I’ve been amazed at the outpouring of tremendous support since I wrote “A Piece of Me.” That post was the first time I truly poured my heart out here, and I’m completely overwhelmed by your wonderful responses. This community is amazing. I had no idea when I started this blog in 2006, that I would have such an incredible online family here. Your support is absolutely wonderful and I am so grateful for all of you every single day.
In addition to your unconditional support, I was very impressed by the level of knowledge and ideas shared here. In order for everyone to benefit from all of your helpful suggestions, I am compiling a summary called New Approaches to Neurological Conditions. This list is for those newly diagnosed, as well as those who have been living with a neurological condition and the label of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, lewy body dementia (LBD), epilepsy, early onset dementia, as well as other serious brain disorders. Those with fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, EMF sensitivity, and other disorders with neurological components will also benefit.
My wish here is that people dealing with severe neurological conditions will not lose hope and may find a helpful idea here or there to add to their treatment plans. Since science is constantly changing, health is a puzzle that requires continuous research. By compiling all of your ideas, I hope, and truly believe that we can heal here together.
New Approaches to Neurological Conditions
1. Lyme Disease
If you have been diagnosed with a neurological condition, be sure to rule out Lyme disease and see a Lyme literate doctor. This was the top suggestion that came from readers. Lyme disease can cause severe neurological impairment that is similar to many neurological diseases. Thankfully, I’ve had numerous tests done by IgeneX and have been able to rule out Lyme disease.
As an aside, a fairly well known treatment for Lyme disease is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). If you receive HBOT and have Lyme disease, it is likely that you will have flu-like symptoms after at least one of your treatments, if not more. This is because hyperbaric exposure extracts the spiral bacteria from the connective tissue, forcing it into the blood stream of Lyme patients. This causes a Herxheimer reaction, basically a detoxifying process that can last from days to a few weeks. Herxheimer can include flu-like, as well as other symptoms.
Thankfully, I felt better during the entire course of my HBOT treatments and did not experience a Herxheimer response, leading my team of functional medicine doctors to believe that my IgeneX results were accurate.
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
2. Heavy Metal Toxicity
Unfortunately, many of us had mercury used for our dental fillings when we were younger. If you have a neurological condition get tested for heavy metal toxicity, as it can impair brain function. Functional medicine doctors have a battery of tests that they can deploy in this situation, and your doctor will know what is best for you.
I had heavy metal testing done in 2003, and had my fillings removed by a biological dentist in 2004. The dentist followed the safest of protocols when removing my fillings, using a dental dam and oxygen during the procedure. Still, I had some fairly severe side effects for a few weeks. In the long run though, I was better off and my mercury levels are now very low. If you decide to have your metal fillings removed, do so in conjunction with a functional medicine doctor who can test you for heavy metals before and after the removal process.
For someone such as myself, who detoxifies more slowly due to the presence of an MTHFR genetic mutation, it was important to go slow and not overdo detoxifying supplements. My doctor and I also ruled out chelation therapy for me. We did agree that consuming cilantro would be a gentle way to pull heavy metals out of my system. I created this Cilantro Detox Juice that I drink almost daily to detoxify and remove the heavy metals that are now regularly found in our environment.
A good functional medicine doctor will do a thorough interview and design the best plan for your body. Remember, we are all biochemical individuals and need different doses of various supplements in this type of situation. Customization is key, there is no one size fits all treatment plan.
3. Rebuild Your Gut Microbiome
Many of you mentioned one of my favorite books, Brain Maker, written by my colleague Dr. David Perlmutter. In this book he explains the interaction of intestinal microbes and the brain. Dr. Perlmutter describes how the microbiome develops from birth, then evolves, and how it can become debilitated. I have been following the work of Dr. Perlmutter, since 2004 and we share the same mentor. He is a wonderful advocate for nurturing gut health to heal your brain. If you have any gut or neurological issues whatsoever, my post called, How I Healed my Gut, is a must-read for you!
4. Terry Wahls
I’m grateful that so many of you have discovered this amazing functional medicine neurologist who I featured here in 2012. Her Ted Talk on using the paleo diet to heal MS is very inspiring. If you haven’t seen it already I hope you’ll watch it!
