<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> The metabolic/hormonal balance also interfaces with the immune system. If the endocrinal system gets out of sync then potentially it can trigger autoimmune problems. This may result in an immune response against organs, proteins, etc. <><><><><><><><><>< This belief is now bolstered by substantial evidence that nervous system output can indeed modulate immune function. However, the interactions are not unidirectional. The immune system can also have powerful influences on the nervous system. The experimental evidence for nervous system- immune system interactions can be summarized: 1. Alterations in immune responses can be conditioned. 2. Electrical stimulation or lesions of specific brain sites can alter immune function. 3. Stress alters immune responses and the growth of tumors and infections in experimental animals. 4. Activation of the immune system is correlated with altered neurophysiological, neurochemical, and neuroendocrine activities of brain cells. See: http://www.acnp.org/G4/GN401000069/CH069.html <><><><><><><><><><><><> I want to say that i have noticed that most women with celiac that i have talked to have had their celiac go "full blown" if you will right after pregnancy... so i do think that hormonal reasons are big for the women.. thanks for a great posting. <><><><><><><><><><> A long but very true email, I can relate to most of below, having been diagnosedDH, in Grand Cayman where info was practically non existent and I have researched and experienced many of the below symthoms and relief agents by trail and error.. as a very keen triathlete, I have to be very in touch with my body to attain highest level of fitness and still not there. Thanks for showing my knowledge can be aligned with that of others <><><><><><><><> Very interesting, thank You. I just like You to know, that I had to have my last teeth pulled. This was done at a dentist school here in USA. They do not believe in the Mercury theory, like in Sweden and other European countries. Anyway, some days later I started to get dizzy, mostly laying down. I had some homeopathic drops I took for metal removing. Then I read in drdavidwilliams.com newsletter about cilantro. Started to take that too for two weeks. The dizziness went away as sudden as it started. I sure hope, and are pretty sure, that is the reason I now feel like on the top of the world. Of course, I still stay gluten and dairy free <><><><><><><><><><> A malfunctioning protein that regulates metal metabolism could be the cause of autism, a debilitating developmental condition that afflicts thousands of children, a study released Thursday said. US researchers reported that a staggering 99 per cent of the autistic children they studied showed a chemical imbalance in blood levels of copper and zinc, suggesting that the protein family that regulates the use of these two metals is malfunctioning. The suspect metallothionein (MT) proteins control brain cell development and are essential for ridding the body of certain toxins. Their impairment could account for the stunted cognitive development and gastrointestinal problems commonly seen in autistic children. <><><><><><><><><><> You are ignoring the possibility indeed the fact of circulatory dysfunction at the cellular level leading to the accumulation of waste products in the muscles and directly to refractory factigue. The same damage to the cell may lead to brain damage. Well there are lots of specific diseases with fatigue as a symptom and some are very difficult to diagnose. While electrical signals are generated it is due to the movement of chemicals between the neuronal connections. Of course gross movements such as the "galvanic response" may be induced by external voltage but in the natural situation chemicals are used to move minute electrical charges. If there is a shortage of chemicals to move the charges then the movement of the body is affected. The point to examine is pituitary function etc. Actually it would appear more likely that a damaged immune system would lead to candidiasis (yeast) overgrowth and the yeast overgrowth would lead to leaky gut. Please note that coffee does not leak into the blood stream but is absorbed very quickly and acts over about 20 minute period. It works in part by destroying the insulation on the nerves. For some people including myself it is highly addictive and use will give one migraine-like headaches and quitting use will give a caffeine sensitive person a very violent migraine like withdrawal headache. The best way to keep the brain functioning is to keep learning and this leads the neurons to keep making new connections. I find that attempting to analogise the brain's internal functions to a communication facility is very poor practice. The