Multiple Sclerosis natural treatment, vitamins, herbs, supplements, alternative therapy and remedy by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Nerve fibers inside and outside the brain are wrapped with many layers of insulation called the myelin sheath. Much like the insulation around an electrical wire, the myelin sheath permits electrical impulses to be conducted along the nerve fiber with speed and accuracy. When myelin is damaged, nerves don't conduct impulses properly. Multiple sclerosis is a disorder in which the nerves of the eye, brain, and spinal cord lose patches of myelin. IgG antibodies to the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein appear to participate in the more severe type of multiple sclerosis.
   Children who spend more time in the sun have a lower risk for developing multiple sclerosis as adults. Something in relation to sunlight and/or vitamin D exposure during childhood may play a protective role.

Natural treatment for multiple sclerosis MS
At this point it is very difficult to know with any certainty which supplements, in what dosages, and in what combination (s) would be helpful for multiple sclerosis, if at all. We also have little idea how these supplements interact with medicines currently used for multiple sclerosis. My aim is to just mention the research regarding the role some nutrients may play in this condition. If you have MS, make your doctor aware of some of these preliminary studies, and perhaps he or she would want to monitor you while you give them a try. There is no definite proof yet that these supplements will help. Much more research is needed before natural options are considered. It is possible that someone's condition may get worse by stopping their existing medicines and using natural supplements exclusively. It is also possible that certain natural supplements may lead to a slight reduction of the necessary pharmaceutical medication dosage. If you do plan to use these supplements, keep the dosages low at first until you have a grasp on how they are influencing your condition or whether they are interfering or improving the actions of the pharmaceutical medicines.

Alpha lipoic acid has been helpful in a mouse study and recently showed biochemical marker improvement in a human trial. A dose of 10 to 25 mg of R lipoic acid may be appropriate. Most R lipoic capsules come in 50 mg, so, opening a capsule and taking a portion is one option.
Carnitine has been found helpful in reducing fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Curcumin blocks the progression of multiple sclerosis in a laboratory study.
Fish Oil capsules may be helpful along with consuming more cold water fish with omega 3 fatty acids. Would salmon eggs or fish eggs be helpful?
Flavonoids may be helpful
Ginkgo biloba have shown intriguing preliminary evidence of efficacy.
Vitamin D supplementation may be of benefit. There appears to be an association between vitamin D levels and MS relapse rate. It may be possible that vitamin D supplementation could have an impact on the course of this disease. Mowry EM, Krupp LB, Milazzo M, et al. Vitamin D status is associated with relapse rate in pediatric-onset MS. Annals Neurology, 2010. Another study done in Australia states, "Increased sun exposure and higher vitamin D levels may help to protect against the risk of developing multiple sclerosis."
Nicotinamide has been studied in rodents.
Yoga is helpful in improving muscle and neural function.

Alpha lipoic acid and multiple sclerosis
Lipoic acid in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
Multiple Sclerosis. 2005
The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics, tolerability and effects on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAMP-1) of oral Alpha Lipoic acid in patients with multiple sclerosis. Thirty-seven multiple sclerosis subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo, Alpha Lipoic acid 600 mg twice a day, Alpha Lipoic acid 1200 mg once a day and Alpha Lipoic acid 1200 mg twice a day. Subjects took study capsules for 14 days. We found that subjects taking 1200 mg had substantially higher peak serum Alpha Lipoic acid levels than those taking 600 mg and that peak levels varied considerably among subjects. We also found a significant negative correlation between peak serum Alpha Lipoic acid levels and mean changes in serum MMP-9 levels. There was a significant dose response relationship between Alpha Lipoic acid and mean change in serum sICAM-1 levels. We conclude that oral Alpha Lipoic acid is generally well tolerated and appears capable of reducing serum MMP-9 and sICAM-1 levels. Alpha Lipoic acid may prove useful in treating multiple sclerosis by inhibiting MMP-9 activity and interfering with T-cell migration into the CNS.
   Caution: High dosages of may cause heart rhythm problems. Use less than 50 mg of R alpha lipoic acid. I'm fascinated by the possibilities of nutritional substances in altering the course of chronic medical conditions for which modern medicine does not have good options. Although this study in no way says ALA will be a cure or long term benefit for those with multiple sclerosis, it does open the door for further exploration. I think the dose of 1200 mg is extremely high, and I would not recommend more than 50 mg a day of R-Alpha Lipoic Acid for long term use.

