Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Cathy
Doctors consider multiple sclerosis (MS) to be an autoimmune disease. Which means the body is attacking itself for some unknown reason. – This is not true.
The body is NOT attacking itself, it is attacking a pathogen.
In January 2022, a study stated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main cause of MS. During this 20-year study out of the 801 people with MS only one did not have EBV. They also discovered they had EBV about 5-10 years prior to their first MS symptom.
If the main cause of MS is due to EBV, that means… MS is a viral infection!
Epstein-Barr Virus
EBV, also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family. It is one of the most common human viruses around the world. EBV spreads mostly through bodily fluids, primarily saliva. EBV causes mononucleosis (mono), some cancers, and MS. It is also linked with other autoimmune diseases such as:
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus
- Type 1 diabetes
Many people become infected with EBV during childhood. They often only feel mild symptoms. For teenagers or adults, symptoms are more severe and can last several weeks or even months. Like MS, there is no cure for EBV. They are currently working on a vaccine which some think may be the end of MS. However, a vaccine is a preventive measure, it won’t benefit people who already have MS.
Besides managing MS naturally, you’ll have to kill EBV naturally too.
To learn more about EBV read:
A Cure For MS
There is no cure for MS. But, if you were to look up the word “cure” the definition is:
“Recovery or relief from a disease.”
Eating clean food and removing toxins can put MS into remission and reverse your symptoms. Dr. Terry Wahls, the author of The Wahls Protocol, was able to reverse her MS. She went from being in a tilt recline wheelchair to riding her bike again. So yes, you can cure yourself (recovery or relief) from MS.
However, this does not mean you can go back to your old lifestyle. Once you have MS, you will always have MS whether it’s active or in remission.
The goal is… to get your MS into remission and stay in remission.
How To Get MS Into Remission
There are drug-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS but they come with horrible side effects. Plus, DMTs do NOT stop the progression of MS.
“Conventional therapies for MS are based on the use of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs, but these treatments are not able to stop the destruction of nerve tissue.” – National Library of Medicine
You can also try managing MS naturally.
Eating a clean diet and living a healthy lifestyle can put MS into remission. There are many diets for MS which makes it hard to choose which one is right. Each MS diet is different but not one is perfect for everyone. But they all have something in common and that is lowering your inflammation.
When I was on a DMT my flares were getting worse and happening more often. Taking a DMT that could permanently damage my heart or liver was not an option. Plus, some DMTs cause fatal brain disease (PML), cancer, and other autoimmune diseases.
Forty percent of MS patients stop using a DMT less than three years after starting. A common reason for stopping is they worry about the side effects.
While I was recovering from that horrible flare I decided managing my MS naturally was the best option. I changed my diet in 2004 and in 2005 I stopped all DMTs. It hasn’t been perfect, I’ve had setbacks due to chronic stress.
Over the years I’ve reversed some of my symptoms but I wanted ALL of my symptoms to reverse. It’s been a lot of work but I’m glad I’ve been managing my MS naturally.
Getting MS into remission naturally is not easy. It takes hard work, time, and a lot of discipline. But, don’t let this get you discouraged! Your only other option is to let MS continue to progress.
I’ve been on many diets including:
- Swank diet, 2004
- Best Bet Diet (BBD), 2005
- Paleo diet, 2014
- Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), 2014
- Wahls Protocol, 2014
- Combination Wahls and Candida diet, 2015
- An anti-inflammatory diet (designed to fit my needs), 2016
- Plant-based diet 2022
Triggers for MS
Researchers have suspected EBV as a culprit to MS since the 1970s. It took about 50 years for them to get an answer finally. They have also looked into the following:
- Chemicals
- Clusters (areas that have a very high number of MS cases)
- Environmental allergies
- Environmental factors
- Exposure to heavy metals (mercury, lead, manganese, etc.)
