Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Making the body work well..................l


After the various tests and prognosis, it was time for action.

My liver was found to be weak, my digestion poor and my organs needed support to function optimally. My doctor acted on each one of these.

I got a Reiki like massage and accupuncture for my liver to jump start it and make it work properly. I got accupuncture for digestion as well as for increased circulation in my feet to reduce the tingling. I was put on homeopathic drops to help the system rejuvinate and sustain the daily functions and help with further detox.

In this way, I(my body) was provided with the support it needed, rather than just be prescribed with drugs that were generic, that may work for some, may not work for others and most likely, had side effects.

Slowly and steadily, the body's functions got better and beter. One thing at a time, a step at a time made it possible for me to reach where I am today without the use of harmful drugs.

My doctor, every week asks me what my level of strength (from 1-10) is. I am also asked about my mental state - whether I am happy, sad, melancholic, in a state of panic or just calm. All these factors affect my body and anything negative in my body affects my symptoms.

It is no wonder I have not had a relapse or an MS attack in almost three years
(actually ever since I started seeing Doctor Nana Chang).

I am planning a trip to the West Coast, to fly to Calgary, rent a car and drive to Vancouver and then on the Edmonton. If i did not feel the way I do, I would never attempt such a trip.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Here is an excerpt from my book "I Have Good News and Bad News"................


When I was younger I had issues with the world. I wanted to do something to make the world a better place. I wanted to be a better person myself. I had aspirations and dreams. I wanted to be a writer, an actor, a teacher, a chef, and even considered being a flight attendant. I just wanted to make the world a better place

I used to be as emotional as I am now. Come to think of it, it was probably the beginnings of my Multiple Sclerosis and nobody could diagnose it correctly. I would lose my temper easily, and was considered ‘an angry young man’. I do not know why I was so angry but I was. I had a wonderful upbringing with extended families and cousins that were (and still are) like siblings. I was still a very angry teenager. I was also sick, which ranged from anemia to hypoglycemia to getting malaria very often.

Whenever I was upset, I would run into the mosque and pray for strength. I would cry and pray for a miracle. Miracles are subjects for myths.

My parents were not wealthy and could not afford expensive schools or universities. They also spoiled me lots and loved me lots and we had great times together. I wouldn’t change anything. Ultimately, it was up to me how I turned out. Was I going to play the eternal victim and blame it on missed opportunities and what could have been? Or was I going to be a master of my own circumstance and destiny? I chose the latter. Not conscientiously but instinctively – To be the best you can, using the resources you have. That was what I believed then and that is what I believe today.

Now I have Multiple Sclerosis. How am I going to lead my life? Am I going to be a victim? Or am I going to be a master of my circumstance?

Religion has taught me “Be true to your self” and “Honor yourself”.
If ever I needed an answer to the question, “Why me?” it would be now.

Why not me?

Am I going to be a victim by even asking “Why me”? Or am I going to take the bull by the horns and be a master of my circumstance?

Well I am not a master of circumstance, as such. But, I can certainly accept things and continue doing my best, being my best and let nature and this illness take its course.

As much as I am an idealist, I like to think that I am more a realist who lives in the present world under my present conditions, whatever those conditions may be.

So why not take the bull by the horns? And if he has no horns, then grab him by the ears.

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that I am having a hard time with my illness and the future looks dark and bleak. I cannot help but think the worst.

The good news is that I am not a quitter. I still do my best at everything I do and I now have to set a new pace. I need to contemplate less and do more - read more and write more - live more. I have made some adjustments that are required and I will re-invent my life, if I have to. I have people that love me so much, it is quite amazing. If I were to die tomorrow, I can say I have had an amazingly fulfilling and love-filled life but I am not about to give up and die.
So it is not just taking the one bull by the horns, I have the whole bloody herd by the bloody horns………..for now.

That is the great news…………for now.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A great article from Doctor Mark Hyman M.D.

Doctor Mark Hyman. M.D. sends out a newsletter that I receive in my in-box.
Here is a great artice that i received today:


I was in a grocery store yesterday. While I was squeezing avocados to pick just the right ones for my family's dinner salad, I overheard a conversation from a couple that had also picked up an avocado.

"Oh, these avocados look good, let's get some."

Then looking up at the price, they said, "Two for five dollars!" Dejected, they put the live avocado back and walked away from the vegetable aisle toward the aisles full of dead, boxed, canned, packaged goods where they can buy thousands of calories of poor-quality, nutrient-poor, factory-made, processed foods filled with sugar, fat, and salt for the same five dollars. This is the scenario millions of Americans struggling to feed their families face every day.

The odd paradox is that food insecurity--not knowing where the next meal is coming from or not having enough money to adequately feed your family--leads to obesity, diabetes and chronic disease. Examining this paradox may help us advocate for policies that make producing fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole other foods cheaper, while rethinking the almost $300 billion in government subsides that support the production of cheap, processed food derived from corn and soy.

At the same time, a Food Revolution, along the lines of that advocated by Jamie Oliver, a radical chef, can help Americans take back their table and their health from a food industry that has driven us to eat more than 50 percent of our meals out of the home compared to less than 2 percent 100 years ago. And most of those meals eaten at home are produced in plants, not grown on plants, are from a food chemist's lab, not a farmer's field. Cooking and eating whole fresh foods at home, can be cheaper, more fun, and simpler than most people think.

So I would ask you to consider: Have you ever made poor food choices because of cost? What is the REAL cost of this cheap food--the cost in dollars, on our health, on our environment, and even on the fraying fabric of our social and family systems?

This is what you need to remember:

1. The true cost of unhealthy food isn't just the price tag--in fact, the real costs are hidden.
2. Eating healthy doesn't have to cost more.

Sure, it seems cheaper to eat a burger, fries, and a soda from McDonald's than to eat a meal of whole foods, but there are healthier options. Let me review why the true costs of eating unhealthy food are hidden, and give you some suggestions that will help you save money and suffering by eating well for less. Poverty or financial limitations do not preclude eating well, creating health and avoiding disease.

Let's start by looking at how our economy and public policy are geared toward the production of cheap, unhealthy food.

Government Policy Supports the Production of Unhealthy Food

Unhealthy food is cheaper because our government's policies support its production. We're spending nearly $30 billion a year to subsidize corn and soy production. Where do those foods go? Into our food supply as high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated soybean oil (trans fats), that are the foundation of almost all fast food and processed foods that are "manufactured" by the food industry.

Since the 1970s--when our agricultural policies where changed to support corn and soy farmers--we're consuming, on average, an extra 500 calories (mostly in the form of cheap, artificial high-fructose corn syrup) per person.

