This photo of me is on New Years day 2012 after a 2000 foot vertical climb up Vail Mountain! How did I do that when I received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2006? I’m often asked, what is your secret? How do you stay healthy?
The below are my favorite natural remedies for multiple sclerosis. I believe these strategies may be applicable to anyone with an auto-immune disorder. If this protocol is adhered to religiously, some find improvement in as little as 3 months. For others, it may take significantly longer.
Fish Oil
Fish Oil
Bone Broth
I make my own Bone Broth after I roast a chicken, or when I’m on the go I drink Kettle & Fire bone broth straight from the container. Bone broth has gut healing properties and is also high in protein, very important if you are working on rebuilding damaged nerve tissue. Learn how to make your own Bone Broth from Chicken with my easy recipe!
Vitamin D
Many people with illness and auto-immune conditions suffer from abnormally low levels of Vitamin D. Therefore, when friends ask, I recommend that they get their Vitamin D blood levels checked immediately, then quarterly thereafter. When I was severely deficient in Vitamin D, I took a mega dose of 5,000 IU per day, until my levels reached the normal range.
Low Dose Naltrexone
Although many of you will argue that Low-Dose Naltrexone is a drug, and not “natural,” I beg to differ. Using this opioid agonist in micro-doses is not accepted treatment yet for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders. That’s a shame. For more information on this incredible treatment check out my Low Dose Naltrexone page.
Grain-Free Diet
Grains can wreak havoc on a weakened immune system. If I had to give one piece of advice to people with any auto-immune disorder, it would be to go on a diet that is entirely 100% Grain Free, and free of grain-like substances such as quinoa, millet, wild rice, etc. Of course, gluten is the ultimate no-no. By 2025 recommending a Gluten Free Diet to anyone with an auto-immune condition will probably be standard medical protocol. All of the recipes here are both grain-free and gluten-free. To get started in the kitchen check out my Grain Free Diet page.
My Favorite Functional Medicine Doctors
If you’re looking for additional guidance, here are some great Functional Medicine doctors that are open minded to both conventional medical treatment and alternative strategies:
- Dr. Robert Rountree
- Dr. Pierre Brunschwig
- Dr. Frank Lipman
I also want to share this video featuring Terry Wahls, MD that was sent to me by an acupuncturist friend in 2011. Dr. Wahls, was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and was so sick she could not even use a regular wheelchair. After removing processed foods, grains and dairy from her diet, she experienced an amazing recovery and is now able to walk, horseback ride, and do many other strenuous physical activities.
My natural treatments for multiple sclerosis may not be the answer for everyone. I am not willing to argue about clinical studies to back up the effectiveness of this array of supplements, diet and off label drugs. The information I am sharing is “anecdotal evidence”–for only one person. This is what works for me.
I wish everyone seeking to improve their health the best of luck. I also want to point out that we are all biochemical individuals, so what works for me may not be best for you. Please, make sure to listen to your own body and trust what it tells you.
Kalyn says
Hi Elana,
I didn’t know about this, but I am really amazed at how well you are doing. I will pass this on to a friend who has MS, thanks for all the useful information. xoxo
Sara H. says
Elana,
I’ve often wanted to ask about your MS therapy because I had a feeling we might be doing some of the same things.
I was diagnosed with MS over 3 yrs. ago. I also take LDN and have been gluten/dairy free for 3 yrs and paleo for over a year. I have had no excerbations since my first, feel great (much better than before diagnosis and am very optimistic that my good health will continue.
One thing for fellow MSers to realize, LDN (low dose naltrexone)will sometimes aggravate symptoms for the first 2-3 weeks. I think this happens in some cases and the person panics and goes off it immediately before the symptoms subside. Give it a chance to work. Also, it doesn’t seem to be as sucessful for people that don’t adopt a gluten/dairy free diet.
I feel younger at 45 than I did at 35!
Kelli says
Does the fish oil contain vitamin D also? What form of vitamin D do you (did you) take? Is there a book that will convince me that eating grains is bad for a weakened immune system? I have confused myself by reading books like the China Study, Nouishing Traditions, and the like, and would like to know how to eat once and for all.
Shar says
There is a lot of helpful info on the “Gluten Free” page on Facebook, and at http://www.GlutenFreeSociety.org which is associated with that page. Many people are sensitive/intolerant/allergic to gluten which is in all grains.
