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Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

Endocrine Disorders and Meniere’s Disease

Endocrine Disorders and Meniere's Disease

The connection between endocrine disorders and Meniere’s Disease has been discussed and studied since late 1950’s and early 60’s. The thyroid is part of the endocrine system and as I pointed out in my recent lengthy article, Thyroid Dysfunction Connections to Meniere’s Disease , according to studies over one 3rd of Meniere’s sufferers have thyroid issues.

Add to this fact that there has been a 600% increase in Meniere’s cases in Fukushima following the disaster at the nuclear power plant in 2011, adrenal and metabolic issues have been linked to Meniere’s and we see a pattern through the endocrine-thyroid-immune system with many cases of Meniere’s.

In addition to this, we have long preached the importance of dietary considerations, nutrition and keeping the immune system strong and healthy in order to stay symptom free, regardless of the particular root cause(s) of the inflammation within the ear (there are several possibilities and every case is different).

By joining the dots, we can see that it is vital to keep everything in balance. For example, adrenal stressors such as stress, allergies, poor nutrition, toxins, lack of sleep, gut irritating foods, some prescription drugs and caffeine have been linked to Meniere’s either as triggers or root causes.

The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. Stressed adrenal glands can result in endocrine imbalances, thyroid dysfunction and can possibly ultimately result in the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. As with all possible root causes of Meniere’s, it can lead to a domino effect and underscores the difficulty for the medical community in pinpointing a definitive cause. That is because there is no one definitive root cause. There are many, but as I point out in the book Managing Meniere’s Disease, that doesn’t mean you can not find yours and eliminate it from your life though.

In a 1977 German study published on Pub Med it concluded “This would result in reduced generation of the receptor potentials as well as in decreased activities of the first order afferent neurons as it was supposed earlier by other authors. This mechanism may be combined with a decompensation of active ion transport processes due to microcirculation disturbances. Finally it will be pointed out that true ruptures of the endolymphatic walls cannot be the usual mode of reversible lesions in Menières disease but a diffuse leakage of the perilymph-endolymph barrier.”

Blood flow is also an issue with Meniere’s Disease. Prescription drugs or supplements have been used to treat Meniere’s symptoms by promoting good blood flow. “Microcirculation disturbances” are an issue with Meniere’s.

A study was published in 2011 from The Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan titled “The relevance of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis-related hormones to the cochlear symptoms in Ménière’s disease”.

The study was done to investigate the association of the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical) axis-related hormones with the progression of cochlear symptoms in patients with Ménière’s disease.

Their reported conclusion was: “Our results suggest that the cortisol levels influence the endolymphatic homeostasis resulting in a deterioration of hearing at high frequency with upstaging of Ménière’s disease.

In layman’s terms, the balance of fluids within the endolymphatic system was affected by hormones produced by the adrenal gland and endocrine system.

Why would the endocrine system not function as it should and what can you do about this?

Something that disrupts the endocrine system can affect the adrenal gland, thyroid and metabolism causing all kinds of related health issues that doctors have difficulty finding the root cause of. All of the above have been linked Meniere’s Disease.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that throw the endocrine system out of balance and as this system is the main hormone regulator, as stated above this can cause all kinds of knock on effects, dysfunctions and disorders, including ultimately the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease.

Chemicals like BPA and phthalates are surprisingly used all around us in daily life and can infiltrate our body in many unsuspected ways. Most people are completely unaware of the toxins and health damaging chemicals that saturate our environment and directly enter our bodies everyday.

One of the reasons for this is the proliferation of plastics used today. Everything from food containers and drink bottles, to cosmetic and skin care product containers. Plastic is one of the main sources of endocrine disruptors. But it doesn’t stop there. Substances and materials used in paper receipts, tin cans, electronics and even money are common everyday items that contain endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Efforts by the European Union have been made to ban endocrine disruptors in all products but with the power of Billion dollar corporations whose only concern is profit the going is very slow.  With the introduction of recent global “trade deals” such as TTP it may become increasingly difficult to control the use of such harmful toxins in our lives.

