Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and Myelin Sheath Degeneration |
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Use the Steps Below to Support
Myelin Sheath Repair & Regeneration |
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Degeneration of the Myelin Sheath is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune process of the central nervous system that affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. In this process, the immune system attacks the covering of the nerves, called the myelin sheath. Consequently, the sheaths are damaged, and the damaged areas develop scarring that leads to either distorted communication or lack of communication between the nerve endings. |
Some 350,000 people in the United States have symptoms of myelin sheath degeneration. It affects twice as many women as men, and the onset is usually between ages of 25 and 40. Please scroll down for a list of some of the main symptoms for myelin sheath degeneration and multiple sclerosis. |
Highly Recommended: The first thing we recommend for anyone who is experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis or myelin sheath degeneration, is to have a hair mineral analysis test done. A hair analysis can determine which heavy metals are overloading your body and measure the levels of each toxic metal as illustrated in a simple bar graph showing acceptable and unacceptable reference ranges. Heavy metals like arsenic, aluminum, mercury, lead and cadmium are neurotoxins, which can often be one of the causes of autoimmune symptoms. Heavy metals greatly affect the body's ability to absorb important, life-sustaining nutrients. |
These heavy metals replace the normal, balanced molecules in the myelin sheath, leading to an increase in free radicals. The free radicals damage the myelin sheath, resulting in multiple sclerosis. The hair mineral analysis also tells you which essential minerals your body is needing more of, which it needs less of, and which important mineral ratios are imbalanced due to toxic elements. For example, MS patients usually have a severe copper deficiency. Copper is an essential element in the metabolism of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter. MS patients also tend to have elevated manganese levels. Cobalt deficiency is another factor in multiple sclerosis. The hair tissue analysis can also provide valuable insight into your metabolism and what dietary changes might be most helpful. We suggest you do a hair analysis before you embark on any type of heavy metal cleansing or detoxification program so that you have a clear baseline to compare results with later on. For more information on the hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA), scoll down the page or click here. Also visit our page Is it Multiple Sclerosis or is it Toxic Metals? |
Symptoms of Myelin Sheath Degeneration |
Symptoms of myelin sheath degeneration depend on what part of the nerves have experienced demyelination. The most common symptoms or MS are listed here below. Keep in mind that toxic heavy metals like mercury and lead (which do cross the blood/brain barrier) can cause the same type of symptoms as associated with multiple sclerosis. See our page Is it Multiple Sclerosis or is it Toxic Metals? |
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If you have a neurological disorder, it is crucial that you work with a good medical specialist. It is also crucial that you work with holistic doctor to address the underlying causes of your illness. According to Dr. Linda Page, a naturopathic physician, all neurological disorders must be comprehensively addressed – a little therapy does not work, but long lasting remission is possible. Many patients with disorders targeting the myelin sheath have remained relatively symptom-free by following a comprehensive natural approach, such as the one described below. |
"The Better Brain Book", by David Perlmutter M.D. |
The Better Brain Book, written by David Perlmutter, M.D., is written in layman's terms, making it easy to understand for those of us who are less scientific.Dr. Perlmutter addresses all the factors that can influence brain health and gives you detailed recommendations for dealing with them. The Better Brain Book is excellent for helping you understand risk factors associated with specific neurological disorders, and for tailoring a diet, lifestyle and supplementary program just for you. The Better Brain Book provides a very practical guide to treating neurological conditions with natural and safe remedies that have abundant scientific support. The nutritional and oxidative therapies that he recommends are part of a growing wave of scientifically based, complementary treatments. |
