Functional medicine and the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most prevalent neurological conditions affecting adults. The United States is home to around one million people living with MS, with 200 new cases diagnosed weekly.
MS impacts people’s day-to-day lives and can make basic tasks difficult or impossible. Standard treatments are complex and challenging to navigate, and typically include medications that aim to slow the progression of the condition, reduce the severity of relapses, and minimize the impact of symptoms. The problem is, these drugs fail to cater to the patient’s individual desire to heal the nervous system and body. In other words, the conventional approach suppresses disease activity without addressing the causes, and the result is that multiple sclerosis is always present in the background, either slowly progressing over time or threatening the patient with relapse.
Neurologist and functional medicine doctor Ken Sharlin has witnessed this failure first hand. After years of hands-on experience with MS patients, he became frustrated by the limitations of available treatments. Surely there was a better way to help those with MS regain control over their health and quality of life, he thought. The result is Dr. Sharlin’s Brain Tune Up Protocol!
We’ll examine the Brain Tune Up! and the future of MS treatments below. But first, what is multiple sclerosis?
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system, which is composed of the optic nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Chronic and unpredictable, MS is classified as an immune-mediated disorder that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue in the central nervous system – that is, the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord. This damage interrupts the transmission of nerve signals between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.
The majority of MS patients are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, but the average age is 34, and while there are many underlying factors that cause MS, individuals are generally told there is no “cure.”
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
MS symptoms are not one-size-fits-all – each and every patient experiences the condition in their own unique way. For some, symptoms come and go (these ebbs and flows are known as remissions and relapses). For others, they worsen gradually over time.
- Common symptoms include the following:
- Tingling and numbness
- Fatigue
- Vision problems
- Muscle issues, such as spasms, weakness, and stiffness
- Difficulty thinking, planning, and learning
- Pain
- Bladder and bowel problems
- Challenges with speech and swallowing
If you have MS, you may experience some, all, or none of the above.
How conventional medicine approaches multiple sclerosis treatments
The way individuals experience MS differs significantly. Unfortunately, conventional medicine fails to recognize this when it comes to prescribing so-called treatments.
Drugs for MS target symptoms in three distinct ways:
- To slow the progression of MS
- To minimize the frequency and severity of relapses
- To treat specific symptoms
In addition to these medications, around 20 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available to those with MS. Marketed as long-term solutions, these focus solely on reducing the speed of the disease’s progression.
All conventional treatments target the symptoms of MS – not the cause.
All conventional treatments target the symptoms of MS – not the cause.
Understanding multiple sclerosis through a functional medicine framework
As one of the only functional medicine doctors that is also a neurologist, Dr. Ken Sharlin’s goal is to help those with MS improve the quality of their lives without drugs. How? By uncovering the root cause of the condition with cutting-edge technology and science-backed evidence.
MS is widely believed to be triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by environmental factors and imbalances, including:
- Exposure to epsilon, a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens
- Accumulation of metals such as copper, cadmium, lead, and iron
- Depletion of magnesium, selenium, vitamins B2, B6, D, and essential fatty acids
Recent research has suggested that changes in the gut microbiome may also play an essential role in the development of MS.
Functional medicine is highly personalized. By approaching MS treatment from a functional medicine viewpoint, patients can discover the specific causes of their condition by examining the Functional Medicine Timeline, advanced laboratory studies focused on cellular health to identify imbalances that interfere with healing and regeneration, and the Therapeutic Lifestyle Factors (sleep and relaxation, movement and exercise, nutrition, stress, and relationships). From there, treatment can be directed at the root causes – rather than the symptoms.
What are the benefits of Dr. Sharlin’s treatment for multiple sclerosis?
The Brain Tune Up! program for patients with multiple sclerosis can yield life-changing results. Of course, outcomes will vary between patients. That being said, many that have completed the personalized five- to eight-month protocol have reported the following improvements:
- Better vision
- Less tingling
- Reduced numbness
- Fewer muscle spasms
- More energy
- Pain reduction
- Sharper memory
- Better balance
- Improved quality of life
Who is Brain Tune Up! for?
Finding answers to your questions can be extremely frustrating, especially when medical professionals are telling you that nothing can be done. There is no cure. This is your reality.
- We are here to tell you that you don’t have to settle.
- You can regain control of your health and continue living the life you love.
- If you have MS and relate to the following sentiments, Brain Tune Up! is for you:
- I want a real solution, not just another pill to take.
- I want genuine expertise from someone with the right qualifications that understands the intricacies of my condition.
- I want a doctor that wants more for their patients than a band-aid solution. I want a doctor that will fight the cause of my disease, not just the symptoms.
- I want to explore the possibilities of functional medicine with a team that integrates traditional medicine and cutting-edge research.
- I want to be recognized as an individual with unique needs. Personalized care is my number one priority.
Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? If so, it’s time to take a step toward the future you’ve always imagined for yourself.
Better quality of life starts here
You don’t have to wait around for some far-off scientific breakthrough. You can target and treat the root causes of your condition today. Dr. Ken Sharlin has years and years of experience treating patients just like you, and he’s ready to give you the solution you deserve.
Take the first step in your journey toward vitality, independence, and health today. Get in touch for your free consultation. We are here to help.
Take the first step in your journey toward vitality, independence, and health today. Get in touch for your free consultation. We are here to help.
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