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An Open Letter To People With Multiple Sclerosis
Greetings!
A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can be a devastating experience. Take heart, though, in the fact that it is not the end of the world. I say that because there are many MSers leading happy, useful, productive, and essentially symptom-free lives. I know, because I am one of them. That could also be you. Want to know more? If so, read on.
For starters, one medical authority has estimated that as many as 10% of MSers are misdiagnosed. There are a number of conditions--most notably Lyme disease--that masquerade as multiple sclerosis. Before doing anything else, you might very well consider getting a second opinion.
In the present state of our knowledge, MS is incurable. Barring some scientific breakthrough, once you have MS, you will always have it. The best you can hope for is to put your MS into remission and possibly reverse some of the neurological damage it has caused--goals that, fortunately (given the right interventions) can be at least partially attained in many cases.
I am a retired nurse, chiropractor, and massage therapist. By the grace of God, I put my MS into remission using an alternative treatment recommended by Edgar Cayce, a man many regard as the father of modern holistic medicine.
Unfortunately, due to the complex, multifaceted nature of MS, Cayce's treatment does not work for everyone. The same goes for every other current approach--alternative or mainstream--to overcoming MS. What works for one person does not necessarily work for another.
I believe that people with MS need to find--usually by trial and error--what is effective for them and then stick to it religiously.
There are some general health measures that may help, such as massage, sunlight, fresh air, getting adequate sleep and rest, and avoiding fried or spicy food, sugar, soy, gluten, dairy products, caffeine, MSG, sodium benzoate, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, refined carbohydrates, and smoking. It may also help to avoid processed meat, aspartame, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, anything microwaved, canned food, and food to which you are allergic, sensitive, or intolerant.
Some MS patients have obtained varying degrees of symptomatic relief with a diet low in saturated fat (e.g., the Swank Diet), food supplements, exercise, detoxification, and a low stress lifestyle.
Other strategies that have benefited MSers include glyconutrients (essential sugars), bee stings, and the Prokarin Patch.
For more information about these and other alternative approaches to treating MS, visit
The Directory of Multiple Sclerosis Alternatives
Having studied the issue for some time, I am of the opinion that, of all the various treatment options currently available to people with MS, the most promising are Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), the Best Bet Diet, colloidal silver, and colloidal gold.
Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication for drug and alcohol addiction. Many MSers have had remarkable success treating their condition--with minimal side effects and at a price anyone can afford--by taking very low, oral doses of Naltrexone. In my view, it should be the drug of choice in treating MS. For more information about LDN, visit
An Introduction to Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Like the Swank Diet, the Best Bet Diet (BBD) is low in saturated fat. Unlike the Swank Diet, however, it is much more comprehensive in scope and--very importantly--includes testing for food allergies. In essence, the BBD is a top-notch nutritional approach to treating MS and is based upon the extensive study and research of Ashton Embry, Ph.D. In my opinion, the BBD is an absolute must for people with MS and is the perfect complement to LDN. It is virtually impossible to ignore dietary considerations and still derive maximum benefit from LDN or, for that matter, any other MS treatment.
For a basic introduction to the BBD, visit
Multiple Sclerosis - Best Bet Treatment
For numerous questions and answers about the BBD, visit
MS-Diet Support Group - FAQ
For additional information about the BBD, including many recipes, visit
The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre - Best Bet Diet Recipes
For a BBD video presentation, visit
http://www.direct-ms.org/presentation-nutrition/index.html
Colloidal minerals consist of tiny, submicroscopic particles of a given mineral suspended in distilled water.
Colloidal silver (CS) is a natural, broad spectrum antibiotic that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It should not be confused with colloidal silver protein (CSP), which may have undesirable side effects. When taken as directed in a concentration of 10 parts per million (ppm), CS has no known side effects. It is effective in killing over 600 types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, including the agent that causes Lyme disease. Since some cases of MS are undoubtedly triggered by pathogenic microorganisms, and since some cases of MS are actually misdiagnosed Lyme disease, I suggest every MSer undergo a trial of two weeks in which a tablespoonful of 10 to 20 ppm CS is taken every two hours and swished around in one's mouth for five minutes before swallowing. If symptoms lessen, the problem was microorganism-related.
Concerning colloidal gold (CG), clinical trials summarized at
http://tinyurl.com/2qckq4
suggest taking CG can result in a 20% increase in a person's IQ score, and reduce the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. CG should not be confused with ionic gold, which may have undesirable side effects. I take a tablespoonful of 20 ppm CG three times a day, swishing it around in my mouth for five minutes before swallowing. It keeps me more mentally alert and functioning, and some say it acts to alleviate depression. Edgar Cayce said gold had tremendous potential in terms of promoting neural regeneration and repair, and he recommended some form of gold in most cases of MS. He also said taking silver and gold in a proper manner could almost double a person's lifespan. I therefore recommend that CG be included in the treatment regimen of every person with multiple sclerosis.
