DISORDERS

Description: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system including the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord, and usually occurs in early adult life. The disease affects the nervous system by destroying the myelin sheaths that cover the nerves and leaving scar tissue called plaques, ultimately resulting in destruction of the nerves. This process is known as sclerosis.

Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on which portion or portions of the nervous system are most affected. In the earlier stages, a person may experience episodes of dizziness; emotional changes such as mood swings and/or depression; eye problems such as blurred or double vision; a feeling of tingling and/or numbness, especially in the hands and feet; loss of balance and/or coordination; muscular stiffness; nausea and vomiting; slurred speech; tremors; a vague feeling of weakness and/or fatigue; difficulty breathing; and for men, impotence. As the disease progresses, a person may have trouble walking and develop a staggering gait. In the advanced stages, movements may become more spastic, and paralysis and breathing difficulty may occur. Bowel and bladder problems such as chronic urinary incontinence or urgency are common, and extreme fatigue – one of the most disabling symptoms of MS – may set in.

The disease follows a pattern of periodic flare-ups, called exacerbations, followed by periods in which symptoms diminish or even disappear. MS is variable in its rate of progression. It can be relatively benign, with only a few minor attacks spread over decades, or it can be rapidly disabling. Most commonly, it progresses slowly, disappearing for periods of time but returning intermittently, often in progressively more severe attacks.

Incidence: Nearly 350,000 Americans are affected by MS. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 40. Women are affected nearly twice as often as men. MS is rarely diagnosed in children and in people over 60 years of age.

Causes: The cause of MS is not known, but it is widely believed to be an autoimmune disease in which white blood cells attack the myelin sheaths as if they were a foreign substance. Stress and malnutrition, whether from poor absorption or poor diet, often precede the onset of the disease. Some experts suspect that an unidentified virus may be involved. Heredity may also be a factor. Many experts suspect that mercury poisoning is behind many cases of MS. The installation of mercury amalgam dental fillings (the chief source of mercury exposure for most people in the United States) has been known to produce symptoms indistinguishable from those of MS in some people. Further, the levels of mercury in people with MS have been found to be an average of seven times higher than those in healthy people. Another theory is that this disease is caused by food intolerances or allergies, especially allergies to dairy products and gluten. Finally, diet may play a key role in the development of MS. This is suggested by the fact that MS is most common in Western countries where people consume large amounts of meats, dairy products, processed foods, and coconut and palm oils – all foods low in essential fatty acids, and is least common in countries where diets are high in unsaturated fats, including seed oils, olive oil, oily fish, fresh fruits and vegetables – all foods high in essential fatty acids.

Treatments: There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis. An early diagnosis is an essential first step in treating the disease. Many health care professionals believe that if treatment begins soon enough and is adhered to, it is possible to control the disease in many, if not all, patients.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2^nd Edition

By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide

Compiled by the Burton Goldberg Group