Endocrine disruptors are commonly found in personal items, medicines, and cleaning products.  Things we use to protect ourselves from harm can actually be harming us in different unintended ways. Sunscreen is a classic example.

The reproductive organs are part of the endocrine system. A recent study found a chemical in sunblock has been linked to infertility in men, and another noted that phthalates in toys cause many of the same issues.

Dr Edward Group of the Global Healing Center in Texas explains how endocrine distruptors are such a huge health problem:

“Constant exposure to endocrine disruptors is like putting a drop of water in the gas tank of a car. One drop may not have a major impact, but drip by drip, the car soon breaks down.

Endocrine disruptors do the same thing to the human body. Unlike the car, before the body breaks down its main systems go haywire and present symptoms such as infertility, weight gain, cardiac disease, dementia, and so much more. That’s because hormones from endocrine organs, such as the thyroid, pituitary gland, testes, ovaries, pancreas, adrenal glands, and even the gastrointestinal tract, control every function in the body.”

Endocrine disruptors to avoid:

  • Organophosphate Pesticides

The overuse of pesticides in modern forced food production is discussed elsewhere on this website. It doesn’t take a genius to put 2 and 2 together to realize that the explosion of degenerative diseases over the past half century or so coincides with the introduction and proliferation of forced farming techniques that have robbed the soils of their mineral content and consequently resulted in the over use of chemical fertilizers and more and more pesticides.

Pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits are one of the most common ways we consume dangerous chemicals. Organophosphate pesticides have been shown to cause infertility in men, slow brain development in children, and have even been shown to affect thyroid function.

The only way to avoid these toxins is to eat organic. If that is impossible then regular detoxing and/or using quality, clean, safe dietary supplementation would seem very wise.

  • 17a-Ethynylestradiol

Estrogen mimickers abound in consumer products these days, causing all kinds of problems but 17a-Ethynylestradiol is a synthetic form of estrogen and the only one that remains active when taken orally. Currently, this synthetic hormone can be found in all forms of oral birth control.

Perhaps its most dangerous side effect is increasing the chances of breast cancer. Even the US government ( not known for over protecting its consumer public much in recent times) has had to acknowledge the dangers of this chemical.

  • PBDEs

PBDEs are fire retardants used in mattresses and other furniture and household goods. Normally exposure is associated with dust but according to a study published in the USA in 2009 one of the major sources of exposure to PBDEs was red meat and poultry!  The study analyzed data from 2004 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

The study found serum levels of 5 different PBDEs were associated with eating poultry. People who ate more poultry  had higher levels of the PBDEs. Poultry fat was the greatest contributor to the body’s burden of PBDEs.

Red meat intake was associated with two of the measured PBDE levels. Seafood and dairy were not associated with any changes in the PBDE levels in serum.

Vegetarians had 23-27 percent less PBDEs circulating in their serum as compared to meat-eaters.

The highest levels of PBDEs were found in males, the youngest age group examined (12-19 yrs old), the poor and the underweight (subjects with lowest BMI).

This study indicates that food is a more important route than previously thought. A number of scientific studies have suggested that PBDE levels in food supplies are rising.

The toxic garbage that ends up on our plate in the form of meat is the subject of a whole book but why is this all significant to the Meniere’s sufferer?

PBDEs, or polybrominated diethyl ethers, disrupt thyroid function by blocking the uptake of iodine, eventually taking its place in the thyroid.  Because of this action, they also mimic and disrupt thyroid hormones.

As already stated above, over a 3rd of Meniere’s sufferers have thyroid issues and this may contribute to the root cause. Read about the importance of iodine and thyroid dysfunction connections to Meniere’s Disease here.

  • Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals used as plastic additives for durability and flexibility. The negative health effects of these chemicals have been constantly reported in various studies all across the world. They can easily leach into water so people drinking water from pet-bottles are the most susceptible to chronic exposure. Again the proliferation of pet-bottle use for water over the past 30 years can be correlated to the rise in so many serious diseases and health conditions.

