Immune System

Sickle Cell Anemia And Lime Juice: Crisis Under Arrest.

Despite the relentless and heroic efforts of Caretakers, Caregivers, Doctors, Nurses, Fathers and Mothers to find a lasting solution to sickle cell disease, the resultsts are somewhat puzzling leaving gallant fighters biwildered as to where to borrow patience, resources, time, fortitude, sympathy, support to help set the sufferer free.

But for the sufferer, it is more than just a disease. Happy moments are often mixed with traumatic experiences. Episodes of anger, sadness, anxiety, shame, Fear, trepidation, loneliness and pain blights hope, courage and resilience to press on…

“For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.” Ziad K. Abdrlnour.

When will this Pain Crisis Cease?

Pain caused by sickle-cell disease can be acute, chronic or a mixture of the two. Emanating from skeletal or soft tissues and tends to be sudden, sharp, intense, stabbing, or throbbing.

Some people with sickle cell disease say it’s worse than childbirth or the pain after surgery.

Read Dr Wally Smith’s Experience:

“When my daughter was 5 years old, she experienced her first pain crisis. It was really terrifying for me because I had heard about sickle cell, but until you actually see your child go through a pain crisis, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

“So, once she was able to overcome that experience and the crisis was gone, I realized that I needed to talk to her about her illness, even though she was young,

I felt like it was a way to really get her to understand why she had so many doctor’s appointments, because she had a twin sister who did not have to go to the doctor’s appointments. And I also wanted her twin sister to feel like she was a part of the experience, that it wasn’t something where her parents were just taking care of her sister.

Statistics:

About 50 million people are living with SCD globally and Nigeria is the epicentre zone with about 4-6 million people living with the disease (1 in every 4 Nigerians has a sickle cell trait..

Did they eventually find a solution for sickle cell?

For decades the treatment of choice was a lifelong waves of hospitalizations, blood transfusions, and in some cases bone marrow transplants. Afterwards, some Doctors began to apply a high-dose regimen, known as myeloablative conditioning which is a chemotherapy procedure causing a likely irreversible, destruction of hematopoiectic cells in the bone marrow and potential delays in immune reconstruction through thymic damage. More recently, another discovery was made – a Gene therapy applied just once to a sickle cell patient which costs as much as $2.8 million (4.5 Billion Naira). All of which appears exorbitant for many. As a result,the focus now shifted to plant based alternative solutions which are essentially affordable for all classes. The therapeutic properties of limes was investigated:

Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia)

A Systematic Review of citrus plants as functional foods and dietary supplements for Sickle cell Disease, with an emphasis on meta-analyses, clinical trials, and their chemical composition commenced.

Limes under the microscope:

The Juice of this Citrus fruit is an exquisite culinary article and a Storehouse for Limonoids, kaemferol, quercetin, and ascorbic acid.

Their potent antioxidant activity is evident in their natural ability to hunt free radicals and disrupt radical chains. The C. Aurantifolia plant is teeming with phytochemicals and Flavonoids.

Study:

Since the pain in sickle cell anemia (SCA) is quickly driven by a shortage of water (even as little as a 2% drop), blood acidosis caused by a build up of Carbon dioxide, acid forming foods, and fever that are usually due to malaria, the Intake of lime juice was recently demonstrated as a catalyst in the clearance of the malaria parasite. It was sought to determine whether regular intake of lime juice will ameliorate crisis, especially recurrent bone pain.

In this preliminary, open-labeled, randomized study, the effects of lime juice on the clinical and some laboratory characteristics of children with SCA were tested.

Results:

1. Among the 113 children with SCA studied in two hospitals, the 58 receiving lime treatment had lower rates of significant painful episodes than the 55 without lime (37 versus 83 crises in 6 months, and 0.64±0.11 versus 1.51±0.34 average rates per child, p<0.001). Also, fewer subjects than the controls had significant painful episodes (50.0% versus 92.7%); febrile illness (46.6% versus 87.3%) and admission rate (3.4% versus 34.5%) (p<0.001). The mean hematocrit of the subjects (26.23±2.03%) at the end of the study was also higher, p<0.001.

2. Sickle cell anemic Children who took lime juice by mouth two times a day for six months,

lowered the rates of significant painful episodes, febrile illness, admission rate, and increased mean hematocrit.

3. Daily intake of freshly squeezed lemon juice (30 mL/ day) decreased the blood uric acid in hyperuricemic patients.

The most important discovery:

It was observed that leading causes of sudden death in sickle cell diseases (SCD) are infection, pain episodes, acute chest syndrome ( Vaso-occlusive) and stroke. Researchers looked at Limes antimicrobial and antioxidant properties as a potential solution in the prevention of acute, Vaso-occlusive (vessel blocking) pain.

The Exciting news is that Lime and lemons are both tonics for the Liver, Bones, Heart, Eyes Kidneys, and Gallbladder, gulping up parasites and strengthening the immune system with its vitamin c load.

Limes and Lemons proves so effective without side effects Even their rinds (skin) can be blended with water.

Up Next: The Sickle Cell Repair Kit E-book. A complete Tool Box.

With dedicated Chapters on

  • Proper Nutrition
  • Forbidden foods
  • Blood making herbs and fruits.
  • Heat therapeutics.
  • Water therapeutics
  • Sleep as medicine
  • Charcoal cures.
  • The most effective and convenient exercises.

You can request for the complete E-book, and gift it to a Friend.

References:

Samuel Ademola Adegoke et al. J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Jun

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23356250
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4925513

An overview of sickle cell disease from the socio-demographic triangle https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9120745/

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-31/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-can-cure-but-costs-almost-3-million-who-will-pay

Other references:

1. Nolte, K. “Mexican Lime.” University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Accessed May 24, 2015.

2. Crane, J. “Key Lime Growing in the Florida Home Landscape.” University of Florida IFAS Extension. Accessed May 24, 2015.

3. Morton, J. (1987), “Citrus aurantifolia Swingle.” In Fruits of Warm Climates (Center for New Crops & Crop Products, Purdue University. Accessed May 24, 2015.

4. “Mexican Lime.” University of California Riverside, College of Natural and Agricultural

Sciences. Accessed May 24, 2015.

5. “Citrus aurantifolia.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Accessed May 24, 2015.

6. “Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle (pro. sp.).” Encyclopedia of Life. Accessed May 24, 2015.

7. “Key Lime.” California Polytechnic State University, Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute. Accessed May 24, 2015.

8. “Citrus aurantiifolia.” Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Accessed May 24, 2015.

9. “Citrus aurantiifolia (lime).” Invasive Species Compendium, CABI. Accessed May 24, 2015.

10. “Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.). Swin…” Global Biodiversity Information Facility

11. “Citrus aurantiifolia.” Citrus Genome Database. Accessed May 24, 2015.

12. Moore, G.A. (2001), “Oranges and lemons: clues to the taxonomy of Citrus from molecular markers.” Trends in Genetics 17: 536-540.

13. “Morton, J. (1987), “Lemon.” In Fruits of Warm Climates (Center for New

Crops & Crop Products, Purdue University. Accessed May 24, 2015.

14. Sauls, J. (1998) “Home Fruit Production – Limes.” Texas Citrus and Subtropical Fruits, Horticultural Sciences Department, Texas A&M University: Accessed May 24, 2015.

15. “Crop Water Information: Citrus.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 24, 2015.

16. “Citrus aurantifolia – Rutaceae.” People and Plants of Micronesia. Accessed May 24, 2015.

17. “Health Benefits of Lime Essential Oil.” Organic Facts. Accessed May 24, 2015.

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