Corn and soy are also used to feed cattle for the production of meat and dairy. In fact, 70 percent of the wheat, corn and soy farmed in this country is used to feed animals used for our food. The world's cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people--more than the entire human population on Earth!

So, when our government helps pay for these foods--well, of course they're cheaper! That explains the low price tag. But what about the OTHER costs to you?

The Hidden Costs of Eating Poorly

We all know that bad foods are bad for your health. It turns out they are also bad for the national pocketbook. For example, one expert has estimated that healthcare costs related to obesity are $118 billion per year. That's nearly 12 percent of total healthcare expenditures--and more than twice that caused by smoking! Seventy-two percent of Americans are overweight and over one third are medically obese. One in three children born today will be diabetic in their lifetime and the life expectancy of our population is declining for the first time in human history.

A report from the Worldwatch Institute called Overfed and Underfed: The Global Epidemic of Malnutrition documented the real costs of obesity related to poor diet--and this does NOT include the other effects of poor diet such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, autoimmune diseases, and osteoporosis. Here were some of the conclusions of that report:

• Obese people account for a disproportionate share of health-related absences from work.
• Obesity accounts for 7 percent of lost productivity due to sick leave and disability.
• 7 percent of all of North Carolina's healthcare expenditures are related to obesity.
• Obese people visit their physicians 40 percent more than normal weight people.
• Obese people are 2.5 times more likely to require drugs prescribed for cardiovascular and circulation disorders.
• Liposuction is the number-one form of cosmetic surgery in the US, with 400,000 operations a year.
• Over 100,000 people a year have gastric bypass surgery.

According to a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine (i), we're spending about $20,000 per person for each extra year of life gained from medical interventions like drugs and surgery ... as if that's something to be proud of!

That doesn't even take into account the $282 billion in costs resulting from medical interventions that go wrong--hospital infections, medical errors, deaths from drug reactions, bedsores, or unnecessary surgeries.

And what if that $20,000 per year was given to each person during his or her lifetime to support better nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management? My guess is that we would save trillions of dollars in health care expenditures on chronic disease!

As these numbers prove, the costs of eating fast, junk, and processed foods are often deferred until later. And that's the key point: When you go to McDonald's for a cheap burger and fries, you might immediately compare that lower price to whole organic foods which are more expensive in the short term. But the total cost isn't reflected in how much you pay for your meal in the immediate moment, it's the cumulative cost of what those decisions cost you over a lifetime.

For example, when you eat unhealthy foods like these, the costs of medical visits, co-pays, prescription medications, and other health services skyrocket. There are other non-economic costs of eating poorly as well. You reduce your ability to enjoy life in the moment due to increased fatigue, low-grade health complaints, obesity, depression, and more.

The biggest advantage of eating well now is not just preventing disease and costs later, but simply enjoying each day to its fullest. You can make that happen. Eating well doesn't have to cost more.

It's true that there are very few, if any, subsidies for the production of produce or healthier alternative foods. And the same government agency that supports the production of the ingredients for junk food provides less than $300 million for education on healthy nutrition.

But change is in the air. Dean Ornish, MD, has shown that a program to teach people to eat better, exercise, and learn stress reduction can prevent heart disease and reduce the need for heart bypass or other treatments. Insurance companies are starting to take notice as some cover the costs for that program. Paying $5,000 for such a program now, Medicare has finally recognized, is better than paying $50,000 later for a cardiac bypass operation.

A number of us advocated last year that a "health council" be established to coordinate and develop national polices that create and support health for Americans. This was part of the health reform bill and the National Council on Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health was created by executive order of the President in June. Drs. Dean Ornish, Memhet Oz, Michael Roizen and I, among others, have been nominated to be on a twenty-five member advisory council that helps guide the council. The council is made up of all the cabinet secretaries in charge of departments that in some way affect our health--agriculture, health, transportation, environment, trade, labor, and more--and will be chaired by the Surgeon General. This provides a way to influence national policies to support and create health--including our food and agriculture polices--for the first time.

The idea that you can save money by eating well is further supported by studies like the one published by the American Dietetic Association (ii) that shows eating well to lose weight is actually cheaper--or at the worst, no more expensive--than eating poorly! The authors of the study concluded that "adopting a lower-energy, nutrient-dense diet did not increase dietary costs over time. Consequently, cost should not be a barrier in the adoption of a healthful diet."

That's powerful evidence that eating well is not just good for your body, it's good for your wallet, too! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Four Tips to Start Eating Healthy for Less Today

1. Listen to Gandhi. Yes, Gandhi! He said that we should never mistake what is habitual for what is natural. Case in point: Some Chinese are very poor and yet they eat extremely well--small amounts of animal protein, with an abundance of vegetables.

2. Be willing to learn. We have to learn new ways of shopping and eating, new ways of ordering our priorities around our health and nutrition that supports our well-being, even if it is hard at the beginning.

3. Do your research. There are ways to find cheaper sources of produce, whole grains, beans, nuts, and lean animal protein. You just need to seek them out. It doesn't all have to be organic. Simply switching from processed foods to whole foods is a HUGE step in the right direction.

4. Make an effort. Eating healthy does take more planning. It may require you to find new places to hunt and gather for your family. You might have to reorder your priorities regarding where you spend your money and your time so that you can make healthier eating choices.

Remember, eating healthy foods without spending a lot is possible--and you can do it.

Now I'd like to hear from you...

What do you think about the long-term costs of eating poorly?

Do you agree or disagree that eating poorly in the short-term has dramatic long-term consequences on your health care costs?

What other costs of eating poorly have you seen or experienced?

Are you also worried about the exploding costs of health care, whether insurance, medical, Medicare or other costs?

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

References

(i) Cutler D.M., Rosen A.B., and S. Vijan. 2006. The value of medical spending in the United States, 1960-2000. N Engl J Med. 355(9): 920-7.

(ii)Raynor, H.A., Kilanowski, C.K., Esterli, I., et al. 2002. A cost-analysis of adopting a healthful diet in a family-based treatment program. J Am Diet Assoc.102(5): 645-650, 655-656.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Here is the article I received from a well-wisher. It actually outlines my treatments in much greater detail.


Multiple Sclerosis
Overview

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that progressively impairs the central nervous system. The body`s immune system attacks the protective insulation of nerve fibers, known as myelin, causing a buildup of plaques and the eventual scarring and hardening of multiple nerve fibers. This process is known as sclerosis, hence the name of the disease. Once nerve pathways become damaged, nerve impulses direct muscle movement to slow down or to stop altogether.