These chemicals have been linked to infertility in men, obesity, diabetes, and thyroid conditions. Returning to the old ways of storing foods and liquids in glass whenever possible would seem wise, or choose phthalate-free varieties if possible.

  • BPA

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well known health hazard yet they still manage to permeate their way into our food and environment.  Its use has continued in plastic bottles, dental sealants, cell phone protectors, water pipes and it even coats store receipts.

This toxin easily leaches from containers and can absorb through the skin on contact; studies have found people who handle receipts have this chemical in their urine just a few hours later.  According to government research, 93% of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.

Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.

First synthesized in 1891, bisphenol A came into use as a synthetic estrogen in the 1930s. Later, chemists discovered that, combined with phosgene (used during World War I as a toxic gas) and other compounds, BPA yielded the clear, polycarbonate plastic of shatter-resistant headlights, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and baby bottles.

BPA is another estrogen mimicer. When it enters the body the endocrine system thinks it is estrogen and this throws hormonal balance out of sync.

Geneticist Patricia Hunt wrote in ‘Scientific America’ in 2008 of her studies into BPA, that with one dose of exposure in lab mice, “We’re actually affecting three generations simultaneously.”  She explained, “With hormones (and estrogen mimicers like BPA), she says, high doses can sometimes “shut down” the body’s response, and low doses are enough to exert effects.”

It would seem wise to choose BPA-free storage containers and use glass whenever possible.

  • Perchlorate

Primarily used in rocket fuel, explosives, fireworks and fertilizers, yet water contains the highest concentrations. According to the Water Research Foundation perchlorate contamination was found in ground water, surface water and drinking water in at least 26 US states as well as Canada. Although at very low levels it can be found naturally occurring, for a number of mainly industrial reasons high levels of contamination have been found everywhere from India to the UK.

Similarly to PBDEs, perchlorate replaces iodine in the thyroid and leads to decreased thyroid activity. Symptoms of decreased thyroid activity include weight gain, poor energy, depression and of course most importantly for readers of this website, decrease thyroid activity is linked to Meniere’s Disease.

The best solution to prevent damage from this endocrine disruptor is to ensure you are getting enough quality iodine on a daily basis and to use a high-quality water filter may also help filter out perchlorate and other contaminants.

  • Arsenic

This highly toxic element naturally occurs in trace amounts deep within the earth’s crust, but can enter water supplies through mining, industrial practices and agriculture.

The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states that it is hazardous to human health. Scientific American published an article in 2011 with headlines, ‘Many U.S. Drinking Water Wells Contaminated with Arsenic, Other Elements‘ stating it is a national problem, scattered in every region.

Exposure to arsenic can result in insulin resistance, immune system suppression, slowed cognitive development, cardiovascular damage, and weight gain/loss. The best way to protect against arsenic is to install a water filter, one that specifically contains the ability to remove arsenic.

  • Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

It’s estimated that 99% of Americans have PFC accumulation in their bodies. PFCs are commonly used to make non-stick pans. During cooking, some of these chemicals escape into your food and have the power to accumulate in your body. Once it’s there, it can be very difficult to remove.

PFCs disrupt hormone function and have been tied to infertility, ineffective sperm, heart disease, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and low birth-weight in babies. In a study for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 it was confirmed PFCs, especially PFOA and PFHxS, negatively affect thyroid hormone levels.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the CDC, PFCs can among many other things,  alter thyroid functions and the immune system. They state that completely preventing exposure to PFCs is unlikely, however, if you live near known sources of PFC contamination, you can take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to PFCs. Minnesota, Michigan, and Alabama have issued advisories cautioning consumers to either stop or limit eating fish from waters contaminated with PFOS or other PFCs.

Avoiding non-stick cookware, checking packaging and clothing labels may help you to avoid PFCs, and a deep and thorough cleansing may be helpful for removing built up levels of PFCs in the body.

  • Mercury

Mercury toxicity is a well known possible root cause of Meniere’s Disease, usually from leakages in amalgam fillings.