Use Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of the myelin sheath, and profound deficiencies of vitamin B12 have been found in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with demyelination. Vitamin B12 has a very important role in the formation and function of myelin. According to Dr. Perlmutter, vitamin B12 deficiency not only enhances the destruction of myelin during an exacerbation of symptoms, but it also compromises the ability of the body to repair the damaged myelin after the attack. There can be a functional deficiency of vitamin B12 even though your blood tests show normal levels. A more accurate way to measure B12 levels is to test for the chemical homocysteine. If homocysteine is elevated, then B12 is considered to be functionally deficient, even if the blood levels show otherwise. |
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Non-denatured Whey Protein Powder |
Another excellent supplement that helps to raise intracellular glutathione levels is non-denatured whey protein powder. Whey protein powder contains NAC in its natural form as well as glutamine, both which are glutathione precursors. This means that it can help the body produce its own glutathione, and have been proven to raise intracellular glutathione levels. Protein powder is an extremely easy, effective, safe and nutritious way of giving the body the nutritional building blocks to promote glutathione production. |
Important Tip: Since glutathione is a vital antioxidant and therapeutic agent, we highly recommend both liposomal glutathione and non-denatured whey protein powder to optimize glutathione levels inside the cells. Glutathione also optimizes the body’s use of other important antioxidants such as CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, and vitamins C and E. |
Step 5. Reduce the Load of Chemical and Metal Toxins on the Body |
Myelin sheath degeneration is widely believed to be an autoimmune process in which the white blood cells attack the myelin sheaths as if they were a foreign substance. Stress and malnutrition (poor diet) often precede the onset of symptoms. There is also a hereditary factor involved. It is currently thought that exposure to a virus or to chemicals or toxic metals may be launching the autoimmune process in susceptible individuals. The levels of mercury in people with MS has been found to be an average of 7 times higher than those in healthy people. Mercury has been shown to bind to the DNA of cells and cell membranes, causing cellular distortion and inhibited cell function. Many experts suspect that mercury poisoning is behind many types of neurological disorders. Some people react to amalgam dental fillings (the chief source of mercury exposure for most people in the United States) with symptoms that are indistinguishable from those of Multiple Sclerosis. As well, fascinating new research points to a definitive link between food additives such as aspartame and MSG and the development of lesions on the myelin sheath. According to Russell Blaylock, M.D., a Board certified neurosurgeon and author of the book “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills”: “Recently, much controversy has surrounded a claim that aspartame may produce an MS-like syndrome… Aspartame contains the excitotoxin aspartate as 40% of its molecular structure. Numerous studies have shown that consuming aspartame can significantly elevate the excitotoxin level in the blood... When aspartate (as aspartame) is combined in the diet with monosodium glutamate (MSG) blood levels are several fold higher than normal. As you can see from the above, reducing the load of toxins on your body from both heavy metals and food chemicals is imperative for people with neurological disorders. This means eliminating preservatives, additives, food colorings, artificial sweeteners, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and artificial flavorings. |
For more info on how neurological symptoms may be affected by toxins, click here. |
Tests that help to diagnose metal and chemical toxicity include blood tests, urine tests, and the analysis of hair, nails or other tissues. The most accurate of these are a chelation challenge test or a hair analysis. Regular blood tests and urine tests are not accurate in diagnosing heavy metal toxicity, as they only tend to show what is happening in the body at that brief moment in time, and do not give the long-term picture. A chelation challenge test needs to be performed by a doctor who specializes in chelation therapy. The patient is given a chelating drug, commonly DMPS or DMSA, and the patient's urine is collected and analyzed over a 24 hour period. This test is a highly accurate way of knowing just what heavy metals are present in the body. The drawbacks to this method are that it requires a visit to a health care professional's office, it is expensive, and there is a possibility of side effects to the chelating drugs. A hair mineral analysis is an excellent alternative way of determining what toxic metals are present in the body. In addition, it also measures the levels of essential minerals in the body, such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, and toxic metal and mineral ratios. This test can provide you with much-needed information about mineral deficiencies and imbalances in your body, especially if you're suffering from symptoms of heavy metal poisoning. |
