Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated to MS, known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. (Wikipedia)
As to Chinese medicine, MS is believed to be a disease in process most likely originating from a combination of spiritual and emotional factors, and that the “trigger” for the disease may be an experience of a feverish illness, usually an infectious disease.
The weakening of and loss of control over the musculature may come about because the critical energising and regulating functions of the internal organs have become disturbed due to the loss of spiritual focus, perhaps because of a frightful experience which has “scattered one’s soul from its resting place.” The triggering disease consumes vital fluid essences that are essential to nourishing the body and providing a relaxing medium for the spirit. Without spiritual relaxation, there is ongoing agitation, and destruction of bodily harmony.[i]
For individuals affected by MS it’s vital to follow an appropriate diet:
- Candida (albicans) overgrowth in affected individuals has to be targeted first
- Potential allergens have to be omitted from the diet, especially gluten which is found in: wheat, rye, barley and sweet rice
- Strengthening and soothing the nerve foods should be incorporated: soaked, raw oats, sprouted wheats (if there is no gluten sensitivity), rice, raw goats milk
As MS sufferers have a deficiency in various fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid) which can be explained by inflammation from free-radical-oxidation in the absence of antioxidants.
It is vital to consume a healthy amount of fatty acids in unrefined oils:
- Fresh wheat germ or wheat germ oil
- Flax seed oil
- GLA-rich oils
Spirulina’s and other chlorophyll rich foods should be added to the diet, please consult a professional (Health Food Shop) to get the product that is right for you.
Foods and spices which reduce liver wind (Chinese syndrome) of MS:
- Celery
- Basil
- Sage
- Fennel
- Dried or fresh ginger
- Anise
- Oats
- Black soybean
- Black sesame seeds
- Kuzu
- Pine nut
- Coconut
Foods to avoid:
- Eggs
- Crab meat
- Buckwheat
With Acupuncture treatments and tailored Chinese herbal medicines prescriptions, we will supply the body with energy and substance to sustain balance and strength. With regular treatment and a proper dietary regime, symptoms of MS can be well controlled. As stress and certain climatic factors (wind, heat, cold) often aggravates the condition, it is important that one seeks ways (and modalities, e.g. mediation) to control and manage stress. To avoid climatic factors being a trigger, one should accommodate seasonal changes with both diet and lifestyle changes.
[i] http://www.itmonline.org/arts/ms&tcm.htm
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