Mercury also attacks the pancreas in the endocrine system, thereby affecting insulin production. It can also result in headaches. Many people with Meniere’s symptoms also suffer from Migraines. High mercury counts have been found in fish in recent years and the type of new CFL light bulbs contain dangerous levels of mercury. In fact, if one of these light bulbs break, it’s recommended you evacuate the area to prevent exposure.

A whole host of health problems can occur from mercury exposure depending on the source, if it is organic mercury, inorganic mercury or elemental and vaporized mercury. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, the immune system and cause hearing loss.

Mercury is known to be the most poisonous, non-radioactive, naturally occurring substance on our planet and The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is no safe level of mercury. Mercury toxicity from amalgam can take a long time to accumulate. It’s a scientific fact that toxic mercury vapor can continually be released from amalgam fillings. 80% of it enters the body and accumulates in it.

Many people have stopped all Meniere’s symptoms after removing amalgam fillings and detoxing. Exposure to mercury in general is known to cause nausea/vomiting, dizziness, ringing in ears, sinusitis, lack of concentration/brain fog, allergies and water retention (edema). All of these are known Meniere’s symptoms or triggers.

It is also connected to these diseases related to the endocrine system: Hormonal dysfunction, Immune system disorders, Metabolic encephalopathy, Thyroid disease.

Dr Tom McGuire, a “Mercury free’ dentist has campaigned for years for the banning of the practice of using amalgam fillings and written several acclaimed books on the subject, including how to detoxify naturally.

  • Dioxin

Dioxin is recognized by the US government as an endocrine disruptor, yet the environment continues to be polluted. Research connects dioxin, a by product of many industrial processes, with heart disease, diabetes, reduced fertility, poor sperm activity and low sperm counts.

Meats and other food products which contain animal products provide the majority of exposure to Americans. It accumulates in fat and can remain for years, slowly poisoning us and slowly resulting in disease states.

  • Alcohol

Even if you never drink, alcohol can still be a relevant endocrine disruptor for you to consider. Alcohol has the power to negatively affect glands associated with the secretion and regulation of hormones, like the pituitary gland, possibly leading to complications with the body’s ability to maintain normal hormonal balance.

The pituitary gland, for example, synthesizes and secretes essential healing and repair hormones, such as human growth hormone (HGH). This gland has been shown to experience noticeable impairment from alcohol exposure.

Insulin, an important hormone that regulates blood sugar, can be severely impacted from prolonged alcohol consumption. Alcohol can also potentially impede the body’s ability to regulate and absorb calcium.

Even if you do not drink, topically applied alcohol can enter your bloodstream. The proliferation of alcohol (ethanol) hand cleansers means that more and more people are exposed to this endocrine disruptor.  Consider the rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet as another example.

Other common sources include body lotions, cosmetic oils (even baby oils), aftershave, air fresheners, eye makeup, shampoos, insect repellants, hair dyes, dishwasher and laundry detergents, paint, perfumes, deodorants, and cooking oils.

In the case of hand sanitizers, one study that focused on hospital employees found that over 30% exhaled low levels of ethanol just one minute after using hand sanitizer.  In one case, a one-month old baby suffering from lethargy was found to be intoxicated from an alcohol-soaked gauze used to treat the umbilical cord.

We already know that alcohol is a massive trigger for Meniere’s attacks so it would be prudent to avoid it completely, at least until you have recovered from Meniere’s.

The best way to minimize exposure is to avoid alcoholic beverages and check the ingredient lists of other products for alcohol, ethanol, ethyl alcohol, ethyl hydrate, ethyl hydroxide, and methylcarbinol. There are plenty of other non-alcoholic options available.

What can you do with so many toxins attacking your endocrine system?

While difficult, it is possible to take steps to avoid endocrine disruptors. If you eat meat or fish, choose organic, free-range, or wild sources. Buy fresh, organic produce as much as possible, and choose glass for food storage. Supplementing with the correct iodine to protect the thyroid can have dramatic results.  Regular cleansing to help the liver remove toxin accumulation would also seem prudent given the information above.