MS usually strikes between the ages of 15 to 60, with most cases occurring between 20 and 40 years of age. It affects women twice as often as men, and is most prevalent in the northern United States, Canada, and upper Europe, where the climate tends to be temperate. Overall, an estimated 350,000 Americans suffer from MS, which is considered to be incurable by conventional physicians, who also have little understanding about its causes.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
As the buildup of plaque scars or strips the myelin sheath away from nerve fibers, nerve transmission becomes impaired, and the symptoms of MS begin to appear. They include loss of muscle control, problems with balance and gait, blurry or double vision, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heightened sensitivity to heat and cold (especially heat, which can worsen other symptoms), and painful tingling sensations in the hands and/or feet. In advanced cases, patients can experience difficulty speaking, spastic movements, and weakness in the arms, hands, legs, and/or feet. Full or partial paralysis can also occur, and severe fatigue can make normal activities extremely difficult to carry out. Urinary incontinence or a frequent need to urinate can develop. In some cases, MS patients need to use a wheelchair; although in many cases, patients are able to continue living and working as before, but with increasing degrees of difficulty. A rarer symptom of MS is alexia, a sudden inability to understand written language.

MS tends to go into remission and then flare up again, intensifying and worsening with each episode. In some cases the progression of MS is swift, leading to serious degeneration within a few months or years, whereas others may experience less severe attacks that can occur on and off over many decades. No two cases of MS are exactly alike, making effective treatment extremely difficult. For this reason, it is essential that proper individualized treatment begin as early as possible following the initial appearance of MS symptoms.

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
Although conventional medicine claims that multiple sclerosis is caused by demyelination (the breakdown of the myelin sheath caused by the buildup of plaques), holistic health practitioners maintain that there are many other potential causes, as well. This view is strengthened by the fact that major symptoms of MS can be present even when there is little myelin damage; and, in some cases, major dymelination only produces minor symptoms. What follows is an overview of the other most common potential causes of MS.

Candidiasis: Candidiasis, also known as candida, is caused by systemic overgrowth of a type of yeast, Candidiasis albicans, beyond its normal location in the lower intestinal tract. Left unchecked, candidiasis can greatly exacerbate MS symptoms, as was first documented by William G. Crook, M.D., author of The Yeast Connection. According to Dr. Crook, cases of MS in which candidiasis is a factor can be greatly improved once the spread of Candida albicans is halted and then reversed.

Dental Amalgam Fillings: Dental amalgam fillings contain mercury, a highly toxic substance that can be leeched out from fillings in the form of mercury vapors that settle in the body`s tissues and organs. Over time, as mercury continues to accumulate in the body, a host of serious health problems can occur, including MS or symptoms that are virtually indistinguishable from it. People with MS have been shown to have mercury levels in their cerebrospinal fluid that are much as 700 percent greater than healthy people.

The health problems mercury causes are due to its ability to attach itself to the DNA in the body`s cells and cell membranes, distorting them and impairing their ability to properly function. As this cellular distortion occurs, the body`s immune system acts as if the affected cells are foreign invaders and begins attacking them. In the process, myelin can be destroyed. In addition, the mercury vapors can interfere with the body`s enzyme functions and cause the chronic fatigue that is often a symptom of MS. According to Hal Huggins, DDS, a leader in the field of biological (holistic) dentistry, and a renowned expert in mercury toxicity, many cases of MS have been completely reversed once mercury amalgams are properly replaced and the body is detoxified.

Poor Diet: Since 1950, when Roy Swank, MD, of Oregon Health Sciences University, first discovered that MS patients had higher than normal concentrations of saturated fat intake from the foods they ate, holistic health practitioners have pointed to poor diet as a major potential contributing factor for multiple sclerosis. This is particularly so among people who eat a standard Western diet high in dairy products, meats, and commercially processed foods that contain high amounts of unhealthy, saturated fats, but are low in unsaturated fats containing essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are vital for the optimum health of both the brain and the nervous system, and are found in fresh fruits and vegetables, oily fish, and olive and seed oils, all of which are often lacking in the diets of MS patients. The lack of such foods and the EFAs they contain can set the stage for demyelination.

Electromagnetic Fields: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are generated when electric currents flow through wire coils. This type of low-level radiation can cause a variety of health problems because of how EMFs can negatively impact the body`s bioenergetic balance and damage enzymes that regulate growth. EMFs can also negatively affect the body`s pineal gland, as well as upset the balance and production of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, both of which are essential for optimum brain and nerve function. Research has shown that MS patients usually exhibit lower than normal levels of both these hormones, as well as calcification of the pineal gland. In addition, EMFs can interfere with the how the body's cells divide and multiply.

You are exposed to EMFs every time you use an appliance that runs on electricity. These include computers, fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, televisions, and video terminals. Cell phones, electrical poles, and many types of motors that can also create unhealthy EMF exposure.

Environmental Toxins: Environmental toxins can cause or exacerbate MS in a variety of ways, including impairing and interrupting the body's metabolic processes. In addition, environmental toxins can act directly to damage the myelin covering that protects nerve fibers. They can also distort cells and cell membranes, triggering an autoimmune response that can cause nerve damage and MS symptoms. Among the offending toxins are chemicals found in commercially processed foods, toxins contained in tap water, carbon monoxide, diesel exhaust, fumes and vapors released from gas water heaters, commercial solvents, aerosol sprays, and chemicals contained in the chipboard and foam used to make furniture and carpets.

Food Allergies and Sensitivities: People with multiple sclerosis often suffer from food allergies or sensitivities, which can greatly exacerbate their MS symptoms. The most common foods that trigger food allergies and sensitivities include coffee and caffeine products, corn, dairy products, food additives and preservatives, fungi such as mushrooms, gluten (a food ingredient in barley, oats, rye, spelt, and wheat), ketchup, milk, sugar, vinegar, wheat, and wine. However, any food can potentially act as an allergy trigger.

Genetic Predisposition: MS is not considered a hereditary disease. Even so, the disease does appear to be related to genetic predisposition. First generation descendents or relatives of people with MS have a 30 to 50 greater risk of developing the disease than people born into families where there is no history of multiple sclerosis. If your relatives have MS, you should be screened as early as possible.

Infections: Infection can greatly exacerbate MS symptoms, and may also play a role in causing it. Researchers, for example, have found that viral infections such as the Epstein Barr Virus, not only reduce the level of essential fatty acids in the brain to levels commonly found in MS patients, but infections can also interfere with the body`s ability to properly utilize essential fatty acids, weakening the immune system and possibly triggering autoimmune reactions that can result in demyelination. Based on such findings, holistic health practitioners warn that people who suffered from viral infections, especially Epstein Barr Virus or mononucleosis (which can be trigged by Epstein Barr) in childhood or adolescence, may be more susceptible to developing MS later on in life.

