Does anyone have experience with sarcoidosis?

My mom was diagnosed with sarcoidosis over a year ago. She takes a high dosage of prednisone and is doing much better now but she still struggles daily with breathing problems and other ailments. Does anyone know of alternative or complemetary treatments to try? Thanks

Sadly, it does not have a cure yet, but some patients recover after a few years. We have a list of to do things for our patients where i work.

* Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
* Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
* Cut down on oxalate-containing foods, such as spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, black tea, wheat bran, strawberries, and beans.
* Include foods rich in magnesium and low in calcium, such as barley, bran, corn, rye, oats, soy, brown rice, avocado, banana, and potato.
* Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar.
* Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.
* Use healthy oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
* Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
* Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
* Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
* Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week.


You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:

* A daily multivitamin, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins, and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
* Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 - 3 tablespoonfuls oil, one to three times daily, to help decrease inflammation and help with immunity. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources, but not substitutes for supplementation.
* Vitamin C, 500 - 1,000 mg, one to three times daily, as an antioxidant and for immune support.
* N-acetyl cysteine, 200 mg daily, for antioxidant effects. Higher doses may be needed, so check with your health care provider.
* Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, when needed for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. You should refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.
* Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant and immune activity.
* Melatonin, 2 - 6 mg at bedtime as needed, for immune support and sleep.

Remember to keep away from the sun whenever you can. You can get sunlight during normal activities, but not intended exposure to the sun.