If you found this article useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles:

By Mike Spencer

Founder of Menieres-Help.Com – Supporting sufferers since 2004

Researcher and Author of Managing Menieres Disease and The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s

Help other Meniere’s sufferers. What are your experiences with Meniere’s and endocrine/thyroid issues? What made it worse and what helped? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading: Endocrine aspects of Meniere’s disease

Categories
Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

The Problem with Supplements for Meniere’s disease

Why some supplements may help you reduce your symptoms, while others may harm you

If you have ever searched for supplements to help reduce your Meniere’s symptoms, or for any other reason, you may have read the term ” Not all supplements are created equal”.

In recent years the focus of Menieres-Help.Com has been very much on identifying the root causes of Meniere’s symptoms and eliminating those causes and hopefully the symptoms from the sufferers life

We have always concentrated on triggers but in the formative years of this site being active we spread the word as much as we could about the concept of the right nutrition enabling sufferers to live free from symptoms and live a healthy normal life. This involves possible changes in diet, lifestyle and supplementing with quality nutriceuticals.

We have always put large emphasis on the word “quality” for good reason. Over a decade ago when we first started spreading the word about the supplements we use there was a lot substandard supplement products on the shelves of so called health food stores, supermarkets, high street pharmacies and spread all over the internet. You have to say it has gotten worse these days.

The US market is being flooded with supplements made in China that may have, shall we say, some ‘dubious’ ingredients.

That is not say China is any worse than the US, UK or other western countries. In fact there has always been a proliferation of these products that belong in the garbage can rather than in our stomachs. It is just now its even worse.

Moreover there are now reports of illegal copies of quality brands being shipped in from China and being sold online.

There are some fantastic products and brands out there but there are a whole lot more that are, ‘questionable’ to say the very least.

Way back in 2004 I checked the index chart results of independent quality testing for over a thousand products in the US, UK and Canada. In an index score of 300, most high street brands scores were pitifully low. One of the most popular brands in the UK at the time scored just 15 (out of 300!!)  Another brand that most people would trust from the name alone scored a pitiful 5!!

The supplements we have been using with such success for over a decade scored the maximum 300. If you think about this, it make perfect sense why the results people get when using supplementation is so varied. In terms of controlling Meniere’s symptoms, some see no improvement at all, some see partial improvement while others live completely free of their symptoms. It simply depends on what you use and the quality of what you use. Indeed, all supplements are NOT created equal.

The tests mentioned above were done by ‘Nutrisearch’ and published in their Comparative Guide Nutritional Supplements. The most recent edition was published in 2017: NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements for the Americas (English).  Not only do they publish their results but also give a thorough explanation of the importance of diet and nutrition to health and explain the relationship of oxidative stress and inflammation with the onset of disease and how what you eat and supplement with can prevent this.

For the 2015 edition their summary is as follows:

“The central roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in the onset of chronic degenerative disease are explained. The preventive roles of dietary antioxidants are discussed. The fundamental question of why we need to supplement is answered. The importance of supplementation with two ancient antioxidants, vitamin D and iodine, is highlighted.”

Why not all supplements are created equal

According to Dr Edward Group of the Global Healing Center in Texas,

“What people are not aware of is all vitamins are not created equal, and most are actually synthetic.

He goes on to say,

“A healthy, organic diet should provide a good amount of nutrients that the body needs, but supplements can help ensure that we are getting a healthy serving of specific vitamins.

The problem is that many vitamin and mineral supplements are manufactured synthetically with chemicals and do not come straight from their natural sources. They are made to mimic the way natural vitamins act in our bodies. Natural vitamins are derived directly from plant material containing the vitamin, not produced in a test tube.

Many synthetic vitamins lack the transporters and co-factors associated with naturally occurring vitamins because they have been “isolated.” The Organic Consumers Association emphasizes that isolated vitamins cannot be used or recognized by the body in the same way as the natural version.

The natural form come in packages with other vitamins, enzymes and minerals that control the way the body recognizes, metabolizes and uses them to make what it needs.

Isolated vitamins can’t always be used by the body, and are either stored until you obtain or create the nutrients required to use them effectively or are excreted. Synthetic vitamins are also devoid of necessary trace minerals and must use the body’s own mineral reserves which may lead to dangerous mineral deficiencies.”

