Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by Cathy
Multiple sclerosis (MS) along with other autoimmune diseases is reaching epidemic levels. Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with MS. That is more than twice the previous estimate of 400,000. Worldwide, over 2.8 million people are living with MS.
MS is when your immune system sees healthy cells as a threat and begins attacking them. It attacks the covering protecting the nerves (myelin). This creates scar tissue on the nerves interrupting messages sent from the brain to the rest of the body.
Once diagnosed doctors push for patients to go on one of the drug-modifying therapies (DMTs). But these treatments are not able to stop the progression of MS. And waiting for a cure is NOT an option.
You need to take matters into your own hands.
And that is by changing your lifestyle. The cause of MS is due to genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Such as exposure to infectious agents, vitamin deficiencies, and chemicals.
Genetics only plays a small role. In a study on identical twins, researchers discovered one twin can have MS while the other twin doesn’t. This proves it was an environmental exposure that triggered MS. Otherwise, both identical twins would have MS.
Identical twins enter the world the same. However, some environmental exposure determines who will get MS. It is up to you to discover what triggered your MS and reverse the disease process.
“Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.” – Clint Eastwood
Finding the Root Cause of MS
Conventional doctors focus on treating the symptoms, not the root cause. They look for ways to manage the symptoms and suppress the immune system. They don’t look for what triggered the onset of MS.
I like what Dr. Mark Hyman said about conventional medicine:
“If you are standing on a tack, it takes a lot of aspirin to make you feel better. The treatment for standing on a tack is removing the tack… Hence getting to the root of the problem.”
I’m not cutting conventional medicine down, it’s what saved my son’s life. For MS, however, treatments focus on slowing the disease down and relieving symptoms. They don’t focus on why your body is attacking itself in the first place.
Something you did or were exposed to triggered your MS.
Possible Triggers for MS
Yes, it is horrible when you have an exacerbation. I know from experience how scary it is not being able to see, talk, or walk. That’s why it’s important to find the underlying cause of what triggered your MS.
Everyone is different. What triggered my MS will be different than what triggered yours. According to the National MS Society (NMSS), there are some common triggers such as:
- Age, mostly around 20-40 years old
- Female
- Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
- People living further away from the equator
- Race, particularly those with Northern European descent
- Smoking
- Vitamin D deficiency
The list above isn’t very helpful to discover your trigger. Yes, you can increase your vitamin D and stop smoking. But, you need to dig deeper, look into your past and ask yourself some questions.
- Are you addicted to sugar and sweet foods?
- Are you under constant stress?
- Did you have childhood trauma?
- Did you take many rounds of antibiotics?
- Do you have dental amalgam (silver fillings)?
- Have you been bit by a tick?
- Have you been in a moldy building for long periods?
- Is your job around chemicals?
- Were you born a cesarean birth?
- What infections have you had in the past?
- What is your diet like?
Possible Triggers to MS:
- Diet (processed foods, refined sugar, refined carbs, food allergies/sensitivities, etc.)
- Infections (bacterial, 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)
Treating the root cause allows your body to heal and function properly.
Fix Your Gut
Having MS means you have a leaky gut. A leaky gut is where the gut lining begins to open. This allows bacteria, food particles, and toxins to pass into the bloodstream.
Learn how to heal your leaky gut here: Tips To Heal Your Leaky Gut
Researchers discovered people with MS have an altered microbiome compared to healthy people. In other words, they are missing the good bacteria. Why this happens is unclear. It could be due to too many rounds of antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, or poor diet.
The gut microbiome has many functions. Including circadian rhythm, immunity, metabolism, and nutritional responses. 80% of your immune system lives in your gut. – Eighty percent!
A leaky gut can lead to food sensitivities. Sometimes it’s obvious which foods cause problems other times it’s not as noticeable. To help find hidden food sensitivities try an elimination diet. This is how I discovered I was sensitive to nightshades.
You may enjoy reading How To Start An Elimination Diet
When your body is constantly reacting badly to food, it damages the gut lining. Which then keeps your body from absorbing nutrients from the food you eat. This increases inflammation in the body which can then lead to MS.
