My wish for each and every one of my Journey to Wellness readers
is for a Lovely and Happy Holiday Season,
surrounded by all those you love.
And please remember to say "I love you" often
as you celebrate in whatever way is appropriate for your family.

This month's newsletter includes the usual topics that as always I hope are helpful to you. Be sure to try the "Yum Yum Chocolate Cake." It is a very healthy reduced calorie and fat version, and is absolutely delicious. If you love chocolate as I do, I guarantee you will have a new favorite! There's also some excellent food selection advice from Dr. Weil.

There's a sleeping tip from one of my favorite Qi Gong masters, the usual "From my Mail Box" featuring some interesting exchanges of correspondence with readers, and important and informative MS research news.

   ARE YOU TEACHABLE?

One of my favorite quotes is:

"It takes two to speak the truth -
one to speak, and another to hear."
                                                                                           - Thoreau

In response to an e-mail I received recently, I have been considering why the natural lifestyle approach works for some but not for others. First I believe it can work for everyone, but not everyone will accept its premise and consistently put it into practice.

Over the years I have often considered why that is. One thing that keeps surfacing for me is a very key word, and that is "teachable."  I really believe that when a newly diagnosed person finds me on the Internet and contacts me, if they are teachable they will be successful.

What determines whether or not we are teachable? First I'd say that everyone can be teachable, because we can all change if need be. Our belief system is a factor, but if we can accept that we ourselves hold the key, and that the human body is designed to be self-healing, we will be successful. With that foundation in place - and all the above may be learned - we are on our way to self-healing.  Incidentally, we do not have to understand how it works to accept the premise that IT DOES work.

                                "Even a born pessimist can learn to change"
                                                                           - Dr. Ranit Mishori

For those of you who have the book I wrote in 1997, From MS to Wellness, you know my definition of healing. That is, changing whatever we need to change. I do not interpret healing as some airy-fairy otherworldly event.

I am often asked for more information about my contention that our body is designed to be self-healing. All we have to do is look at how our body works to see it in action. We have an immune response, which simply means that the body has a built-in approach to physical healing. We can see it in action when we injury ourselves, like a skinned knee, or a simple cut on a finger. When that wound festers, that "white stuff" is cells sent to the wound by our immune response to heal it.

I do not and have never believed that the body attacks itself. That belief is counter to everything in nature. Our immune response is our body's best friend, not our enemy. During my adult lifetime gradually allopathic medicine has theorized that almost every degenerative physical disorder is so-called autoimmune, and that the body's immune "system" literally attacks various parts of the body. That theory has been the basis for all the recommended drugs for MS.

Young doctors are trained today to accept the autoimmune theory for almost every dis-ease, and that there are drugs to counter that process. Of course all those drugs, so widely touted by the mega drug houses, are extremely expensive, and that drug cost is a major contributor to the world-wide health care problem.

I salute physicians like the "You Docs," Dr. Memmet Oz and Dr. Michael Rozen, Dr. Christine Northrup, and Dr. Andrew Weil, for their attempts to encourage healthy lifestyle changes.  Of course there are many others too numerous to name here.

I find it interesting that the very latest MS research is tending to support my contention. I believe our modern lifestyle hinders our body's self-healing ability, and everything I have done to halt my own MS has been directed to supporting my body's immune response. As a result I am almost never sick. I don't even get so-called A repeat of Twitter instructions common colds. The only physical challenges I have are age-related.  DARN IT, I DON'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION TO AGING!!

What is it that hinders our teach ability? Today most young people have been raised in a period when they have been taught that doctors hold the key to health, and that whatever health challenges they may develop their doctors will have an answer for. All you have to do is read the statistics to know that is not true. Instead we all need to look at our lifestyle - the food we eat, the amount of exercise we get, our stress level, etc., to find the answers.

I also find it interesting that after all the huge mountain of research about the importance of high levels of vitamin D we all need to take in order to have a healthy immune response, that knowledge is totally opposed to the theory that all the MS drugs are based upon. That is that the body's so-called immune system is "overactive" and attacks the myelin. Most knowledgeable and up-to-date neurologists are today recommending high levels of Vitamin D for MS.

