Hello to everyone, wherever in the world you are.  If this is your first issue of Journey to Wellness, I warmly welcome you. 

The purpose of the Betty's House...Life After MS website, and this newsletter, is to help all people with Multiple Sclerosis believe that they need not be a victim of MS, but rather that they can be a victor; that they can be "enabled" by their MS rather than "disabled," and that the choice is up to them.  If this concept is new to you, I hope by the time you have finished reading this newsletter you will begin to realize that you too can change. After all, what do you have to lose?  And conversely there is so much to gain! 

It is always my intention that each reader finds something of value in every issue.  I have come to realize that we are an extended family, and I remind each of you that Journey to Wellness is intended to be interactive.  If you have a story of holistic management of MS and you would like to share it, I invite you to send it to me.   Such an article appears below from reader Martha.  I hope you will all be inspired by Martha's story.

Relevant book reviews, recipes, etc., all are welcome.  I never want readers to feel that I think I have all the answers...far from it!  So please feel free to share your story, recipe, food tip for the BBD, or a book review.   And please include your photo if you wish.

    IN THIS ISSUE: 

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______|______|MY VIEW|______|_____|___

As my own experience of MS matures, I seem to be gradually developing somewhat altered views about how to best prevent its natural tendency to progress.  I wish I could tell you that I have learned how to "cure" it.  I have not, but then neither has anyone else!

I still believe that all healing is an "inside job," and comes from the body's own innate healing power.  Today I still recommend DIET, EXERCISE, MEDITATION, and a few important SUPPLEMENTS, but today I place more emphasis on gentle healing exercise than ever before. 

In the first few years after I put up my website I was bombarded by people who lived with MS, and who disagreed with almost everything I practice and teach.  If you have not read my main website in a while, please review the "My Search for Meaning and Answers" and "What I Believe Today About MS."

On occasion I consider re-doing the website, and every time I reach the conclusion that I do not wish to do that because I still believe everything I wrote when the website went up 10 years ago.  I don't know what else I would say if I were rewriting the contents.  Actually that fact is probably the best recommendation there could be for the program I recommend. 

It is very rare indeed for anyone with MS to have achieved the level of success I have in preventing MS from progressing.   In the first website I said that I believed anyone could live a long, healthy life, while dealing with the challenges MS brings.  I believe that even more strongly today than ever. 

I HAVE DONE IT, AND EVERY ONE OF YOU CAN DO IT TO!  Many of you are doing it.  Are you willing to pay the price?  That is the key!  In this month's newsletter I am pleased to share reader Martha's search for answers and her very positive story.  Your search may lead to somewhat different answers, but the important thing is that you continue your search until you find what works for you.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  Again, as I do every month, my thanks and big hugs to all of you who help make this on-line newsletter and Betty's House possible by contributing $15.00 per year.  If you find benefit in Journey to Wellness, contributions may be sent to Iams House, 139 Inner Circle, Davis, CA  95618, or by credit card by calling 530-753-5595.   YOU make the website and this newsletter possible.   Without your help both would disappear.

Please also remember that when you purchase ANYTHING through Amazon.com on the Internet, if you'll use this Betty's House Amazon.com icon you will be helping in a small way to help pay the cost of this newsletter and the Betty's House website.   IT IS AN EASY, PAINLESS WAY THAT ALL CAN HELP.

I personally order from Amazon.com very frequently.   Check out their website using this Amazon.com icon.  You'll be amazed at all the products available there.  They have a lot more than books today, and it really makes for easy, trouble-free shopping.  For all of you who have been shopping using the Betty's House Amazon link, thank you for remembering to do that.   Each order you place using the Betty's House link means a few cents is returned to Betty's House to help pay the monthly fees for the website and publishing fees for this newsletter.  It is not very much, but every little bit helps.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

   ^{THERE IS MAGIC IN OUR BREATH}

Long term Journey to Wellness readers are much aware of my urging everyone to do deep breathing exercises. As my own experience of self-healing matures, I become more and more aware of the power of diaphragm (belly) breathing. At a cursory level it simply relaxes the body...an ideal goal for all of us. It is frequently called a stress-free breath. Experts in the mind-body connection tell us that deep diaphragmatic breathing actually shifts us into a more peaceful frame of mind. It is said that our breath connects our physical world with our spiritual world. I first learned deep breathing to calm myself as a young music student performer. Later in life I learned to use it to overcome insomnia.

