Mistakes You’re Making When Healing MS

Last Updated on February 20, 2025 by Cathy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It is caused by different environmental factors including diet and lifestyle habits. Healing MS is possible by living an anti-inflammatory life. Healing MS does not mean “cure” it only means putting MS into remission. If you were to go back to your old lifestyle habits MS would come back.

Healing doesn’t mean MS disappears completely—it means putting it into remission. If you return to your old habits, MS symptoms may come back.

When I was first diagnosed with MS, I didn’t take any drug-modifying therapies (DMTs). It wasn’t until years later that my neurologist convinced me to start taking one of the interferon drugs. While on the drug, my MS attacks became more frequent and severe. 

In October 2004 I had a horrible exacerbation, it looked like I had a stroke. I experienced double vision, dizziness, difficulty walking, and paralysis on half my face. Additionally, I suffered from numbness and tingling in my face and mouth. I also struggled to talk and swallow.

I was at my lowest point, terrified that I would never recover. My children were still young, and I couldn’t take care of them—or myself. That’s when I made a life-changing decision. I turned to food as medicine and committed to transforming my health.

Triggers to MS

Chronic inflammation due to environmental toxins is the cause of MS. Since there are many different triggers you need to look at each possible cause in order to get your body to heal.

MS is considered a complex disease, meaning each person has different symptoms. However, they are all due to different environmental factors. Everyone is different so the exact cause remains unknown. This is why you need to start paying attention to your environment. Addressing these potential triggers is extremely important for the body’s healing process.

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, plastics, etc.)
• Chronic Stress (especially emotional stress)
• Hormones (vitamin D, insulin, cortisol)
• Genetics (you can’t change your genes but you can change your gene expression by living a healthy lifestyle)

Eating a Healthy Diet

One year after starting my healthy diet, I was feeling great so I stopped all MS medications. Since then, I’ve been able to reverse many of my symptoms. Both my heat intolerance and the heavy boot sensation on my feet are gone. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy.

Sometimes I read about someone who was able to reverse their MS in a few months. I’m happy for them but it’s not that way for most people. But don’t get frustrated. Stopping the progression depends on your severity and how long you’ve been dealing with MS. Plus, the central nervous system is one of the slowest to heal.

Overlooking Key Steps

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If you’re struggling and not seeing any improvements you may be overlooking some key steps. Besides eating healthy foods you need to work on other factors in your life. Are you always stressed? Are you getting enough sleep? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself. Your body can’t heal until you get these under control.

Areas to improve:

• Diet
• Heal your leaky gut
• Heal your infections (candida, viruses, bacteria, and parasites)
• Manage stress
• Reduce environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, plastics, etc.)
• Sleep

Heal Your Leaky Gut

Besides eating a nutrient-dense diet with LOTS of vegetables. You need to work on healing your leaky gut. There are many things that can cause your gut lining to separate. It allows food and toxins to leak where they don’t belong.

Certain medications can also create a leaky gut. Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in your gut allowing gut infections to grow. Such as Candida overgrowth or SIBO. Oral contraceptives put women at a higher risk for hormonal imbalances and candida. NSAIDs such as Advil or aspirin can irritate the gut lining leading to a leaky gut.

Eating lots of raw vegetables may also be keeping your gut from healing. Many people with gut issues are missing digestive enzymes that help break down food. While starting out it may be best to eat cooked vegetables so your gut has a chance to heal.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are popular for healing the gut. But, if you follow the Medical Medium you need to avoid fermented foods. He says fermented foods may not be as beneficial for gut health as commonly thought. The bacteria in fermented foods are part of the natural decay process. He says these are the same types of bacteria responsible for food spoilage. Would you eat moldy strawberries? If we avoid eating moldy food, then why do we assume fermented foods are beneficial?

Our bodies work hard to eliminate decay-related bacteria as quickly as possible. After eating fermented foods, the body may trigger a bowel movement to flush them out. Some people see this as a positive sign. However, it might just be the body’s way of removing unwanted bacteria.

Studies show. fermented foods typically do not contain the same bacteria responsible for food spoilage. Instead, they often harbor beneficial bacteria that can inhibit spoilage organisms.

In Ann Boroch’s book Healing Multiple Sclerosis, she advises against consuming fermented foods. She says fermented foods may exacerbate candida overgrowth. However, she does allow raw apple cider vinegar (ACV). She states that ACV helps the body eliminate candida, balances pH levels, and is rich in minerals.

