Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Alternative Treatment

(2)  Counter inflammation

Regardless of why the immune system is being induced to produce damaging oxidants, these oxidants are indeed inflicting damage to tissue as a consequence of a chronic, low-level inflammatory reaction. There are, however, several tactical maneuvers you can use to counter the oxidants and also temper the extent of the inflammatory response:

Ensure essential fats to maintain control of inflammatory reaction

***HIGH PRIORITY ***

• The specific omega-3 and omega-6 fats you consume sit in cell membranes and produce hormone-like, lipid compounds, called eicosonoids (E.g. prostaglandins, leukotrienes) - that mediate an appropriate reaction to any "happenings"in the vicinity of the cell; eicosonoids can increase or decrease inflammation/pain, relax or contract muscles, contract or dilate blood vessels, and much more;

Local "Hormones"-First Response Team

• The essential fats are also needed to maintain myelin sheath integrity:

Optimize your body's vitamin D level

***HIGH PRIORITY ***

• MS is less common in areas with lots of sunlight exposure and in areas where fish is commonly eaten - Sunlight and fish are major sources of vitamin D.
• For general health, an optimal blood level is 50-70 ng/ml, but when treating major diseases, your level should be 70-100 ng/ml - In order of preference, your options are:

(1) Regularly exposing your skin to sun,

(2) Using a safe tanning bed

Or (3) Taking an oral vitamin D3 supplement.

The general recommendation (from those who have done the research) is 35 IU/ pound/day -typically ~4000-10,000IU/day (far exceeding the woefully deficient U.S. RDA value).

Vitamin D (CALCIDIOL) testing is strongly recommended.  To evaluate the success of the dose you take;

• A Harvard study concluded that vitamin D had a protective effect against the development of MS

Munger KL et al, Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis.Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health

• BBC News: - ". . . researchers found that by just analyzing sunlight, they could explain 61% of the variation in the number of MS cases across England. However when they combined the effect of sunlight and glandular fever, 72% of the variation in MS cases could be explained."

BBC News April 19, 2011 Neurology April 19, 2011;76(16):1410-4

• U. of Wisconsin Study - demonstrated that exogenous vitamin D3 can completely prevent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a widely accepted mouse model of human MS;

Hayes CE, Cantorna MT, DeLuca HF, Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1997 Oct;216(1):21-7.

• In an exploratory study, mortality from MS was found to be reduced by exposure to sunlight by up to 76% - depending on degree of exposure.

Occup Environ Med 2000;57:418-421;

Vitamin D -The Sunshine Vitamin

The American Cancer Society/dermatologist recommendation to avoid the sun IS NOT ONLY JUST PLAIN WRONG, IT IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL

Supplement magnesium.   There is a strong connection between magnesium deficiency and MS; their symptoms are certainly similar, including muscle spasms, weakness, twitching, muscle atrophy, an inability to control the bladder, rapid eye movements, hearing loss, and osteoporosis.

• Magnesium is central to immunocompetence and modulates cellular events in inflammation.    Conversely, a magnesium deficiency contributes to a an exaggerated response to immune stressMag Res. 5:281-93. 1992.
• Here are some studies supporting the magnesium-MS link:

▲  In a 1995 paper published in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, patients with multiple sclerosis were found to be low in cellular magnesium.

▲  In a 1994 study from researchers at the Department of Physiology, State University of New York randomly selected hospital patients, compared to a control group of health volunteers the hospital patients with coronary heart disease, rectal cancer and multiple sclerosis exhibited extracellular deficits in ionized free magnesium.

▲  In a 1990 paper published by researchers from the Wakayama Medical College, Japan, magnesium (Mg) concentrations were studied in the brains of 4 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 5 controls. The central nervous system tissues and the visceral organs, except for spleen, of MS patients showed significantly lower magnesium values than that seen in control cases.

▲  In a 1986 paper published in the journal Medical Hypothesis, A group of young patients having MS were treated with dietary supplements containing magnesium, calcium and vitamin D. The results showed a decrease in the relapse rate compared to what would have been expected based on the patients prior history of symptoms.

▲  In a case report published in the European Journal of Neurology,a patient with MS treated with oral magnesium glycerophosphate therapy, showed significant improvement after only one week of treatment.

Mg ▲  => Inflammation ▼ 

Magnesium - Missing Miracle Mineral

How-to Supplement Magnesium

Supplement Iodine and Selenium -   MS belongs to a family of diseases (including ALS and Parkinsonism) that seem to be linked to iodine and selenium deficiency.

• Iodine and selenium are necessary for thyroid hormone (TH) production - thyroid hormones are associated with re-myelination;
• Iodine / Selenium supplementation (+B3 and CoQ10) is recommended for treatment to prevent dopamine oxidation -Parkinsonism, MS and ALS each appear to involve an iodine deficiency before and immediately after birth, which affects the dopaminergic system. In adulthood, this abnormality seems to increase susceptibility to the oxidation of dopamine and to an associated glut of cytotoxic glutamate.

Harold D. Foster, Ph.D. , Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Iodine-Dopachrome-Glutamate Hypothesis. J. of Ortho Med Vol. 14, 3rd Quarter 1999

Consider taking Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) + Alpha lipoic acid.   One of the newer treatment strategies for MS is low dose Naltrexone (LDN) together with alpha lipoic acid. Naltrexone (generic name) is a pharmacologically active opioid antagonist, conventionally used to treat drug and alcohol addiction, normally at doses of 50mg to 300mg. It has been an FDA approved drug for over two decades.

• However - at very low dosages (3 - 4.5 mg), naltrexone has immunomodulating properties that are showing promise for treating a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including MS.   As explained at www.lowdosenaltrexone.org, taken at bedtime, LDN blocks opioid receptors in the early morning hours, during which time, it is believed to up-regulate vital immune system elements by increasing body's production of metenkephalin and endorphins (body's natural opioids), hence improving immune function.

Less than 1% of 400 MS patients of NYC physician Bernard Bihari, MD has experienced a new MS attack whilst maintaining regular nightly LDN therapy.

Low Dose Naltrexone

• Alpha Lipoic Acid (Antioxidant / glutathione regenerator/ recycles C, E, CoQ10 / heavy metal chelator / modifies gene expression to reduce inflammation / easily gets into the brain )- A study from the Netherlands showed that Lipoic acid is a non-specific scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and decreased the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages. Free radicals play a regulatory role in the destruction of myelin

Journal of Neuroimmunology 1998 Dec 1;92:67-75;

Alpha Lipoic Acid

• Dr. Bert Berkson has information about his successes using a combination of LDN and alpha lipoic acid

Eat lots of raw, organic food.   Includes free-range organic eggs (or use pasteurized (i.e. sterilized) eggs, now available in most supermarkets) and high-quality, organic meats; a raw egg smoothie (E,g, with fruit, yogurt and a banana) is an amazing pick-me-up for those who are ailing!

Eggs - Almost a whole food

Meat