What
is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of people.
It affects their entire lives, both physically and psychologically.
Physically, the brain and the spinal cord are involved. Specifically,
degeneration of myelin, a material which is composed mainly of fats
and serves as an insulation for the nerves, much like the covering
of an electric wire, degenerates. This fatty insulation allows a nerve
to transmit its impulses with lightning-like speed, enabling people
to move almost without thinking. The loss of this myelin insulation
causes what is, in effect, a short-circuiting so that a person loses
the ability to make smooth, rapid, and coordinated movements. Thus,
MS is a demyelinating disease. With multiple sclerosis, the loss of
myelin appears to the naked eye as a hardened sclerotic (scar) area.
These areas are multiple within the central nervous system, thus the
term multiple sclerosis. Different areas of the brain and spinal cord
are responsible for different kinds of movements. For example, the
cerebellum, an out-pocketing of the brain, is responsible for making
coordinated movements. When an area of demyelination occurs in the
cerebellum, coordinated movements become difficult. The neurological
deficit is quite dependent on the region of the brain or spinal cord
that has been affected.
What
are the Symptoms?
The initial symptoms of MS are most often:
- Difficulty in walking;
- Abnormal sensations such as numbness or "pins and needles"; and
- Pain and loss of vision due to optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve.
Less common initial symptoms may include:
- Tremor
- Incoordination
- Slurred speech
- Sudden onset of paralysis, similar to a stroke;
and
- A decline in cognitive function¡ªthe
ability to think, reason, and remember
What
causes MS?
MS is very complex. The cause of MS is not a single thing but a coming
together of a certain genetic predisposition, certain environmental
contacts, probably early in life, and perhaps certain other factors
that we really only partially know about today.
We do know certain things about MS. We know that people with certain
tissue types, from certain hereditary backgrounds are more likely
to get MS,
We know that there is some likely environmental contact or contacts early growing up, and we know that the disease is mediated in large part through the immune system. The immune system is what then alters the response to foreign materials in the body and appears to be attacking the myelin or the coating of the nerves around the axons in the brain and in the spinal cord.
Some new information that actually [came out] within the last few months, is that there is more going on in MS than just meets the clinical picture. In other words, when patients are clinically stable, they may have disease working on their body, just not being manifest. We learned a few years back with the development of MRI that MS appeared to have more active MRI lesions than it appeared to have clinical exacerbations. But we now know that biochemically with some new tests such as Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, or MRS, that there is much more steady activity in more areas of the body than even show up in the most recent type of MRI testing.
We're learning more and more about MS all the time, but we still have a ways to go. Fortunately, we now have some treatments that are at least starting to alter the course of MS.
How
to diagnose?
The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is usually made as a result of
clinical symptoms and a neurological examination. There is no one
laboratory test which the clinician can use to make a firm diagnosis.
However, in two-thirds of the cases of multiple sclerosis, an elevated
gamma globulin is noted in the spinal fluid. Special proteins called
oligoclonal bands are found in the spinal fluid of 80 percent of people
with MS. Special studies looking at Igg production can be performed.
Electrical tests may indicate short-circuiting in the central nervous
system. These are called evoked response tests because a response
from the nervous system is evoked with a specific stimulus. The stimulus
may be visual, auditory, or through stimulation of an arm or leg.
If it takes the stimulus an unusually long time to reach the brain,
a short-circuiting may be the cause.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the brain to be seen without surgery. MRI is particularly sensitive to MS, thus it has become an important aid to diagnosis. It is important to realize that other processes can make an MRI abnormal, and that it can miss MS every now and then.
Treatment
by Western medicine
1. Corticosteroids
For those with progressive MS, treatment is aimed mainly at relieving symptoms. Oral or intravenous corticosteroids are most often prescribed to reduce inflammation in nerve tissue and shorten the duration of flare-ups. Prolonged use of these medications, however, may be associated with side effects such as osteoporosis and hypertension.
2. Beta interferons
A class of drugs known as beta interferons have gained the most attention for curbing MS. In 1993, the FDA approved interferon beta-1b (Betaseron). In 1996, a slightly different version of beta interferon, interferon beta-1a (Avonex) was approved.
Interferons are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in the body which help fight viral infection and assist in the regulation of the immune system. Betaseron must be injected every other day.
