Other MS Considerations

Because the cause of the myelin sheath damage remains unknown, avoid the things that are rumored to be possible causes, even if it is not yet proven scientifically. For instance, several reports on aspartame (more commonly known as Equal or NutriSweet®, a chemical ingredient used to sweeten many sugarless foods and drinks) link the substance to a myriad of symptoms and illnesses including MS, nerve damage, brain lesions, brain tumors, headaches, depression, black-outs, forgetfulness, and other central nervous system disorders. For more information on this and other food additives, read the book Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills, by Dr. Russell Blaylock. Eliminating all potential toxins going into your body can eliminate the source of what could be causing your problem. Some pesticides are known to be toxic to the nervous system, so search out organic foods whenever possible to keep potentially harmful pesticides out of your system.
Stress-reduction therapies should be incorporated into your life if you suffer from MS. Activities such as swimming, yoga, massage, reflexology, and other bodywork done weekly will help keep your nerves from overreacting and may help slow the damage in the nervous system.

Black Currant Oil

Black currant oil is high in essential fatty acids, such as gamma linoleic acid (GLA). Research has shown that people suffering from degenerative diseases are low in these essential fatty acids, so GLA can help protect the immune system. Evening primrose oil has similar properties to black currant oil, but it contains only half the GLA. Flax seed oil and lecithin are also good sources of essential fatty acids, but they’re still not as rich in GLA as black currant oil.
Fatty acids are required to build up the myelin nerve sheaths, and this is why black currant oil can be your best single herb for MS. Essential fatty acids also build hormones, which are required for many biochemical processes and cellular communication.
Black currant oil has helped many and has been used for these conditions:
➤ Allergies
➤ Cancer
➤ Candida
➤ Eczema
➤ Female disorders
➤ Immunity
➤ Mental and nervous system disorders
➤ Multiple sclerosis
➤ Obesity
➤ PMS
➤ Skin ailments (all kinds)
Consider all foods and herbs that feed, support, and build the nervous system if you have MS. Vitamin E aids circulation and serves as an antioxidant, B-complex vitamins feed the brain and nervous system, and lecithin, cell salts, CoQ10, amino acids, and food enzymes have all been helpful supplements. Other helpful herbs besides black currant oil include liquid chlorophyll, black walnut, germanium, skullcap, passion flower, horsetail, and wild yam.

Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Herbs

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the nervous system. The myelin sheaths that surround and protect the nerves become damaged, which affects the brain and spinal cord and impairs the function of all nerves involved. Unfortunately, I see more and more young people these days suffering from MS, but the good news is that I have also seen folks with MS recover and experience increasingly longer periods without relapse, thanks to herbal remedies and other nutritional supplements.
MS affects different parts of the nerves and brain, so symptoms are scattered and can vary. Symptoms generally include:
➤ An unsteady gait
➤ Shaky hands or legs
➤ Involuntary rapid movement of the eyes
➤ Spasmodic weakness
➤ Affected speech
➤ Blurred vision due to inflammation of the nerves behind the eyes
Now let’s talk about some herbs that might help protect you from this disease.

Mullein and Mumps

Mumps is a common childhood viral infection characterized by swelling of the glands in the neck, fever, headache, and sometimes vomiting. The affected person usually feels sick for three to five days but remains infectious until the swelling of the glands has completely gone away.
If you did not have mumps as a child, catching the illness in adulthood is more serious and needs to be treated immediately. Mumps in adults can cause sterility in men. Some children get the mumps even when they have been vaccinated against it, but you can still help your child with some herbal remedies.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a common herb that’s also quite recognizable. This herb grows up to eight feet tall and has stalks that are conical in shape. It has small, yellow flowers that bloom a few at a time and sit close to the stalk. Mullein can be found along most roadsides where it is dry, warm, and open and where the soil has been disturbed. In a pinch, a dried stalk of mullein dipped in pine pitch may be lit and used as a torch.
Native Americans used to smoke the dried leaves of this plant for relief of coughs. The tea also can be drunk, or an infusion can be made and applied to the chest to help break up mucus congestion quickly.
That’s all nice and fine, but what can it do for the mumps, you ask? Historically, mullein has been used internally to treat mumps because of its affinity for the glands. You can take it or administer it internally to help with any childhood illness because it is a safe and mild herb. Apply a cooled fomentation of a mixture of mullein, lobelia, and white oak bark externally directly over the swollen lymph glands. Mullein also has an affinity for the sinuses and can break up congestion. The herb is very soothing to the mucus membranes, which makes it useful for dry, hot, irritated, and hacking coughs. Think of mullein for any type of chest or glandular afflictions.

Ginger for Morning Sickness

Ginger is highlighted in nausea and motion sickness treatment because it is one of the best, well-known, and most effective herbal remedies used to combat the problem. In moderate quantities, ginger is also a safe herb used by women with morning sickness. You can buy ginger root in candied form and chew on a small piece if you start to feel sick to your stomach; this has been a godsend to many moms over the years.
If your liver is a problem, or if you tend to be anemic (low red blood count), you can nourish your body with herbs that are rich in iron. Plant forms of iron include red beet, yellow dock, red raspberry, chickweed, burdock, nettle, and mullein. A dab of peppermint oil on your tongue can stop you from feeling sick almost right away, and peppermint tea or peppermint candy has also been used to beat nausea over the years.

Cure for Morning Sickness

Morning sickness occurs due to pregnancy and is usually caused by a toxic system, especially a stressed or overburdened liver. If you haven’t had a chance to do some internal cleansing before you conceived, you will not be able to cleanse now, but remember to do so if you have a chance before the next child. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some safe herbal remedies during pregnancy.
The leaves of the red raspberry bush (Rubis idaeus) are used as a tonic to strengthen the reproductive organs in both men and women. The fruit of the bush is used in jams, jellies, and wines, and you can take red raspberry leaves as a tea or in pill form. This herb is safe for use in pregnancy.
In contrast to pennyroyal, red raspberry serves as an anti-abortifacient, meaning that it prevents miscarriage. Red raspberry has been used to regulate hormones, as a tonic for the uterus, and also to tone the uterus after birth. The toning effect may be helpful for the prostate gland in men also. Some women have used red raspberry to correct infertility, aid labor, and ease muscle cramps and afterpains.
Red raspberry also nourishes breast milk and is rich in magnesium, iron, and niacin. It provides vitamin C and manganese, both which may help tone the abdominal wall and make labor less painful. This herb seems to have been made just for women who want to be moms!

Hormonal Helpers

For irregular periods, take vitamin E to help increase fertility and bring more oxygen into the blood; licorice root has helped some of my menopausal clients rid themselves of hot flashes. Licorice root nourishes adrenals, regulates menstruation, and helps the body to release excess water retention. Sip ginger root tea to help promote the menstrual flow once you do get your period. Dong quai has come to the rescue for many women and is used to regulate periods, ease PMS, help menopausal symptoms, nourish female glands, calm nervousness, expel retained placenta after birth, reduce hot flashes, and eliminate anemia.
Evening primrose oil has also been a saving grace for many women with raging hormones, has been used to help regulate periods, eases PMS symptoms, aids skin and hair health, and boosts the immune system. Try taking up to six evening primrose capsules daily 7 to 10 days before your period is due. Stay consistent. You will need to give your herbal hormonal helpers at least a few months to be able to correctly evaluate if your cycle is becoming regular. Patience and experimentation will be needed unless you are working with a holistic practitioner who can help guide you, of course.