Alpha lipoic acid inhibits human T-cell migration: implications for multiple sclerosis.
J Neurosci Res. 2004
We have demonstrated previously the ability of the antioxidant alpha lipoic acid (ALA) to suppress and treat a model of multiple sclerosis, relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We describe the effects of ALA and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), on the transmigration of human Jurkat T cells across a fibronectin barrier in a transwell system. ALA and DHLA inhibited migration of Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent fashion by 16-75%. ALA and DHLA reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity by 18-90% in Jurkat cell supernatants. These data, coupled with its ability to treat relapsing EAE, suggest that ALA warrants investigation as a therapy for multiple sclerosis.

Nicotinamide
Boosting concentrations in the nervous system of a vital compound called NAD, by giving its chemical precursor, nicotinamide has shown considerable therapeutic potential in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. In mice with the MS-like disease EAE, nicotinamide treatment profoundly prevents the degeneration of axons already showing signs of degeneration. Daily under-the-skin injections of nicotinamide in the EAE mouse also prevents inflammation of the axons and loss of myelin -- the underlying problem in MS -- and delays the onset and severity of disability. Nicotinamide had beneficial effects even when treatment was delayed until 10 days after the induction multiple sclerosis -like disease, when most of the animals had clear signs of neurologic disability, hinting that it may have an impact at later stages of multiple sclerosis. The Journal of Neuroscience, September 20, 2006.

Carnitine and multiple sclerosis
Levocarnitine administration in multiple sclerosis patients with immunosuppressive therapy-induced fatigue.
Mult Scler. 2006.
The aim of this prospective open-labelled study was to collect and study serum carnitine levels in MS patients with and without disease-modifying treatment-induced fatigue syndrome. Treatment consisted of oral levocarnitine, 3-6 g daily. All patients achieved normal plasma carnitine levels. For 63% of patients treated with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies, oral l-carnitine adjunction decreased fatigue intensity, especially in patients treated with cyclophosphamide and interferon beta.
   Comments: In the real world, 500 mg or maximum 1000 mg of l-carnitine should be sufficient.

Fish oils, DHA
Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2002.
Among the fatty acids, it is the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which possess the most potent immunomodulatory activities, and among the omega-3 PUFA, those from fish oil-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--are more biologically potent than alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Some of the effects of omega-3 PUFA are brought about by modulation of the amount and types of eicosanoids made, and other effects are elicited by eicosanoid-independent mechanisms, including actions upon intracellular signaling pathways, transcription factor activity and gene expression. Animal experiments and clinical intervention studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, might be useful in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Coronary heart disease, major depression, aging and cancer are characterized by an increased level of interleukin 1 (IL-1), a proinflammatory cytokine. Similarly, arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and lupus erythematosis are autoimmune diseases characterized by a high level of IL-1 and the proinflammatory leukotriene LTB(4) produced by omega-6 fatty acids. There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the placebo-controlled trials of fish oil in chronic inflammatory diseases reveal significant benefit, including decreased disease activity and a lowered use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Docosahexaenoic acid-enriched fish oil attenuates kidney disease and prolongs median and maximal life span of autoimmune lupus-prone mice.
J Immunol. 2010.
The therapeutic efficacy of individual components of fish oils in various human inflammatory diseases still remains unresolved, possibly due to low levels of n-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid or lower ratio of DHA to EPA. Our data indicate that DHA, but not EPA, is the most potent n-3 fatty acid that suppresses glomerulonephritis and extends life span of systemic lupus erythematosus-prone short-lived B x W mice, possibly via inhibition of IL-18 induction and IL-18-dependent signaling.