Introducing The Comprehensive
Hair Analysis by Trace Elements, Inc. |
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A hair analysis usually needs to be obtained through a health care professional (which can be expensive). However, we offer a service that allows you to get a comprehensive hair tissue mineral analysis from a federally licensed laboratory called Trace Elements, Inc. Each hair analysis contains a detailed 10-15 page report from the laboratory itself, which shows bar graph readings indicating high, low and reference range levels for toxic metals, essential minerals and significant mineral ratios. |
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It also includes a metabolic profile, recommendations for diet and supplements based on individual results. | |
Unlike some labs that test hair tissue analysis, Trace Elements, Inc. does not wash the hair at the lab. Washing the hair removes some of the loosely bound minerals and can reduce some mineral readings by 50 percent or more. The hair sample is prepared in their licensed clinical laboratory by using a series of chemical and high temperature digestive procedures. Testing is then performed using highly sophisticated detection equipment and methods to achieve the most accurate and precise results. |
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The comprehensive Hair Tissue Analysis report details graph results for 8 toxic heavy metals/elements, 15 nutritional minerals/elements, 15 additional elements, 7 significant mineral ratios, and 9 toxic metal ratios. Once you purchase the hair analysis from us, we send you a hair sample kit with instructions on how to take the hair sample. |
Nutritional Elements: Extensively studied, the nutrient elements have been well defined and are considered essential for many biological functions in the human body. They play key roles in such metabolic processes such as muscular activity, endocrine function, reproduction, skeletal integrity, and overall development. Toxic Elements: The toxic elements or "heavy metals" are well-known for their interference upon normal biochemical function. They are commonly found in the environment and therefore are present to some degree, in all biological systems. However, these metals clearly pose a concern for toxicity when accumulation occurs to excess. Additional Elements: These elements are considered as possibly essential by the human body. Additional studies are being conducted to better define their requirements. Significant Ratios: If the synergistic relationship (or ratio) between certain minerals in the body is disturbed, studies show that normal biological functions and metabolic activity can be adversely affected. Even at extremely low concentrations, the synergistic and/or antagonistic relationships between minerals still exist, which can indirectly affect metabolism. Toxic Ratios: It is important to note that individuals with elevated toxic levels may not always exhibit clinical symptoms associated with those particular toxic minerals. However, research has shown that toxic minerals/metals can also produce an antagonistic effeect on various essential minerals, eventually leading to distrubances in their metabolic utilization. For a complete overview of the various sections covered in the Comprehensive Hair Analysis report, please click here. |
"I just wanted to say Thank You for the comprehensive [hair analysis] report. I have MS and have felt bad for a long time. I got this report and it made much more sense than all of the normal bloodwork my Drs are coming back with. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I don't feel so crazy any more. I am passing your info onto ALL of my friends and family! I really appreciate the site and the information you provide." - Neeley G., Denver, CO |
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To view details of the elements measured and to order the Comprehensive Hair Analysis, please click here. | |
Once you purchase the hair analysis from us, we send you a hair sample kit with instructions on how to take the hair sample. You then send the hair sample to the Trace Elements lab, and the lab sends us the detailed report/results, which we then mail to you. (Please note: international customers outside of the United States will be instructed to send the hair sample to us, not directly to the lab). |
For a list of Commonly Asked Questions about hair analysis, please click here. |
Want to Ask a Question about Hair Analysis? Email your questions by clicking here. |
Natural Alternatives To Traditional Chelation Therapy |
The following detoxification products can be a safe alternative to traditional chelators used in chelation therapy for removing heavy metals and chemical pollutants. |
Purified Bentonite Bathing Clay for Detoxifying Metals and Chemicals |
Sodium bentonite clay can be a very simple and effective way to remove heavy metals and chemical contaminants from the surface tissue of the body.
