What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. It causes a breakdown of the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. Without a sheath, the nerve cannot effectively conduct information around the body. The exact cause of MS is unknown, but several factors can contribute to its onset. Some viruses produce proteins that look like myelin.
When the body produces an immune reaction to kill off the virus, the cells can mistakenly attack the myelin sheath. Food allergies and hypersensitivity to toxins also contribute to MS attacks.
What Are The Symptoms of MS?
Multiple sclerosis symptoms appear unexpectedly, and the course and severity of the disease vary widely. Attacks can last for days to months. They often begin with vision changes such as episodes of blindness, dizziness or double vision. Early neurological symptoms include eyeball pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, muscle stiffness and pain. As the disease progresses, slurred speech, tremors, staggering gait, clumsiness, incontinence and impotence occur. Mood changes with periods of euphoria and depression reveal that the brain tissue is being affected.
Multiple Sclerosis Support Options
Conventional Treatment
Conventional treatment of MS involves using interferon and glatiramer acetate. Side effects of these medications include flu-like symptoms and depression. To reduce the severity of attacks, oral or intravenous corticosteroids are given. These immunosuppressive agents have many side effects, including nausea, vomiting, hair loss and an increased risk of developing cancer.
Natural Support For Multiple Sclerosis
Nutrition is an important factor in MS treatment. Studies have shown that MS patients improve on a low- saturated fat and high essential fatty acid diet. Essential fatty acids stabilize the nerve sheath.
Flax, pumpkin and sunflower seed oils should be a daily addition to the diet. Saturated fats from animal sources, margarine and shortening interfere with the use of essential fatty acids and should be avoided.
Eat foods high in lecithin and B vitamins because they are found to be deficient in damaged nerve fibres.
These foods include green leafy vegetables, nutritional yeast and soy products. Drink 2L of filtered water daily to help flush toxins from the system.
The elimination of food allergies also improves MS symptoms. The most common food allergens are wheat, milk, eggs, yeast and corn. The best way to treat food allergies is with elimination or rotation diets. Both methods involve charting the foods you eat and any reactions. Elimination diets start with a cleansing period to eliminate offending substances. Then the diet is restricted to mild, non-irritating foods. Finally, the testing period begins when a new food is introduced every third day. If a food is okay, then it can be added to the diet in moderation. If a food causes a reaction, then it is restricted for a period of a few months. It can then be retried. Rotation diets limit your food intake to certain food families each day. It can be used to assess food allergies and is a good method to prevent the return of allergies.
Undergo an assessment to see if heavy metal toxicity could be contributing to MS. Detoxify using chelation, supplements and dietary interventions.
Physical therapies that help MS patients involve the use of massage and warming packs over sensitive areas. Bee venom or hyperbaric oxygen therapy is also helpful for some patients. Swimming is a good form of exercise because the water makes balancing less difficult. Emotional support is very important due to the debilitating nature of the disease. Check in your area for support groups for both the patient and their family.