Other infectious agents known as stealth pathogens may also play a role in the development of MS, as well as exacerbate its symptoms. Stealth pathogens are types of bacteria with cell walls that lack proper structure, giving them the ability to easily transport DNA between the cells of the human body. Stealth pathogens can also fuse together. Both of these outcomes can trigger immune responses that can cause a variety of autoimmune diseases, including MS.

Another type of bacteria that can cause or contribute to MS is Borrelia mylophora. If this bacteria gains a foothold in the body, it can infiltrate the nervous system. In white blood cells` fervent effort to eliminate Borrelia mylophora, the immune system can also destroy surrounding myelin, causing MS. Borrelia mylophora is very similar to Borrelia burgdorferi, one of the causes of Lyme disease, and some researchers speculate that Lyme disease itself is also a cause of MS because of its similar affects on the body's immune and nervous systems. For more information about the link between MS and Lyme disease, see Could Lyme Disease Become MS? and Researcher Reveals Possible Connection with Lyme and MS.

"Leaky Gut" Syndrome: "leaky gut" syndrome is caused by food allergies and/or candidiasis causing a breach in the intestinal wall, allowing toxins to flood into the bloodstream. As this happens, the immune system attempts to correct the problem by launching an attack on these invaders. In the commotion, however, immune cells and antibodies may also attack healthy cells, including those that comprise myelin. The stress placed on the body by "leaky gut" syndrome can exacerbate the symptoms of people who already have MS, and also make people with MS more susceptible to additional pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and unhealthy yeasts.

Nutritional Deficiencies: Even when MS patients follow a healthy, balanced diet, they can often be deficient in vital nutrients because they have difficulty assimilating them. The most common nutrient deficiencies in MS patients are vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc, along with various amino acids and essential fatty acids.

According to the late Hans Neiper, MS, a pioneering researcher and holistic physician in Germany, lack of calcium AEP, also known as colamine phosphate, can significantly increase the risk of MS. Calcium AEP is required for the body to produce the electrical charges on the myelin surface and on nerve cell membranes that are necessary for proper function of the central nervous system. Lack of calcium AEP not only interferes with the production of these electrical charges, Dr. Nieper maintained, but it also causes cells membranes to become too porous, allowing toxins and immune cells passage into the body`s nerve cells, creating an autoimmune reaction and the destruction of myelin.

Stress and Trauma: Many cases of MS are often initially triggered by prolonged emotional stress or physical trauma. Moreover, the initial symptoms of MS will often first manifest at the part of the body that suffered an injury.

Natural Cures

While conventional physicians consider multiple sclerosis to be incurable, holistic physicians are often able to slow and reverse its progression. Early diagnosis, followed immediately by a comprehensive treatment program addressing all of the factors that can cause MS, provides the best hope for a successful outcome—the end result is often a complete cure. As patients follow their prescribed treatment protocols and make necessary changes to their diet and lifestyle, at the very least, noticeable improvements are achieved, enabling them to have much greater control over their symptoms.

MS affects each person differently and requires an individualized treatment program in order to be properly dealt with. For this reason, holistic practitioners recommend that in-depth testing be conducted to fully determine the factors involved in each patient`s condition. Testing can include a mineral sweat test to evaluate each patient`s overall mineral status as well as possible heavy mineral poisoning. This test is simple to perform and involves the application of a specific type of plaque on the patient`s back. The patient is then engaged in physical activity that causes him or her to moderately perspire for an hour. Perspiration is collected in the plaque and then analyzed.

Other recommended tests include nutrient and antioxidant assessment, adrenal stress test, complete blood count testing, a biochemistry panel, glucose tolerance testing, and stool analysis to determine the health of the patient`s digestive system and ability to assimilate nutrients.

Screening for food and environmental allergies is also important.

Once the underlying causative factors are assessed, a proper treatment program can be created. Typically, it will include the following therapeutic approaches:

Aromatherapy: Adding juniper or rosemary essential oils to extra virgin olive oil (5 percent essential oil to 95 percent olive oil) and then massaging your body with this blend can help ease MS symptoms.

Ayurvedic Medicine: The Ayurvedic herb ashwaghanda can often be helpful in alleviating symptoms of MS because of its adaptogenic properties that help to restore balance to various body systems, including the immune and nervous systems.

Bee Venom Therapy: Bee venom therapy, also known as apitherapy, involves the injection of honeybee venom by hypodermic needle, or by applied bee stings. In the latter case, trained physicians hold honeybees with tweezers, placing them over patients` bodies, where the bees then sting them. The bee stings can last for only a few seconds or for as much as five minutes, depending on the dosage of bee venom that is determined to be necessary.

Over 1,500 scientific papers on bee venom therapy have been published in Europe and Asia attesting to the healing benefits of bee stings. According to the practitioners of the therapy, bee venom therapy can begin to ease MS symptoms after as little as 20 to 40 bee stings, with most patients achieving significant reversals of their symptoms, including complete remission, within six to 18 months. The therapy works by first stimulating the immune system, both at the site of the bee sting, and systemically throughout the body. Then, as the venom enters the body, it produces anti-inflammatory effects that are 100 times greater than cortisone shots. Bee venom also acts as a potent antioxidant.

Caution: Approximately 2 percent of the population is allergic to bee venom. If you fall into this category, you should avoid bee venom therapy because of the risk of severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock.

Biological Dentistry: If you suffer from MS due to dental amalgam fillings, you should consider having them removed and replaced with biologically compatible fillings. According to Dr. Hal Huggins, individuals should undergo a serum biocompatibility blood test to determine what materials are biologically compatible with their body. He cautions that some replacement filling materials can over-stimulate or depress immune function, and that others contain aluminum, another toxic metal that should be avoided.

For best results, amalgam removal and replacement should be individualized based on each person`s unique biochemistry. Then, once the fillings have been removed and replaced, treatment should be followed by a detoxification program to help rid the body of stored mercury in tissues and organs. Dr. Huggins recommends that nutritional support, along with acupressure and massage therapy, be part of such a detoxification program, depending on each patient`s specific needs. Following detoxification, specific individualized, dietary guidelines and nutritional supplements are used to further enhance recovery.

Dr. Huggins has treated hundreds of MS patients using the above protocol, and achieved significant benefit in 85 percent of his cases, including wheelchair-bound MS patients recovering their ability to walk.

Detoxification Therapies: Detoxifying the body of toxins and improving the health and function of the lymphatic system can significantly reduce MS symptoms. Useful detoxification strategies include colonics, dry skin brushing, enemas, far-infrared and steam saunas (under your physician`s supervision), fasting, herbal wraps, lymphatic massage, and light beam therapy. For more information on detoxification, see Cleansing and Detoxification.

