Dancing with Life (13 page)

Teri Garr

I read her story in article titled
Actress Teri Garr Battles MS.
She started feeling the symptoms of MS (tingling in the foot and stabbing pain in her leg) in 1983 when she was at the peak of her career, but could be finally diagnosed only in 1999. Here’s what I have read about her:

Devastated, Garr managed to keep hold of her optimism. She made a pin that she wore on her blouse. It said EGBOK – Everything’s Going To Be Okay.

The problem was that other people didn’t share her optimism. In Hollywood, a physical handicap can be a career death sentence. So Garr kept her diagnosis quiet and tried to hide her symptoms. At her Los Angeles home, though, she routinely tumbled down stairs and dropped dishes. One Christmas, she tripped over a skateboard, crashed into the fireplace and broke her collarbone.

Finally, she decided to let the world know her secret. On October 8, 2002, Garr went on the
Larry King Show
and spoke publicly about her illness. Now, as a paid spokesperson for MS LifeLines, an educational and support service funded by the drug companies Serono and Pfizer, she speaks across the country.

Clay Walker

Another survivor whose story has inspired me is the American country musician Clay Walker who was all of twenty-six when he was diagnosed with MS in 1996. I read about him on his own website where he has talked about his battle with MS as well as an article titled
How Clay Walker manages symptoms of MS
.

His symptoms were tingling sensation on the right side of his body and facial spasms. He was told by doctors that he wouldn’t live long, maybe eight years at the maximum, and would definitely be wheelchair bound within four years. Mind you, Walker was at the peak of his career then, and his first child had just been born. I wonder what was going on in his head at the time he was diagnosed with MS.

However, Walker decided he was not going to give up. He learnt to eat a healthy diet and keep up a moderate exercise routine, take his medication and rely on love and support from his family to get through the tough times. He helps educate patients with relapsing-remitting MS about the importance of sticking with a routine that works for them.

Now, even eighteen years later, he’s managing his life beautifully with proper treatment, good lifestyle choices and his wife’s support. He has shown me that a will of steel takes you wherever you want to go in life.

Jason DaSilva

I was very inspired reading successful American documentary filmmaker of Indian origin, Jason DaSilva’s story and his willingness to share his combat with MS through the documentary
When I Walk
. I read about him in an article titled
Person of the Year: Jason DaSilva.

The article says that he first experienced MS symptoms in 2003, at the age of twenty-five when he realized he was taking longer than usual to make it through the subway station he used regularly for commuting. His doctor ran tests and DaSilva found out two weeks later that he had primary-progressive MS (PPMS), the worst kind of MS.

PPMS is characterized by a steady worsening of neurological function which, in DaSilva’s case, progressively impacted both his vision and his ability to walk over the past nine years. He uses a scooter and wheelchair to get around. Unlike other forms of MS, PPMS doesn’t have periods of exacerbation or remission, but is continuous. It is somewhat rare, affecting approximately ten per cent of people who have MS.

His film covers seven years of DaSilva’s life during which he explores his physical decline with MS – falling down on the beach during a family vacation in 2006, adapting to use mobility devices such as a cane, walker, scooter and wheelchair over time, etc. The film also shows his blossoming personal life as he meets and marries his wife, Alice Cook. Although the documentary does show the difficulties of living with PPMS, it also displays his strong will to live a full life just like everyone.

Ann Romney

Last but definitely not the least, Ann Romney, the wife of Republican Matt Romney, is a great role model for all of us suffering from MS. I read about her in an article titled
How Ann Romney tackled her MS.

She has played an active role in her husband’s political career, is an author, runs a centre that is trying to identify a cure for neurological diseases including MS, and is also involved with other NGOs.

She is extremely active and involved in her family of five children and twenty-three grandchildren. She is, in my eyes, a superwoman who knows how to manage everything.

Personally, the reason I found her experience even more heartening and inspiring is because like me she has also tried alternative healing therapies like reflexology and acupuncture. After reading about her, I certainly felt validated that the path I was following, when it came to my healing efforts, was the right one.

We can see that in most cases people have handled the ailment in the best possible manner with the help of their families. So try and take as much help as you can from your family and friends. Don’t hide your disease, accept it, and you never know which person might help you find a treatment that will change your life, or at least reduce the pain. This is the only way we can become success stories and not sob stories.

Chapter 7

E
ATING
R
IGHT

B
EFORE BEGINNING THIS CHAPTER
, I
WOULD LIKE
to make it clear that there isn’t a fixed diet for MS. Here I wish to share only those things that I have incorporated into my own diet. Some of the tips that are mentioned here have been gathered through interacting with other MS patients and reading on the Internet, and some through the guidelines shared by my family, especially the older generation.

Turmeric

I was told by Suresh Pandit (
*
name changed), an MS patient, about the benefits of turmeric. He had read in the
Harrison’s Principal Guide of Internal Medicine
that the lack of Vitamin D is the primary cause of MS. His research showed him that turmeric could perhaps be effective, if taken regularly, for solving the deficiency of Vitamin D. His research also showed him that turmeric could help in improving the immune system. He buys fresh turmeric root (not the powder) every day, which is easily available in India and consumes one inch of turmeric after boiling it with water every night.

I then began to explore its benefits through the Internet. I read that turmeric can actually help to improve MS symptoms. Recent research has revealed that it has some potent healing qualities that can aid recovery in a number of conditions, including MS and cancer. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin. This secret ingredient seems to be the source of turmeric’s healing ability.

John Bright and Chandramohan Natarajan, researchers at Vanderbilt University in USA found after a research in 2002 that curcumin may be able to interrupt the production of the protein named IL-12. This protein plays a key role in the destruction of the myelin sheath in the brain which causes MS.