It is believed that today more than 95% of all the vitamin supplements sold are synthetic. When genuine quality supplements can do so much good, this proliferation both gives the concept of supplementation a bad name and puts many people off the idea due to poor results and bad press.

Synthetic vitamins contain chemical compounds that were not meant for human consumption and do not occur in nature.

Dr Group says,

“Fat soluble vitamins in their synthetic form are especially dangerous because they can build up in your fatty tissues and cause toxicity. The reason that the synthetic form is more dangerous is because you get a high, concentrated serving of the vitamin rather than the amount that you would get from a food-based form.”

  • Vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat soluble
  • Fat soluble vitamins are found naturally in butter, fish oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables
  • Excesses of fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues
  • Most people do not get sufficient amounts of fat soluble vitamins from their diet

Supplement manufacturing does not come under the same strict regulations as pharmaceuticals so there is a lot of room to fool the consumer with misleading labels and ingredient lists.

The label may state “natural” but in fact this is often not the case. The vitamins only have to be 10% natural for the manufacturer to able to label their product “natural”, meaning 90% of what you are consuming may be actually synthetic!

Dr Group insists that most Vitamin C and B Vitamin supplements are synthetic.

Organic Consumers Association – Natural Vs Synthetic vitamins

The Organic Consumers Association published an ingredient chart to help consumers identify natural vs. synthetic vitamins. Check the labels when you buy and avoid these synthetic versions.

  • Vitamin A: Retinyl Palmitate
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride
  • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin
  • Pantothenic Acid: Calcium D-Pantothenate
  • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
  • Vitamin B12: Cyanocobalamin
  • PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid): Aminobenzoic Acid
  • Folic Acid: Pteroylglutamic Acid
  • Choline: Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate
  • Biotin: d-Biotin
  • Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Ascorbic Acid
  • Vitamin D: Irradiated Ergosteral, Calciferol
  • Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate

Note that the “dl” form of any vitamin is synthetic.

When you wonder about the huge disparity in the prices of some supplements.  Supplements with all natural ingredients are produced by manufacturers who take great care in the process in which they extract nutrients and put the the supplements together. A few of the best companies choose to be regulated to pharmaceutical standards to ensure consumer confidence in the safety, potency and quality of their supplements.

Cheaper brands often have either useless or harmful fillers and binders in them. The consumer believes they are supporting or boosting their immune system and general health but in fact may be consuming toxic materials instead.

Avoid supplements with these toxic ingredients:

  • Magnesium stearate (or stearic acid)
  • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) disguised as “natural flavors”
  • Carnauba wax is used in car wax and shoe polish
  • Titanium dioxide is a carcinogen

On the one hand this information makes you realize why some people do not trust supplements and on the other makes me wonder how many people have tried cheap substandard brands and either gotten more sick or had no benefit whatsoever.

In both cases people have lost the opportunity to truly support their immune system adequately to enable it to deal with the inflammation causing their symptoms. They will have wasted time and money and ended up dismissing the very notion that nutrition actually matters so much. More importantly they will have continued to suffer needlessly.

I find this very frustrating and sad.

At the end of the day, although there are other important aspect to reducing your symptoms,  the quality of supplements you might use, not only matters but can be vital in managing your Meniere’s symptoms and your general health.

If you found this article useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

By Mike Spencer
Founder of Meniere’s Help – Supporting sufferers since 2004
Researcher and author of Managing Meniere’s Disease
and The Need for Balance – Dealing with Causes of Meniere’s

Help other Meniere’s sufferers

What is your experience with supplementation and Meniere’s – good or bad? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32189314/

Categories
General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Orthokine therapy for Meniere’s disease

Can this therapy heal Meniere’s disease?

Dr. Peter Wehling Founder of The Center for Molecular Orthopedics in Dusseldorf, Germany has developed a procedure where the patient’s own blood is taken, incubated and manipulated then reintroduced into the body and acts as a “natural” anti-inflammatory. Originally this was used for treating sports people to combat chronic pain, usually in joints. The treatment is called “Orthokine” therapy.