Diet: MS patients should emphasize an organic, whole foods diet that is low on saturated fats and includes plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. According to Dr. Swank, who has been exploring the link between diet and MS for more than 50 years, saturated fat intake should be limited to not more than 15 grams each day, which is the equivalent of three teaspoons per day. Ideally, all sources of saturated fats, such as dairy products, meats, and commercially processed and packaged foods, should be avoided. Instead, emphasis should be on foods high in essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are contained in fresh fruits and vegetables; oily fish, such as bluefish, bass, salmon, sardines, and trout; and olive, flaxseed, safflower, and sunflower oils. For additional benefit, Dr. Swank recommends supplementing with between four to ten teaspoons of unsaturated oils each day.

Other foods to include in your daily meals are mung beans and mung bean sprouts, millet, free-range poultry, and organic nuts and seeds, while avoiding alcohol, chocolate, dairy products, eggs, commercially prepared and fast foods, fermented foods, hydrogenated oils and solid fats, margarine, milk, red meats, salt, shellfish, sugar, and yeast, as well as hydrolyzed vegetable proteins and food additives and preservatives.

Energy Medicine: One of the most effective ways to screen for all of the underlying causes of MS is a technique known as electrodermal screening, or EDS. Electrodermal screening is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that measures the electrical output of specific points on the hands, face, or feet that correlate to acupuncture meridian points at the beginning or end of energy meridians. The electrical signals given off at these points provide information about the health status of the body`s organs and organ systems, and can also be used to detect the presence of toxins, energy and hormonal imbalances, and harmful microorganisms. In the hands of a highly skilled practitioner, EDS can often detect hidden contributing factors for MS, even when other sophisticated testing methods fail to do so because of the fact that both health and disease are first and foremost the results of balanced or imbalanced energy.

Energy medicine can also be used to protect MS patients from harmful EMFs. One of the most useful devices for doing so is a Teslar watch, named after the brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla, which protects against harmful EMF frequencies while producing a healthy EMF signal similar to the earth`s resonance of 7-9 Hz to enable the body to operate within its own natural frequency range.

Environmental Medicine: Practitioners of environmental medicine test MS patients for dietary and environmental allergies—such as chemicals, dust, heavy metals, mold, and pollen—that can contribute to and exacerbate MS symptoms. Food allergies are determined via blood testing, elimination diets, and electrodermal screening (see Energy Medicine above). To conduct an elimination diet, remove suspected offending foods from your diet and see if your symptoms are reduced within a few days. If so, you should avoid such foods completely for 60-90 days. After this period you may begin to slowly re-introduce them into your diet if symptoms do not return.

Environmental allergies can be diagnosed using electrodermal screening and/or a technique known as maximum tolerated intradermal dose testing. The latter test is conducted by the injection of suspected substances into the skin. If an allergic reaction occurs, patients can often become desensitized to such substances by injecting them in the largest dose that does not cause a reaction. In the case of stored toxins, a detoxification regimen can be devised to help eliminate them. It is not unusual for MS patients to experience a complete remission of their symptoms once offending foods and environmental substances are eliminated.

Enzyme Therapy: The use of pancreatic enzymes can improve MS symptoms, often quite dramatically. This natural approach for treating MS is widely used in both Germany and Mexico.

The reason pancreatic enzyme therapy can be so helpful is because of the enzyme`s ability to digest or destroy circulating immune complexes (CICs). CICs are undigested food particles that remain in the blood, triggering an autoimmune reaction that can lead to the destruction of myelin. As they are digested or destroyed by pancreatic enzymes, the autoimmune reaction ceases, often leading to an improvement in MS symptoms, and greater periods of respite before MS symptoms flare up again. To enhance this treatment approach, you can also supplement with essential fatty acids and selenium.

Histamine Therapy: Histamine, a compound created from the amino acid histidine, is released during allergic reactions. Since the 1950s, researchers have known that histamine can relieve MS symptoms due to the various reactions it causes in the body, such as contraction of smooth muscles, dilation of blood vessels, and improved secretion of gastric acid.

Histamine can be applied topically and absorbed through the skin. When administered to MS patients, research shows that they typically exhibit improved bladder control, cognitive function, and muscle strength, as well as a reduction in the levels of fatigue that often accompany MS. Concurrent with these improvements are an increase of blood flow to the brain, improved digestion, and a cessation of inappropriate immune responses. In some cases, there is also a regrowth of myelin tissue.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. We suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before undergoing these procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, involves the placement of patients inside a sealed oxygen chamber. Once inside, patients sit comfortably as the atmospheric pressure is elevated to saturate the body`s tissues with oxygen. In addition to increasing the oxygen supply to the body`s tissues, HBOT can help enhance immune function and reduce inflammation, heal damaged blood vessels and improve blood circulation, and, most importantly, stimulate the production of new myelin.

Physicians in England who administered HBOT to approximately 4,000 MS patients reported that nearly half of them experienced significant benefits, including improved control over their symptoms, less fatigue and pain, and improvements in their balance, bladder control, coordination, upper and lower limb movements, speech, and vision.

According to Richard A. Neubauer, and HBOT expert and author of the book Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, an average of 20 HBOT sessions per year are enough to prevent a return of MS symptoms, with best results being obtained when HBOT is administered as soon as possible after MS symptoms first begin.

Juice Therapy: Short fasts using organic fruit and vegetable juices can help alleviate symptoms.

Lifestyle: Exercise can help MS patients in a variety of ways, including helping to balance immune response, improving mood, and keeping muscles toned and supple. The best forms of exercise for MS patients include walking, gentle aerobic exercise, and yoga.

Stopping smoking and reducing your exposure to secondhand smoke is advised. Research has found that MS patients who smoke experience an immediate deterioration of their motor function, most likely because of how nicotine negatively affects the central nervous system.

In addition, you should also avoid the use of electric heating pads, chlorinated water, and fluoride, which is found in tap water and commercial mouthwashes and toothpastes, all of which can exacerbate MS symptoms.

Magnet Therapy: Though MS can be exacerbated by electromagnetic fields (EMFs), magnet therapy that employs weak pulsed magnetic fields can be very helpful in soothing MS symptoms. Among the MS symptoms that are improved by pulsed magnet therapy are alexia, bladder incontinence, fatigue, and spasticity.

Mind Body Medicine: Mind/body medicine can help MS patients cope with stress, which can significantly increase MS symptoms. Mind/body approaches can be as simple as taking a short, restful nap each day or breathing deeply through the belly periodically for five to ten minutes at a time. Other useful mind/body medicine techniques include biofeedback, guided imagery and visualization, hypnosis, and meditation.