When you mix bentonite clay with water, it creates a large negatively charged surface area. When the body is in a tub of warm water, the warm water opens up the pores of the skin, and the positively charged toxic particles are drawn through the pores of the skin, to be absorbed by the clay. Most chemical and metal toxins have a postive charge, whereas the clay has a negative charge. Thus, the toxins cannot resist being drawn towards the clay. Bentonite clay has a great capacity for absorbing many times its own weight in toxins. In other words, clay baths have been shown to literally pull pollutants out through the skin, getting rid of many months and years of toxic accumulations. It is important that you find a clay that has been purified, so it contains no mold, yeast, bacteria or fungus. Also, it helps to use a clay that mixes well and disperses easily with warm water to get maximum effectiveness. Some clays do not mix well in the tub, leaving you with a cumbersome and messy clean-up. |
IMPORTANT TIP: For those of you who wish to do everything possible to detoxify, to "cover all the bases" so to speak, we recommend using Far Infrared Sauna Therapy. |
Introducing The Thermal Life® FAR
Infrared (FIR) Sauna |
Take Advantage of the Special $500 Discount Offer Mentioned Below! |
The Infrared Sauna has an excellent reputation for detoxifying both metal and chemical contaminants from the body. It is an excellent therapy on its own or as an adjunct to other natural methods of detoxification. Proper FAR infrared sauna therapy can be supportive for:
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FAR infrared saunas help to accomplish detoxification in the following manner: A layer of fat and oil exists just below the surface of the skin. The FAR infrared light resonates with the water molecules within these lipid or fat cells. This vigorous activation of the water molecule stimulates the fat cells to excrete toxins. These toxins will be released through the skin's sweat channels as a result of the high temperature from the sauna. As sweat and oil are secreted, the toxins dissolved in them are secreted as well. By excreting these toxins and then washing them off your body, the toxic load on the body is lowered and cellular health improves. Oil glands help remove oil-soluble toxins that the body would otherwise have a difficult time eliminating. We have created a world filled with oil-soluble toxins such as gasoline, solvents, pesticides, ingredients in toothpaste, personal care products, etc., which the body is not able to dispose of efficiently. The longer the skin is heated, the more oil-soluble toxins are eliminated. No other sauna company that we know of knows as much about detoxification as High Tech Health, Inc. Their specialty is providing saunas that detoxify safely and effectively. Their Thermal Life® Sauna is designed to allow anyone to detoxify at a rate that is appropriate for them. Bio-Resonance™ Heaters The Thermal Life® Sauna utilizes specially designed Bio-Resonance™ ceramic heaters that provide the optimal level of far infrared exposure no matter where you are in your detoxification process. A special feature of the Bio-Resonance heater is the nature of the far infrared rays that is emits. FAR infrared is a band of electromagnetic energy, just as visible light and ultraviolet light are. The difference between visible light and far infrared is that we cannot see far infrared. FAR infrared affects the body differently than ultraviolet or near infrared light. Heat lamps emit near infrared which is only absorbed by the surface of the skin. FAR, on the other hand, is absorbed into the body up to a depth of 1 and half inches. It is experienced as a softer heat sensation which is quite enjoyable. FAR infrared rays also stimulate the production of endorphins, the "happy hormones", and have been prescribed for pain for a long time. Bio-Resonance heating technology ensures an enjoyable, detoxifying experience. Comparing Ceramic to Carbon Heaters in FIRS Hight Tech Health (HTH) researched "carbon heater" technology and found it to be significantly inferior to their trademarked BioResonance® emitters because carbon heaters are inefficient and poor emitters of far infrared waves. If the emitters don't produce good far infrared, then the detoxification effect is diminished. HTH emitters are alloy tubes filled with solid ceramic . The ceramic material is warmed to the temperature range where it emits the highest quality and quantity of FIR waves. (between 6-20 microns). The surgical grade stainless steel reflectors behind the emitters reflect back into the cabin any FIR emitted from the rear of the emitters. This way, the cabin is completely filled with 100% FIR waves and none are lost into the walls of the sauna. Carbon emitters because of their poor design and emission, lose close to 50% of what little far infrared they do emit through the back walls, because there is nothing to reflect the waves back into the center of the sauna cabin. Carbon emitters are large thin plastic or fiberglass panels with a thin layer of carbon material sandwiched in between, or lined with fabric with carbon fibers woven into the fabric, then laminated onto the panels with a wire grid behind them to heat them up. They are made large to compensate for the extreme inefficiency of far infrared light production. They take 40-45 