The Wahls Protocol recommends fermented foods. Dr. Terry Wahls supports consuming fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha. These foods are considered highly nutritious and beneficial for gut health.

Eat Fermented Foods or Avoid Fermented Foods?

Should you eat fermented foods? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some experts believe they support gut health. Others warn they may contribute to issues like candida overgrowth or bacterial imbalance.  

However, people with histamine intolerance may need to be cautious with fermented foods. Fermentation increases histamine levels. Histamines can trigger symptoms and inflammation in some people. If you experience reactions, it may be best to temporarily limit or avoid fermented foods.  

Ultimately, the best approach is to listen to your body. If fermented foods make you feel better, they may be beneficial for you. But if they cause unwanted symptoms, it’s okay to leave them out of your diet.

Heal Your Infections

Hidden infections are an underlying cause of MS. Treating only the symptoms isn’t enough. Instead, you need to identify and address the root cause of your MS.

One major suspect is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Researchers found EBV is the main cause of MS. However, the majority of people have EBV and only a small percentage have MS. This proves something else is involved.

Other possible factors include bacteria and heavy metals. Exposure to dangerous chemicals, vitamin deficiencies, and issues with methylation may also contribute. Whatever the cause, people with MS often have huge amounts of neurotoxins in their bodies. These neurotoxins can contribute to the progression of the disease and exacerbate symptoms.

Environmental Toxins

Toxins such as heavy metals (lead, mercury), mold, and pesticides are all around us. We use them as body care products, household cleaners, and herbicides around our house.

Toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. These toxins end up inside your body. It’s impossible to remove them all but you can help your body by removing them little by little.

Start by buying organic produce to avoid pesticides. Use natural body care products and natural household cleaners or make your own. Use a water filter and air purifier in your home. Stop using pesticides around your house. You’re killing good insects like ladybugs or praying mantis. Plus, your kids and pets roll around in your grass, you don’t want poison on them.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress, especially emotional stress is detrimental to your healing. Stress raises your blood sugar which feeds Candida. Since your immune system is already suppressed harmful bacteria grow. It’s extremely important to learn how to manage stress.

Find ways to manage your stress. Such as listening to claiming music, gardening, meditation, or watching a funny movie. Sometimes you have to take drastic measures to get your stress under control. That may be changing your job, moving, or removing toxic people from your life. Sometimes someone in my family gets stressed out from small irritating things. I like to tell them “Let it go, it’s not worth the stress.”

Helping Your Body Detox

Our liver works hard to remove toxins from the body. Sometimes, it can be hard for the liver to keep up. For people with MS, the body’s natural detoxification processes may not work as well. To support your body’s natural detoxification consider adding the following practices:

• Deep Breathing Exercises: Promote oxygenation and support the body’s natural detox processes.
• Dry Brushing: Stimulates the lymphatic system and exfoliates the skin.
• Exercise: Try light activities to help the body detox. Activities like stretching, swimming, walking, and yoga promote circulation and sweating, aiding detoxification.
• Herbal Teas: Many herbal teas can help the body detox. Try dandelion, milk thistle, and nettle teas which support liver health.
• Herbs: Garlic and turmeric have anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties.
• Hydration: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins.
• Mindful Use of Electronics: Keep electronic devices away from your head while sleeping. It can help reduce exposure to EMFs and improve sleep quality.
• Organic Dark Leafy Greens: Rich in nutrients that support liver function.
• Regular Bowel Movements: Essential for eliminating waste and preventing toxin buildup.
• Sunshine: Spending time outdoors boosts vitamin D levels, supporting overall health.
• Sweating: Through exercise or saunas, sweating helps eliminate toxins.

Keeping Your Immune System Healthy

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A poor diet plays a crucial role in your health. Addressing other factors such as inflammation, infections, and toxins is equally important.

• Get your stress under control, and seek help if necessary.
• Focus on getting quality sleep, and get at least six to eight hours each night.
• Exercise helps release toxins, keeps your body strong, and helps relieve stress. It also helps to get oxygen throughout your body by deep breathing which helps to remove internal toxins. Do everything you can to keep your circulation from getting compromised.
• Eat lots of fiber and stay hydrated to keep from getting constipated.
• Take vitamin D for overall health and omega 3 supplements to help rebuild your myelin.
• If you have amalgam fillings (silver fillings), talk to your dentists.
• Remove heavy metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic from your body. Eat foods like cilantro to help remove them.
• Infections like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Studies found EBV is the main cause of MS.

Once you make the necessary changes, you should start seeing some improvements!

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Mistakes You’re Making When Healing MS