It is interesting to note that every major spiritual approach teaches that through the breath we can communicate with our higher self, or whatever we choose to call our spirit nature. I first really understood the healing power of the breath early in my search for ways to reverse my MS. A friend bought for me my first video tape of Tai Chi for Seniors. I was amazed at how much the simple healing Qi Gong exercises, coordinated with deep breathing, helped me. If I had access to a magic genie, and was granted one wish, I believe it would be for everyone of you to experience the power of those very simple exercise/movements. They leave the entire body feeling energized and rejuvenated.

Later I discovered the healing power of yoga when I found Shoosh Crotzer's Yoga for MS routine in the Yoga Journal.  Yoga also emphasizes the breath. Yoga masters have said that the quality of the breath affects the quality of the mind. The next time you are doing the mountain pose, slowly raise both hands straight over your head while you inhale deeply. Then as you bend down deeply from the waist, keeping the legs and back straight, exhale all the air. Then return to a standing position, while bringing your hands into a prayer position. I find if I repeat this breath several times that it is very energizing. And, as Shoosh reminds us, don't forget to smile!

The breath not only is a function of our body's vital energy; the breath moves that energy in our body. That teaching is a vital part of Chinese medicine. After about 12 years of working with the Tai Chi for Seniors routine, I am still amazed at how every fiber of my body feels so energized by the very simple Qi Gong movements when combined with the breath, as well as the simple movements based in acupuncture.

When you are doing either the Yoga for MS routine, or the Tai Chi for Seniors routine, remember that the instructors' directions regarding breathing are vitally important.

SLOGAN OF THE MONTH: "Just Do It!" [borrowed from Nike]

  Codifying our lives

I read a report the other day about how we all seem to have a penchant for lists. It seems that lists help us to codify [think simplify] our lives. It seems that "10 ways...," "100 rules...," "50 must sees...," "10 most important...," really any numerical list in a title almost guarantees that we will read an article or a book.

I thought about why that seems to be true and concluded that psychologically lists help us to organize ideas, goals, etc. Apparently when we can reduce a task or goal to a simple list, it then seems doable. Consciously lacking that knowledge or comprehension, perhaps I was onto something important when I began to relate my life-style approach to the management of MS to a very simple four-step program:

        1] Consistent exercise
        2] Three very important supplements - Vitamin D, Omega 3 oils, and B-12 methylcobolamin
        3] Meditation for stress reduction
        4] Simple diet modification

Are my four steps an oversimplification? Perhaps, but I don't think so. Remember that old adage, which is generally attributed to Henry Ford, "If you think you can you are right, and if you think you can't you are right also." If you think it is simple to make four life-style changes in order to prevent your MS from progressing, then it will be.  Conversely if you think the four steps are difficult, then they will be difficult for you. The first couple of weeks -- while you form new habits -- will be a big of a challenge, but believe me the goal is worth it. Most things we do are out of habit, and we just have to form new, healthier habits, which behavioral experts say takes about two weeks. Once they become a habit the rest is a breeze.

I have been frequently challenged by others who recommend the so-called Best Bet Diet because I believe in keeping it simple. It is my personal belief that given too many rules and "must dos and don'ts" is a sure path to failure. I learned from success guru Zig Zigler many years ago that one should always concentrate on the "dos" and not the "don'ts," the positives and not the negatives. So I followed that theory when I began the Best Bet Diet myself, and when I later began to recommend it to my newsletter readers.

Now, well over 10 years after I began this food plan, I don't believe any of the naysayers have had the kind of success I have had with the program. So I'll keep making and recommending simple, easy-to-follow, lists because I KNOW THEY WORK!! One fellow who has regularly taken me to task on the Internet has been in a wheelchair for years.  As my grandson says "go figure!"

   Bon Appétit
             Healthy Food Tips and Recipes

TEN VEGGIES WE SHOULD HAVE ON HAND (from the Internet)

Speaking of lists, here's a harvest season veggie list from Dr. Andrew Weil, which he recommends we have on hand in our kitchen:

1. Onions:  This classic, pungent vegetable adds flavor to any meal. Allicin, a phytonutrient found in most varieties of onions, may be responsible for its health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

2. Garlic:  This fragrant bulb contains many of the same phytonutrients as onions, as well as antibiotic and antiviral compounds. It may help boost the immune system, prevent colds, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and fight fungal or yeast infections.

