Iron storage disease

Hemochromatosis (also called iron storage disease) is a chronic disease in which iron from food is increasingly absorbed through the small intestine and deposited in central organs. In the long run, this excessive iron storage can cause significant damage to the liver, heart, pancreas, and joints. In order to maintain good health despite hemochromatosis, bleeding, a very old naturopathic treatment, is recommended.

Contents:
root cause
symptoms
therapy

root cause

Hemochromatosis is considered an inherited metabolic disorder. Together with hemosiderosis, it is one of the iron-storage diseases. In males between the ages of twenty and forty, first symptoms appear, while females are more likely to be affected by menopause. These observations are explained by the increased iron demand of women of childbearing age.

symptoms

If excess iron is deposited in the body tissue, in addition to (upper) abdominal pain, fatigue and impotence in men and menstrual disorders (Amenorroe) in women are typical. The irritation and scarring of the pancreas often causes the symptoms of diabetes, with the additional appearance of dark skin staining ("bronzed diabetes"). The prolonged exposure of the liver eventually leads to cirrhosis of the liver with decreasing function of the central detoxification organ. Furthermore, there is often an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), it can lead to heart problems due to damage to the heart muscle and joint pain. Blood tests in the laboratory result in greatly increased iron levels.

therapy

If the incidence of iron storage disease in the family is known, early investigations should take place. The therapy is simple and effective if it is started on time and regularly. It consists in the discharge of excess iron with the blood, by first weekly, later at longer intervals, blood is taken.

Hemochromatosis Association Germany HVD e. V. recommends a withdrawal of 500 ml / week at the beginning, until (after about one and a half years) the iron depots are mined. Thereafter, the required number of bloodletting treatments can be individually adjusted to four to twelve per year. In erythrocytapheresis, larger amounts of blood are removed, the red blood cells are sorted out by machine and the remaining blood components are returned. This can reduce the number of bloodlines.

When eating foods that contain a lot of iron (eg offal), can be avoided. A regular discharge of the iron by bloodletting should compensate for these foods at normal mixed diet, however. Finally, the polyphenols in black tea, according to a study, enjoy the reputation of being able to reduce iron intake via the small intestine during a meal in larger quantities. (Dipl.Päd. Jeanette Viñals Stein, non-medical practitioner)