Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis: Natural and Medical Therapies to Prevent Its Progression [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

Multiple Sclerosis steals hope. For most sufferers, being diagnosed with MS is the first time they have left their doctor's office without any chance of recovery. A lucky few patients don't get any worse, but the rest face a relentless and cruel downhill slide. Many become profoundly disabled. The best drugs available slow but do not stop the disease.

Faced with this bleak future, MS patients want absolutely everything working for them, and no-one fills the bill better than a medical professor with the same disease. George Jelinek was diagnosed with MS in 1999, two years after gaining a chair of emergency medicine in Western Australia. He is a rare combination of dogged researcher and fine educator, both of which shine through in this book.

It is a notable work for several reasons - Jelinek's personal familiarity with the disease (it killed his mother too), his 'whole person' approach (unusual in a western doctor), and the clarity with which he explains the science of the disease and its treatment. But, most of all, the book is notable for Jelinek's core message: MS may not be curable but it can be stopped in its tracks.

Now you might think that proposition would gain the attention of the medical world and make this book a bestseller. Not so; the first edition broke the surface only long enough to attract the indifference and moderate hostility of neurologists, peeved that an emergency specialist should set foot on their field.

But the book's obscurity should not blind readers to its value: this book is every bit as important as it seems. Jelinek revives and updates the largely ignored findings of US neurologist Roy Swank, who showed years ago that diet alone could control the disease. He explains why Swank's work was ignored, then assembles more neglected pieces of research, including the role of sunlight in mitigating an over-active immune system and the value to patients of a sound mental approach to the disease. Importantly too, he analyses the value to patients of all the major MS medications.

This is a remarkably positive book among the gloom of MS. It allows sufferers to take decisions for themselves that will change their lives for the better and give them well-founded hope. This new edition, substantially updated from the first in its coverage of recent scientific research, deserves all the attention it can muster. I have MS, and this book changed my life.

Dr Jelinek, a medical professor, who developed MS in mid-life presents a science-based assessment of natural and medical treatments to control MS. His arguments for use of science based natural remedies (mainly nutritional) as well as conventional medical treatments are convincing. Indeed an increasing band of GP's and other medics are now embracing natural as well as conventional treatments for diseases of all types including MS. - See for example the web-sites of Dr Sarah Myhill (UK), Dr Andrew Weil (US) and books by Dr Deborah McManners (UK) and Dr Carole Hungerford (Australia).

Here are a few comments on Dr Jelinek's recommendations based on what has been seen in other books and web-sites:

- ANIMAL INCLUDING DAIRY PROTEIN. Jelinek recommends avoiding dairy protein (including the casein etc in cow's milk) as well as saturated fats from dairy, meat and other sources. He seems to have come to this view independently of T Colin Campbell who in his excellent book `The China Study' expresses similar doubts about animal protein in general (dairy protein in particular) as well as saturated fat from animal sources. T Colin Campbell recommends (and I think Jelinek would agree) that vegetable protein is much preferable to dairy and meat protein.

- NUTRITION. Jelinek's nutritional recommendations for MS sufferers are similar to Campbell's recommendations for the general public who want the best health. Both recommend eating all types of plant foods and avoiding dairy foods and meat but eating fish as the main source of limited animal protein. Campbell adds a recommendation to avoid refined and processed foods and Jelinek adds a recommendation to take good quantities of food containing Omega 3 fatty acids.

- MS SPECIFIC `DIETS' Diets such as `Best Bet' and others can be more restrictive than Jelinek's in that they recommend avoiding gluten, legumes and possibly nightshade foods (potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines , peppers). Avoiding these may be essential if one is specifically allergic to or intolerant of them but Jelinek and Campbell would say that the highest priority is to avoid dairy foods and meat.

- GLUTEN. If one wishes to avoid or limit gluten there are a host of good alternatives such as millet, buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice, basmati rice, oats (low gluten), rye (less gluten than wheat), barley (some gluten) ,spelt (moderate gluten) etc.

- CALCIUM. Conventional wisdom in the West says that one needs cow's milk for it's calcium. However many believe that cow's milk is actually damaging to bones and calcium is best obtained from other sources such as various types of `dark' cabbage greens, broccoli, soy beans / tofu, sesame seeds / tahini and other seeds / nuts, grains, figs, legumes, salad vegetables such as romaine lettuce and celery. and possibly even from spinach. In any case osteoporosis is higher in high milk consuming countries (such as US, ands many European countries) than in low milk consuming countries. It is by no means clear that cow's milk is essential for human nutrition even though the dairy industry would like one to believe this.

- OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS. A good way of taking Omega 3 fatty acids may be to take ground flax seeds. Grinding (preferably at last moment before eating) is needed to release the oils otherwise the seeds pass though undigested. Also flax seeds are more stable than the extracted oils. If taking oils it is recommended to ensure that the diet includes a high level of anti-oxidants preferably from fruits and vegetables.

- OTHER. Other `natural' issues for MS are or may be a) Sunshine / Vitamin D. b) Vitamin B12, c) optimisng diet to optimise digestion (avoiding such conditions as leaky gut so that potential antigens do not get into the bloodstream) and to minimise inflammation.(type 'multiple sclerosis prostaglandins' into google). I do not have space to elaborate here.

In conclusion this is an excellent book on MS. I do not have MS but have unhesitatingly recommended this book to a family member who does.

I was diagnosed just over a year ago with ms, but thanks to the fantastic interferons, and all the medical research being done into ms I didn't think I would need to do anything other that follow my drs advice to get well, and stay comparatively well. I was wrong. A year on, after numerous relapses, I realised I have to do something for myself, alongside the neurologist. So I bought this book.

Brilliant. The dietary approach is easy to follow, and the data is compelling - even to some of my very sceptical friends. It guides you towards other places (eg websites) which support the theories and findings, and gives very practical advice. It supports all that the drs offer, but wants you to take the disease on yourself. At worst this book is empowering, giving hope and a sense of actively doing something. At best, it could change the whole prognosis for an MS patient, and ultimately change the course of life, very much for the better.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

 

5.0 out of 5 stars George Jelinek is a hero
I was diagnosed with MS in May 2007 and it was absolutely devastating. Even more devastating was the medical profession's advice to go away and see what happened over the... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Carrie S

5.0 out of 5 stars It's great to feel positive again.....
Having been diagnosed with relapse remission type Multiple Sclerosis in 2001, my neurologist recently recommended that I start a course of Beta Interferon drug therapy. Read more

Published on 27 Feb 2008 by Dani-Grrrl

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound book - empowering for us MSers!
This book is well written, accessible and based on scientific research! It is a balanced account by a medical professional with the genuine ability to understand what it's really... Read more

Published on 1 Feb 2008 by Bryony Forde

5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant book on MS! A must read for anyone with MS or MS in the family
I have read George Jelinek's book (or should I say Bible) on MS and it gives valid hope to anyone who has been diagnosed with the disease. Read more

Published on 11 Jan 2008 by Ms. M. Walter

5.0 out of 5 stars Saving my life
Although not diagnosed yet, believe that I have MS.

Whilst I wait on further neurologist appointment, am taking action NOW. Read more

Published on 29 Aug 2007 by J. Macleod

5.0 out of 5 stars Newly diagnosed - A must!
Easily absorbed facts. This book presents you with balanced arguments and gives understanding when you need it most. Excellent and essential for MS sufferers and their families.

Published on 24 Jan 2007 by Fliss Annan

5.0 out of 5 stars Making Sense of MS
Professor George Jelinek's mother died from MS and this experience drives his impassioned research into this condition. Read more

Published on 2 Dec 2005

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Search Listmania!