Friday, February 28, 2014

Exploring Natural Treatment For MS

By Jerri Perry


Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized by lesions more familiarly known as plaques. Symptoms initially include weakness, numbness and tingling and visual disturbances. As the disease progresses, urinary difficulties may be present. Pharmaceutical preparations can retard the disease. Symptoms may also be controlled by natural treatment for MS.

Multiple Sclerosis is one of more than a hundred diseases that fall under the umbrella of autoimmune disorders. In MS, the T-cells of the immune system are thought to attack a substance called myelin in the brain. Myelin wraps itself around nerve cells to promote the conduction of nerve impulses. The prevalence and incidence of the disease increase with distance from the equator.

Scientists used to think that only the white matter was involved. It is now apparent that the disease strikes the grey matter, as well. This makes sense in view of the cognitive disturbances, colloquially known as "brain fog" associated with the disease. Epidemiologists are studying the geographic clustering of MS. It appears that people born near the equator who relocate into a region where there is lots of MS become more susceptible to the condition.

There is a Professor of Emergency Medicine living in Australia who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and now runs retreats for patients. His name is George Jelinek and he was diagnosed when he was 45 years old. He also runs 5-day retreats in New Zealand.

Jelinek has five simple rules: Learn how to meditate, exercise regularly, take high doses of vitamin D and completely avoid trans fats, apart from those that occur naturally in vegetables. Conventional medications are permitted. In fact, Professor Jelinek himself takes glatiramer, an immunomodulator.

Ann Romney, wife of former Republican presidential nominee in 2012, Mitt Romney, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 after experiencing a symptom widely known as "brain fog." She claims that her passion for riding horses helps to keep her symptoms at bay. This is consistent with Professor Jelinek's regime, although we do not have details of her dietary and supplement habits. When an MSNBC anchor chided her about this, it was fellow MS sufferer, Neil Cavuto, a senior vice president at Fox News Channel, who rose to her defense.

Jack Osbourne, son of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, has also been stricken with the disease. He was diagnosed in 2012 after suffering from impaired vision. He had just turned 26 and had also just become a father for the first time. His symptoms are responding to healthy diet and lifestyle changes. Other celebrities affected by multiple sclerosis include country singer Donna Fargo, Annette Funicello, a former mousketeer and star of 60s beach movies, and two of the Osmonds, Alan and David.

One more natural treatment for MS that has so far been confined to Europe is an extract that contains two different cannabinoids derived from what is more popularly known as marijuana. It is formulated as a mouth spray and is used to control spasticity with good effect.




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