MS

MS has been associated with many seemingly unrelated causes. Below are some of those causes that
have been documented.

MS occurs because of damage to the myelin sheath - the thin protective layer of fatty membrane that
surrounds the nerve tracts in the brain - and, more importantly, the spinal cord.

Myelin sheath acts like the insulation around electrical wires, allowing the current - or in the case of
the human body, the electrical signals - to travel through without loss of power or strength. Any
damage to this protective layer can cause the electrical signals to "leak" and so lose power and become
distorted.

In MS this damage is caused by inflammation, which makes the sheath lose some of its covering - a
process known as demyelination. Hard scar tissue then forms over these damaged patches or lesions
and MS is the result. These patches of demyelination can occur anywhere. Scarring means that wrong
signals go to the muscles via the brain, and so the muscles don't work properly or at all.

Symptoms
The most commonly reported symptoms of MS are double or blurred vision , pins and needles in the
extremities, slurred speech, difficulty in walking, dragging either foot, loss of co-ordination and
balance, and loss of sensation anywhere in the body.

Factors involved in the development of MS include any or all of these:

1. Low levels of essential fatty acids.

EFA's are necessary for the development and maintenance of a healthy myelin sheath, and this may be
one reason why breast-fed babies are less likely to develop MS in later life (breast milk is a rich source
of EFA's). Myelin is made up of lipid and unsaturated lipids - predominantly oleic acid.

Omega-3 deficiency interferes with lipid elongation and can permanently impair the formation of
normal myelin, so supplementation with Omega-3 may prove useful.

2. B12 deficiency.
MS sufferers with motor function loss respond well to diet and supplements of magnesium, while those
with sensory disturbance often have had shingles, herpes or chickenpox virus and can be helped greatly
by large intravenous doses of B12.

3. Heavy metal poisoning.

Mercury is one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man, and in MS victims the mercury level in
the spinal fluid, on average, is 3.0 micrograms per litre, while normal levels contain 0.4 micrograms
per litre. Mercury from the dental amalgams in our mouths is one of the most common sources of
direct poisoning.

4. Food allergies.
At the top of the list are milk and gluten products, although Kingsley said this only accounts for 20 per
cent of food-induced MS in his practice. Also included are tannin, caffeine and citrus fruits, as well as
foods from the nightshade group - potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers. Cocoa products are also
suspect since there is evidence that when it is introduced into an area, MS incidence rises sharply.

5. Nutritional deficiencies.
Chiefly B12 and magnesium, but also B6, folic acid, zinc, selenium and vitamin C.
6. High fat diets.
There is plenty of evidence that a low-fat diet slows deterioration, while a high fat diet seems to be a
large dietary influence on MS.
The fact that there is a very low rate of MS in Japan and that the disease is practically unheard of in
Africa is often given as testimony to the dietary fat theory.
When eliminating fats you will need to be scrupulous about reading labels and cutting out anything
with hydrogenated oils, margarine, shortening and aim to reduce your intake of saturated fat to less
than 5g per day.

7. Genetic predisposition.

8. Climate and geography.

9. Vaccinations.
Childhood vaccinations may cause damage to the myelin sheath and thus precipitate the development
of MS later in life.

10. Medications.
MS can also be caused by medicines used to treat other conditions, most notably human insulin
(genetically engineered to resemble true human insulin). Since it was introduced, human insulin has
become associated with a catalogue of side effects among them being MS-like problems including
memory loss, pain in the limbs, loss of motor function and epileptic-like fits.
Other drugs such as 'the pill' might also play a part in bringing on MS. There has been a report of a
patient with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis being treated with sulfasalazine and developing
MS.

11. Low-level radiation.

12. Carbon monoxide and other environmental poisons.

13. Childhood infections.

14. Overuse of antibiotics

MS is currently treated with a wide range of drugs including anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressants,
immunomodulators, antispastic and anti-infective drugs. While some may help the management of
patients with acute symptoms, none has proven to be of any benefit in the long term. In fact, many
cause debilitating side effects which do nothing to help an MS sufferer's life. For instance anti-spastic
drugs such as Lioresal (baclofen) can lead to drowsiness, muscular weakness and dry mouth, lowered
blood pressure, confusion, insomnia, tremors, slurred speech (ironically many of the symptoms MS
sufferers are trying to alleviate) and physical and psychological dependence.
Steroids may curb excessive autoimmune activity, but in the long run will render patients susceptible
to viruses which can severely aggravate existing symptoms.

With modern blood testing equipment the Natural Therapist has been able to achieve surprising results
with natural remedies.