I revised my main paper on August 1. So as not to bore my long time readers, I’ll here reprint the pertinent changes on the opening page.
“Disrupted brain fluid circulation is the root cause of Multiple Sclerosis. All the rest follows. Once one is clear about that central idea one can begin to find a solution.
“Maybe the real story behind MS is the damage to the blood vessels caused by growing up female in a 1) driven, ambitious or otherwise stressful family environment compounded by 2) a climate of Cold winters which contribute to 3) frequent viral illnesses compounded by 4) an intolerance to the wheat and lactose of a Neolithic diet.”
Return to the present. Frankly, that’s not bad. What’s missing? Why should the blood vessels in MSers be so weak that mere muscle tension can disrupt blood circulation? Recent research by Professor Zamboni has found that endothelium – inner vein wall - cells are absent in the Internal Jugular veins of MS subjects. Without walls the veins could collapse like a flimsy garden hose. Why are these cells missing? Childhood illness like mononucleosis, poor nutrition, no Vitamin D ( a form of vein rickets perhaps? A genetic factor specific to MS reinforces the need for Vitamin D.)
And Latitude? It's the Sun which brings health through Vitamin D AND the release of Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide is critical to the development and function of the vascular system. (Research into Cardiovascular disease – not MS or CCSVI – led to these insights.) It is NOT the nerves which impact the blood flow so much as the blood flow which impacts the nerves. A properly functioning vein wall so critical to blood circulation depends on a healthy life style (diet, supplements, exercise, stress reduction, Sun). These factors missing during the critical growth period could well lead to a deformed, poorly developed vascular system. The evidence pointing to MS as a circulatory system disease is overwhelming. And the epidemiological factors fall into place.
A point also missing from my original paper is the observed atrophy of brain grey matter as the disease progresses. Blood refluxes damage the myelin white matter which are revealed as MRI lesions during early stage relapses. Eventually the relapses stop, the lesions disappear and the grey matter deteriorates. I believe every effort must be made to stop the blood reflux, stop the relapses and nourish the grey matter as well as the myelin sheath, the earlier the better. Optimal nutrition, supplements, blood circulation therapies and angioplasty itself if the stenosis is serious all serve this end.”
END OF MS CURE ENIGMAS QUOTE
“cheerleader” Joan Beal on the thisisms.com website is ever on the lookout for studies concerning cerebral bloodflow. Her input has been very helpful to me. The following quote comes from her August 21, 2014 post titled “New study: blood flow, brain atrophy and MS.
QUOTE
The study out of NYU looks at cerebrovascular reactivity, or CVR. CVR is how the brain reacts or responds with blood flow when there is vasodilation. This function is extremely important, as neurons need adequate blood flow to provide glucose and oxygenation. Without this response of adequate cerebral bloodflow (CBF), the brain will not function properly, and neurons can potentially die.
http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article ... id=1893478
Patients with MS had a significant decrease of cerebrovascular reactivity compared with controls. This decrease in CRV correlated to gray matter atrophy, but did not correlate with white matter lesions.
Their conclusion was that there is an impairment in the cerebrovascular pathophysiology in pwMS, and that inadequate blood flow to neurons may indeed be the cause of neurodegeneration in MS. And that this was a vascular problem, NOT a problem initiated by white matter lesions.
We know that impaired CVR is related to arterial stenosis and occlusion of the blood vessels in the neck.
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/rrp/2012/268483/
More info:
http://ccsviinms.blogspot.com/2014/08/i ... ty-in.html
END OF QUOTE
It is interesting to note that the official American Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology Journal has actually published a study linking cerebral blood flow and MS. How long will it take for this idea to filter down to the practice of Neurology?
Want2bike on Thisisms website has posted an interesting video titled
“10 day detox diet”
“Dr. Hyman explains his 10 day detox diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgcGlei_JLo
want2bike
Detoxification is one of my five essential steps to MS healing. I had the advice/assistance of a kinesiologist/nutritionist and won’t myself suggest a detox protocol. Dr. Hyman maintains that a simple diet change over 10 days will do the trick (or at least be a beginning) which is something anyone can try. So why not?
Another interesting idea (again from thisisms) posted by Happy Poet June 10, 2014
I am NOT going to try this unless someone is with me at all times over the 3 days. I have low blood pressure and could easily faint.
“USC Study: Fasting three days renews entire immune system.
Fasting for three days renews entire immune system
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/06/05 ... udy-finds/
Fasting for three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as “remarkable.”
Although fasting diets have been criticized by nutritionists, research suggests that starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing more white blood cells, which fight off infection.
Scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for those suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy. It could also help the elderly whose immune systems become less effective.
The researchers say fasting “flips a regenerative switch” that prompts stem cells to create white blood cells, essentially restoring the immune system.
“It gives the OK for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” said Valter Longo, professor of gerontology and biological sciences at the university.
“And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting. Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”
‘Fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system’
Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose and fat but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells. During each cycle of fasting, this depletion induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of immune system cells.
In trials, volunteers were asked to fast regularly for between two and four days over a six-month period. Scientists found that prolonged fasting also reduced the enzyme PKA, which is linked to aging and a hormone which increases cancer risk and tumour growth.
“We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic [formation of stem cells] system,” added Longo. “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged.
“What we started noticing in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back.”
Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients against the toxic impact of chemotherapy.
“The results of this study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy,” said co-author Tanya Dorff, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital.
Referring to the 72-hour fasting period, Chris Mason, professor of regenerative medicine at University College London, said: “That could be potentially useful because that is not such a long time that it would be terribly harmful to someone with cancer. But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”
Longo added: “There is no evidence at all that fasting would be dangerous while there is strong evidence that it is beneficial.”
Enough for now. I will get back to work next week.
Tags: Multiple Sclerosis, MS, Fasting, Detox diet, endothelium, cerebral blood flow, JAMA, immune system