Avonex is administered once a week by intramuscular injection. Betaseron and Avonex each have been shown in clinical trials to reduce flares of MS by up to 30 percent. Their exact therapeutic mechanism and long-term benefit aren't fully understood.
3. Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone)
The FDA recently approved an alternative to beta interferons for those with relapsing-remitting MS. Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), formerly known as copolymer-1, has been shown to be as effective as beta interferons in curbing MS attacks. It's believed that Copaxone works by blocking the autoimmune attack on myelin.
4. Tizanidine hydrochloride (Zanaflex)
Another advance in the fight against MS is tizanidine
hydrochloride (Zanaflex), a new oral treatment for muscle spasticity.
Many people with MS experience muscle stiffening or spasms, particularly
in the legs, which can be painful and uncontrollable. Unlike baclofen
(Lioresal), which has been the drug of choice, Zanaflex appears to
control muscle spasms without leaving the legs feeling weak.
Chinese Medicine Treatment
The following are main diagnosis points summed
up by TCM :
1. Yin Vacuity Stirring Wind
Main symptoms: dizzy vision, headache, limbs and body trembleing, unsteady when walking, vexation, red tongue, less tongue fur, fine and rapid pulse, etc.
Therapeutic principle:
Nourish Yin and emolliate liver, extinguish wind and stop trembling.
Herbal Medicine Formula:Big Wind-Extinguishing Pill
Composition: Gui Ban 30g, bie Jia 30g, Mu Li 30g, Bai Shao 30g, Sheng Di 30g, Gou Teng 15g, Quang Xie 5g, Jiang Chan 10g, Niu Qi 10g, Gan Cao 10g, Yi Ren 30g.
Administration: Decocted with water, one time every day.
Note: The formula ingredients should change a little according to patients' practical sydromes.
2. Blood Vacuity Stirring Wind
Main symptoms:< spasm, twitching, unsteady when walking, forceless limbs, dizzy, palpitation, pale tongue body, thin tongue fur, weak and fine pulse, etc.
Therapeutic principle
Nourish qi and enrich blood, extinguish win and stop wind
Herbal Medicine Formula:< Stop twitching Variant Pill
Composition: Shu Di 30g, Sheng Di 30g, Bai Shao 12g, Dang Gui 12g, Chuan Xiong 10g, Tian Ma 10g, Gou Teng 15g, Quan Xie 5g, Mu Gua 10g, Shen Jin Cao 5g, Niu Qi 10g, Huang Qi 15g
Administration: Decocted with water, one time every day.
Note: The formula ingredients should change a little according to patients' practical sydromes.
3. Yang Vacuity and Blood Stasis
Main symptoms:forceless legs, unsteady when walking, or even paralysis, numbness throughout the body or part of the body, feel cold, clear urine, unclear speech, pale and enlarged tongue body, gray tongue fur, deep and fine pulse.
Therapeutic principle:
Warm kidney and quicken the blood, extinguish the wind and stop twitching.
Herbal Formula: Kidney-Nourishing and Channels Opening Variant Pill
Composition: Huang Qi 30g, Gou Qi Zi 10g, Yin Yang Huo 15g, Ba Ji Tian 10g, Tu Shi Zi 10g, Lu Jiao Shuang 30g, Dan Shen 15g, Chuan Xiong 10g, Quan Xie 5g, Gou teng 15g, Bai Shao 15g, Niu Qi 10g.
Administration: Decocted with water, one time every day.
Note: The formula ingredients should change a little according to patients' practical sydromes.
Herbal Formulas for Treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
1. Hu Qian Pill
Such ready-made Chinese herbal medicine is used widely for
treating mutiple sclerosis and can effectively steady patients' conditions.
Administration: one pill every time, 2 times daily.
2. Wind Dispeling and Channel Opening Formula
Composition: Huang Qi, Jiang Chan, Quan Xie, Gou Teng, Xuan Shen,
Zhi Mu, 
Huang
Bai, Jie Geng, Wu Gong, Ju Hua, Sheng Di, Chuang Xiong, Chi Shao,
Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Dan Shen, Chi Ji Li, Chen Pi.
Administration: Take decocted with water, one time daily. Or grind
the herbs into powder and take 9g every time.
3. Sinew Soothing and Channel Opening Pill
Such ready-made Chinese herbal medicine can be used in combination
with other medicine.
