Can camu camu help treat autoimmune disease?
This is something that’s currently being studied.
Camu Camu is an Amazonian berry. It’s also super food. Because it’s packed with nutrients. Camu camu is one of the best sources of real Vitamin C. It contains many times more Vitamin C than citrus fruit. (Real Vitamin C is not the same thing as ascorbic acid, a laboratory isolate.) So whole Vitamin C is preferable.
Camu camu powder is a little like a multivitamin. In addition to a whopping dose of real Vitamin C. it has B-complex Vitamins, potassium, magnesium and manganese.
There’s more good news about camu camu. It’s believed this berry contain immune-modulating compounds. This is why it’s being suggested as a natural treatment for autoimmunity.
Can Camu Camu Help Treat Autoimmune Disease?
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Camu camu has been used for ages in South America. This tart berry is often sweetened and used in desserts. The berries as well as the leaves of this plant are also used in traditional folk medicine.
Outside of the Amazon, you can find dried and powdered camu camu berry. (I’ll warn you that it’s very tart. So you’ll probably need to sweeten it. Another option is to put a little bit in a fruit or vegetable smoothie to disguise the taste.
Camu camu appears to be very safe. However, people taking prescription drugs should first talk to their doctor before using this berry as a medicine. Also, please note that I’m not a medical professional. So anything you see here is my personal opinion only and should not be read as medical advice.
But camu camu looks promising. One paper published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine concluded that camu camu appears to reduce inflammation.
This paper looked at previous studies and concluded, “The results of these studies point to a potentially substantial role for camu camu in multimodal, integrative disease and wellness management, notably with regard to inflammatory conditions.”
Excess inflammation is a big problem. It’s believed to be the root cause of a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia and various autoimmune problems. So a natural substance that can help reduce inflammation can potentially be used as part of a natural treatment protocol. Many people (myself included) prefer plant-based remedies to drugs.
Camu Camu for Autoimmunity
I have chronic nerve pain. There’s great debate over whether my condition is a true autoimmune disease. But I don’t really care. Because the path to wellness is the same, regardless of diagnosis.
Getting better invariably involves reducing inflammation. That’s what I did, when my pain level was off the charts.
Camu camu powder is one of the remedies you’ll find in my natural medicine cabinet. I don’t take it every day. But when I do I notice that it seems to help with pain.
Camu camu has other potential benefits as well, in addition to its inflammation fighting abilities. It’s believed this berry is good for your eyes. Also, because of its high Vitamin C content, it probably gives your immune system a boost. Another way I use camu camu powder is to mix it was raw organic honey. Then I use this as a face mask. Vitamin C is considered a good anti-aging remedy.
Camu Camu for Autoimmune Problems
Anyway, camu camu has a long history in South American folk medicine. Plus, it looks promising as a natural inflammation fighter, I don’t think it alone would have helped my chronic pain. Or at least helped enough so I can lead a normal life again.
I needed more than a single remedy. Getting better required a total lifestyle overhaul. This included upgrading my diet from junk food to real food. I’ve also used a lot of different remedies and healing methods.
Instead of a miracle cure, I view organic camu camu powder as one more tool to fight inflammation without drugs.
There are other herbal remedies also thought to have the ability to modulate the immune system. One of them is maca root powder, which also comes from South America.
But, again, I don’t want to leave my readers with the impression that maca alone will probably make a huge difference.
That’s why I encourage everyone to do their own research and work with their doctors to find drug-free alternatives.
For More Reading
Antioxidant Potential of Camu Camu