There is a lot of information available today about the efficacy of Vitamin D as both a preventive and treatment source for MS as well as many other disorders.  I suggest that everyone become their own health advocate.

One other thing I want to stress again is that I do not consider that I have "cured" my MS. And I don't believe anyone else has cured it either. I believe that I have just been able to help my body stop the neurological process responsible for MS. One day researchers will find the answers to what causes that process. When they do we will have the answers to what in our lifestyle is responsible for many of the debilitating dis-eases our society faces.

There is so much more that could be said about this subject. I invite all of you to contribute to this discussion. Let me hear from you and I'll include your responses in a future newsletter.

  Bon Appétit - Healthy Food Tips and Recipes 

Here's a great Holiday Salad. Enjoy.

WINTER SALAD WITH CRANBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1/4 c. fresh cranberries
1/4c. Balsamic vinegar
1 T chopped onion
1 T honey
1/4 c. olive oil
1 head lettuce washed (or one bag washed greens of your choice)
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 few thin slices of onion
1/4 c. pecan halves

Wash and pick over cranberries. Puree in food processor or blender until smooth. Add vinegar and honey and process briefly. With processor running, gradually add oil and process until emulsified.

Place pecans in a heavy or cast iron skillet over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until toasted, about 10 minutes. Combine greens, apples, onions, pecans and toss with just enough dressing to coat.

PEAR BUTTER

I stumbled on this recipe on the Internet and absolutely love it. Pears are plentiful this time of the year, and so healthy and full of naturally sweet flavor.  In addition the fragrance emanating from your kitchen while you are cooking this pear butter is wonderful.  Another plus, this spread has only about 25 calories per generous spread serving. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

4 ripe but firm Bartlett pears (1-1 1/4 pounds), peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks
3/4 c pear nectar

Place pears and pear nectar in a heavy medium saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pears are very tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on the ripeness of the pears.

Mash the pears with a potato masher. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the puree has cooked down to a thick mass (somewhat thicker than applesauce), 20 to 30 minutes. Stir almost constantly toward the end of cooking.  Scrape the pear butter into a bowl or storage container and let cool.

Note:  How long you choose to cook the pears after mashing them will determine how thick the mixture gets. Try it in a compote dish layered with vanilla or plain yogurt and sprinkled with chopped nuts of your choice. It makes either a lovely snack or light dessert. This spread is so versatile that it makes a lovely hors d'oeuvre when mixed with cream cheese and spread on crackers or cocktail toasted bread. You get the idea . . . You'll come up with all kinds of uses for this seasonal flavorful spread. I have even added rum to the spread to spike the flavor.

Note 2: I had to search a little to find the pear nectar, but did find it at a local health food store.  If you happen to have a pear tree, you are in luck!

YUM YUM CHOCOLATE CAKE

Here's another great recipe from the Internet. I check in frequently with the Hungry Girl site since the lady behind this site was a guest on Rachel Ray. This luscious cake was a recent feature. Don't be thrown off by the ingredients . . . Trust me, it tastes like a delightful, rich brownie, and there is no hint of pumpkin flavor at all.  I have been serving it to all my friends and everyone wants the recipe when they learn how easy it is. If you want it to be a little sweeter, sift a little powdered sugar on top, or top it with a little whipped cream or imitation topping. I like it just plain. I baked mine in a 10" Pyrex pie plate, and sliced it in pie-shaped wedges. Incidentally in my oven it took a little over 30 minutes. Another tip - it keeps beautifully in your refrigerator for several days, and I have frozen individually wrapped wedges and it stayed lovely for several weeks.

Ingredients:

One 18.25-oz. box devil's food cake mix
One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the two ingredients together in a bowl. [Do not add anything else that may be mentioned on the box, such as eggs, oil, or water.] The mixture will be very thick, so you might be tempted to add in other things to make the batter smoother. Do NOT do this!  Just keep on stirring until completely mixed.

Transfer batter to a 9-inch cake pan sprayed with nonstick spray, and smooth out the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Place pan in the oven, and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow to cool, and then cut into 12 slices. Enjoy!