Nutritional Supplements: Proper nutritional supplementation is essential for MS patients. This includes supplementing with essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 oils such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), evening primrose oil, and flaxseeds and flaxseed oil.

Many holistic physicians also recommend oil instillation in conjunction with a chamomile enema. The purpose of the enema, which involves taking chamomile tea into the lower bowel via an enema bag, is to clean out the colon and to relax the intestinal muscles, which can often spasm in cases of MS. Following the enema, 3 tablespoons of either organic, cold-pressed flax, sunflower, or walnut oil is inserted into the colon using a syringe tipped with a catheter. This enables the body to quickly absorb the essential fatty acids the oil contains through the intestinal walls. For best results, both the enema and oil instillation should be administered each night for three weeks. Afterwards, the dose can be reduced to 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons and can be administered three times a week.

In addition to essential fatty acids, the following nutrients are also recommended for MS patients: beta-carotene and carotenoids; bioflavonoids; B-complex vitamins, along with vitamin B1, B3, B5, B6, and B12; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; folic acid; calcium AEP; coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10); magnesium; selenium; and zinc. Other helpful supplements include alpha lipoic acid; aspartic acid; dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); glutamic acid; glycine; methylsufonylmethane (MSM); and the amino acids carnitine, choline, cysteine, glutathione, and methione.

5-HTP (5-hydroxy-tryptophan), which aids in the body's production of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, is also recommended for MS patients.

Alternative Professional Care
The following therapies can also be helpful for cases of multiple sclerosis: Acupressure and Acupuncture (for relief of symptoms), Biofeedback Training and Neurotherapy, Bodywork (Bowen Therapy, Massage Therapy, Feldenkrais Method), Chelation Therapy, Detoxification Therapies (especially therapies that cleanse the lymphatic system, such as dry skin brushing, exercise on a mini-trampoline, herbal wraps, and lymphatic massage exercise), Energy Medicine (Light Beam Generator, Ondamed), Guided Imagery, Hypnotherapy, Mind/Body Medicine, Nutritional Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, reflexology, Tai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Yoga. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Therapies.)

Quick Action Plan for Multiple Sclerosis
If you suspect you suffer from multiple sclerosis, seek diagnosis as soon as possible, as early diagnosis can dramatically improve the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome. An excellent means of diagnosing MS is electrodermal screening, which can often detect disease symptoms far earlier than conventional testing methods, and which can also detect hidden causative factors that other tests are unable to find.
A healthy diet is essential for dealing successfully with MS. Emphasize a diet that is low in saturated fats and abundant in essential fatty acids. Eat plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, oily fish, free-range poultry, and olive, flaxseed, safflower, and sunflower oils. Organic nuts and seeds, millet, mung beans, and mung bean sprouts are also recommended.
Avoid alcohol, chocolate, dairy products, eggs, fast and commercially prepared foods, fermented foods, hydrogenated oils and solid fats, margarine, red meats, salt, shellfish, sugar, and yeast, as well as hydrolyzed vegetable proteins and food additives and preservatives.
For additional benefit, supplement with four to ten teaspoons of unsaturated oils each day.
Recommended nutritional supplements for MS include B complex vitamins, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, beta carotene and other carotenoids, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium AEP, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
Other useful supplements include alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10, DMSO, MSM, and the amino acids carnitine, choline, cysteine, glutathione, and methionine.
Test for and eliminate all foods and environmental factors that can cause allergies and sensitivities.
To reduce the burden of toxins in your body, consider a program of detoxification therapy, ideally under the supervision of your physician.
If you have mercury-containing dental amalgam fillings, have them removed and replaced with new fillings made from materials with which you are biocompatible.
Avoid exposure to unhealthy electromagnetic fields (EMFs) caused by electricity flowing through the coils of electrical wires and common home and office appliances and equipment, as well as cell phones and many types of motors. To protect yourself from unhealthy EMFs, consider wearing a Teslar watch and receiving weak pulsed magnet therapy.
Be sure to minimize your stress levels using mind/body medicine techniques such as biofeedback, guided imagery and visualization, hypnosis, meditation, and relaxation exercises such as deep breathing.
A restful nap each day can also help reduce your MS symptoms.
Regularly engage in an exercise program of gentle aerobics or walking to keep your muscles toned and supple.
To increase oxygenation of tissues and to stimulate the repair of myelin, consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Tests, tests and more tests.........................these actually helped).


After the Food Test, I took other tests to determine what deficiencies my body had. Hair follicle tests, urine tests, and most importantly, a heavy metal test.

The tests to show what my body lacked helped in replenishing the vitamins that my body needs. Not all bodies are same. The multi-vitamins may be good but my body may need more of a certain vitamin than yours and to take something that everybody takes is assuming that all our bodies are the same. The fact is that they are not.

That is the same with the Food Allergy Test with Immuno Labs. This test showed foods that caused a negative reaction in my body and because I had been consuming these foods for so long, (some for my entire life) my body had built a kind of immunity to them. Once the food test determined what foods were not good for me, I stopped those foods for 6-9 weeks and then introduced them one by one to monitor my body’s reactions.
The results were shocking. As soon as I introduced one of the'no no' foods, all my symptoms came back ten-fold. In this way, I determined what foods to eat and what foods not to eat because my body reacted negatively with all the foods I was not supposed to eat.

The heavy metal toxicity test showed some startling results. The lab assistant could not believe my results. I had the highest levels of cadmium, mercury and aluminum he had ever seen and conducted the test three times because he thought his equipment was faulty. And the medical profession will still not acknowledge that toxicity is the cause of most illness. (Oh well, they connected it to early puberty in teenage girls!!!!!).

In this way, tests to determine what my body needs and does not need were conducted. I introduced all the supplements that I needed (so many pills) and took the foods I was not allowed out of my diet. Yes it was difficult at first but I began experimenting with foods and inventing recipes and substituting and started to have a lot of fun. At community events or social events, I started carrying my own food and if I went out, I spoke with chefs to ensure that nothing that was not supposed to go into my body went in.
When you hear on the radio or on the news on TV that you should have so many helpings of fruit and vegetables daily, they do not tell you that not all fruit and all vegetables are good for you in particular. They may be good but if your body cannot tolerate them, then they are not good. This realization alone will help cure half the ailments we suffer from.