To learn more about CS and CG, visit
http://tinyurl.com/2fd7xs
In my own case, because I have a problem with so many foodstuffs, I currently eat mainly baked ground beef (with the fat cooked out), steamed green beans, steamed radishes, and raw lettuce and celery. For snacks, I have exotic fruits like mango, papaya, and avocado. I drink mainly Chamomile tea, decaffeinated Green Tea, and distilled water. For seasoning, I use small quantities of sea salt. For sweetening, I use Stevia.
A good way to pinpoint problem foodstuffs is to take the 96-Food Domestic IgG Food Intolerance Test, which you can administer in the convenience and privacy of your own home.
In addition to colloidal silver, colloidal gold, and Low Dose Naltrexone, I take (with meals) the following food supplements (most of which I obtain from Swanson Health Products): alpha lipoic acid, potassium gluconate, Co-Q10, resveratrol, lycopene, probiotics, digestive enzymes, glyconutrients, fish oil, MSM, spirulina, evening primrose oil, sublingual vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), Korean ginseng, milk thistle, and ginkgo biloba.
I also take the TwinLab multivitamin/mineral supplement called DualTabs.
As nutritional insurance, I take extra calcium, extra magnesium, extra vitamin D, extra vitamin E, and extra vitamin C (with bioflavanoids).
For heavy metal detox (I have a mouth full of mercury-laden amalgams), I take chlorella and Modifilan. Other products said to promote heavy metal detox include cilantro and zeolite liquid.
Edgar Cayce suggested a three-day detox diet consisting of Delicious apples (preferably organic), water, and, on the evening of the third day, a hefty dose of olive oil (preferably extra virgin). I think it advisable to go on this diet before instituting any of the other suggestions in this site. To learn more, visit
http://tinyurl.com/gfwf9
To promote both assimilation and elimination, and to combat leaky-gut syndrome, I put a heating pad over my abdomen for an hour on three consecutive days each week. The heating pad is kept in place with a pillow and set as hot as I can comfortably stand it. I eat nothing for at least an hour after the session to give my gastrointestinal tract time to readjust.
To keep alkaline, I take two level teaspoonfuls of baking soda dissolved in a cup of warm water twice a day between meals. For the importance of maintaining an alkaline balance in the body, read Dr. Theodore Baroody's book,
Alkalize or Die
For exercise, I take a brisk half-hour walk in the open after dinner.
For recreation, I enjoy listening to music, reading, and watching TV and videos (especially comedy and documentary).
For relaxation, I use the Edgar Cayce radial appliance for fourty-five minutes each morning. It helps me get the extra sleep and rest I need to get me through the day. Also, I generally take an afternoon nap.
This site would not be complete without mention of MS exacerbations or "flare-ups." In my opinion, exacerbations don't just happen--they happen for a reason--usually a very good reason. That reason, I believe, in most cases, is stress. It can come in the form of overexertion, having surgery, getting married, getting divorced, having a death in the family, performing in public, having an accident or injury, fighting and arguing, getting an infection, or a number of things to which your body responds with a biochemical response mediated by adrenaline, cortisol, and other stress hormones. Whatever its cause, if your stress level is high enough, it will easily nullify or overrule the beneficial effects of LDN, proper diet, colloidal minerals, food supplements, and anything else you happen to be doing to treat your MS. In 2004, Dr. David Mohr analyzed 14 studies relating to stress and MS. He concluded stressful events not only tend to precede the initial onset of MS, but also increase the risk of MS exacerbations, disease progression, and lesions on MRI. Avoid stress like the plague! In the event it cannot be avoided, however, the eBook featured on this site discusses 300 strategies for dealing with stress, any one of which might ultimately be of great benefit to you:
http://tinyurl.com/29mdml
If, despite your best efforts, you experience an exacerbation, this site features a non-steroidal protocol that may help:
http://tinyurl.com/yo4zhy
It was developed by Dr. M.R. Lawrence, an English physician who himself has MS and who treats it with LDN.
Finally, I suggest that, before making any changes in your treatment plan, you confer with your healthcare provider.
Best of luck in defeating the MS Monster!
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at
dudley_delany@yahoo.com
For more information about me, visit
http://profiles.yahoo.com/dudley_delany
Hoping you find this open letter both helpful and hopeful, I am,
Sincerely,
Dudley Delany, R.N., M.A., D.C.
Send E-Mail to: dudley_delany@yahoo.com
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