3. Spinach:  This dark leafy green (and others like it, such as kale and collards) contains lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidant carotenoids that may help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. Spinach is also a source of calcium and folate, a B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects. Buy organic spinach, since pesticides are commonly used on conventionally grown varieties.

4. Cabbage:  This low-cost yet highly nutritious cruciferous vegetable contains nutrients called indoles, which may protect against both breast and prostate cancer. It also provides significant amounts of fiber and vitamin C.

5. Sweet potatoes:  Rich in beta carotene, these vegetables may help boost the immune system, deliver vitamin C and folate (which may reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent certain birth defects), and are low on the glycemic index and glycemic load charts.

6. Beets:  The deep red color of these root vegetables comes from anthocyanins, phytonutrients that protect against carcinogens and may help prevent heart disease. Beets are delicious hot or cold, versatile, and inexpensive.

7. Squash:  With a wide variety of types, flavors, shapes, and sizes, squash is very versatile - it can even be used in pie! It provides beta carotene, potassium, and fiber, nutrients that are necessary for good overall health.

8. Tomatoes:  This red fruit (often considered a vegetable) contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and some types of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Use tomatoes in everything from salads to sauces, but know that the lycopene is most easily absorbed when the tomatoes are cooked with a little oil.

9. Broccoli:  This vegetable platter classic and other cruciferous vegetables offer cancer-protective benefits. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamin K and calcium - both of which help keep bones strong. It is tasty both raw and cooked, and can be a stand out in soups, casseroles, and salads.

10. Mushrooms:  Prized for their tonic effects, mushrooms can help address a host of illnesses. Maitake mushrooms (known as "hen of the woods" for their resemblance to the fluffed tail feathers of a nesting hen) are particularly valued in Asian cooking, as they have anti-cancer, anti-viral and immune-enhancing properties, and may also reduce blood pressure and blood sugar. Shiitake, enokidake and oyster mushrooms also have immune-boosting qualities, and are easily included in many main courses.

Be sure to print out this list and keep it in your I Can Cookbook.

Chicken Breasts with Glazed Peaches and
Fennel with Corn Muffins in Poblano Peppers

            cooking spray
            1 recipe corn bread muffins (see I Can Cookbook, or use your favorite)
            1/2 c. shredded Mexican cheese blend (optional if you eat cheese)
            1 (7-ounce) jar chopped pimentos
            2 T freshly chopped cilantro leaves
            6 poblano peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
            1 T olive oil
            1/2 c. sliced red onion
            1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
            4 roasted chicken breast halves
            1 (14-ounce) can peaches, undrained
            1 T freshly chopped rosemary leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Prepare corn muffin recipe according to directions, adding cheese, pimentos and cilantro when you add other ingredients. Arrange poblano pepper halves on prepared baking sheet and fill each pepper with an equal amount of corn muffin mix.  You are simply using the peppers as a device to hold the corn muffins.  They are absolutely delicious.  Of course, if you do not care for peppers, just bake your muffins in oiled and/or lined muffin tins.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in 1 muffin comes out clean.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and fennel and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Add chicken, peaches and rosemary and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, until chicken is heated through and sauce thickens.  Serve chicken with poblano corn muffins on the side.

NOTE:  When I prepare many main dishes in my kitchen, I try to make extra for future dinners.  This recipe is a lovely way to use my extra baked chicken breasts.  You may also use the breasts of a supermarket prepared rotisserie chicken.  This recipe is truly an example of being deliciously creative in the kitchen.

My Latest Favorite Sandwich

            Food for Life Sprouted Ezekiel Bread slices, lightly toasted
            Spread with Organic almond butter mixed with honey to taste

Enjoy.  This makes a great lunch with fresh raw veggie sticks or fresh fruit on the side.

   Featured Exercise Videos and Books

^{I absolutely do not believe that one can prevent the tendency of MS to progress without a consistent gentle stretching and deep breathing exercise program.  In addition one of the worst aspects of MS, acute fatigue, responds very positively to exercise.  Such a deal!  And it really doesn't matter what level of disability one has.  Many exercises can be done either standing, seated, or lying down.  And deep breathing -- which is so essential -- can be done any time and any where.}

Are you listening to Your Body? It is always talking to you!