Orthokine Therapy is a form of injection therapy, which harnesses and enhances the bodies natural defense mechanisms against inflammation to reduce pain and improve function.

The Orthokine Procedure

  • Blood is taken from the patient. The procedure is carried out similarly to a blood sampling for laboratory testing and is not pain-associated
  • Blood is incubated at 37°C, which stimulates the production of IL-1Ra.
  • Using a laboratory centrifuge to separate the blood components, the protein is extracted
  • This extraction is filed in ampoules, later available in injection form
  • The protein is then injected within the painful area of the joints, using CT guidance

Typically, injections are given 1-2 times a week. Treatment for discogenic diseases requires 4 injections, while lesions of the joints of the extremities, a minimum of 6 injections are usually required. Following injections, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a period of 48 hours. Some side effects may include swelling and numbness around the injection site, which may last around 2 hours

The ear is affected by inflammation in Meniere’s disease and the procedure is said to have been developed further where it may be possible for the hearing and balance nerves damaged by Meniere’s to be healed. Dana White, the UFC President recently received this treatment in Germany is said to feel “cured”.

Orthokine therapy, if available to you, is certainly an option worth investigating.

Can Orthokine therapy work for Meniere’s disease?

Orthokine therapy may come at a cost of a five figure sum and although is becoming more available it is still quite rare (at the time of writing). If you have the kind of money Dana White has then it has to be an option worth considering but for the vast majority it may be financially and practically out of reach for the time being.

As orthokine therapy is not a recognized specific treatment for Meniere’s disease it is unlikely you will be able to get this offered on national health nor be covered by insurance. You will need to find a private clinic and talk about your options.

However, identifying the root cause of your symptoms, be it viral, spinal and neck misalignment, exposure to chemicals or drugs, autoimmune problems, dental or Jaw misalignments or whatever, is possible and it is also possible to reverse the long standing effects and results of years of vertigo attacks and constant pressure within the inner ear that have caused hearing deterioration and balance nerve damage.

If you found this article and site useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles:

Help other sufferers. Let us know your thoughts and any experience with Orthokine therapy in the comments box below or email Mike at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading:

https://hmcisrael.com/operation/orthokine-treatment/

Categories
Meniere's Disease Success Stories Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

Do Supplements help Meniere’s?

Do supplements help reduce the symptoms of Meniere’s?

Do supplements help Meniere’s? Read this case study below to see how supplements helped Malcom.

Malcolm, a high profile business leadership adviser from the UK……

9/19/09

I am doing well, feeling better and stronger generally. I am taking my tablets, staying off wine and bitter, if I do drink, I drink a good lager.
I have cut right back on salt, but still indulge in coffee. I feel least good when I am walking for some reason with my head fuzzy and I find it difficult to go in a straight line!

 Mar 28

I have been great for a couple of years now but have had a set back over the last few months.
I was worried about keeping on taking the supplements constantly so given that I felt ok i let things slide
and stopped taking the tablets. Needless to say within a week or so I had bad dizziness and hopeless hearing in my left
ear and I was back on the phone for more supplies and have been back on the pills for four weeks now.
I would say I am still a long way short of where i was before I stopped taking the pills. So, any more ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Malcolm Hewitt

Mike Spencer to Malcolm
show details Apr 4
Hi Malcom,

Good to hear from you. Sorry to hear you have had a setback……at least you know that the supplements can help you so you have that safety net……unlike many people who feel they have no hope with Menieres.

In addition the the supplements of course we always believe that taking great care with your diet, alcohol, lifestyle etc. keeping relatively fit and active and absolutely no smoking………if you would like some help with this just let me know.

How is your business??………are you managing ok with it?

Take Care and mail me anytime you like

Mike

Malcolm to me
show details Apr 23
Thanks Mike. The vertigo has go much better over the last few days.
Also being fitted with a hearing aid too 50% hearing loss now in my left ear.
Apart from that I am as fit as flea!