Vitamin D as prevention or treatment
Vitamin D3 appears to be helpful in several diseases, including multiple sclerosis. High doses of vitamin D may be required for therapeutic efficacy. Patients with mulptle sclerosis can take enough vitamin D to double their blood levels of vitamin D without the concern of causing hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria.

Serum concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are inversely related to disease activity: is it time to routinely supplement patients with SLE with vitamin D?
Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Jun. Department of Medicine 'B' and Centre for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Centre, (Affiliated to Tel-Aviv University) Tel-Hashomer 52621, Israel.
In a cohort of patients with SLE originating from Israel and Europe vitamin D serum concentrations were found to be inversely related to disease activity.

Children whose mothers have low exposure to sunlight during their first three months of pregnancy may have a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life. Low vitamin D levels have long been linked to a higher risk of MS. Experts suspect an expectant mother's lack of exposure to sunlight - the main source of vitamin D - may affect the fetus's central nervous system or immune system, and predispose it to developing MS later in life. BMJ, online April 29, 2010.

Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis MS.
Neurology. 2004.
A protective effect of vitamin D on risk of multiple sclerosis has been proposed, but no prospective studies have addressed this hypothesis. Dietary vitamin D intake was examined directly in relation to risk of multiple sclerosis in two large cohorts of women: the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 92,253 women followed from 1980 to 2000) and Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II; 95,310 women followed from 1991 to 2001). Diet was assessed at baseline and updated every 4 years thereafter. During the follow-up, 173 cases of multiple sclerosis with onset of symptoms after baseline were confirmed. The pooled age-adjusted relative risk (RR) comparing women in the highest quintile of total vitamin D intake at baseline with those in the lowest was 0.67. Intake of vitamin D from supplements was also inversely associated with risk of multiple sclerosis; the RR comparing women with intake of >or=400 IU/day with women with no supplemental vitamin D intake was 0.59. No association was found between vitamin D from food and multiple sclerosis incidence. These results support a protective effect of vitamin D intake on risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

People born in May in the northern hemisphere have a higher than average risk of developing multiple sclerosis. An analysis of data from studies of more than 42,000 people in Canada, Britain, Denmark and Sweden showed that May babies have a 13 percent increased chance of suffering from the illness later in life, but that having a November birthday decreased the average odds by 19 percent. The effect was similar in all the countries but most prominent in Scotland, which has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis MS in the world. Although the scientists cannot explain the correlation between birth month and MS, they suspect it could be linked to exposure to sunlight and the mother's vitamin D levels, which could influence the child's development.

Exercise benefit
Randomized controlled trial of yoga and exercise in multiple sclerosis.
Neurology. 20044.
Subjects with multiple sclerosis participating in either a 6-month yoga class or exercise class showed significant improvement in measures of fatigue compared to a waiting-list control group. There was no relative improvement of cognitive function in either of the intervention groups.

Association with HDL cholesterol
Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman from the State University of New York at Buffalo analyzed clinical, demographic and HDL data on 186 MS patients whose average age was 50 years. At the start of the study, almost 20 percent of the participants had low HDL levels while close to 50 percent had high levels. Over the next 6 years, an association between the level of HDL cholesterol and the level of disability became apparent. Patients with greater disability were almost twice as likely to have low HDL levels compared to patients with less disability.  Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman thinks high HDL levels are associated with lower inflammation. April 2009.

Avoid smoking since it makes it worse
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the substance that makes cigarettes addictive, nicotine, doesn't seem to be at fault. It's not clear why cigarette smoking might increase MS risk, although there are many theories. Cyanide is one of the many harmful compounds found in cigarette smoke and it's known to damage nerve tissue. Smokers' greater vulnerability to infections, which have been linked to MS risk, could also be a factor. Neurology, September 1, 2009.

Smoking may increase the risk of MS in people who have other risk factors for the neurological disorder. Smokers who have high levels of a protein that protects against the Epstein-Barr virus, a common herpes virus, are more likely than  nonsmokers to get the condition. Neurology, April 2010.

Multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs
The term multiple sclerosis comes from the multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis) that represent many patches of demyelination in the nervous system. The possible neurologic signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis are so diverse that doctors may miss the diagnosis when the first symptoms appear. Multiple sclerosis symptoms often include reduced or abnormal sensations, weakness and fatigue, visual changes, clumsiness, loss of bladder control, and so on. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis might appear in any combination and be mild or severe. They are usually experienced for unpredictable periods of time.
   While multiple sclerosis often worsens slowly over time, affected people usually have periods of relatively good health (remissions) alternating with debilitating flare-ups (exacerbations). Fatigue is the most common symptom of multiple sclerosis and is associated with a reduced quality of life. It is described as the worst symptom of their disease by 50-60% of patients. Yoga helps reduce fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. Brain fog occurs in multiple sclerosis with problems in thinking or being able to focus clearly.
   Erectile dysfunction is a common symptom with multiple sclerosis. Although Viagra may help, the risk of permanent blindness is a concern. Natural options and formulas are available by Ray Sahelian, M.D. .
   Investigators in Japan have found that multiple sclerosis symptoms were more common in the warmest (July and August) and coldest (January and February) months.

Possible triggers
Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults. About 400,000 Americans, mostly young adults, have it. The pathogenesis remains unknown. Although inflammation, demyelination and axonal injury are all involved, the primary pathogenic process is not clear. On-the-job exposure to organic solvents may increase a person's risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Infection with a common bacteria known as C. pneumonia may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Immunization with the synthetic hepatitis B vaccine may be associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Those with multiple sclerosis should avoid excessive body heat elevation such as sauna, whirlpool, sun bathing or spending time outdoors in high heat.
   Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), resulting in infectious mononucleosis, which primarily effects adolescents and young adults, more than doubles the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. Elevated serum levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies can be seen in multiple sclerosis patients decades before the clinical onset of disease.
   Cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis patients commonly contains varicella zoster virus DNA. The use of immune suppressive therapy could more easily lead to viral reactivation and to the development of viral diseases in multiple sclerosis patients.
   MS patients who smoke have a speedier progression of the disease. Archives of Neurology, July 2009.
   A woman's risk of developing MS during her lifetime is doubled if she was obese at age 18. Neurology, online November 12, 2009.

Multiple Sclerosis Cause - sun exposure?
A 27-year-old white woman with a history of multiple sclerosis was found dead lying on a lounger, clad in a bathing suit. She had been sunbathing for 4 hours. Autopsy findings consisted of numerous variably sized demyelinated plaques involving the periventricular cerebral white matter and cerebellum. Elevation of core temperature in patients with multiple sclerosis leading to transient or permanent adverse neurologic signs and symptoms has been documented for several decades. This case illustrates that a modestly increased core body temperature, even from a usually innocuous activity such as sunbathing, may be fatal in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Epstein-Barr virus not likely to be cause
Although studies have found a link between infection with the Epstein-Barr virus and a heightened risk of multiple sclerosis, new findings cast doubt on the theory that the virus helps cause the disease. In an analysis of spinal fluid and autopsied brain tissue from people with MS, researchers found little evidence of Epstein-Barr genetic material in the samples.  Neurology, April 6, 2010.

Diagnosis of MS
The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is challenging since there is no single blood test or other test that can be used to confirm multiple sclerosis. The process of multiple sclerosis diagnosis usually involves a doctor asking a patient about symptoms, doing a physical exam, and performing a few laboratory test.

