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.
Linda Mazar says
thanks for sharing your story! I have several autoimmune diseases too and going gluten-free/dairy-free has really helped me stay in remission. I want to look into the low dose Naltrexone some more. I had researched it some time ago but when I mentioned it to my gastroenterologist and to my endocrinologist they looked at me like I was insane – of course they think I am insane since I don’t eat gluten and dairy and try to stay low carb. I may have to revisit that idea again.
adriana says
Dear Elana,
Thank you so much for sharing. My husband to has ms. He is fortunate that it has taken a more benign course. But he is 59 now and sees changes. I have arthu=ritis and have gone GF. Feel 85% better than I have in the last 8 years. Right now I have 1 question. What grains should we not eat? You said quinoa and wild rice. Do you mean brown rice and buckwheat , tapioca etc. I do have 1 of your cook books. But I feel I do need to change my diet more. Have you read the book wheat belly? Please when you have time could you let me know. I want to eat healthier and get my husband on board! Thank you so much. You are an awesome lady. God bless. Adriana
Patty says
Dear Elana, Since having been led to your site, I’ve been a true fan of yours. I love your recipes, your personality, your wonderful enthusiasm, the pics of your boys, and the fact that you have shared your trials with MS with us, your many, many friends. You are such an inspiration to us all. It’s not just that you share your foods with us, but you share yourself! Thank you for everything that you do. We so appreciate your efforts. Bless you. Patty
Megan says
Thanks for sharing this information – you have a huge following and I know this will help many people!
I have celiac and hashimotos as of 1.5 years ago…I too do EVERYTHING that you listed. Going Gluten Free was the first step which helped tremendously…now I am about 95% grain free (only on rare occasions will I have a grain gluten free treat) and I eat a paleo diet (pretty much a fat and protein template). I take potent probiotics, eat fermented foods and bone broths pretty much daily, and most recently I was put on LDN. The therapeutic dose of LDN has really started to make a huge difference in how I feel. For the first time, if I accidentily skip a thyroid dose, I dont even notice…I’m hopeful that perhaps I will someday be able to stop thyroid treatment entirely.
I wish more people knew about LDN – it seems like such a promising drug. The use of LDN for auto-immune disorders is considereda”off label” use…however, for those reading, do not be turned off by this. It was approved by the FDA in high doses (over 50 mg or more) and is pretty much side -effect free. The reason why it has not been FDA approved for low doses (4.5 mg or less)- hence the name LoW Dose Naldextrone (LDN) – is bc no drug company sees value in paying for clinical trials on a drug that has been around forever and would only be needed in small doses…therefore, it’s “off label” and most likly will always be. Many doctors are not aware of it, so go to the website and bring in info yourself. Or ask one of the compounding pharmaceies on the site to list doctors in your area who perscribe it.
One suggestion that you may be open to: Fermeneted Cod Liver Oil/Butter Oil blend – I have see great improvements in my skin since taken and its chock full of vitamins.
Thanks again for sharing your life and recipes. Your site has added great value and pleasure to my life.
robyn M says
hi megan,
i too have hashimotos and celiac, i am curious as to how you went about getting on LDN? I am about 80% grain free and mostly dairy free as well except for the occasional kerrygold cheese or butter…progression! we’re in a really rural area and i’ve not had a very good time with health care practitioners in the area. it looks like you need a prescription for LDN. any thought you have would be welcomes! thanks
megan says
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/
i printed off info from here and took it to my doctor. i also visited the websites of the compounding pharmacies who make LDN and had the order form ready to go for my doctor! if your doc is resistant, try calling the pharmacies listed on the website and they can give you names of docs in your area who may be more open to prescribing it.
there are also yahoo forums that you can join – people on there have lists of doctors in every state who prescribe it. good luck!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lowdosenaltrexone/
holly murphy says
I had no idea you had MS…I found your site months ago and have been following it since. I was diagnosed 16 years ago which launched our adoption era. 11 adoptions later, I have really been focusing on me. Tired of living without energy. My searching had brought me to eating whole and consequently, your website. Also led me to many of the conclusions and was very excited to see your recommendations. Want to stop my avonex shots and gain some energy…Will be looking at some of them in depth tomorrow and cannot wait.
thanks,
Holly
pdw says
I would like to hear more of your thoughts on grain-free diet. I eat completely grain free (yes, including wild rice and millet, which are part of the grain family) but I still eat quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth, which are not grains, but are “grain like”. I have heart people include buckwheat in the list of foods to avoid on a grain-free diet, but not quinoa. Why would you eliminate these foods?
Due to allergies, I can’t use almond flour in my recipes.
Lori S. says
Elana, thanks for letting us know about your MS.
I have an autoimmune disorder called psoriatic arthritis and have been on LDN since 2009. If someone is thinking of asking their doctor for it, go in prepared because undoubtedly your doctor will not understand. I went to the lowdosenaltrexone website and jotted down everything that pertained to me. My doctor fortunately already prescribed it for AI disorders, so it wasn’t too tough, but my sister who goes to the same clinic, saw a different doctor and she refused her!!!. In fact, after reviewing many of the videos on that site, some of the doctors recommend LDN for most anyone (without any problems) as it greatly boosts the immune system.
Thanks for providing us with a forum, not just about recipes, but about health, it is a blessing indeed!
Lori
Cynthia says
Thanks for this post. I too have MS. Isn’t crazy how many people have MS these days? I used to have to explain what MS was but now everyone has a loved one or somebody they know with MS.
I take LDN and a lot of supplements and try to stay away from wheat and dairy. Yes these things help and I still do them but the miracle for me was getting angioplasty on the veins draining my brain. I looked into http://www.hubbardfoundation.org and found a doctor in Utah to perform the procedure. It has now been 8 months since angioplasty and I am still feeling great. No cog fog. Less fatigue. I can finally feel my hands again. Yeah!
I think sites like this are amazing because regular people can share information that we just don’t get from most of the doctors out there.
Thanks Elena!
Claudia says
Elana, you are a warrior! and a great inspiration for me. I also think that natural remedies are the best. Unfortunately sometimes is hard to find your way through…
I’m glad that you have been able to find remedies that work well for you and that you are feeling better.
Diane H says
Another alternative therapy helpful to people with MS is “Earthing”. The premise of Earthing is that the earth itself has electrical healing energy that affects the human body. In the past, walking barefoot and sleeping on the ground kept people’s bodies in synch with the earth. Modern lifestyles, including wearing rubber-soled shoes and living in houses above the ground, have insulated and disconnected people from the earth’s energy and it causes inflammation in our bodies that in turn causes disease. By connecting back to this energy, healing can take place. It’s quite fascinating. You may have seen a segment on Earthing on the Dr. Oz show.
The book is on Amazon.com: “Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?” By clicking on the “Click to look inside” icon you can read quite a bit of the book for free.
Thank you, Elana. I love your website.