brain is not truely electrical but produces electrical signals as a by product of it's chemical production and transference of chemical signals across the neuronal connections. In this it more resembles an ant colony or a bee hive where chemical signals are supplemented by physical signaling. But the brains chemical signals not only affect itself but the rest of the body as well. If part of the brain is eroded by whatever cause then the body's functions will be affected. <><><><><><><><>< See how bacterial infection can also cause immune response to attack healthy cells and proteins. Basically they mimic enemy cells at the molecular level. Lymphocytes quickly destory the healthy cells as well. http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/salmonellaai.html <><><><><><><><><> Re: the mercury - you will notice that some people have talked about having their mercury fillings replaced....the idea is that mercury can break off and get into the body. If you would suspect mercury poisoning, research "glutathione zinc" ...glutathione is an amino acid that detoxes. I think mercury tends to prevent it from detoxing. Glutathione should bound with zinc. I guess I am going to strike out regarding Dr. Shattock's research into IAG and gulf war veterans. I once went to a lecture he gave here in the states, and he mentioned GWV and IAG, and it used to be mentioned on his web site. Alas, it's not there any longer. IAG - indoyl acryl glycine is a substance secreted in the urine...seems to be a by-product of the incomplete metabolic pathway involving tryptophan. Folks with a disrupted pathway secrete IAG. Normal folks don't secrete it, and Dr. S. was implying that Gulf War veterans had a disrupted pathway. Here's a link. You will have to immerse yourself into his website, it's crammed with info! (it's a large number of webpages and articles: http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/ps97.htm Also, here's a website in the states that can test for IAG (The U of Sunderland also tests for it. I'm only mentioning it because it might further enlighten you.) http://www.antibodyassay.com/urinary.htm There's a little bit more....someone has suggested that this IAG might be similar in shape to a useful enzyme called biotinadase. Biotinadase is the vitamin biotin and the amino acid lysine. I have not been able to get this confirmed. From my research Biotinadase seems to help in the digestion of complex carbs. it's implied that the body was trying to use IAG when there wasn't enough biotinadase, or that IAG was interfering in biotinadase metabolism. As I said, this was never confirmed, but I am a person who has problems digesting complex carbs....with a family history of autism. I find that I think better on the lysine and biotin. There's another really interesting piece of news that's come out on the autism front, about a protein called reelin that seems to be identical to the opiods that Dr. Reichelt has found (casein intolerance). Let me know if you want that also. But I'm really sorry I can't find you the confirmation that the disruption of metabolism of Gulf War Veterans has been identified! Another source of stomach lining problem comes from ulcers. These can be caused by excess caffeine, too much eating rushed eating, alcohol, etc. It is also aggravated/caused by H.Pylori. An organism which is resistant to Garlic! Use instead Ginger. Ginseng, Golden seal, etc instead. Also garlic though it will cut down yeast and other harmful GI organism it will irritate ulcers even more. The ulcer may not cause obvious or direct pain, but may lead to bleeding which may or may not be detected by the human eye. This bleeding causes tiredness and weakness. It can cause cloudy BMs and/or black tarry stools. It also causes a chronic lack of refreshing sleep. There may also be dizziness or a light-headed feeling. Perhaps this problem is compounded by food intolerance. Note: Pure filtered coffee does not seem to have the same effect on ulcers as unfiltered instant coffee. Even decaffeinated coffee acts like ordinary unfiltered coffee in this case. Some beers(controls H.Pylori), antibiotics and liquid Antacid keep ulcers DOWN. Swallowing a small amount of powerful antiseptic diluted(one part antiseptic to five parts water) also gives instant and temporary relief from H.Pylori/ulcers. Ulcers are made worse by aspirins, Ibruofen, etc (which thin the blood???) Diet is very important as well. Avoid fat or oily foods, fast foods, chocolate, citric acid, salt, spicy food, etc. Citric acid is often used as a preservative. Preservatives in general also contain gluten, etc, etc, etc. Drink green tea to soothe ulcer. Ulcers are an easily overlooked source of energy loss and lethargy <><><><><><><><><> I wish you all well. Anand. Sikh Philosophy: Truth is Heaven.