- Geographic (MS occurs more frequently in areas that are farther from the equator)
- Gut bacteria (people with MS have more bad gut bacteria)
- Genetics (more women have MS than men)
- Household pets
- Infectious factors (EBV, human herpes virus-6, and measles)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Vaccines
- Vitamin D
They’ve ruled out some of these such as household pets, but most are baffling. For example, cluster areas have a higher rate of MS than other areas.
Interesting facts about MS and EBV:
- MS causes neurological symptoms
- Neurologic complications can occur during an acute EBV infection
- More females get MS compared to males
- EBV had no differential impact on females versus males
- Countries such as Europe and the U.S. have a higher rate of MS than other countries
- The U.S. has the highest rate of EBV
- A 2017 study found New York has the highest rate of MS in the U.S.
- The further a person lives from the equator the higher the risk for MS
- EBV showed a weak association with latitude
Ninety-five percent of all adults worldwide have EBV but only a small percentage have MS. This proves there is another factor involved and what that is, is unknown.
Possible triggers to MS:
- Diet (processed foods, refined sugar, refined carbs, food allergies, etc.)
- Infections (bacterial overgrowth, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
- Environmental Toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
- Chronic Stress (especially emotional stress)
- Hormones (cortisol, insulin, vitamin D – yes, it’s a hormone)
- Genetics (you can’t change your genes but you can change your gene expression by living a healthy lifestyle)
Removing EBV
Your first step is to change your diet to a clean healthy one. You probably already know to avoid junk food and soda. You also need to remove foods you may think are healthy but are damaging for people with MS. Some, such as dairy, cause more MS flares.
Foods to Avoid:
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Corn
- Refined sugar
- Soy
- Farmed-fish
- Artificial flavors and sweeteners
- MSG
Are viruses alive? Some websites say yes, while others say no. I guess it depends on what you believe. I believe viruses are alive, not like humans or plants. But, they invade a living host by hijacking the cells to make more copies of themselves. That’s why viruses mutate – to become stronger and stay alive.
Antibiotics can kill bacterial infections but they cannot kill viral infections. Vaccines are for viral infections.
The second question is: Do viruses eat? Again, it depends on which website you read. But, if the host was to die the virus could not survive.
Viruses invade living hosts such as humans. They infect their bodies by reproducing within their cell tissue. Viruses use an animal or plant, they can even use bacteria. They consist of genetic material either DNA or RNA.
Supplements that help kill EBV include:
Fruit Is Healthy
When someone’s immune system is weak it invites bacteria and viruses to invade. Eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and herbs lowers inflammation. A person must eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables to receive all the nutrients needed.
Fruits, vegetables, and herbs lower the risk of:
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Digestive issues
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Improves blood sugar levels
- Obesity
- Some cancers including breast, prostate, and colon cancer
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
I’ve been avoiding most fruits for yeast overgrowth, also called Candida. However, a study found the more fruit a person ate the lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. (Type 1 diabetes is different, it is an autoimmune disease.)
They also found the higher amount of fruit juice a person drank, the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes. Another study found the more leafy greens and fruit a person ate the lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes happens due to the pancreas not being able to keep up with high blood sugar. This study proves whole fruit (not fruit juice) does not increase a person’s blood sugar.
Fruit is healing. Fruit is full of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are high in vitamin C which helps fight viruses such as the flu and EBV. They are heart-healthy, boost energy, protect against diseases, and aid in digestion.
Don’t be afraid of eating fruit. As I mentioned earlier I avoided fruit for over seven years. I missed fruit, I craved fruit, and I’m so glad it’s back in my diet.
Managing MS Naturally
Many people are managing their MS naturally with diet, supplements, and exercise. Some people completely reverse their symptoms but the ultimate goal is to stop the progression of MS. Fruit, vegetables, and herbs are healing. They should be the largest amount of food you eat.
As the saying goes “You are what you eat.”
Free Wellness Library!
Subscribe for free and I’ll send you the password to my secret library filled with many printables for your wellness journey.
Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your Pinterest board!
Resources for Managing MS Naturally:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
Managing MS Naturally
