Sjogren's Syndrome
Natural Remedies

Sjogren's Syndrome - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Mar 12, 2024
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Castor Oil Remedy on Earth Clinic.

Sjogren's Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder (much like arthritis or lupus) that characteristically attacks the mucous membranes and results in symptoms of  dry mouth and sore, dry eyes. Typically, Sjogren's (pronounced SHOW-grins) affects more women than men and emerges after the age of 40.

Natural remedies for Sjorgren's syndrome involve phytotherapy (aka medical herbalism), which is a medical practice supported by scientific research but applies a more traditional approach using medicinal herbs. Since Sjogren's causes dryness of the eyes and mouth, certain common foods and herbs like ginger, apples, chamomile, and cucumber contain elements that help produce fluids the body needs.

5 Natural Remedies for Sjorgen's

1. Apples

Apples are one of the most effective home remedies to alleviate Sjogren's symptoms. The vitamin C and anti-oxidant properties of apples boost the body's immunity, important to Sjogren's patients.  

This fruit's best-known benefit is aiding dental care, which explains why it is a recommended natural remedy for the disease.  Consuming an apple stimulates the secretion of saliva, an alkaline compound, triggering its antibacterial properties. The apple pulp, which contains fiber, cleanses the teeth and gums.

Sjogren's syndrome also affects the eyes and an apple's antioxidant phytonutrients and flavonoid compounds lowers the impact of free radicals in the eyes, which leads to the prevention of eye diseases and macular degeneration.

2. Chamomile

Chamomile, a medicinal herb, has components that boost immunity, which makes it on the list of Sjogren's syndrome's natural remedies. The tea's phenolic compounds can prevent infections and strengthen the immune system.

3. Cucumber

Cucumber has always been associated with helping with weight loss. But it also has qualities that can qualify it as one of the natural remedies for Sjogren's syndrome. The topical use of cucumber slices to help relieve puffy eyes is not just for aesthetic purposes. This regular habit can also help prevent dryness associated with Sjogren's Syndrome as a cucumber is not only hydrating but also extremely cooling to the eyes.

4. Ginger

Ginger is among the plants with the most medicinal benefits. It's been used as a hot drink to cure gingivitis, periodontitis, and even sore throats. Ginger's bioactive compound called gingerol has potent anti-inflammatory effects that can help ease the dryness of the mouth. Additionally, ginger can impede the development of many types of bacteria and bacteria is one of the causes of Sjogren's syndrome.

5. Green Tea

Green tea often comes out on top of the natural remedies for Sjorgren's syndrome. There have been known benefits of green tea such as aiding in losing weight and helps in the prevention of eye disease and protects the vision.  From the research conducted by the medical researchers of the Medical College of Georgia, the EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) component of the plant helps prevent inflammation. They also found out that the group treated with green tea extract experienced less damage in the salivary glands than the group given with water treatment.

What Causes Sjogren's Syndrome?

The cause or causes of Sjogren's syndrome remains unknown in spite of the medical breakthroughs.

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder which means that the immune system mistakenly attacks your body's own cells and tissues. Some health professionals point to genetics as a risk factor for the disease. The disease is known to specifically target the glands that produce body fluids, such as tears and saliva.

Age is included as one of the significant risk factors for Sjogren's together with age. The incidence of the disease usually happens to women over the age of 40. However, professionals don't discount the possibility of suffering from it at any age.

Common Symptoms and signs of Sjogren's

Because Sjogren’s affects multiple organ systems, signs and symptoms besides dry mouth and dry eyes include:

Chronic Oral Yeast Infections
Vaginal Dryness
Kidney Problems
Thyroid disorder
Chronic Dry Cough 
Hoarseness
Sinusitis 
Bronchitis
Pneumonia 
Extreme Sensitivity to Cold
Fatigue
Dry Skin 
Rashes 
Digestive Problems 
Gluten Sensitivity
Kidney Problems
Brain Fog
Memory Problems
Numbness, tingling and burning pain in the feet and hands
Loss of Taste or Changes to Taste
Enlarged Parotid Glands

The disease was named after Dr. Henrik Sjögren, a Swedish ophthalmologist who identified it in 1933 after determining that a number of his female patients had dry mouth and eyes, two common symptoms of the disorder.

One of the most common complications of Sjogren's Syndrome is dental cavities because the salivary glands are unable to secrete saliva. Saliva helps protect against periodontal disease and decay. Teeth are continuously covered with a layer of saliva. Saliva has antimicrobial agents which help kill bacteria in the mouth.