MS is an inflammatory and autoimmune neurological disorder.
Nutrient Deficiencies
When your body isn’t absorbing nutrients it cannot function properly. Unfortunately, the standard American diet (SAD) doesn’t provide enough nourishment. That’s why there are so many chronic diseases in the U.S.
People aren’t eating foods that supply them with important vitamins and minerals. Such as vitamins A, C, D, and K also omega-3s, magnesium, and zinc.
It is well known that people with MS have a vitamin D deficiency. We need Vitamin D for a healthy neurological function. It also helps maintain bone density and balance the immune system. – People with MS are at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
Get your vitamin D level tested today! Don’t except a “normal” test result, get the actual number. It should be between 60-80 ng/mL and can go up to 100 ng/mL.
To convert ng/mL to nmol/L multiply the ng/ml by 2.5, for example, 60 ng/mL is equivalent to 150 nmol/L.
DO NOT take more than 10,000 IUs of vitamin D daily without a doctor’s supervision. High doses of vitamin D can cause other health issues.
Chronic Infections
Throughout your life you’ve come into contact with infections, we all have. Your body fights off the infections and you recover. However, some infections stay with you for the rest of your life.
For example, we usually get chickenpox when we are young, we recover and it stays dormant. Years later, something happens like severe stress. This can cause the chickenpox virus to get reactivated and it appears as shingles. Epstein-Barr virus is another example and is a well-established risk in MS.
Sometimes, it could be your environment causing problems. Such as living in a moldy home, in a heavily polluted city, or in a rural area near farmland that uses pesticides. You may need to do something drastic like move to get away from the toxic environment.
When your gut is out of balance it allows bacteria and yeast to take over. Candida albicans, a yeast overgrowth, and its by-products (mycotoxins) are a possible cause. You may have candida and not know it.
Want to learn more about Candida? Then check out What Is Candida Albicans?
If it’s not candida it could be due to poor levels of bacteria, mycotoxins (mold), parasites, or SIBO. You could have more than one issue. My infections are due to fungi, mycotoxins, and yeast overgrowth. By treating the root cause of my MS many of my symptoms reversed. I had help by following the book Healing Multiple Sclerosis by Ann Boroch and from my functional medicine provider.
If you need help contact a functional medicine doctor. Check out their website at Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). Many doctors are seeing patients through video conferencing so you don’t necessarily need to find one in your area.
Clean Up Your Lifestyle
We live in a very toxic world, it’s in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Plus, many of the products we use in and around our house is very toxic. The poison warnings on the labels are there for a good reason.
These toxins can alter or damage your body on a cellular level. There isn’t a lot you can do outside your home area but there’s plenty you can do to clean up your home environment.
Start by using natural body care products like deodorant, shampoo, and soap. Then use natural household cleaners. Such as baking soda, lemon juice, natural liquid soap (I use Dr. Bonner’s Liquid Soap), and vinegar.
Use essential oils as air fresheners like lemon or pumpkin spice in the fall or (I like to use Plant Therapy essential oils). Toss your non-stick cookware for cast iron, ceramic, glass, and stainless steel. Use natural, eco-friendly bedding since that’s where you spend a lot of your time. Use HEPA air filters (I use AirDoctor to get rid of mycotoxins) and water filters such as Home Master by The Perfect Water.
To learn more ways to clean up your environment read Removing Environmental Toxins
Focus on Treating the Root Cause of MS
Treating the symptoms alone won’t stop the progression of MS. Treating the root cause of MS that is causing inflammation in your body is how your body will heal. Find the reason your immune system is functioning properly and address it.
The first step is to look at your health history to get an understanding of what you’re dealing with. I’ll admit, it won’t be easy but something is causing the dysfunction in your body. To get tested, I oftentimes used an online lab for blood work like Walk-In Labs.
Eat an anti-inflammatory diet and live a clean lifestyle. Get plenty of sleep, exercise (I use OptimalBody Personal Fitness), learn to manage your stress, and laugh!
You can do this!
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Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay. Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175760/
Treating the Root Cause of MS