Great Food Advice from Dr. Andrew Weil

I quote Dr. Weil a lot, I know, but he is certainly a tremendous source of information on natural health. Here is an excellent tip he recently shared.

A healthy kitchen promotes variety, especially when it comes to vegetables. For optimum health, keep your pantry stocked with produce that covers the whole spectrum of colors, including the following:

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.

Sleep Tip: Before going to sleep, massage your feet. Just use your thumbs to massage along the bottoms of your feet, over the arches, near the toes, or anywhere else for several minutes. It’s also great if you can get someone to do this for you. According to Chinese medicine, there are pressure points here that encourage restful sleep by clearing mental tension so you can "let go" for deep, refreshing rest. Then, enjoy sweet dreams!

This is a delightful way to drift off to sleep. Try it and you'll be convinced!

While I know it is challenging to learn a new way of doing things, especially when we don't understand exactly how they work, please, please follow my instructions and sign up to receive an e-mail when I post a "tweet (message)" that a new issue of the newsletter has been placed at Betty's House. You will not be opening the door to any other messages, unless you specifically authorize that. I certainly do not want to lose contact with any of you.

Here are the instructions for receiving e-mails from me about new issues of the newsletter being in place:

Go to www.twitter.com/iamshouse. On the right hand column the last item says "RSS feed of Iamshouse's tweets." Click on that link and follow instructions. That is all there is to it. Of course you can always just go to www.BettysHouseLifeAfterMS.com and click on the link to the latest issue of Journey to Wellness.

I am also proud of my new blog at www.BettysHouseNaturalHealth.blogspot.com. I have long wanted to extend my philosophy of self-healing to include physical challenges other than MS, and this is my first effort to do that. Check it out and tell me what you think.

  Connecting with Your Source

Meditation is a wonderful way to defeat stress, as well as to connect with your inner self.  But for those of you who have not yet established meditation is a regular routine, may I urge you to please just set aside 10 minutes . . . everyone can find 10 minutes of quiet time every day! Establish a "special place" for your quiet time, and a special time of day that works for you. While seated, just simply take a few long, slow deep breaths, followed by sitting quietly.

That's it - just sit quietly for 10 relaxing minutes. And please do not say you don't have time . . . MAKE TIME! The more familiar you become with that "delicious," relaxed feeling, the more you will develop a relationship with the healer within, the innate source of all life, the energy that powers every cell of your body. Feel the peace, feel the wonder, as you connect with who you are!

Famed spiritual teacher and medical intuitive, Caroline Myss PhD, reminds us that "A person has to be still and present to sense the energy field of our spirit."

   FROM MY MAILBOX

  Dear Betty,

   . . . I am so in agreement about your constant reference to self-healing and, whilst I am here, must tell you how delighted I am with the difference Chi Kung has made to my well being. It is nearly two years since I began a daily routine - at your excellent (newsletter) suggestion, and I wouldn't be without it now.

Also, just for interest, Betty, I decided I wanted to do something more about weakness in my arms and legs - although much improved since starting the Chi Kung there was still a way to go with my left arm.

I refused to believe I couldn't make them stronger - got to have that attitude, haven't we?

So, I bought a selection of weights, but being unsure how best to go about it I talked to my acupuncturist/Chinese medicine guy, and it turns out he has years of experience in weigh lifting, so kindly put together a programme for me to follow, focusing specifically on the areas I wanted to strengthen. It's been around six months now and I am as delighted with these results as with the Chi Kung, as the weights are building on the core strength I gained from that.

I do a 30 minute programme every other day (must leave a 'resting' day in between for the muscle fibres to grow) and have now regained much of the strength in my left arm that was formerly missing, to say nothing of general body strength and vitality. I began with quite light weights but have increased them as I become stronger - it is so satisfying to put aside a small one and reach for the heavier. I have only just started working on my legs - they're pretty good anyway, but again I showed a slight limp in my left leg and felt sure I could do better. I do squats now - you can probably visualize how they go. Only a few at the moment, but after a couple of weeks I was able to increase the number, so I know they're working.

