Aromatherapy and Sjögren's syndrome

KH writes

"I USE HELICHRYSUM IN ALOE VERA FOR DRY EYES. PUT IT ON THE UPPER AND LOVER EYE LIDS."

"I HAVE SJOGRENS SYNDROM. MY TEARS DONT RUN ANYMORE. MY EYES FEEL DRY, LIKE THERE IS A SAND THERE, STINGS ET.C. DON'T ASK ME HOW HELICHRYSUMT WORKS BUT IT DOES. I FEEL BETTER IN MY EYES THAN WHEN USING ARTIFICIAL TEARS. THE SKIN AROUND MY EYES ARE FINE, NOT DRY OR FLAKY. I AM ALMOST 60 YEARS OLD AND THERE IS NO PUFFINESS AROUND MY EYES. IT WAS BEFORE I LEARNED TO USE AROMATHERAPY. BUT AFTER I STARTED TO USE HELICHRYSUM THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK. I USE ALOE VERA GEL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT RUN. I LOVE HELICHRYSUM."

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic disorder that causes insufficient moisture production in certain glands of the body. It occurs when a person's normally protective immune system attacks and destroys moisture-producing glands, including salivary glands and tear glands. The lungs, bowel and other organs are affected occasionally.

Sjögren's syndrome is named after the Swedish eye doctor, Henrik Sjögren, who first described the condition.

Sjögren's syndrome may cause the following symptoms:

• extremely dry eyes causing a feeling of grit or sand in the eyes or a burning redness.
• extremely dry mouth and throat causing difficulty with chewing and swallowing, decreased sense of taste, difficulty speaking, an increase in dental cavities, and dry cough or hoarseness.
• excessive fatigue
• aches and pains in muscles and joints

What causes Sjögren's syndrome?

Normally, the immune system (the body's defence against invaders) protects the body from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses.
In autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response when there are no foreign substances to fight off. This inflammatory response causes the body's white blood cells to attack and destroy certain moisture-producing glands.
The exact cause for the abnormal immune response in Sjögren's syndrome is unknown. Some theories suggest that a virus or bacteria may alter the immune system, causing it to attack the glands. Some people may have a genetic or inherited factor that makes them more likely to develop Sjogren's syndrome.

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