minutes to warm up to the point where you can even get into the sauna vs. our saunas which are warm and ready to use in 10-15 minutes. High Tech Health will not put plastic or fiberglass into their saunas because of concerns regarding possible out-gassing of chemical compounds from these panels. These types of saunas are primarily marketed for recreational use. Another downside to carbon heaters is because of their large panel size, they produce fairly strong electromagnetic fields. HTH heaters emit extremely low levels of EMF's, about 2-4 milligauss, which is equivalent to sitting next to a reading lamp. Carbon heaters are inexpensive to construct. They don't tend to have a long life, and can burn out in 5-6 years. HTH has never had to replace a single heater in the 14 years of selling the Thermal Life saunas. It is by far, the most durable, energy efficient and long lasting technology in the industry. The most important four points in buying a far infrared sauna in regards to the heater technology used are:
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Besides linking to their site in the below-mentioned link, you can call them directly (recommended) at 800-794-5355 or 303-413-8500 and speak to one of their knowledgeable product specialists. |
For more information and to purchase the Thermal Life® Far Infrared Sauna from High Tech Health, Inc., please click here. |
To learn about the profound benefits of FIR sauna therapy and nitric oxide on the body, click here. |
For more info on controlling candida, click here for our candida report. |
Step 10. Use Powerful Antioxidants to Counter Free Radicals |
Vitamin E |
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, and is necessary when essential fatty acids are used to keep these delicate oils from becoming oxidized. Vitamin E also supports other brain antioxidants like vitamin C and glutathione. Use a mixed complex such as Unique E® which includes the entire vitamin E complex. You want a vitamin E that provides the synergistic benefits of a complete natural complex of d-alpha, d-beta, d-gamma and d-delta tocopherols. |
Alpha Lipoic Acid | |
According to Dr. Perlmutter, alpha lipoic acid is emerging as one of the most powerful brain antioxidants available, and he states that alpha lipoic acid is a key nutrient in myelin sheath support since it crosses the blood/brain barrier. There are two forms of alpha-lipoic acid, an S-form and an R-form. Researchers believe that R-Form may be "up to 12 times more effective" than regular alpha lipoic acid which contains a synthetic by-product. |
Step 11 . Support Nerve Cell Function and Cellular Regeneration |
Calcium AEP In 1941, a unique form of calcium, Calcium 2-amino ethyl phosphoric acid (Ca-AEP or Ca-2AEP) was discovered by the biochemist Erwin Chargaff. Chargaff found that Ca-AEP was a vital component in the structure of cell membranes. Calcium EAP (Ethanol Phosphate) / Calcium AEP (Amino Ethanol Phosphate) are nutritional therapies which contain both a mineral (calcium) and a chemical, Ethanol Phosphate (a chemical found in the protective covering around nerve cells). The idea of combining Ethanol Phosphate with calcium originated with Hans Nieper, MD of Germany in 1964, who began experimenting with mineral compounds to help heart patients. Dr. Nieper believed that nutrients are only useful when they are readily available at the cellular level. His theory was that positive mineral ions such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium may have more difficulty becoming "bioavailable" (available for the body's use) because they have such difficulty passing through cell membranes. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that Calcium AEP is essential for nerve impulse generation and muscular contractions. Calcium AEP is one of a number of colamine phosphates - vitamin-like metabolites. It is a unique form of calcium. It has been shown to be effective in supporting numerous autoimmune conditions, in particular multiple sclerosis. This product is an essential factor for cell membrane integrity and cell sensitivity. It binds fatty acids and electrolytes to the cell membrane structure that generates the cell’s electrical charge. Calcium AEP is also a neurotransmitter which plays an important therapeutic role in assisting people with autoimmune responses by screening against antibodies, toxins, viruses and peroxide radicals. |
Step 12 . Read More Information on Multiple Sclerosis from Authoritative Sources |
Life Extension Clinical Research, Inc. is a clinical research organization engaged in cutting-edge research on nutritional supplements that may enhance and optimize your health. They have compiled information on a wide array of common health concerns, including multiple sclerosis |
Click here for their excellent article on Multiple Sclerosis. Life Extension is a global authority on nutrition, health and wellness as well as a provider of scientific information on supportive natural therapies. They offer only the highest quality nutritional supplements, including minerals, vitamins, herbs and hormones. Sign up for their Life Extension Membership Discountsprogram and receive 25-50% off all purchases and toll-free health advisory support. |
Thank you for visiting our page Symptoms of Myelin Sheath Degeneration and Multiple Sclerosis!
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