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Transplants and Building The Immune System

Question:

Hi, I love your products and educational materials. My father is 74 and had a kidney transplant about 2 years ago. He takes medication to supress his immune system. How does taking immune boosting products affect him? Is this advisable?

Answer:

Immune boosting supplements would be contraindicated.

Unfortunately, one of the results of many medical procedures is that they are "subtractive." That is, if you opt for them, they "subtract out" other options. If you have had a transplant, for example, and are on immunosuppressant drugs, your doctor now controls your supplement agenda. You must check with your doctor before you take anything since supplements that would normally be beneficial might now be harmful.

Natural healing options, on the other hand, tend to be additive. You can use changes in diet, in addition to neutraceuticals, in addition to herbal supplements, etc. If used intelligently, the use of one does not obviate the use of the other -- but in fact reinforces it.

Related Articles: Heart Health, Immunity

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Comments

Submitted by EMMA LIM (not verified) on September 4, 2008 - 5:29pm.

Hi! You mentioned that ""If you have had a transplant, for example, and are on immunosuppressant drugs, your doctor now controls your supplement agenda. You must check with your doctor before you take anything since supplements that would normally be beneficial might now be harmful."" My Mother-in-law had total knee replacement 4 5years ago and underwent a revision last 3 months ago. Now she is not under medication and her surgeon said supplements are not harmful. But since she still feels some pains (arthritic & rheumatic), tingling & numbness from time to time of the day, besides the maximum dosage of systemic enzymes (almost 2 years of Vitalzym) & Krill oil she is currently taking, what supplements would you like to recommend to her from your product lines? I am new to your web site and has just subscribed today and I was also about to place order of Zyflamend from NewCharter and Glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM combination until I come across your web site. I wish you can help us. Thanks Emma

Submitted by Gary Somerville (not verified) on March 26, 2009 - 11:35am.

As a kidney transplant patient, I relate personally to your comments, especially about checking with the doctor on things. As a followup on this issue of building the immune system, I have been very interested in your comments about pathogen killers. I have wanted to take advantage of these, but have not done so since I am very careful not to take anything that would increase my suppressed immune system. But I read recently where Dr. Jonathon Wright stated that with respect to olive leaf extract ""in combination with echinacea, it packs a ""one-two"" punch, since olive leaf directly kills germs, and echinacea boosts the immune system."" I was hoping you could offer additional insight on this aspect of olive leaf extract. Thanks! Gary

Submitted by jonbarron on March 27, 2009 - 1:46am.

For someone who has had an organ transplant, pathogen destroyers such as olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, garlic, and grapefruit seed extract make much more sense than immune boosters. They work by directly killing pathogens in your body -- not by ramping up your immune system. For more information on how antipathogens work, click here.

Submitted by jonbarron on September 5, 2008 - 2:03am.

Emma:

For obvious legal reasons, we cannot diagnose or prescribe on this website -- merely provide information. That said...

A knee replacement is not a transplant. The same rules do not apply. You are not subjected to a lifetime of immunosuppressant drugs so, as your mother-in-law's doctor indicated, using supplements is not necessarily a problem. You might want to check out the blog at http://www.jonbarron.org/blog_published/2006/12/rheumatoid_arthritis_and_seron.html. And you also might find http://www.jonbarron.org/anti-aging-program/08-29-2005.php useful.

Submitted by Patrick (not verified) on August 23, 2007 - 12:12pm.

I just had a BTA test which revealed that my kidneys and adrenals are severely stressed. The thyroid is also under some stress. Everything else checks out pretty well. I'm hoping you can give some guidance on some supplement options for this (I am on the baseline of health program for about a month)?