Cicatricial pemphigoid (also known as mucous membrane pemphigoid or benign pemphigoid) is a chronic autoimmune
disease of the mucosal membranes and/or skin. Autoimmune disorders are caused when the body's immune system, which is
meant to defend the body against bacteria, viruses, and any other foreign product, malfunctions and produces antibodies
against healthy tissue, cells and organs.
The oral mucosa (lining of the mouth) and conjunctiva (mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelid and covering
the front of the eyeball) are common sites of involvement. The esophagus, trachea, and genitalia are sometimes affected. The
incidence is roughly 1 in 20,000 patient who see an eye doctor. Patients with oral lesions only, without a progressive ocular
scarring process and without serologic reactivity are said to have oral mucosal pemphigoid.
Conventional treatment involves the use of Prednisone and other corticosteroids. Often patients are unable to tolerate the
toxic side effects of these drugs.
The alternative, nutritional medicine approach is to identify hidden allergies by blood test and avoid those allergens (primarily
foods). Also enzyme potentiated desensitization holds hope for putting the disease in long term remission.
As with all autoimmune disorders, detoxification and dietary changes are usually helpful. For best results this should be done
under the supervision of a doctor experienced in nutritional medicine.
The approach used in homeopathy is to attempt to restore the balance of the system using dilute solutions of natural
substances specific to the disorder.