In the Tai Chi for Seniors video Mark Johnson says, "Learning to listen to your body is a great skill to have." I have often written that we tend to ignore what our body is saying to us unless it is hitting us over the head with a headache, or a stomach ache, or other pain somewhere in our body, or perhaps we are feeling a little light headed. Sometimes we just don't feel exactly right.  Actually, our body is talking to us all the time, but most of the time we don't listen. It "talks" to us with feelings.

One of the skills I have worked to develop is listening to my body. I really developed that skill through Qi Gong. Remember that Qi Gong works by moving the energy in our body. The Chinese believe that dis-ease of any kind in our body is brought about by blockages in the natural flow of our vital life force which they call chi (chee). In recent issues we have discussed "energy medicine." I truly believe that it is the medicine of the future. You might wish to review that section of the August issue. Your body's own energy is the essence of who you are. It is what gives us life. I have recently been studying and learning to work more effectively with my own energy. By developing that skill you can learn to recognize blockages in your own energy field. It requires a two-way connection between your body and your spirit (energy), which is connected to the whole universal energy which flows through every one and every thing.

This month's issue features the story of reader Martha. She works with two different energy healing approaches, Reiki and Quantum Touch, to help her body overcome her multiple sclerosis. I had worked with Reiki for several years myself, both before and after diagnosis with MS, but had discontinued it in favor of Qi Gong. Quantum Touch was new to me, and on Martha's recommendation I ordered the books and have begun to study the system and hopefully to learn to work with it. Meanwhile I am delighted to share with you Martha's story in Journey to Wellness this month.

As you read Martha's story, please remember that all healing is self-healing, and you can do it too!

Spotlight on Incontinence

One of the challenges MS creates for most of us is incontinence in some form. The newly released Fall 2007 Multiple Sclerosis Quarterly Report (MSQR) includes an excellent and very extensive report on dealing with this "unmentionable" problem. I learned quite a bit more about MS-related incontinence than I had known before.

It seems that greater than 90% of people who have had MS for 10 or more years have a problem with incontinence. The MSQR report indicates that neurological incontinence falls into two primary categories:

Failure to Store:
        Small volume bladder
        Spastic bladder muscle
        Urgency/frequency common
Failure to Empty:
        Flaccid bladder muscle
        High post void residual urine volume

Failure to Empty due to DSD (detrusor sphincter dysenergia) is not common in MS, more often seen in paraplegic men.

This very comprehensive report is available on the Internet at:

http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/2007/08/17/understanding-and-managing-the-bladder-problems-that-accompany-ms/

This is a very long link and for some it may not work. In that case just go to

1] www.unitedspional.org/publications/msqr

2] Then click on "latest issue" and then you'll see:

            Understanding and Managing the Bladder Problems that Accompany MS. Click on that
            heading and it will lead you to the article.

The primary message that I want you to get is that there are solutions for every one of us -- and I include myself in "us" --so that we need never be embarrassed or isolated because we have an incontinence problem.

Subscriber Martha's Remarkable Story

Hi Betty!

I love your newsletter and read it every month. I would like to suggest a mind/body/energy medicine technique called Quantum Touch. I learned it 2-3 yrs ago and find it tremendously helpful in relieving stiffness, fatigue and joint pain. It combines breathing and body awareness exercises.  It takes about 5 minutes to learn and can be learned from the book "Quantum Touch The Power to Heal" by Richard Gordon. I personally use QT every day and find the technique itself to be "joy-inspiring". There is a video link on the website, www.quantumtouch.com, that demonstrates the technique and explains it. You should explore the whole site as well. Lots of good info and healing stories.

The technique is similar to yoga and Qi Gong in that its draws prana or life force energy into the body and directs it thru the practitioner's hands. Fundamental to the practice is the belief that the person is him or herself the HEALER, not anyone else.  Intention is the key. Once you start to do QT, you find out exactly how powerful your mind is! I use it all the time in conjunction w/diet and find that it has done more for me than any medication.  Feeling good is the only side effect!!!!