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment - Medical therapy
Injectable beta-interferon, a relatively new multiple sclerosis treatment, reduces the frequency of relapses. Other promising multiple sclerosis treatments still under investigation include other interferons, oral myelin, and glatiramer to help keep the body from attacking its own myelin. The benefits of plasmapheresis and intravenous gamma globulins haven't been established, and these treatments aren't practical for long-term therapy.
   Corticosteroids such as prednisone taken by mouth or methylprednisolone given intravenously for short periods to relieve acute symptoms have been the main form of therapy for decades. Treatment with high-dose steroids for multiple sclerosis and other disorders may impair long-term memory, according to a report in the medical journal Neurology. The good news is that mental functioning usually returns to normal a few days after stopping the drug.
   Multiple sclerosis treatment with cannabinoids may help prevent episodes of urge incontinence. Treatment with Marinol, a synthetic version of cannabinoid chemicals found in marijuana, can reduce the pain often experienced by people with multiple sclerosis.

Pregnancy
Pregnant women being treated with beta-interferon, a drug used to fight multiple sclerosis and other diseases, face an increased risk of miscarriage or having a low birthweight baby.

While women with MS have a somewhat heightened risk of certain pregnancy complications, by and large, their pregnancies are as healthy as other women's unless being treated with certain medications.

Multiple Sclerosis MS Human Research
A randomized crossover study of bee sting therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Neurology, 2005.
Bee sting therapy found ineffective against multiple sclerosis. A 24-week study of 26 patients with relapsing-remitting or relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis has found no benefit from bee-sting therapy. Live bees were used to administer bee venom three times per week. The treatment did not reduce disease activity, disability, or fatigue and did not improve quality of life.

Reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled study.
Multiple Sclerosis. 2003.
To evaluate the effect of reflexology on symptoms of multiple sclerosis in a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. Seventy-one multiple sclerosis patients were randomized to either study or control group, to receive an 11-week treatment. Reflexology treatment included manual pressure on specific points in the feet and massage of the calf area. The control group received nonspecific massage of the calf area. The intensity of paresthesias, urinary symptoms, muscle strength and spasticity was assessed in a masked fashion at the beginning of the study, after 1.5 months of treatment, end of study and at three months of follow-up. Fifty-three patients completed this study. Significant improvement in the differences in mean scores of paresthesias, urinary symptoms and spasticity was detected in the reflexology group. Improvement with borderline significance was observed in the differences in mean scores of muscle strength between the reflexology group and the controls. The improvement in the intensity of paresthesias remained significant at three months of follow-up. Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.

Animal Studies
Clinical and experimental study on multiple sclerosis with bushen gusui tablet]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 20014.
To observe the therapeutic effect of Bushen Gusui tablet in treating multiple sclerosis and its effects on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in guinea pigs. Forty-three multiple sclerosis patients were treated with Bushen Gusui and their clinical symptoms, signs of nerve function, recurrent frequency, evoked potential and changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were observed. Bushen Gusui could improve symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis patients and reduce recurrent frequency. The total effective rate was 88.37%. High dose Bushen Gusui could obviously inhibit inflammatory reaction of brain and spinal cord as well as demyelination, and simultaneously inhibit the activity of serum IL-2, IL-6, TNF in comparing with model group. There were insignificant difference as compared with prednisone acetate group. Bushen Gusui had certain effect on both multiple sclerosis patients and EAE model animals, which indicated that it was worth further studying and clinical application.

You mention Bushen Gusui as a supplement that is beneficial for multiple sclerosis. However, it is absolutely impossible to find! Would you know where I could purchase this supplement? Is possible that it also goes by a different name?
    As of 20110 I have not yet found a source. You may consider asking a Chinese Medicine doctor or a Chinese herb shop, we can't seem to find it.

Emails
Q. Could bee propolis help someone who suffers from multiple sclerosis? What about a multiple sclerosis diet?
   A. We don't know. We haven't seen any studies regarding the association between bee propolis and multiple sclerosis although flavonoids in bee pollen could theoretically be beneficial. As to a multiple sclerosis diet, again I really don't know at this time what foods would help or not help.

