ALS

Background

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Symptoms include muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing.

The cause is unknown, but because of the severity of the illness, I often recommend going after possible underlying viral infections or toxins.

Unlike some medical conditions, the medical establishment approach to ALS is reasonable, and the people involved in both research and academics are often excellent. Some very promising research areas are being explored.

Treatments

Therapies & Advice

Consider hidden infections

Consider  IgG and IgM blood tests for HHV6 and CMV viral infections. If either IgM is positive, or the IgG for HHV6 virus is 1:640 or higher, or the CMV IgG is 4 or more, consider a 6 month therapeutic trial of the antiviral Valcyte.

IV ozone treatments are being explored and may help stabilize symptoms if used early.

Doxycycline antibiotics were harmful in one ALS study, but another promising study is looking at the antibiotic ceftriaxone (for its nerve protecting effects).

Detoxification

See a holistic M.D. to look for heavy metal toxicity and consider EDTA chelation.

Recommended Supplements

Multivitamin powder

Take a good multivitamin powder to decrease spasticity, improve energy, and protect brain function.

Lithium

Lithium 10 mg 1-2x day for its brain protective properties (found online and in some health food stores). Prescription lithium carbonate 300 mg has 30 mg of lithium a tab (so take 1/3 of a tab 1-2x day).

Other Therapies & Advice

Find a health practitioner

Your neurologist will be able to guide you on standard care. For a holistic physician near you, visit the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Then do a phone consultation with Dr. David Perlmutter of BrainRecovery.com who can guide your holistic physician.

Low-dose naltrexone

This may be helpful for many autoimmune illnesses. See www.LowDoseNaltrexone.org for more information on this fascinating, safe and low-cost treatment.

PEA

Research is mounting that for neurodegenerative diseases in general, especially in the presence of chronic pain, a supplement called PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) 600 mg a day can be quite remarkable in both decreasing pain and regenerating nerve and brain cells. It takes three months to start seeing the effect however, so give it time.