As far as the heavy metals were concerned, I started 'chelation'. Chelation was introduced in the War times to rid soldiers of poison gas. Today our whole environment is poison. There are various ways of chelating. I took an intravenous method for a while and have also taken a pill that helps in the elimination of heavy metals. There is good news and bad news in that (hence, the title of my book). The good news is that the toxins are eliminated from my body and the bad news is that while they were being eliminated, they made me very very sick because they were being dislodged.But it still needed ot be done and it is still done (is small doses so as not to make me sick).

A Candida cleanse followed, along with organ cleanses (you can get them at any drug store). These helped tremendously. They help remove the build up of toxins over years of contamination.There are several websites allocated to cleanses. There is so much information that I cannot put it here. Please do a search and read about them. All I can say is that they are great for you.

I even bought Detox Patches that I wore every night on the soles of my feet. they turned black and smelled like wet cigarette butts the next morning. Even if you think you live a toxin free life, you do not. There are toxins in the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the lotions and beauty products we apply and on and on and on it goes.

All this, while also eliminating stress by creating an environment of calm and tranquility, to lead to mental, physical(even spiritual) stability, which in turn will lead to better physical health. This really is one of the most important steps toward healing.

I have just received an article from a well-wisher in Calgary, which I am going to post on the blog. It details what I have just written.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My Appointment Today................................

I see my naturopath every week.
initially it started out with once month. Then, it became every week.

When I lost a big part of my business, I cut my visits down to every two weeks.

I leave for the West Coast in a couple of weeks and decided to see her every week so that I may have enough support for when I am gone.

Dr Chang (my naturopath) was very happy with my progress. She said that healing is not just the taking of medication and supplements; it is of the spirit too and the spirit needs to be at a stage that can enable and help the body heal.
She also thought this blog was a great idea as not only keeps me thinking creatively but it also enables me to help others.that keeps my spirit happy and enables my healing.
My mother was with me at my appointment and she was happy and satisfied that I was ready for the big trip we are planning

We are planning to fly to Calgary, rent a car in Calgary and drive to Vancouver, where we will be for about ten days and then drive to Edmonton for a wedding. I am told it is a hard drive but I know I can do it. I am also taking my wheelchair with me so that I can do things in Vancouver without tiring myself out.

Indian music and music from the Glee soundtrack will keep me awake during my drive. The scenery and beauty will appeal to my senses and add to my healing.

My supplements are all ready, I bought some gluten free bread and gluten free cereal and am taking my organic rice milk with me. We've purchased some snacks and munchies that I can eat. I am afraid, I will not be allowed to take my bottle of reverse osmosis water and have to drink that airplane bottle water. I will cross that bridge when I come to it, and by the way, I am packed. i do not want to risk over tiring myself close to the date of travel so I do a little everyday and I am now packed.

All in all it was a great appointment and I am ready to meet any challenge.

Monday, August 9, 2010

What? Finally some kind of acknowledgement.......

I was quite surprised to hear two mentions of the effects of toxicity on Television today.

The first was that toxicity was one of the main causes of early puberty in teenage girls. The body matures but the mind and brain do not.

The second one was about what I have written in my book - 'I Have Good News and Bad News', that we are surrounded by toxicity in our world. It is in the food we eat, the air we breath and the water we drink. They even mentioned the teflon coated non-stick pans we use to cook with.

of course the toxicity of our environment is responsible for much more than just early puberty. I do not know why the governments will not acknowledge this fact and do something about it. I think the problem is that these governments rely on 'experts' who pretend to know.
What about all the other added toxins like pesticides, waxes, polishes and of course the preservatives????

But an acknowledgement that probably very few saw, and even fewer understood the full impact of, is still better than no mention at all!!!!

SOME STATISTICS


Here are some facts that are mentioned on the MS Society of Canada's fundraising leaflet:

- MS is the most common neurological disease among young Canadians.

- MS usually attacks people between 15 and 40 in the prime of their lives.

- Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world.

- MS can cause loss of balance, extreme fatigue, double vision and paralysis.

In the last 5 years, the MS Society of Canada has invested over $39 million in cutting edge research to end MS
.


So I ask - where is this money and how come these researchers have not found a connection between toxicity and multiple sclerosis?

Do they even want to? Or is it all a pretence?

Is the MS Society funded by the Drug Companies?

So many unanswered questions.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

First things first....................................


The first thing that I recommend is a Food Allergy Test. This is to determine what foods are good for your body. You may think that you are not really allergic to any foods, but you are.
I take this test every two years. (Well I have only taken two and will take the third one soon). My first test had me off 35 foods. I noticed a change in my symptoms and in my mobility and general well being. My second test, brought back some foods I had lost and took some foods I was allowed.
I guess, since our environment is constantly changing and  the body constantly changes. Therefore, the body's needs constantly change. It is not complicated!

By keeping away from goods that are not good for your body you are already on the path of healing.

The second thing that is as important as the first is to remove all toxins from your environment and by that, I mean ALL TOXINS.
Look at the clothes you wear. Any man-made, artificial fibres should be removed and either donated or thrown away. Your wardrobe should consist of 100% silk, cotton, linen, wool or hemp.

Next, look at your beauty products. did you know that most of them contain aluminium and other toxins?
I know they are important. We all like to smell good, and look good and feel soft but you have to know that when these products come in contact with your skin, your body absorbs them.
I complained to my naturopath of dry skin once and showed her a lotion I thought was good.
She said "Would you eat it? If you would, you can apply it on your skin."
I like to smell good and need the aftershaves and cologne. I apply a small squirt to my clothing instead of on my skin. I use organic natural deodorant (I know there are some that do not work, this one does) and an organic natural body wash and soap and...........................olive oil on my hands and feet.

The next thing is to look at your environment. Look around you for sources of toxins. There are toxins in the air we breath, the water we drink and the food we eat.
I had a reverse-osmosis water filter installed in my house and will only drink that. Not tap water, not bottled water but reverse osmosis water. There are toxic chemicals in our tap water like chlorine and fluoride (yes I know of those who say that fluoride is good. I have chosen to think otherwise.)I installed an air De-ioniser in my family room and an air filter in my bedroom.

I clean my home with natural products like baking soda, salt and vinegar, changed my laundry detergent to an all natural one, and try as much as possible not to use harsh chemicals that we know are harmful to the environment so, how can they not be harmful to us? We inhale their toxic fumes, even if they do smell nice!

The next one is food. We know that most of our foods are toxic. All processed foods, fruit and vegetables that are not organic (again there are those that doubt and I have chosen to eat organic), gluten, sugar, foods with preservatives and msg, these are foods that need to be elminiated from one's life. Yes, that means no burgers, no French fries well actually, if they are with no chemicals and gluten free and if you make them yourself with the right oil and seasoned with nothing but sea salt, you can eat them. I do and I see the difference.