Q. My husband has been diagnosed with Multiple Scleroses five years ago. It took a toll on his body and mind. My husband is taking an injection of Avonex once a week. Needless to say, our love life went from great to almost non existent. A friend talked to me about your product Passion Rx and suggested we should give it a try. I thought, at worst the only thing I could lose would be the cost of the product. So I placed an order, I received my Passion Rx and started giving it to my husband, who at first was reluctant to take it. Much to our surprise, he started feeling the positive effects of Passion Rx approximately one week later. He was taking one capsule every other day. We now enjoy a healthy, longer lasting and full filling love life once more. Thank you for putting forth the effort of finding natural remedies, that people who do have to be on medication can also take.

Q. Dear Dr. Sahelian, the information you provide on your website in very informative and outstanding! I have recommended your website to so many people within the last week you would think I'm making a profit. ! The reason I am writing is to inquire if Inositol would be a good supplemental for people who are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. I read through the multiple sclerosis research that has already been performed but didn't see any clinical trials that have been conducted with diseases such as multiple sclerosis. I await an answer from your Superb Team.
   A. Thank you for the positive feedback. In March 2007 we searched Medline and could not find any clinical trials using inositol for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Q. I experienced the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 1967, and began yoga in 1970. The practice of yoga, and assurance from research that myelin can regenerate spontaneously, enabled me to recover full function after every episode of disease activity. My book is called Black Patent Shoes Dancing With MS, copyright 1989. You will find a PUBMED review of the work of Robert Keith Wallace PhD RE: yoga, meditation and consciousness informative. Wallace has authored numerous papers and 2 books The Neurophysioogy of Enlightenment copyright 1986 and Physiology of Consciousness copyright 1993. Another important work is Molecules of Emotion by Dr Candace Pert copyright 1997, In health, Eva Marsh Meng BSc.

Q. This question is in regards to High Dose Thiamine to treat Multiple Sclerosis; The Dr. Klenner Protocol; using Thiamine and Niacin; with vitamin B12 and Vitamin C etc. My friend is a 58 year old lady with advanced multiple sclerosis has tried everything. Vitamins; Minerals; antibiotics prescriptions; nothing has helped her; she is on LDN today, Low Dose Naltrexone. I do not recommend LDN to people because no research done. I was informed of The Dr. Klenner Protocol by a rep. from Twin Lab. I think Dr. Sahelian has the best website; easy to read and very informative. I was taking Sam-d and i didn't feel right; so I read the article reduced my dose and I am fine.
   A. I am not familiar with the Dr. Klenner protocol for the treatment of multiple sclerosis with vitamins.

Q. I was researching MS and read your website, that " I am not familiar with the Dr. Klenner protocol for the treatment of multiple sclerosis with vitamins." If that is still true, here is what I've found. I hope this helps you and others. P. Brumm, From the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, May 2003Letter to the Editor. Dr. F.R. Klenner's Protocol for MS. "Since the publication of my article Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Injectable Vitamin B1 and Liver Extract in the TLfDP in the Feb/March 2000 issue, I have received hundreds of calls from doctors and patients wanting more information on this safe, effective, and inexpensive treatment which reverses and cures Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. F.R. Klenner's medical paper was published in the June and July 2000 edition of the TLfDP. Dr. H.T.R. Mount's medical paper on the successful treatment of MS with vitamin B1 and liver extract was also published in the Feb/March 2000 issue of the TLfDP. It is interesting to note these two MDs were treating MS in the 1940s and '50s with the same two essential ingredients -- injectable B1 and liver extract -- yet they were unaware of each other. Dr. Klenner in Reidsville, North Carolina and Dr. Mount in Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Mount felt paralysis was a contraindication to his type of therapy, whereas Dr. Klenner was treating MS patients with paralysis intensively and successfully with vitamins A, C, E and all of the B vitamins and other metabolites in addition to the vitamin B1 and liver extract injections."
    A. Thanks for writing, it would be nice to have actual double blind studies to see if this protocol is of benefit.