I wanted to let you know how much difference you make to those of us who pay attention, and who knows, maybe weightlifting is something others may like to try. But nevertheless, it works for me. . . /S/ Ann L. (from the U.K.)

Hello Ann,

How nice to hear from you. . . I'm so glad that you have become an advocate for Qi Gong (chi Kung). I can't imagine my day without it. There is another great and easy Qi Gong for Seniors DVD by Lee Holden. I found it about a year ago and I do it the last half hour before I go to sleep at night. It is an incredible moving meditation. You can do the entire program either standing or seated. Unfortunately I cannot feature it at my website because Mr. Holden has an exclusive distribution arrangement with Public Broadcasting in the U.S. and he is the only one who can sell it at his website. Take a look at it: www.ExercisetoHeal.com I highly recommend it.  Actually I sometimes see a Google Ad for this DVD at my blog site.

Good for you that you have discovered lifting weights to build arm and leg strength. I probably don't talk about that enough. I do the sitting then standing up, from one to the other rapidly, for leg strength, about 50 or more reps. I also find that the floor part of the Yoga for MS DVD - where you lie on the floor with your feet in a sofa and your fanny against the front of the sofa - an excellent way to build leg strength. That also builds "core" strength so it helps with walking and bladder and bowel control.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I really know that exercise works, but it is nice to feature validation from others.  And thanks also for including your lovely photo.

  Hi Betty

I am sure you have probably heard about this already but just in case you haven't. Some exciting news coming out of Italy on the fight against MS:  (See the link Rebecca gave in t he research report below.)  /s/ Rebecca C.

Thanks Rebecca for sending along this reference.  I received the story from many sources.  Check out the interesting article about it in the Research news below.  Thanks again for sharing.  This is certainly interesting research.  We'll be following it closely.

  Hello Betty

I just received my Tai Chi/Qi Gong for Seniors and Yoga for MS DVD programs.  I feel like a kid in a candy store!  Thanks also for the gift of your From MS to Wellness book.  Thank you for motivating me to finally get started on an exercise program.  I'll keep you informed of my progress.  I have already benefited by doing the simple exercises you frequently include in the newsletter.  Please keep up the good work.  We need you!  /s/ George H. (New Zealand)

Thanks for your note George.  I appreciate your confidence.  The longer I practice my own program -- and believe me, I do everything I recommend, every day -- the more convinced I am that exercise holds the key to overcoming much of the debilitating effects of of MS. 

   MS Research News

AN IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP From the National MS Society, Oct 06, 2009 (see last month's newsletter)

Research into Blood Flow in the Brain and Venous Insufficiency, or CCSVI, in MS

A few recent reports have revived ages-old speculation about a possible dysfunction of brain blood flow and/or drainage in individuals who have MS. For example, one study involving 65 people with different types of MS compared with 235 people who were healthy or had other neurological disorders, a strong relationship was found between MS and signs of venous insufficiency – suggesting that blood drainage by veins may be blocked, causing or contributing to nerve tissue damage. This study, by Paulo Zamboni, MD (University of Ferrara - Ferrara, Italy) and colleagues, was published in the June 2009 (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009; 80:392-399). If confirmed, these findings may open up new research avenues into the underlying pathology of MS. Further research is now underway.

The idea that MS may involve a problem in blood circulation was an early idea that was eventually dismissed as more research suggested that immune-system attacks and inflammation played a pivotal role in the damage to nervous system tissues. A few recent studies have posed the idea that lower blood flow in the brain might contribute to nervous system damage.

In the recent study by Dr. Zamboni and colleagues, they screened for abnormalities of blood outflow in major veins draining from the brain to the heart in 65 people with different types of MS, compared with 235 people who were either healthy or who had other neurological disorders. They used sophisticated sonography techniques to detect abnormalities of vein drainage. The investigators found significant evidence of slowed and obstructed drainage in the veins draining the brain in many of those with MS. They also found evidence of the opening of "substitute circles" – where the flow is deviated to smaller vessels to bypass obstructions, and these were often found to have reverse flow (reflux) of blood back into the brain.