I will stop there for now as this gets a little overwhelming for anybody who wants to make a positive change for the better.

 Change one thing at a time but implement the changes soon. Remember, the more toxins in your life, the more you are at risk.

Mailing Address:
Immuno Laboratories, Inc.
6801 Powerline Road
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309

Phone:
954.691.2500 or 800.231.9197


Fax:
954.691.2505

Friday, August 6, 2010

Finances

Well this is a tough call.
OHIP does not cover my treatments. Even with the success. Since the medical profession does not recognize these treatments, OHIP will not cover them. I cannot even have a lab  send a copy of my blood test to my Naturopath.They simply do not and will not recognize them.

This puts me in a tough spot as the treatments cost a lot of money.
I had an appointment on Tuesday, this week and I stocked up on supplements as I am travelling to the West Coast. I had a blood test done, a doctor consultation, an injection and supplements and my bill fame to almost $1500.00. I almost cried.
I am told that finances should not be an issue that my health comes first. But finances are an issue. We live in a world that is so greedy; the cost of living has gone up tremendously - gas, food, utilities, everything. On top of that,the government taxes us to death and puts us through extreme scrutiny when we apply for help.

I am surprised that there is no tax for farting. Everything else is taxed!!!!!

Finances are definitely an issue and I have no idea how to solve this very major issue.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

MS, it's effects and symptoms

Here is a little that is known about what goes on with Multiple Sclerosis:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, which predominantly affects young adults (this fact changes from caucasian women to young adults). During the inflammation, the myelin (sheath around the nerve cells) gets stripped from the axons in a process known as demyelination. When the myelin sheath is damaged, the transmission of nerve impulses is slowed, stopped or it can jump across into other demyelinated axons. Additionally, the inflammation can also damage the underlying axonal membrane. This membrane is a sophisticated structure that enables the nerve transmission to travel along the nerve. The lost myelin can be replaced with scar tissue. This scarification is how Multiple Sclerosis got its name: Multiple - many and Sclerosis - scar forming. Scar tissue can block the formation of new myelin and once axons have become scarified they do not fully regain their former function.

Conventional medicine aims at management of exacerbations of the inflammatory process by the use of drugs like steroids, interferon etc which only act by suppressing the symptoms of inflammation. It does not address the root cause of the inflammatory process nor does it help in remyelination.

Multiple sclerosis symptoms can cause a wide range of problems. Some problems occur often, and some are seldom seen. Each person’s MS is unique and each person’s MS can progress differently. Basically, MS can progress in two ways. The first is through a flare-up, which is sometimes called a relapse, attack or exacerbation. The second is silent progression. This means that MS is advancing even when there are no symptoms. Either progression means that damage is done to the central nervous system over time. This is why it is so important to begin multiple sclerosis treatment as soon as possible.

Some multiple sclerosis symptoms are seen more often early in the course of disease, while others show up later as the disease progresses.

Below is a list of the most common symptoms of MS. Keep in mind that no two people have the same experience with MS. Your symptoms may be very different from the symptoms of another person. Make sure you speak to your healthcare provider if one or more of your symptoms act up. You could be having a flare-up.

Being aware of your symptoms will help you talk to your healthcare provider about which treatment is right for you.

Common multiple sclerosis symptoms are discussed below:
Changes in vision
Loss of muscle strength in arms and legs
Change in sense of touch
Pain
Bladder/bowel problems
Sexual dysfunction
Balance/coordination problems
Fatigue
Changes in cognitive function
Mood changes

I started with all of these syptoms and a few more. Now, I only have loss of muscle strength in my right leg, some fatigue and some changes in cognitive functions.
The mood changes I have observed are, well related to me being anal retentive. But since it is a symptom of MS, let us blame it on that.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

In the beginning..................................

I was first diagnosed with MS in 2006. I probably had it long before it was actually diagnosed.

Actually, come to think of it, I have still not yet been told that I have Multiple Sclerosis. In fact the first neurologist (whom I have since fired) I saw, wrote a report to my MD (whom I also fired) saying "it is unlikely that this patient has MS because of his African descent".


This is my story in a few words:

I was born in Kenya of third generation Indian parents. I was always pretty healthy but in my teens started having fainting spells and black outs. I was told I was anemic and was given iron pills.

In college, my fainting spells got worse and I was then diagnosed with low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. I was told to eat more oranges and when experiencing low blood sugar, to have sugar. ( Sugar only makes it worse as the blood sugar just rises and falls again due to excessive insulin - but since I trusted the doctor, I did what he said.)


I came to Canada in 1989. In late 1992, I developed a strange rash that looked like tiny mosquito bites. I saw several dermatologists who all took biopsy after biopsy and each sent me on an Aids test Somehow I felt, my hypoglycemia and my rash were both food related. I reduced my carbohydrate content and increased my protein intake. and both the rash and the hypoglycemia calmed down.


Several years later, I developed some new symptoms. I became extremely emotional, my right foot started dragging on occasion, especially when I was fatigued, my feet and hands started tingling and I fell down the stairs twice.

My then GP (the fired one) told me I had too much work stress and that my circulation was poor. He sent me to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist, I do not know, some counselor of sorts.


I had gone to Kenya to see my parents in 2004 and in 2005 and both times I had fallen extremely ill and even became blind for a couple of hours. I went to see a friend of the family who was a ENT and after conducting some tests, he told me there was something wrong neurologically.

On returning to Toronto, I saw a neurologist and in his waiting room, I read the symptoms or Multiple Sclerosis and knew I had it.

The neurologist conducted several tests and even sent me for some specialised tests because he thought I had Devic's disease. Well the conclusion was that I did not have Devic's and that I had Progressive MS

The first thing was a steroid drip and then prescription drugs and of course, drugs for the side effects and soon enough I decided that I had had enough of this circus and sought the services of a Naturopath. This changed my life because the treatments showed me immediate progress. I was not just treating my symptoms and I was actually reversing the disease.

I sought the services of several naturopaths, one in Toronto, two in Michigan and then finally settled on two here in Toronto.

My MS is progressive - meaning it is only supposed to get worse. I have proved that wrong. This is the reason why I wrote my book I Have Good News and Bad News", describing the last four years of my life with the challenges of living with MS, my trials and tribulations and my treatment success.


Yes the new treatments are all the talk these days and I have read all that there is to read on jugular veins and the 'liberation treatments'.

I have had as much success treating my illness as the patients who have had the procedure claim


I think the world has become drug dependant and procedure dependant. We need to listen to our bodies and help our bodies heal with supplements, nutrition and most of all, physical, mental and emotional balance.


The following posts outline my treatments and progress.