When you believe in fairy tales, anything is possible.
When you believe in modern medicine, there are some limitations.
However, the new use of low-dose naltrexone might seem like a fairy tale to some people who are living with autoimmune diseases, like Behcet’s disease, or certain cancers.
Why might this be advantageous?
Well, simply put, a small dose of naltrexone at night could release endorphins that destroy cancer cells with endorphin receptors and increase by two or three-fold the number of killer cells in the immune system.
Now, when they say a small dose, they mean a smaaaaaaaaaaall dose: just 3mg.
Otherwise, naltrexone is typically used at 50mg to help counteract the effects of opium and heroin, usually in people who have overdosed or are actively trying to overcome their addiction.
But a study done of low dose naltrexone showed promise in people with fibromyalgia. And those of us who live everyday with the joy of chronic pain brought on by autoimmune disease should have some hope that it could work for us, too.
Some of the conditions that may be helped by this treatment include:
- Behcet’s disease
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Lupus (SLE)
- HIV/AIDS
- Prostate Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- and many, many more.
While the possibility that one drug may help with that many different conditions may make it appear a bit like a snake oil wonder drug, the common denominator in all of those diseases is the involvement of the immune system. And naltrexone helps improve the function of the immune system.
But of course, as well-informed self-advocates, you’re not going to trust the word of one article. You’re going to do your research!
So here are some places for you to get started!
- Clinical Trial Data
- Low Dose Naltrexone
- Patient Forums
And of course, not that you all need reminding, but always talk about these things with your doctor first!