Administration: One pill every time, one time every day.
Acupuncture Treatment
Puncture Da Zhui, Feng Chi, Jian Yu, Qu Chi, Shen Yu, Gan Yu, San
Yin Jiao, Yang Ling Quan, Huan Tao, Zhu San Li, Tai Cong, Tai Xi
Dr. Yang and His
Herbal Formula Invention
Dr. Yang now works as the director of Chancheng
Myelophathy Hospital and formerly he was the 
founder
of the hospital. After more than 10 years of experiment and research
he successfully invented Chinese herbal formula Bone Marrow Enriching
Series medicine which can be effectively treat Syringomyelia (also
called syrinx, hydromyelia, syringohydromyelia), trauma to spinal
cord, multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic myelitis, amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), progressive spinal myodystrophia, arachoid adhesion,
tumor in spinal cord, muscular dystrophy(MD) (myodystrophia). Regaring
the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) please Click
Here.
1. Mechanism
Qigong, an ancient science and art of health, is a traditional form of Chinese energy excise and healing art for the body, mind, and spirit. Qigong is ideal for establishing emotional balance in today's stressful lifestyle and for helping to heal seriously ill people--those struggling with chronic degenerative conditions such as paralysis, cancer, asthma, cardiovascular and other more.
People will ask us what the mechanism of qigong is. Generally speaking, like in a rice field, western medicine always have the trend of using all their means to kill the weeds. But in the meantime the rice shoots incur damage, more or less. Most patients know what the results is when they receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But for qigong practice, at
beginning
it will directly strengthen patients immune system and more deep concerning
inner energy system. In a word, it seeks to harmonize the relationship of
all internal organs and drop the idea to distinguish which is friend and
which is enemy. How to achieve such aim, you may ask? For a tree, at the
very beginning there is no division of which is normal and which abnormal
for it stays at initiative stage of the very root. But later different branches
develop into various forms, and good, bad, long, short, etc. come into being.
By adopting special means we can reverse the process of growing up and take
the course of sailing against the life current to return back to the very
beginning. Once we reach that state there should be no any "branches"
possibly existing to wield effects upon our physical existence. Qigong is
just the method of how to take the reversing course.As like to let the rice shoots get stronger and stronger, the weeds will have less and less effects upon the rice shoots. As the process continues, sometime the weeds will have no effect upon the rice shoots. Later the time will come of the rice shoots overpowering weeds. And people naturally know why qigong can prolong patients' life expectancy, at least. If patients can properly proceed with the practice, qigong can bring them much more than they could expect, especially the serene happiness general people could never have the chance to experience throughout their life time. Yes, somebody may ridicule at the theory, but no proper practice for a certain period people will never know what the qigong is. Qigong is the study of practice rather than just a theory. Qigong theory will be always beyond the thinking sphere of the persons who never seriously join the practice for a time.
2. Qigong Treatment Course
2-1. Taking Chinese Herbal Medicine
Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are advised to take some Chinese medicine which can help open up channels and collaterals quickly and strengthen immune system. Here we recommend Dr. Yang and his herbal formula invention Bone Marrow Enriching Series. In most of the herbal formulas the herbs should work together to open up channels in a quick way and strenghten Yin and Yang, make for the balance of Yin and Yang, quicken the blood flow, enhance the presence of Defensive Qi and Operative Qi, enrich the blood and Qi. Etc. Taking such herbal medicine can lay a good foundation for Qigong practice to quickly take effect: first is the Yang Qi can have a play ground to arise and reside in. Second, Qi can arise quickly in large amount. When Qi arises from the very deep Qi Ocean the internal organs would function more harmoniously with each other and they would like more to behave as like an integrated unit which can effect incredible power in launching overwhelming force against any potential pathogenic factors.
2-2. Persistent Self-Practice
When channels are opened up and evil Qi is driven away, the excellent environment for Qi to arise comes to be ready and patients should pracitice diligently with the practice every day. Many patients failed to gain final success because they don't have a strong will power in persisting in the practice every day. Qigong practice pay much attention
upon
how to discipline the false heart. There exist no diseases that cannot be
cured, yet there always exist the false heart that could not be dead. So
the first step for qigong practice is to discipline the false heart. Zhong
Liu once said:" I am a dead man still alive. I can see nothing, I can
hear nothing, my thinking ability is gong. I have no consciousness of my
existence." All these mean I am dead, yet my mind-will still keeps
its presence motionlessly in the infinite emptiness. What am I? I have been
dead for thousands of years."