The investigators called this venous obstruction "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency," or CCSVI. The treatment status of the people with MS did not appear to influence whether they showed signs of CCSVI. The authors speculate that the reverse flow of blood back into the brain might set off the inflammation and immune-mediated damage that has been well described in MS.

If confirmed, these findings may open up new research avenues into the underlying pathology of MS, and further research is now underway. One study getting underway was described at the 2009 ECTRIMS meeting in September. It involves a collaboration between researchers in Italy, Buffalo (NY) and Birmingham (AL) who are attempting to treat venous obstruction in 16 individuals using balloon dilation such as has been used for many years to treat blocked arteries.

Many questions remain about how and when this phenomenon might play a role in nervous system damage seen in MS, and at the present time there is insufficient evidence to suggest that this phenomenon is the cause of MS.

Frequently Asked Questions About CCSVI and MS

Q: Do these reports of a possible association between insufficient vein drainage and MS mean that MS is caused by venous insufficiency?

A: No. Based on results published about these findings to date, there is not enough evidence to say that obstruction of veins causes MS, or to determine when this obstruction may occur in the course of disease.

Q: If CCSVI turns out to be important in MS, can it be treated?

A: No one knows yet. At least one small study is testing the effects of balloon dilation inside an obstructed vein to determine whether that procedure would be beneficial.

Q: I have MS. Should I be tested for signs of CCSVI?

A: No, unless you are involved in a research study exploring this phenomenon, since at this time there is no proven therapy to resolve any abnormalities that might be observed, and it is still not clear whether relieving venous obstructions would be beneficial.

Q: Does CCSVI make the standard treatments of MS meaningless?

A: No. There is ample evidence proving that the FDA-approved therapies for MS provide benefit for people with most forms of MS.

Q: Will the National MS Society fund research into CCSVI in MS?

A: The National MS Society welcomes research proposals from any qualified investigators whose research questions are relevant to multiple sclerosis. All proposals received are thoroughly evaluated for their relevance and excellence by our volunteer scientific peer review panels. At the present time, we have not been approached for funding any projects related to CCSVI. If we receive a proposal related to CCSVI that is found to be outstanding and relevant to MS, we would likely commit to fund such a study.

An informative video on CCSVI may be viewed at the below URL. Note: The video is one hour.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5

Multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme: two year results of clinical cohort study with historical comparator.

Boggild M, Palace J, Barton P, Ben-Shlomo Y, Bregenzer T, Dobson C, Gray R.
The Walton Centre, Liverpool L9 7LJ. mike.boggild@thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk

OBJECTIVE: To generate evidence on the longer term cost effectiveness of disease modifying treatments in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with historical comparator. SETTING: Specialist multiple sclerosis clinics in 70 centres in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS:

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who started treatment from May 2002 to April 2005 under the UK risk sharing scheme.

INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with interferon beta or glatimer acetate in accordance with guidelines of the UK Association of British Neurologists.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observed utility weighted progression in disability at two years' follow-up assessed on the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) compared with that expected by applying the progression rates in a comparator dataset, modified for patients receiving treatment by multiplying by the hazard ratio derived separately for each disease modifying treatment from the randomized trials.

RESULTS: In the primary per protocol analysis, progression in disability was worse than that predicted and worse than that in the untreated comparator dataset ("deviation score" of 113%; excess in mean disability status scale 0.28). In sensitivity analyses, however, the deviation score varied from -72% (using raw baseline disability status scale scores, rather than applying a "no improvement" algorithm) to 156% (imputing missing data for year two from progression rates for year one).

CONCLUSIONS: It is too early to reach any conclusion about the cost effectiveness of disease modifying treatments from this first interim analysis. Important methodological issues, including the need for additional comparator datasets, the potential bias from missing data, and the impact of the "no improvement" rule, will need to be addressed and long term follow-up of all patients is essential to secure meaningful results. Future analyses of the cohort are likely to be more informative, not least because they will be less sensitive to short term fluctuations in disability.

December 2, 2009

Note from Betty:  This research report reflects my personal long-held belief about the so-called MS drugs.  It will be interesting to see if we hear further confirmation.  I would expect the MS Societies to attempt to "squash" this data.