5. Hypyerbaric Oxygen Therapy
I’ve written about hyperbaric oxygen therapy extensively here. Since I’ve seen such good results from it, I thought it was important to mention. I have received over 100 HBOT treatments and it has been incredibly helpful for me in ameliorating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Because HBOT increases brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) it may also benefit other neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and LBD.1
6. Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet reduces inflammation in the brain.2 It is a very low-carb diet (VLCD), high in fat, that has been used for decades to treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.
The macro-nutrient ratio of this diet is extreme. The classic ketogenic diet consists of a 4:1 ratio in grams of fat to non-fat (protein and carbohydrates). A modified ketogenic diet consists of ratios of 2:1 or 1:1. To be clear, the 4:1 ratio means the patient consumes 4 grams of fat for every 1 gram of protein and carbohydrates combined. If you do go on a traditional ketogenic diet it is very important to do so under the supervision of a doctor. For more information, as well as an assortment of keto recipes, see my Ketogenic Diet Recipes page.
7. Prayer
It is common knowledge that prayer helps heal, and there are studies to prove it.3 More than anything else, I am thankful to all of you for your prayers and good wishes!
Lately, I have enjoyed hearing about the healing power of prayer from Dr. Joe Dispenza. In some of his videos he elaborates on how positive thinking and prayer can set off a series of epigenetic changes on a cellular level that lead to healing. Prayer is free, and available to us all. A simple thank you said to oneself repeatedly is a wonderful prayer of gratitude that can release endorphins and lead to a sense of well being, among other positive changes.
I want to thank you all again for your overwhelming support and love. I think of your incredible comments every night at bedtime when I say my prayers of gratitude.
Finally, if I missed anything that you think is important for people with neurological issues or brain disease to have on their radar, please let us know about it and leave your suggestions below!
Patty says
Thank you for all the information and help with health via your blog Elana. Could you tell me what you would recommend for someone diagnosed with lupus?
Elana says
Hi Patty, I recommend all of the above, and I would also be cognizant of this, which has been my biggest health trigger in the last 2 years:
https://elanaspantry.com/are-cell-phones-dangerous/
I wish you all the best and please keep me updated on your progess!
Elana
Monica Barela says
Hello Elana, I just read your blog about your diagnosis of MS. There is a Dr nearby, his name is Jason Hao, he is a Nuero-Acup Scalp Dr. He’s is world renown and lives here in Albuquerque,NM. His success rates are very high. He worked on Randy Travis, who could not walk or speak after his stroke. Now Randy is speaking, singing and walking. Here is a link if you want to find out more. http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/doctors-honored-for-neuro-acupuncture-miracles/article_cb62cc39-58f2-5ebe-bd6c-1b73d3fac3ac.html I hope this will be seen, maybe it’s a lead that needed to be passed on to you. Your blog has blessed me and my family, by giving us healthier options. Thank you! Your Sister in Christ-Monica
Elana says
Thanks Monica!
Karen says
I heard Dr Pompa say that he thought cilantro actually caused problems with heavy metals, that it would pull them out of tissues but not bind them and carry them safely out of the body. My doctor recommends one metagenics MetalloClear pill and one metagenics AdvaClear pill, taken simultaneously once a day, to safely remove heavy metals. He said that since he learned this method, he no longer does IV chelation.
Elana says
Karen, this strategy has worked very well for me, but we are all biochemical individuals and need to listen to our own bodies :-)
c says
Elana, have you heard of Dr. Chaudhary? She is a CA neurologist who has become integrative. Get her book “The Prime” to understand detoxification pathways. She incorporates FM with Ayurvedic Medicine. Did you know that the medicine side of Ayurveda was combined with the surgery side to form books that are the backbone of Auyerveda today? Of course, now there is more conventional science to support it (and more is being done). But is most interesting is that they had different medical specialties in those books and one was toxicology. Detoxification a large part of Ayurveda. Dr. Chaudhary has a program which is based on opening up all the pathways so that the toxins being released have somewhere to do…. instead of leaving one place and sticking to another.
I did her program last year and learned a lot. I had to have a procedure and, thus, it forced me to stop. But I really benefited from her 16 week program and will start it again soon as some of the benefits have started to wear off.
See : http://drkulreetchaudhary.com/biography/
(P.S.: It is not a weight loss program. However, those who enter it overweight tend to lose weight. Thus, they mention it in the program description. I did not lose any weight nor did I want to.)
Elana says
Thanks so much!