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email me! /S/ Martha

Hello Martha,

How nice to hear from you. I will explore the Quantum Touch website today. One of the things Mark Johnson teaches on the Tai Chi for Seniors video routine is that we all have healing energy in our hands, but that for the most part it goes untapped. Qi Gong also teaches that the hands and feet are gateways to the body, through which we draw chi into our body. I think reflexology (hands and feet) has some basis in that theory. As you know I firmly believe that all healing is self-healing, and also that "energy medicine," activating that healer within, is THE medicine of the future. Thanks again so much for sharing.

I will also quote your letter in the October newsletter, if that meets with your approval. I'd love to feature your story along with your recommendation for Quantum Touch. If you would like to do that, then just send it along, and include a photo if you have one on your computer.

Here is Martha's story as she wrote it.

   My journey w/MS began in 1988 when I was 19 and a sophomore at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. It was a beautiful fall in the Northeast and the leaves were an explosion of brilliant color. Over the course of a week or two, I began to notice that there was a white mist that covered the entire visual field of my left eye. An MRI revealed an inflamed optic nerve but thankfully no brain tumor which was the primary concern. The neurologist said she could give me steroids , an idea that I soundly rejected. At least it was not diabetic retinopathy. I had been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 7 years. I don’t remember any mention of MS. On with my life I went and finished college in 1991. I had no more relapses for 3 years. My left leg had some superficial tactile numbness but no weakness. Nothing big I thought but the notion that this may be MS had crept insidiously into my mind and took root.

After nursing school, I got married and started work as an RN. Over the course of the next 6 years, my relapses occurred at least once a year, sometimes twice. I began to refer to them as "diabetic neuritis" both in my mind and to others. No such medical term exists that I am aware of. Isn’t denial a powerful thing? I was an experienced RN after all! A year after the birth of my second son, I had another bout of optic neuritis . This time it affected both eyes and was followed by a significant relapse six months later that left my entire body numb from the neck down. My doctor had been trying to convince me to pursue testing up to this point. She already knew what I was about to find out (and what I already knew in my heart.) The MRI showed typical MS lesions. Not many, but enough to validate what I had already experienced in terms of symptoms. The diagnosis of MS entered my conscious awareness and was further validated by a neurologist. Slight panic set in but I did feel some sense of control when I started one of the MS drugs soon after.

The next year, my husband’s job took all of us to California. My boys were 3 and 2 by that time and could appreciate the warmth of the San Diego sunshine! After we moved, I began a job as a Hospice RN Case Manager. At this point I was still taking Copaxone and relapsed badly in spite of it, the second year we were in CA. Now I was numb from the neck down and this time, I had weakness in both hands and both legs. I had trouble walking and was quite tired. I recovered within a month or so but had residual stiffness in my right knee.

My odyssey into energy medicine began when I noticed a signup sheet for a Healing Touch session given by one of our Hospice volunteers. I went with some skepticism and a VERY stiff right leg/knee and emerged from the session with no stiffness AT ALL (which lasted for five days) and a strong belief in the promise of energy medicine and the relief that it can bring. I continued to access modalities like healing touch and Reiki for symptom relief on a regular basis. I decided to stop the Copaxone and manage my dis-ease with diet and meditation. I became a Reiki Master/Teacher. In 2005, I went to my first Quantum Touch workshop and felt immediate relief from the pain and stiffness I had in my knees. I practice QT and Reiki on a daily basis along with dietary modifications and meditation to control symptoms and have been free of relapses for the last two years. I love QT for its extreme simplicity, and the very significant positive effects, both physically and emotionally.

I strongly believe in the promise that modalities like QT have for persons with so-called "incurable diseases" like MS. They provide a wonderful complimentary adjuvant to traditional Western Medicine. I do not advocate stopping treatment (as I did) but strongly suggest utilizing these modalities in conjunction with Western Medicine. I have taught my 3 kids almost everything I know and hope they will never suffer as I did. I truly believe that my MS has had a purpose. Without it, I probably never would have learned Quantum Touch and Reiki and would not be able to offer my testimonial to the relief it CAN bring. Nor would I have experienced the tremendous spiritual growth I have experienced so far.

Thank you Martha for sharing your story. It is truly inspiring.  I'll do a follow-up report on my own experiences with Quantum Touch in a future issue.

MORE FROM MY MAILBOX

Hi Betty,

I just read the May/June issue of the newsletter. I am way behind in everything due to my husband's diagnosis of lung cancer in July. So first I need to wish you continued healing concerning Kevin. It has to be the hardest thing in a person's life to lose a child. My best wishes, Sweetie.

