Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a drug you probably haven’t heard about. I had no idea what it was until my Integrative Lyme MD suggested I try it. Since that day, I’ve heard so many amazing stories of people taking this harmless drug. Regular Naltrexone was used years ago for heroine addicts and alcoholics. On the other hand, this LOW DOSE version of Naltrexone has shown amazing benefits for autoimmune diseases, chronic pain and infections. So, what does it do?
LDN helps reduce inflammation in your nervous system, which is amazing if you suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Lyme, thyroid, and depression. It works by blocking receptors on your cells that allow natural endorphins in. What are Endorphins? Well, endorphins are compounds you make when you feel good, have sex, eat amazing food or working out. Endorphins increase your pain threshold and we WANT them inside our cells. When LDN blocks the cells, they have a shortage on endorphins and send messages to your brain to ask for more endorphins. Therefore, your body makes more endorphins in response to not having enough.
Here are a few conditions that are helped from LDN:
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Parkinson’s
- Celiac
- Hashimoto’s
- Graves
- Lupus
- Chron’s
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sjogren’s
LDN turns on your ‘T regulatory’ cells. These cells make sure that inflammatory chemicals are secreted appropriately to help you when injured and then to halt your inflammation when you’re healed. Now, if you do not stop the production of inflammatory chemicals (also known as cytokines) then your body starts attacking absolutely everything in sight such as mold, dust, pollen, etc. as well as your joints, adrenals, thyroid, heart or myelin sheath around your nerve endings.
Most people take 1-3mg at bedtime. Side effects are minimal- vivid dreams or sleep disturbance (at first). I had no idea how much Integrative MD’s liked using this drug because it helps people who have pain while they’re working at the same time with getting to the ROOT cause of your health issues, which is the most important thing.
That said, LDN can be used while you’re working with your Integrative MD to get to the underlying cause of your pain and chronic health concerns.
I am not a doctor. This information is not intended to cure or diagnose anyone. This is simply the protocol that I followed for my Estrogen Dominance. Please consult your medical doctor for treatment. It is essential to work with an Integrative M.D. because I am sharing general information that is not intended to be medical advice. This information is only given for informational purposes.
