How to Reverse Multiple Sclerosis

Natural Protocols to Beat MS

We often use the word “disease” to denote a “syndrome” or collection of symptoms. To define a disease requires that we know the cause of the symptoms. Thus, correctly stated, multiple sclerosis is not a disease, but rather a syndrome. The causes are not one, but many, making it difficult to find a single cause for all the symptoms that we call Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Because MS affects the nervous system it can have effects anywhere in the body on any function of the body. Some people have terrible pain, others get numbness. Some have weakness of certain muscles, while others have brain dysfunction and memory impairment. Commonly, people with classical MS get visual disturbances such as blindness or double vision.

Four disease courses have been identified in multiple sclerosis:

• Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
• Primary-progressive MS (PPMS)
• Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)
• Progressive-relapsing MS

Each of these disease courses might be mild, moderate or severe.[1]

Neurological problems that resolve in a matter of days to months, but then recur in other areas characterize relapsing-remitting. Thus, for example, a person with RRMS may have weakness in the left leg for months which then resolves, and later get double vision, only later to get pain in the other leg. These MS patients usually go on to develop a progressive form.

Progressive MS is exactly as it sounds. The disabilities don’t resolve, but rather continue as new ones are added. This usually leads to paralysis, pain, and even mental dysfunction.

Multiple Sclerosis Causes

There seem to be multiple factors involved in the cause of the symptoms of MS. These may include:

• Genetic – Generally, close family members have a higher risk of MS that may not be due to environmental factors. For instance, an identical twin of someone with MS has a 1 in 4 chance of developing MS. However, fraternal twins have about a 1 in 40 risk, the same as other family members. The general population has about a 1 in 1000 risk.
• Autoimmune – The debate over MS as an autoimmune disease rages. There is definitely inflammation in the brain, but specific antibodies are hard to consistently find.
• Nutrient deficiencies – The fact that MS attacks happen more in the winter may indicate a vitamin D deficiency, but no causal relationship has been shown. Vitamin D is also an important immune system activator and may prevent viral illnesses.
• Infectious diseases – Viral antigens have been found in the spinal fluid of people with MS, but not consistently enough to assure a causal relationship.

Mainstream Medical Treatments for MS

There are several MS drugs on the market that are approved by the FDA for treatment of MS.

Disease-modifying drugs that have been shown to reduce exacerbations and slow the progression of MS include:

• Avonex (interferon beta-1a)
• Rebif (interferon beta-1a)
• Betaseron and Extavia (interferon beta-1b)
• Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)
• Novantrone (mitoxantrone)
• Tysabri (natalizumab)
• Aubagio (teriflunomide)
• Gilenya (fingolimod)
• Lemtrada (alemtuzumab)
• Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
• Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate or DMF)
• Ampyra (dalfampridine)[2]

These MS drugs clearly state that although they may decrease the number of relapses, they don’t cure the disease. Some people have good results from using them, but eventually progress with more MS complications anyway. Plus, many of the drugs have side-effects that are more harmful than the disease. I recommend people use drugs for symptomatic relief, if needed, while they are working on reversing the illness.

Alternative Medical Treatments for MS

I’m not going to discuss each alternative MS treatment here, because my purpose is to reverse the disease, and not to put a Band-Aid on it. The use of these protocols should be in consultation with a doctor who can prescribe it.

Stem Cells

Stem cells have been touted as being able to cure anything from diabetes to kidney disease – and even MS – but rarely work. However, there is a stem-cell treatment that is more like a bone marrow transplant that actually shows promise.

Step 1. Harvest your stem cells.

Step 2. Take heavy doses of chemotherapy agents (toxins) that completely destroy the bone marrow.

Step 3. Re-institute your own immune system with harvested stem cells. It is a serious treatment has worked for some, and large trials are underway. It would not be my first choice, but if there were no other options, I might consider it.

Cerebral Venous Insufficiency

Dr. Paolo Zamboni in Italy has characterized MS as a slowing of the blood in the veins from the brain.[3] Several doctors have used a surgical treatment to enlarge the veins coming from the brain to improve blood flow. Some report improvement, and others don’t. There have been no trials to test the theory. It’s controversial at this point, and the evidence for it isn’t strong. While some may have relief of symptoms, it doesn’t seem to reverse the disease.

Reversing MS

Aside from these medical treatments, progress in overcoming multiple sclerosis in the past decades has been tremendous. We now have multiple cases of reversing the illness that provide hope to many who have it. While there may be some genetic pre-disposition, the environment, as discussed previously, plays a much larger role in reversing MS. The object is to restore function to all systems involved at the same time.