Next thing is a comment about the letter from the person who wrote in that issue about horses and riding therapy. When I was first diagnosed and had the obligatory optic problems, I had to wear a patch for a few months. It did throw off my depth perception, but I didn't stop riding my horses. In fact, I had just got a wonderful horse the fall before diagnosis, so I put my complete trust in him and rode a lot. There is just no way to express what good a person gets out of riding. If anyone is looking for a way to do some exercises that free up the muscles riding is it. My friend who lives in Florida and has MS just started riding at the therapy riding there. She loves it and feels so much better when she rides. She has progressed to being barely mobile now, but riding makes her feel great. So I just wanted to second that opinion about riding. I know it's easy for me because I have my own horses, but those who don't own one can probably find a horse therapy program nearby.

And also I wanted to respond to the letter about flax seed to help regularity. I swear by it. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, as I'm sure you know. Yes, it's kind of thick when taken in the one fourth cup recommendation, but if put in juice it's easier to drink. That's just another of my opinions.

Anyway, thanks for the newsletter. It's always a good source of information and inspiration. Hope you're doing well! I look forward to catching up. Miraculously enough, I have been feeling pretty well through all this - cancer treatments, long trips (200 miles a day) for the 35 radiation treatments, and now Gene's very slow recovery from everything, and his retirement. /S/ Julie

Hello Julie,

Thanks for your lovely note. I was sad to learn of your husband's lung cancer diagnosis. My daughter-in-law Christine and grandson Zachary join me in wishing you and your husband the best. Please read the article in the September newsletter about Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez in New York City. There is an interview with him which is linked in that issue. He has great success treating cancer. We learned about him too late in Kevin's cancer journey, but since it is soon after your husband's diagnosis I strongly urge you to contact Dr. Gonzalez.

Thanks for the information you passed along about horse riding therapy, flax seed to help regularity, etc. Your note is a lovely example of the interaction that I always hope for between readers. I will share it with other subscribers.

All the best to you and Gene for his continued recovery. I so remember the challenge Chris faced in getting Kevin to his daily weeks of radiation. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to go 200 miles! I pray for strength for you.  In love and light.

  ^{Hello Betty,}

^{Thanks for all you do for those of us who live with MS.  Your positive you-can-do-it attitude is a breath of fresh air compared to all the negativity I hear from my doctors.  Thanks so much for encouraging me to get on an exercise program.  You are absolutely right.  If it didn't do anything else but make me feel better, it would be worth doing.  But there are so many positive side effects -- less fatigue, stronger legs, better balance, the list goes on and on.  I do the Tai Chi for Seniors program every day, and Yoga for MS 3 or 4 times a week.  Keep up the good work.  /S/ Charlie}

^{Thanks for your note Charlie.  EXERCISE WORKS!!!}

MS Research News

FDAnews Drug Daily Bulletin
Sept. 24, 2007 | Vol. 4 No. 187

Study Highlights Disease Rebound Effects From Tysabri

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with Biogen Idec/Elan’s Tysabri may experience significant increases in disease activity after they stop using the drug, according to a study published in the online edition of Neurology.

According to study author Machteld Vellinga, a physician with the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, data from 23 patients who participated in registrational studies for Tysabri (natalizumab) in MS suggest that subjects developed new and enlarging T2 lesions following discontinuation of the treatment, an effect known as rebound. It appeared only to occur in patients exposed to the product for a short period of time. The VU University Medical Center was a clinical trial site used during studies for the drug.

In response to the study, Biogen said it was not planning to study this issue further as clinical studies for Tysabri did not show evidence of disease rebound upon discontinuation of the drug.

- 0 -

I find it very interesting that big pharma and in the U.S. the F.D.A. continue to snub their nose at unfavorable reports on the effects of their drugs. 

REPORTS AVAILABLE: If you would like to receive my report on recommended supplements, or my meditation for everyone report, just put "Report Please" in the subject of an e-mail and tell me which report you would like to receive.

If there is a particular topic or topics you would like to see us explore in future issues, please share those ideas with me.

That's it for this issue.  I hope you are all having a lovely fall (of course it is springtime for our many subscribers down under) wherever you are.  May the blessings of the Universe be yours. 

Big {{{{hugs}}}} to all.

Betty