All the best,

Malcolm

Doing well thanks Michael. Had all my mercury fillings removed. Still taking what I would call a maintenance dose of the supplements and feeling great.

Malcolm
MALCOLM HEWITT

Do supplements help Meniere’s – what do you think?

Help other sufferers. What is your experience with Meniere’s disease and supplements? Did supplements help your reduce your symptoms?

Let us know your thoughts by using the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Related articles:

References/Further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30947172/

Categories
Meniere's Disease Success Stories Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

Supplements for Meniere’s Disease – Case Study

Supplements for Meniere’s Disease – case study

Jonas from Belgium has agreed to communicate for a case study using supplements to try and bring his Meniere’s Disease symptoms under control.

I asked him because he lives in Belgium and can not get hold of the exact same supplements used in the US, UK and other English speaking countries. There are many people who can not get access to the same supplements for one reason or another, be it they are in different country or they can’t afford it perhaps, so we want to help find alternatives for those people.

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Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 4:40 PM
Hi Mike,

Thanks for your reply!

I showed your site to a friend who studies alternative medicine, and he provided me with these products: MarinEPA (gold + vitamine D, supercritical Omega-3 supplements) from Minami Nutrition, a bottle of Ginkgo Biloba from Phyto Reform, and Multivitamins from OrtoPhyt.

If there’s anything missing, or if I should add anything, please let me know.

I’ve only been diagnosed six months ago, and for now, the symptoms are relatively mild: I suffer from tinnitus and low-frequency hearing loss, but not vertigo. However, since I’m a professional musician and filmmaker, I find this illness very distressing.

I’m really glad I found your site, since very little people in the medical world seem up to date about Menière’s.
Which reminds me: I’m also taking Betahistine (I think it’s called BetaSerc in the States) but am already lowering my dose,
since it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I hope this medicine doesn’t interfere with the products you recommend?

All the Best from Belgium,
Jonas Govaerts

Mike Spencer to Jonas
show details 4:48 PM
HI Jonas,

We use a Ginkgo which is important, a broad spectrum optimized multivitamin/mineral,
GRAPE SEED EXTRACT (is the main ingredient that helps inflammation….allegedly).

The Omega oils are a good addition because the Dr who originally put the program together added that a few years ago.

As you know the supplements will be available in Belgium soon but I am always looking for alternatives (cheaper) for people.
Would you mind if I followed your progress and put it as a case study on the blog to help others in your position?

I know its a lot to ask but it would help others

Take Care and mail me anytime

Mike

Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 5:24 PM
Hi Mike,

I don’t mind at all, I’ll keep you updated about my progress and you can ask me anything you want.

I’m also a member of the  group Youngsters With Menière’s, they’ve been a great help.
There’s so much misinformation on the net about the disease it’s always good to come in contact with people who know what their talking about and/or have lived through what I’m experiencing.

Just to be clear: do I still need to get the grape seed extract, or is that included in the Multivitamins?

Take Care,
Jonas

Jonas Govaerts to me

Hi Mike,

Just to give you the whole picture: I’m also trying acupuncture, and have recently received a steroid injection in my left eardrum.
I’ve experienced less pressure and tinnitus since then, but the hearing loss seems the same.
They’re doing a new audiogram next week, I’ll let you know if anything has changed.

I know of only two supplement stores in Antwerp, where I live, so please let me know if the new shop opens!

All Best,
Jonas

Mike Spencer to Jonas
show details 6:02 PM (7 minutes ago)

Thanks so much for your help Jonas. I am sure a lot of people will appreciate it 🙂

You will most probably have to get the grape seed extract separately, but check the labels for the ingredients….you never know.
And thanks for the advice about the group ‘Youngsters with Menière’s,’

Hope the first update is a positive one

Take Care and mail me anytime

Mike

Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 6:06 PM (3 minutes ago)

Okay, I’ll try to track it down!

Like I said, I’m ‘only’ suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus at the moment, but I understand the vertigo is a far worse symptom.
Hope I never have to experience it, but you never know with this unpredictable disease…

All Best,
Jonas

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