What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. There is no known cure, and this condition is potentially debilitating.
Those of us with loved ones suffering from multiple sclerosis know personally how frustrating, painful, and heart-wrenching this disease can be. Affecting 2.8 million people worldwide, MS is a demon that many people are familiar with. While there is no known cure, there is still hope.
MS Symptoms
Do you suspect or know that you have multiple sclerosis (MS)? You may experience symptoms such as these:
- Pains and spasms
- Weakness or fatigue
- Tingling and numbness
- Vision problems
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Bladder issues
- Sexual dysfunction
- Cognitive problems
- Depression/Anxiety
Triggers for Multiple Sclerosis
What can trigger or fuel multiple sclerosis?
- Gluten sensitivity or other food triggers
- Viral infection such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
- Plastics like BPA, phthalates, parabens
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Mold toxicity
- Low glutathione status
- Hormonal imbalances
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Leaky gut
- Blood sugar dysfunction
How Can Dr. Autoimmune Help?
Treatments that are available for MS are expensive, experimental, and provide temporary relief at best. Most MS patients focus their treatment plans around physical therapy. Though keeping the muscles in use and attempting to reconnect neurons through this method is helpful, it does not address the root cause of the problem.
It can be frustrating trying to find help with chronic and complex conditions, which is why we have chosen to dedicate our practice to exactly that. Instead of treating the symptoms, the functional medicine approach focuses on finding the causes.
All autoimmune diseases start in the gut. We design custom plans of dietary intervention, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to help heal the gut and support the immune system In supporting these fundamental functions of the digestive tract we can reduce inflammation and see dramatic changes in symptoms.
Finding the Root Cause
We know that autoimmunity requires 3 things to develop:
- Genetic predisposition
- Leaky gut (a.k.a intestinal permeability)
- An environmental trigger
It All Starts in the Gut!
Our small intestine consists of 25 feet of tubing, the inside surface area being equivalent to that of a doubles tennis court!
Proteins called “tight junctions” prevent a flood of material into the gut. Low vitamin D levels coupled with inflammation in the gut starts to widen the space between cells, allowing materials (bacteria and food) to start seeping through. This triggers inflammation and antibodies are formed against your own tissue.