I did some further reading and found in an article by Kris Gunnars, a medical student, the important ways in which curcumin can help us with MS:

1. Treats depression
   Curcumin has been shown to work in a similar way to an antidepressant. Depression is a common symptom of MS and those who have experienced it will agree that it can be very debilitating. It can also worsen other symptoms such as fatigue.
   
2. Is an antioxidant
   Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant, which helps protect the body against damage caused by free radicals.
   
3. Is anti-inflammatory
   Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve the pain caused by inflammation. It is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs.
   
4. Boosts the immune system
   Turmeric has been shown, repeatedly, to boost the immune system and help it work more effectively.
   
5. Boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
   One of the main drivers of this process is BDNF, a type of growth hormone in the brain. Many common nervous system disorders have been linked to decreased levels of this hormone. This includes depression and Alzheimer’s disease and most probably MS. Amazingly, curcumin can increase the levels of BDNF. By doing this, it may be effective at delaying or even reversing MS. It may also help to improve memory.
   

Flaxseed

Another thing that is strongly recommended for MS patients is flaxseed. In my journey of exploring alternatives for fish, I learnt about flaxseed which is supposed to be even better than fish in terms of nutrition.

Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant Omega-3 fatty acids. Our bodies don’t produce these fats naturally but they are essential to our well-being. Most of us are not getting enough Omega-3s. Flaxseed also contains fibres and lignans (natural antioxidants), among a host of other nutrients. Flaxseed contains up to 800 times more lignans than any other plant source. Lignans are effective in treating menopausal symptoms and reducing the chances of breast cancer. Lignans also possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties. However, these properties are only present in ground flaxseed and not in flaxseed oil.
*

Researchers have also found flaxseed helpful in preventing heart disease, protecting against inflammatory illnesses and decreasing cholesterol.

Even Professor George Jelinek, an MS patient himself, has mentioned in his research that flaxseed is highly anti-inflammatory, prevents cell degeneration and helps to nourish and protect the myelin sheath of nerves.

In India, flaxseed is called
alsi
, and is taken regularly in many homes, especially Maharashtra. And since I have stayed a long time in Mumbai, flaxseed has been and will continue to be a part of my daily diet. I roast the flaxseeds, add a few pods of garlic and make a dry powder out of it. This is something that my whole family eats every day.

Green tea

I have read that some scientific studies have produced evidence supporting the use of green tea in the treatment of MS. Polyphenol antioxidants in green tea improve MS symptoms by stopping the growth of certain enzymes that promote the disease. In the tissue culture study, nerve cells exposed to green tea extracts showed lower levels of tissue-degrading matrix metalloproteinase enzymes. Researchers concluded that green tea and other foods high in polyphenol may be a powerful tool in the treatment of MS. Now, green tea is a part of my diet and makes me feel better.

Figs and raisins

Figs and raisins soaked in water simulate the growth of cells and tissues in the eyes and the brain, both significant for those of us with MS.

Basil leaves or
tulsi

Traditionally, in India, tulsi leaves have been widely used due to their healing power. As far as its relevance for MS is concerned, it is supposed to be a tonic for the nervous system and is said to help a great deal in sharpening the memory. In my case, my grandmother used to recommend it for every kind of ailment and I have now made it a part of my everyday diet.

Raw potato skin

The juice of raw potatoes contains potassium. Potassium helps one’s metabolic system work better and helps one’s cells generate useable energy. As far as those of us with MS are concerned, what is significant is that potassium also plays a role in strengthening the electrical impulses transmitted by the nervous system and helps our muscles contract to facilitate movement.

Onion

The humble onion when fried in ghee, is supposed to aid the strengthening of nerves, according to traditional Indian wisdom. Since I love onion anyway, I include this in my diet once in a while.

Bananas

Bananas are also a storehouse of nutrition. Among other things, bananas are rich in magnesium, a substance which the body uses to convert dietary fatty acids into a substance in the brain cells called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

Researchers have found a link between DHA deficiency and a host of neurological disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Though MS is not mentioned, we should include it anyway as it helps the brain stay alert for longer. The high potassium levels energize the brain which makes us more alert and receptive to learning, while the magnesium improves focus. Bananas also have high levels of Vitamin B6 which is also beneficial.

Honey

Having one tablespoon of honey in the morning and a couple of spoons in the evening is said to strengthen the brain and the nervous system.

Garlic

Garlic
*
is known to have a healing effect on the circulatory and digestive systems and help in lowering blood pressure, detoxification and most importantly in increasing immunity. Garlic is known to boost immunity. Four pods of garlic are recommended everyday. I have it regularly now.

Curry leaves

For all kinds of ailments related to the brain, curry leaves are extremely beneficial. If one cannot get fresh curry leaves, one can use dry curry leaves powder as one of the spices in their meal.

Coriander leaves

Coriander leaves are very beneficial for the functioning of the brain and is generally very good for fitness and maintaining high energy levels. Again, coriander leaves can easily be incorporated in one’s diet in various ways. If one cannot get fresh curry leaves, one can include dry curry leaves powder in their meals.

Bermuda grass

In India and many tropical countries, a leaf called Arukampul in Tamil, Dhruva or
doob ki ghaas
in Hindi and Bermuda grass in English is widely prevalent. The botanical name is Cynodon dactylon. It has always been revered in India and is used extensively during religious ceremonies and rituals.

The point most relevant to people with neurological disorders is that this herb is said to improve the nervous system when consumed on a regular basis.

Bael
or wood apple leaves

Aegle marmelos, commonly known as bael, is a species of a tree native to India. The leaves of this tree are often used as a health supplement. The way to have it is to soak a few leaves at night. In the morning, on an empty stomach, we can have one leaf per person and have 50 ml of the water with it. It strengthens our nervous system.