Q. I just wanted to drop a brief positive comment on the Source Naturals Vitamin B Coenzyme product in relation to Multiple Sclerosis. I love this product. After reading an article on multiple sclerosis and nicotinamide, I tried taking a couple different brands of nicotinamide. I didn't care for them. Then, I saw that NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 10 mg) was available in the Vitamin B Coenzyme product. I found this product immediately very beneficial. Is it just the natural vitamin B effects? Or is the NAD providing direct protection against my multiple sclerosis symptoms? That's hard to say, of course. But I have found this product invaluable, and I haven't had a multiple sclerosis attack since I've been on it. Also, I feel I've used it to "fend off" attacks. That said, I haven't had an MRI in quite a while. When you're doing well, you aren't motivated to get them. All of this could be coincidental. However, you may want to research this product and consider recommending on your multiple sclerosis page under your comments on nicotinamide. According to the article on nicotinamide, the protection provided by NAD was dose dependent, and would require tons more than the small 10 mg I am taking to match what the mice were given. Still, I can't deny the positive benefits it seems to provide, even if my comments are anecdotal and unproven by a trial. I cut the coenzyme B vitamin tablet into quarters, so I can take a quarter every few hours. It's a sort of makeshift time-release pill. Finally, I also take SAM-e with the coenzyme B vitamin. Too much SAM-e gives me insomnia, so I moderate to a couple days on, and a couple off. But the combination of SAM-e with the coenzyme B vitamin makes my body extremely efficient. I have a high metabolism and can burn through food fast, but this combination allows me to maintain balance which appears to be good for reducing my multiple sclerosis.

Q. Does dimethylglycine supplement help with multiple sclerosis?
   A. We have not seen any studies using DMG supplements for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

I stumbled upon your website this morning as I was reading more about bee pollen which I have been taking on and off for some time. I have decided to reintroduce it into my daily therapies. I just wanted to send along a note that I have had had MS since July 7, 2007 and have had fantastic results with NO PROGRESSION whatsoever. My therapy from day one has been a proper diet, exercise and supplements. I have never taken any MS drug - nor do I plan to. Every year my MRI is improving. My latest MRI in May 2009 showed no new spots and I have regenerated multiple lesions in my brain, which doctors here in Canada said was impossible. If you would like to connect, I would love to share my story. I have MRI's to prove my story as well. This is one of my missions in life to educate others experiencing MS. I decided to be the person to give them the other side that medical doctors do not usually do - providing the ability to heal yourself. I commend you for taking the extra time and initiative to test all supplements and therapies.

Thank you for the website. It is a good source of information, covering alternatives. Even though MS is difficult to control, doing nothing is not an option. I was diagnosed with MS in July of 2007 and wonder what you think of Chinese herbal concentrates via Sunrider products (Nuplus and Quinary powders)? Although I am using Copaxone, I am also trying to come up with a health plan.
    I am not familiar with Nuplus or Quinary powders.

I have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. My doctor has suggested I supplement my diet with 8mg/day of octacosanol. He understands that it may help regenerate myelin sheaths. Is there any evidence of this?
   A search on Medline in 2010 did not reveal any such studies.

My own successful program for MS consists of the prescription drug Copaxone combined with 7-keto DHEA, SAM-e, Alpha Lipoic Acid OR Padma Basic (I typically don't take these two together since the Padma thins the blood quite a bit over time), and nicotinamide [Vitamin B3] and Vitamin B1 (combined with several other B vitamins) in the Source Naturals Coenzymated B Complex product. But anyone considering the above supplement program should discuss with their physician.

When I was first diagnosed I read that the herb ashwagandha can have a beneficial effect and so I have taken this herb periodically but particularly during relapses for many years. I'm a sample size of just one, but my experience is that when I take ashwagandha it helps with nerve conductivity and energy. If I am experiencing some minor paralysis in my left arm and leg, this symptom is relieved after taking the herb for a period of days. Generally I continue taking the herb until the relapse has fully remitted. After 15 years, I feel that the frequency of relapses has been reduced and their severity has been mitigated. Perhaps your other readers may have similar experiences with the use of this herb? I would certainly be interested to know if that were true. In any event, it may be worth some consideration as a possible herbal treatment.