Two more common symptoms of Sjogren's are corneal damage since the eyes can't produce tears, and yeast infections, either on the vagina or the mouth.

Even though Sjogren's is one of the three most common autoimmune disorders, it is often missed by doctors.  According to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, it may take up to three years to get a correct diagnosis of this condition. Only through blood tests can the disease can be diagnosed appropriately. 1

Physicians diagnose Sjogren's syndrome through sialogram, an X-ray that will help show the amount of saliva is produced. The salivary scintigraphy is a nuclear medicine test that tracks how fast the injected radioactive stope can reach the salivary glands.

Even if it usually affects two organs of the body -- mouth and eyes -- Sjogren's affects the entire body. Initially, patients will experience mild discomfort but as it progresses, it can be debilitating and may change day-to-day life.

While genes are a risk factor, prevention and early detection could help in avoiding the some of the most severe effects of the disease. It can damage other parts of the body such as joints, kidneys, liver, lungs, nerves, skin, and thyroid.

Because the leading cause of Sjogren's remains unknown, holistic treatment is usually about relieving the symptoms.

Continue reading below to learn which natural remedies have helped Earth Clinic readers over the years!


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Castor Oil

Posted by Mary (Utica, New York) on 12/03/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've used Castor oil in my eyes for years. At night I place Castor oil all around my eyes. I then with a dropper place the organic castor oil in my eyes. Then I place plastic wrap over my eyes. My eyes stay moist all night. The wrap stays on my face because of the oil on my face.

If your eyes feel bad enough you will do this, and be happy you did. 👍Trust me I've tried EVERYTHING, I know this works.


Dietary Changes

Posted by Gokhals (Ca, US) on 12/29/2014 34 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Raw milk. A high fat (high quality Ghee, butter, lard, tallow) diet. Digestives such as kraut, kvass, acv, enzymes to enable you to digest proteins. Pesticide free food.

My Sjorgens Syndrome was cured from some combination of these.


Borage Oil

Posted by Mary (Denver, Colorado) on 01/22/2013
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

In response to Angela's post:

09/26/2008: Angela from Broomfield, CO: "A couple times a year I have a painful swelling of one of the parotid glands (main salivary gland) on either side of my face due to Sjogren`s syndrome. I have had this many times before and have never been able to stop the pain and swelling which usually lasts for 2 weeks...until now. I tried the castor oil heat pack the first night, leaving it on over night and woke up with no pain! The gland is still sore to the touch, but I have never experience such relief without the use of corticosteroids. I will continue to use this method from now on. I am a believer!"

Warm pack of castor oil for relief is good to know. I also suffered from inflamation of the salvary and parrotid glands. These glands become sore and enlarged because they do not have the right nutrients to manufacture saliva. Because they are depleted and still trying to work they become larger and painful. It is important to relieve these glands.

In 1985 when I first had the symptoms of Sjogrens with a vengence and found only topical drops for tears, saliva etc, it was apparent to me I needed to find out what was causing this in my body (female, 43 yrs). By luck I found a report serendititously offered at a symposeum by a doctor who reported that while he was not looking for relief for dry eyes among the fishing population which were his test subjects, that was their unamous report to him. He had been giving them an oil extracted from borage. I found borage oil at a small speciality store for vitamins and supplements. Within a few weeks of taking the oil pretty liberally my painfully eyes were relieved and the glands in my face became soft and pain free.

If is the gamma linoleic acid in the tasteless oil which my body needed. Its clear that while the precursors may be in my body, I did not have the ability to convert them into gamma linoleic acid. Once this was supplied the endocrine glands which secrete saliva and tears as well as many other glands such as the liver and pancreas, sweat and mucus in the lining of the reproductive tract, as well as the mamary glands functioned well. One terrific happy result was that the painful fibrous tissue in the breast became soft and pain free.

That been my experience and if it can help someone else be pain free that would give me great pleasure.

Mary


Castor Oil

Posted by Angela (Broomfield, CO) on 09/26/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

A couple times a year I have a painful swelling of one of the parotid glands (main salivary gland) on either side of my face due to Sjogren`s syndrome. I have had this many times before and have never been able to stop the pain and swelling which usually lasts for 2 weeks...until now. I tried the castor oil heat pack the first night, leaving it on over night and woke up with no pain! The gland is still sore to the touch, but I have never experience such relief without the use of corticosteroids. I will continue to use this method from now on. I am a believer!



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