Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis

Background

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be caused by a host of different triggers that then stimulate an immune response against your own nerve coatings (called the myelin sheath — like the plastic cover over a wire). It is considered an autoimmune disease, where your immune system mistakes your nerves for an outside invader and attack them.

Though the cause is unknown, I suspect it is a common endpoint to a host of problems, including viral or antibiotic sensitive infections, toxicity (chemical or heavy metal), or other unknown causes. Vitamin D deficiency is a likely major player as well. Vitamin D comes from sunshine and helps regulate immune function. In fact, MS is much more common to people who live further from the equator, where people get less sunshine.

Early Symptoms

Though the diagnosis usually becomes clear as the MS progresses, it may not be in the beginning. A person with MS can suffer almost any neurological symptom or sign. Symptoms that suggest MS include transient loss of vision in 1 eye, or transient localized paralysis, or loss of sensation (to where you can stick a needle into the area without feeling it). In some people it is progressive and in others the attacks come and go.

Treatment

Standard Treatments

Some standard treatments (such as COP 1 or Copolymer 1) are worthwhile. Others, such as interferon, may help but have a lot of side effects. Your neurologist can best guide you on these.

Holistic Approaches

Hidden infections

While deciding on standard therapy, try adding holistic approaches. These recognize that a number of viral and antibiotic sensitive infections (that cannot be readily detected on standard testing) may trigger the MS. Consider a trial of antivirals (e.g., Valcyte) and/or antibiotics, empirically, to see if they help. In a study in which the antibiotic doxycycline (the same antibiotic given to kids for years to treat acne) was added to interferon, the antibiotic improved the interferon's effectiveness.

Detoxification for heavy metals

Detoxification for heavy metals is also reasonable in MS, using intravenous EDTA chelation. It's controversial, but it's reasonable for MS or ALS.

Recommended Supplements

Vitamin D

Take 4,000 units of vitamin D daily, as low vitamin D is likely a major contributor to MS.

Multi-nutrient powder

Take a good multi-nutrient powder to decrease spasticity, improve energy, and protect brain function. The Energy Revitalization System includes the magnesium for spasticity, B12 and inositol to help nrve healing, as well as glutamine, glycine and NAC to raise glutathione. It also contains 2,000 units of vitamin D.

Estriol

In women, the bioidentical estrogen Estriol (8 mg a day — a level mimicking pregnancy) resulted in marked improvements in symptoms and MRI scans in one study (although symptoms recurred after stopping treatment). Women actually have less relapses during pregnancy.

Other Therapies & Advice

Find a health practitioner

Your neurologist will be able to guide you on standard care. For a holistic physician near you, visit the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Then do a phone consultation with Dr. David Perlmutter of BrainRecovery.com who can guide your holistic physician. 

Contributor

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is a board certified internist and author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z,” which was ranked in the top 10 of all health/wellness downloads on iTunes.

Dr. Teitelbaum is the author of the perennial bestseller From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin), which has sold over half a million copies; Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill); Three Steps to Happiness: Healing Through Joy (Deva Press); the Beat Sugar Addiction Now! series (Fair Winds Press);  Real Cause, Real Cure (Rodale Press); The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution (Penguin/Avery); and his latest, The Complete Guide to Beating Sugar Addiction (Fair Winds Press, 2015).

More of Their Content