Jennifer says
You might find Denise Minger’s critique of The China Study helpful. http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/08/06/final-china-study-response-html/
Looking at diets through a anthropological lens and experimenting with Primal/Paleo was all the evidence I needed.
Randa says
You may find the “Gut and Psychology Syndrome” book helpful, by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. I found it very eye-opening. There are lots of people following that healing protocol that write about it on their blogs, and they seem to really find help with it. It definitely is grain-free.
Bev says
It`s great that you are taking LDN for your MS. My husband has been on only LDN for 7 years and is doing well – no obvious disease progression.
It`s a crime that it`s not the first (and only) drug offered to newly diagnosed MS`ers. Those toxic and ineffective injectables are doing nothing other than making the drug companies rich.
I recently got my husband off gluten and grains and bumped up his Vitamin D.
It`s great that you are speaking out about using LDN as it`s kind of an “underground” community. I, and many of my friends, have been asking Montel Williams to tell if he`s using it, for years with no response. We need a high profile spokesperson to spread the word. Just breaks my heart to see how many are in wheelchairs and continue to use meds that just don`t work. LDN and a healthy diet are a great way to go until a real cure is found.
Christine says
It’s completely possible to “turn off” auto-immune diseases of all sorts. My personal regime of grain, legume and mammal meat free diet, similar supplementation to Elana, aucpuncture and the use of alpha agonist to promotes the neuro-transmitter Acetocholine by inhibiting it’s breakdown by acetocholinesterase has reversed a number of issues for me including Gluten Ataxia which is often misdiagnosed as MS. I’ve lived with the long-term sequelae of TBI and TSI (traumatic brain and spine injury) and an ill-defined auto-immune condition for decades. I survived cancer without radiation, oral or IV chemo. I won’t be riding horses or trekking mountains but I WALK unassisted. I still practice TCM, nutrition/nauturopathy and chiropractic parttime. Recent labs indicate ALL auto-immune processes including anti-nuclear antibodies are no longer at issue.
It takes commitment and fortitude. Some may not be up to the task to radically alter their lives. That’s OK as long as they don’t stand in your way if you choose to make the changes. If they don’t support you in your quest, maybe they’re not meant to be in your life long-term and that’s OK too.
Erin says
PS – It also cured my asthma so I no longer need to carry an inhaler, and it reduced my interstitial cystitis (caused by traumatic injury) to the point I no longer need the meds (I as interviewed last fall by the IC magazine and talked about how going GF helped).
Erin says
Indigenous cultures refer to “food is medicine.” It’s curious how long it’s taken us to accept this to be true.
Smoking was advertised as cool. Refined foods were a sign of wealth and prosperity.
Even now, with friends who clearly have gluten-intolerance and serious health issues because of it, they wave off eating GF saying their doctor told them they need copious amounts of meds (one friend’s actual words) because their health situation (Crohn’s, IB, hives, feeling foggy, MS) is too serious and GF is too expensive.
So they take the copious amounts of meds and have copious side effects and get sicker and sicker. While eating copious amounts of pasta, bread and other inexpensive food items.
I agree that in 10 years GF and grain-free will be more commonly “prescribed.” Wish it could happen more quickly!
Erin says
PS – Since I’ve gone GF, my lifelone eczema has disappeared entirely, I am no longer groggy and foggy (which is different than tired and it actually feels good to just be tired!, and the deep pain in my stomach (repeatedly put through upper GI testing only to show time and time again there was no ulcer) after I ate is GONE :)
Lynnette says
PS – The Healing Codes heal the underlying negative images, unhealthy beliefs and destructive cellular memories that create disease.
Lynnette says
Elana, more power to you! I was recently diagnosed with ALS, and take the same supplements as you do, including LDN. I had watched the awesome video before; I tried it, but I just cannot eat that much. Still, I plan on adding green drinks when my gardens come in.
I have also added a different tactic, an energy working detailed in the book, The Healing Code, by Alex Loyd, PhD, ND, and on the web site http://thehealingcodes.com/. Dr. Ben Johnson cured his ALS using the codes. I read a story of MS being cured… I know that I have already seen small changes, by using the codes.
Ali says
My mom had MS for 20 years and I wish she had known these things! This advice could have helped her live a fuller life with far less disability, I am sure. Sharing this will positively impact many, many people who suffer from this disease. Thank you for caring enough to share.