The key for successfully achieving incredible progress lies in rapid storing up adequate Yang Qi, then with it to open up the twelve meridians, Ren channels and Du channel, and the eight extra meridians. When Yang Qi and Primeval Qi smoothly circulate in all channels and collaterals, all evil pathogenic factors will be gradually die out.
There are about many postures available for treating MS in Qigong. If patients persist in practicing these postures six hours every day in a proper way, and keep free from all other stray thoughts intruding upon the heart, there will be no despair anymore. When our heart, as like the root of a tree, falls ' ill,' our body will fall ill. When our heart keeps away from all 'diseases,' our body will be healthy always!
Lee, Xuhan, a great Qigong master accomplished in Tao, once said: " When only the last breath is left along there still exists the opportunity for the patient to recuperate their health again."
For proper Qigong practice, the following lists all the essential things patients should pay attention to:
- Strong will power in persisting in the practice every day
- Preserve enough Jing for it is the physical foundation for Qigong progress.
- Fall the heart into a constant stillness, get rid of all disturbance, abstain from experiencing too much emotional changes.
- Lead a very simple life, take vegetables rather than food of cold, pepery, fat, too sweet nature.
- Choose to practice very effective school of Qigong,
which can prevent patients from wasting too much time.
3. Service We Offer to
MS Patient
3-1 Free Qigong Course
We'd like to offer free course materials to MS patients who have interest
in practicing the art. Such materials can be sent by emails and is easy
to get. We'd like to offer suggestion to practitoners when they encounter
any problem with the self practice. They are advised to practice the art
every day, together with the drugs prescribed by their doctors. Please
drop the idea that Qigong practice is easy and can quickly work wonders.
Only faith and unswerving resolution and persistence can bring much more
harvest than they could expect. Please feel free to contact Mr.Wang Tao
Email: lao@damo-qigong.net
for such free course materials.
3-2 Correspondence Course
Such correspondence course contains 4 DVDs (MPEG format, can play at most computers with Windows system or OS),
the book The Way To Eternity and Correspondence Course. The video disc
contains qigong master's teaching for 49 postures which is the first step
of Laying Foundation and it is a very complicated series practice. Follow
the practical teaching practitioners can personally know how to proceed
with the practice, step by step.
The course material also contains the book The Way To Eternity(116
pages, A4 paper). Most articles regarding qigong on our homepages are
just excerpt from the book and it is a comprehensive one which give a
very clear in-depth description to Chinese Taoist practice theory and
practical process.
Also, there are correspondence course material (21 pages, A4 paper) which
teaches how to proceed with the first, second and third step and all relative
information. Most practitioners cannot reach such level and here we offer
the approaches. Practitioners are welcome to ask for any questions concerning
the practice and more advanced steps and we will give reply in details
as soon as possible.. The contents is very rich and every day the combined
practicing program is different, in such way practitioners can quickly
open all channels and collaterals and establish the strong qi system with
which patients can conquer most of the chronic disease. Patients and practitioners
who have interest in the course are welcome to contact Mr. Wang Tao at
lao@damo-qigong.net
3-3. Some Points
To successfully cure chronic diseases with Qigong practice lies upon five
essentials:
The first is to discipline the heart throughly, and cleanse the heart
of all stray thoughts. The second is continue with the practice three
hours every day. The third is to take some herbal medicine and puncture
some points in order to lay a good foundation for Qigong practice. The
fourth is to pay much attention upon the food you take. Almost 85% of
the diseases have less and more connection with the food people take every
day. No carefully prepared food you are advised to stop Qigong practice.
The fifth is to learn a good school of Qigong. There are many kinds of
Qigong in the China and world, yet many practitioners waste their time
and money to learn the false kinds.
| Cancer
| AIDS/HIV | Hepatitis
C | Colitis |
| Diabetes | Rhinosinusitis
| ALS | Multiple Sclerosis
|
Please feel free to contact
Mr. Wang Tao
lao@damo-qigong.net
Copyright@2001-2003 Traditional Chinese DaMo Qigong. All rights reserved.
