Cannabis Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

Possible Links Between Endothelial Health and MS

Possible Links Between Endothelial Health and MS

If you or a loved one suffers from MS, you know how debilitating, painful, and incapacitating that condition can be.  Consequently, every new development and treatment in the field has the potential to bring real change to the lives of those affected with the condition.  Recent studies have been indicating possible links between endothelial health and MS.  Let’s take a look at this possible link, and the implications.

First, you have to start with a basic understanding of endothelial health, as well as how the mechanism of that physical system intersects with the pathology of MS.  We will start with multiple sclerosis; as you are likely already aware, MS itself is a condition in which the coverings of nerve cells are damaged, impacting their ability to communicate properly.

The endothelial system, on the other hand, is the protective system of your body’s circulatory system.  Much how the nerves have ‘coverings’ which are damaged to cause MS in the first place, your circulatory pathways are protected by endothelial cells, which  line the insides of your veins, capillaries, and arteries.

Until fairly recently, endothelial health was not even recognized as something important to a body.  The endothelia were thought of as being relatively inert, simply there to protect the circulatory cells.  This all changed when people began to realize that endothelial health plays an integral role in the circulatory and endocrine systems themselves.  Within a circulatory context, endothelial health is responsible for regulating your blood pressure, coagulation, and several other incredible important functions.  Within the context of hormones, the 60,000 cumulative miles of endothelial cells within your body are extremely important for the secretion of enzymes, hormones, and other chemical compounds.

So how do the two systems tie together?

Usually, it will start with a person causing damage to their endothelial health.  This can either be due to genetic factors or lifestyle choices (stress, eating bad fat, sleep deprivation, and more all can cause endothelial damage).  Once damaged, this leads to an imbalance in your nitric oxide levels, which then can impact the endothelial signaling inside your body.  At that point, it then disrupts the circulatory and endocrine systems, and it is these larger systemic disruptions that can aggravate MS.

Taking care of your endothelial health can offer many benefits; not only will you reduce the risk of developing numerous medical conditions such as MS, but you will also make reduce the risk of heart disease and blood pressure issues at the same time.

Multiple sclerosis, death and assisted suicide

http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/trevis-gleason-life-with-multiple-sclerosis/a-discussion-beyond-death-and-multiple-sclerosis/?xid=aol_eh-ms_6_20130805_&aolcat=AJA&icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl9%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D356021
 MS & death

MS and Marijuana

As quoted from the article below (see full link)

 

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Medical Marijuana

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the patient's myelin, a substance that serves as a barrier around nerve fibers in the central nervous ystem. The damaged myelin turns into scar tissue, also known as sclerosisMS patients may experience mild, moderate, or severe multiple sclerosis symptoms, and may also experience both relapses and remissions throughout the course of the disease. Multiple Sclerosis patients may benefit from using medical marijuana both for the relief of Multiple Sclerosis symptoms and in hopes of slowing the degeneration of the central nervous system.

http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/uses-and-treatments/multiple-sclerosis/

BG12(tecfidera), So Im swallowing sofa cleaner??

Tecfidera/BG-12 – Newly Approved Treatment for MS

If you or a loved one suffers from multiple sclerosis, you should take a look at a new drug called Tecfidera.  This is a new iteration of a drug known as BG-12 (scientific name dimethyl fumarate); it is classified as a fumaric acid ester, and was banned in the United Stated until recently.

The reason for this ban was that the chemical was previously employed as a fungicide to treat upholstery.  It had side effects that caused burn-like allergic reactions, which led to it getting pulled from the market.  Other reported side effects include gastrointestinal issues (reported by nearly 60% of patients), and more rarely, development of PML.

However, new tests indicate that the drug’s therapeutic effects regarding MS may outweigh any side effects the compound causes.  These tests indicate that BG-12 acts as an Nrf2 signaling pathway; in layman’s’ terms this means that it is similar to fighting fire with fire.  It encourages your body to secrete enzymes meant to fight oxidative changes and stresses in your body, and consequently has a muting effect on the immune system.

While more study is definitely required, if you suffer from severe multiple sclerosis, discuss this new treatment with your doctor and see if this therapy would possibly be a good fit .

Small Study Suggests Possible Benefit for Skin Patch to Reduce Immune Activity in Multiple Sclerosis : National MS Society

Small Study Suggests Possible Benefit for Skin Patch to Reduce Immune Activity in Multiple Sclerosis : National MS Society

Why All-Natural Health Products Are Superior

Why All-Natural Health Products Are Superior

If you follow medical news, you’re aware of the vast array of supplements available on the market designed to promote good health.  However, not all products are created equal, and there is growing evidence that suggests supplements composed entirely of all-natural products are far superior over the long term to those that contain manufactured pharmaceutical ingredients, for several reasons.  Let’s take a look at a few examples which illustrate this advantage:

·         Personal Health and Hygiene Products – Think of things like skin creams, moisturizers, even shampoo and conditioner products.  You see how many of them advertise that they are chemical and odor free these days?  This isn’t a coincidence; people are aware that additives to these products designed to be applied to your skin can easily cause rashes, irritation, or even allergic reactions in some people.  Chemical free and natural is the quite obviously the way to go when buying these products.

·         Hormone-disrupting Substances – Another class of substances that was in heavy use in health products are called phthalates.  This is a particular kind of plasticizing agent, commonly used as coating for pills, tablets, and other products which are ingested.  Other industry uses for the chemicals?  Industrial lubricants, emulsifiers, detergents, glues, paint, and more.  Sounds exactly like something you want to put into your body, doesn’t it?  Tallow is another example here; the parabins used in deodorant have been linked to alarming rates of cancer development in laboratory animals.

·         Anti-oxidants and ORAC Scale Rating – Health products which use all natural substances are often rich in anti-oxidants, the benefits of which are well-known.  They also tend to have higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (otherwise known as their ORAC rating or value); this means that your body is better able to process and absorb the nutrients and valuable supplements.  Manufactured products tend to have low values on this scale, which means that most of the beneficial vitamins and nutrients end up in your bladder, expelled in your urine; not where you want them to be!

Remember, this list is hardly exclusive of all the benefits natural health products offer!  Products based on natural herbs often are significantly better for you from a nutritional standpoint as well, and can carry heavy doses of the everyday vitamins you need the most of, such as vitamins B, C, and D.  So the next time you’re buying health products, buy natural, botanical, vegan, or PETA certified products; your body will thank you.