healthy diet? What you need and what you need to avoid.
• Who needs what? The different supplement requirements for different groups of people.
• I’m stressed – help! Specific illnesses, which can be due to vitamin deficiencies, and how to treat them.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what a ‘vitamin B12 complex’ actually is, look no further! Denise Mortimore has all the answers.

About the Author

Denise Mortimore is a nutritional therapist who lectures, teaches adult education courses and runs a thriving nutritional therapy practice. She is also scientific advisor and university liaison officer to the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy in the UK. Denise is a registered member of the British Association of Nutritional Therapists.