A search on the web will largely produce medications and “miracle supplements” to cure MS. A quick review might leave you with a lot of questions. Any MS treatment will address these factors in the long run:

• Repair the intestines
• Improve nutrient absorption and utilization
• Improve energy function

The good news is research shows that there are ways to reverse this terrible illness!

It appears that the basis of MS is a disease of energy. The mitochondria, little bacteria that inhabit every cell of the body and make energy for the cells, become weak and unable to function. This causes energy to drop in every cell. This also explains why fatigue is a common symptom of MS.

Dr. Terry Wahls has written a book about her own recovery from progressive MS in a wheelchair to normal functioning. She did so by improving the function of her mitochondria, the bacteria that produce energy in every cell.

She began by going to the Cleveland Clinic where the “best doctors” gave her the MS drugs listed above, without benefit. Since she continued to get worse, she decided to take matters into her own hands and began to study what actually works.

She discovered that nutrition in animal models could improve mitochondrial function. So, she began taking supplements. While these helped her feel better, they did not reverse the disease. Next, she looked into getting the same nutrients from food. She came up with a diet plan that includes nine cups of fruit and vegetables every day, along with organic meats. It is important to note that there are no milk or grain products on the list.

Following her new diet plan, now known as The Wahls Protocol, Dr. Wahls was able to halt the progress of her MS and eliminate most of her symptoms.[4]

All the other protocols that reverse the illness are similar in nature.[5] Recovering from MS, or even stopping the progress, requires:

• Avoiding toxins
• Detoxifying the liver
• Getting rid of inflammation
• Absorbing the nutrients needed from the intestines

The following protocol will do just that.

Diet

• Nine cups of organic vegetables (raw or cooked at low temperatures) and fruits daily.
• Three cups (about one heaping plateful) of leafy green vegetables.
• Three cups of sulfur-rich vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, onions, mushrooms and asparagus.
• Three cups of colorful vegetables and fruits, three different colors each day. They have to be colored all the way through. Apples and bananas don’t count, but berries, peaches, oranges, beets, peppers, sweet potatoes, and carrots do.[6]
• Wild-caught fish – twice per week
• Organic eggs – two per week
• Organic/grass-fed meat or poultry – two servings per week
• Liver – one serving per week
• Seaweed – one serving per week

Supplements

• Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil (EVCLO) – 1 teaspoon per day.
• B-complex and B12 – one of each per day with food
• Vitamin D3 – 50,000 IU once per week

Other treatments

• Sunlight – as much as possible
• Meditation – 30 minutes daily
• Exercise – 20-30 minutes, approximately 5 times a week, preferably outdoors

Fasting

Going without food helps to reset the systems of the body.[7]

• It improves immune function.
• It repairs adrenal function.
• It resets the metabolism.
• It makes ketone bodies, which allow healing and regeneration of brain tissue.
• It also causes the release of human growth hormone (HGH) to help regenerate all cells in the body and restore function.[8]

After two weeks on the diet above, the next step is to fast for a week, drinking water only – no supplements or food of any kind. Continue exercise and meditation. Repeat this pattern, two weeks of eating, one week of fasting, as many times as you like for six months to a year, or until you no longer have any symptoms or trace of MS.

It’s hard to sift through all the hype surrounding the purported “cures” for MS. The current MS drugs and medical procedures are hit-and-miss. Their side-effects can be severe and they are not able to reverse the illness. Medical science has not yet found a cure. However, there is good evidence that you can reverse the illness by improving the function of your mitochondria. Only those who have not tried this will tell you it won’t work. Only those who have done it will tell you it does work.

Ask Dr. Wahls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

Or, read her book: http://terrywahls.com/way-to-adopt-the-wahls-diet/

Other great benefits of better functioning mitochondria are that you will not get cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, arthritis, or any other of the many “diseases of aging.” There are no side-effects – only good effects.

 

If you liked this article, then you’ll love these:

• How to Overcome Multiple Sclerosis with Nutrition
• Free Yourself From MS Naturally
• 6 Exercises to Get Your Life Back from MS

Sources:
[1] http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS
[2] http://www.rxlist.com/multiple_sclerosis_ms_medications/drugs-condition.htm
[3] http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/80/4/392.full.html
[4] http://terrywahls.com/about-the-wahls-protocol/
[5] http://www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis.org/Recovery-Program/Program-Overview/
[6] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meryl-davids-landau/multiple-sclerosis-diet_b_2258056.html
[7] http://www.howtofast.net/
[8] http://www.amazon.com/The-Transformational-Power-Fasting-Rejuvenation/dp/1594774668