Sandra Morris says
Hi Elana,
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 I began a long journey of discovering why my immune system had allowed this malignant tumor to form. One of the many things I did as a result of my research, was to have my remaining amalgam fillings removed. I researched the ways to remove mercury from the body and decided far infra-red sauna was the path I would take. I purchased a sauna in January of this year and am using it 3 or 4 times a week.
I kept a blog during the months after my diagnosis to keep friends and family informed of my decisions regarding treatment, or in many cases the lack thereof, without having to tell each person individually and be exposed to their opinions or comment. My blog address is “myjourneythroughbreastcancermyway.blogspot.com”.
I am in the process of turning this blog into a book I plan to entitle, “How Breast Cancer Saved My Life”. I discuss at length gut health, why mine was compromised, and how I restored it. I also have a lot of information about ways to screen for breast cancer that don’t involve radiation. I plan to never have another mammogram and have been successful in gaining my physician’s acceptance of this decision.
I too have MTHFR mutations and have seen an epigeneticist since the summer of 2015 who is helping me determine how best to cope with the genome I was born with.
One of the very first things she said to me was, “If you continue to consume gluten, you Will have colon cancer.” Luckily I already knew of your wonderful site and had tried many of your delicious recipes.
Thank you for your
site and for your willingness to share your personal journey. May we all become our own physicians and refuse to accept that disease is inevitable.
Elana says
Sandra, thanks from the bottom of my heart for your incredible comment. I’m so sorry for all that you have gone through, but very glad we are on this healing path together!
Karen says
I have a home hyperbaric chamber and I sleep in it every other night. I am healing from a brain injury from a motorcycle accident. When I get out of the chamber in the morning, I take powdered vitamin C to stop the oxidative stress. The chamber is making a HUGE difference with my injury. I also use a supplement called Protandim (an NRF2 synergizer) that has been extremely helpful to me in stopping the oxidative stress hell in my brain caused by the injury. I noticed a difference after I had been on the supplement for 3 weeks. I chew the pill, because i’ve noticed that it does not digest fully. A third thing that I am doing is Frequency Specific Microcurrent (frequencyspecific.com). This is stimulating healing in my brain and entire nervous system. You can find a provider at the site. I use a program called PTSD for my nervous system.
Karen says
Some people use broccoli sprouts to stimulate their NRF2 pathway. The NRF2 pathway causes the body to produce more internal antioxidant enzymes than normal. I use the supplement Protandim for this same reason. It works.
Elana says
Thanks Karen!
Lacy says
I would also agree with Karen, Protandim is great for MS. It has been written about in the MS Journal, comparing it to the prescription drug BG12 (Tecfidera). Protandim was stated to be a superior product, it’s all natural and benefits numerous ailments (oxidative stress is linked to over 200 ailment as we age – this can be researched on PubMed.gov, which features 23 peer reviewed studies specifically on the formula of Protandim). Protandim, although categorized as a supplement, is a Nrf2 activator. This is something all people need to be educated on!
Elana says
Thanks Lacy! I totally agree :-)
Nana says
Just read this and thought of you – http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/11/21/biotin-deficiency.aspx?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20161121Z1&et_cid=DM126453&et_rid=1763631516
Elana says
Thanks Nana! At the moment I’m on 300mg of biotin a day :-)
Julie Sawaya says
Hi Elana, would you mind sharing what other supplements you take regularly?
Elana says
Julie, thanks for your comment! I’m working on writing all of that up so stay tuned :-)
Lynn says
Hello Elena,
I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do. I found your blog several years ago when I was first diagnosed with Celiac, and then Hashimoto’s, and then Lyme. I found that the Paleo diet helped me tremendously. Your recipes were always the best Paleo recipes I could find & you present them with such style — it made the diet easier and more enjoyable to follow. I’m so sorry to hear of your recent setbacks & I wish you the best in your continued healing.
Thank you!
Elana says
Thanks Lynn!
