What kind of natural remedies are recommended for Sjogren's Syndrome?

Saliva is a fluid that is produced by glands around the mouth. Saliva is used to lubricate the mouth and capture any dirt, dust or foreign particles that enter the mouth. Saliva is also very important when it comes to the process of chewing and swallowing. The injection of saliva into the food makes it possible to swallow the food effortlessly. Saliva also helps to begin the process of breaking the food down for digestion and absorption into the body.

Sjorgen's syndrome or dry mouth syndrome is a condition where the glands that produce saliva are damaged. This condition is an auto immune condition which means that it is actually the immune system that is attacking the otherwise healthy glands. There are various treatment options to control or reverse the condition. One may use home remedies to provide relief from the dry mouth. Regular water consumption is necessary when suffering from the condition. One may also use artificial saliva sprays to help lubricate the mouth from time to time. One should also wash the mouth regularly to ensure that dirt or waste material is removed. A lack of saliva raises the risk of cavities and oral health problems which necessitates these extra steps of oral care.

answered by S S

What is sjogrens syndrome?

Sjogren's syndrome is basically a medical disorder of one's immune system which is characterized by two main symptoms which are a dry mouth and dry eyes. This mostly happens because of the decreased production of tears and saliva. Many a times Sjogren's syndrome is also accompanied with some other autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Sjogrens syndrome diagnosis mostly includes determining and also confirming the dryness of the eyes and mouth of the patient. The dryness of the eyes can be confirmed by testing the capacity of the eyes to wet a strip of paper that may be placed by the doctor directly under the eyelid of the person.

Similarly a biopsy of the salivary glands of the lower lip is also used as part of the Sjogren's syndrome diagnosis. Blood testing is also used as part of the Sjogren's syndrome diagnosis as individuals suffering from this medical condition are also known to produce a large amount of extra antibodies. As far as the Sjogren's syndrome prognosis is concerned there is no confirmed medical cure for this. However one may use artificial tears to ensure that their eyes stay moistened and also use various mouth lubricants that are available to ensure that the throat and mouth remain moist.

answered by G M

What are the causes ?

Sjogren's syndrome can be described as an autoimmune disorder, where your immune system starts attacking the other healthy cells and tissues of your body. The exact causes of Sjogren s syndrome are still not clear as the condition will attack a few while some others remain unaffected. This disorder can be classified into Primary Sjogren's syndrome and Secondary Sjogren's syndrome.

There are certain genes that act as the causes of Sjogren's syndrome , by increasing the risks of this disorder in people. However, in such cases, most people also have a trigger mechanism, such as a bacterial or a viral infection. Primary Sjogren's syndrome occurs when the condition develops on its own; Secondary Sjogren's syndrome develops because of other autoimmune conditions. In this case, some of the conditions which are the causes of Sjogren's syndrome include lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

One of the first symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome includes dryness in the eyes, accompanied by itchiness and grittiness. At the same time, the patient may experience dryness in the mouth, making it difficult to speak and swallow. As the condition continues, some of the other symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome that could become evident are:

• Dry skin or the appearance of a rash
• Persistent dry cough
• Prolonged fatigue
• Swelling in the salivary glands
• Vaginal dryness

As soon as any of the symptoms of Sjogren s syndrome become evident, it is best to consult a doctor so that immediate treatment can be administered.

answered by A S

Are there any home remedies?

An effective Sjoren's syndrome cure can only be given by a qualified doctor. People suffering from this condition also usually have chronic dry eye and mouth problems. Therefore, in their case, treating Sjogren's syndrome could be a long term exercise.

There are several medicines too, recommended as Sjogren's syndrome cure. These medicines include:

• Pilocarpine and cevimeline, to increase the production of saliva and tears
• NSAIDS to relieve arthritis symptoms, if present
• Hydroxychloroquine for treating the symptoms that are system wide

In some cases, a doctor may also advise a patient to consider surgery, for treating sjogren's syndrome. In this case, laser is used to seal tear ducts permanently and reduce eye dryness.

Sjogren's syndrome cure could also include home treatments, aimed at reducing dryness in the eyes and mouth. These home remedies for Sjoren's syndrome cure include:

• Artificial tears and eye drops
• Increasing humidity in the environment through a vaporizer or humidifier
• Drinking a lot of fluids, especially water during the day
• Stimulating the flow of saliva by sucking on some sugarless candy
• Lubricating the mouth with artificial saliva
• Using nasal saline sprays
• Following a strict oral health care routine

While these natural remedies help to alleviate the symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome, they do not address the underlying cause, nor can they be regarded as a part of Sjogren's syndrome cure.

answered by G R