Rebecca says
Hi Elana,
I came across your wonderful site in searching for a paleo pumpkin pie recipe. I couldn’t help but be drawn in to read more and came across your story and this post on neurological conditions as I have struggled myself along with our ASD daughter.. I see that you have considered heavy metals as a factor at one time, and wanted to give you a link to check out and possibly reconsider the role of heavy metals (mercury in particular) in your problems. Having your amalgams safely removed is often not enough as the estimated half-life of mercury in the brain is 30 years! Unfortunately unless the exposure was recent, urine, stool and blood tests do not reveal a metal burden and provocation tests can be dangerous.. Andrew Hall Cutler PhD developed a protocol for a safe way to remove the metals called frequent low-dose chelation. I had my amalgams safely removed one year ago and like you had a pretty good flare of symptoms immediately following. I have completed 33 rounds of Andy Cutler chelation and have seen major gains in my health including being migraine free for 6 months (have suffered several days monthly since my 2nd year of dental school 20 years ago), tinnitus gone, peripheral neuropathies and pain greatly reduced, fibro-type pains gone, fatigue reduced, Hashi’s symptoms greatly reduced, eye-twitching and muscle cramping gone, etc. I of course have had some relief from Paleo-ish diet and well-chosen vitamins/supplements too, but have been able to loosen up my diet quite a bit since chelating and no amount of special diet or supplements had ever helped my migraines.. I have just started the protocol for our daughter as well. Autism Research Institute did a survey of 27,000 parents regarding biomedical treatment effectiveness and of those who tried detox/metal chelation for their child 74% said it made their child better…the highest rated treatment of all listed! The problem with many chelation protocols is they are unsafe and can actually do a lot of harm. Andy Cutler bases his chelator dosing on the half-life of the chelators in the blood to keep levels constant and avoid redistribution and damage. Here is a link to Dr. Cutler’s book: http://noamalgam.com/ and to a book based on his protocol: http://www.fightautismandwin.com/. There is a Yahoo Group call frequent dose chelation that has some extremely knowledgeable (and many recovered) moderators…one that had struggled with MS in particular I believe. There is also a Facebook group call Andy Cutler Chelation and here’s one more link to some success stories: http://cutlersuccessstories.weebly.com/. Thanks so much for sharing your story and your recipes. Most of what I have learned that has helped my family I have learned from others like yourself who have so kindly shared their struggles and successes. Well wishes Elana.
Elana says
Thanks Rebecca, I do a gentle chelation several time per week using this recipe:
https://elanaspantry.com/cilantro-detox-juice/
Enjoy!
Elana
Rebecca says
Elana your juice recipe looks delicious but I”m concerned that by using it you are making yourself worse. Cilantro has the ability to pick up the metals and move them around and make you much, much worse via redistribution. There are many threads on this in the Cutler groups. Dr. Andy Cutler feels very strongly about this and other more natural agents like Chlorella. He is also very vocal about the dangers of IV DMPS and high dose/single doses of chelators.. Here is a quote from one of the moderators of the Yahoo Frequent Dose Chelation group: “Some of the sickest here had bad experiences with cilantro”. I’m so sorry for your suffering and hope you look into this.
P.S. I’ve made your pumpkin pie recipe twice already and will be taking some to our Thanksgiving celebration. Delicious, thanks so much!
Rebecca
Elana says
Thanks Rebecca!
Kehinde James says
Elena you have done the very best first thing with yourself and that is take responsibility for your health.
Ill-ness and disease are often great points of learning and deepening our relationship with ourself. You have opened yourself and shared much with us. Thank you.
I send you a link to a site I visit and produced by friends of mine – Unimedliving. See the many conversations on all the aspects of gaining true health
Elana says
Thanks!
Lacy says
I sent you some information on a science that has been documented in the MS Journal as more effective and superior to the prescription that is currently given to Ms patients. It is an all natural treatment. I’d love to discuss it with you so that you can also reap the benefits.
Elana says
Lacy, we received it. Thanks so much!
Lacy says
Are you able to discuss? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
Elana says
Lacy, thanks! I will be writing about it in the future :-)
Fiona Davison says
Thank you again Elana for …everything. I have been subscribing to your incredible recipes since 2008. My 3.5 yr old son is close to starting a modified keto diet to control his epilepsy so I am so excited about your keto recipes. I believe James has been having seizures since he was in utero. We have never been able to uncover the cause of his epilepsy which I kind of see as a blessing now as it gives me hope that he can overcome it. I believe prayer, supplements and practising the law of attraction have played a big role in his improvement. Any information you can provide is very welcome and if you happen to know of any Functional Medicine practitioners in Australia, I would love a recommendation. Lots of love to you xo
Elana says
Fiona, thanks for your wonderful comment and for sharing the journey that you and your son are going through with us! He is very lucky to have you. I will keep a lookout for functional medicine docs in Australia xoxox