What Really Causes Multiple Sclerosis

About the Book

Taken as a whole, the available scientific and alternative evidence suggests that multiple sclerosis patients suffer from chronic inflammation caused by diets that contain inadequate antioxidants, omega-3 deficiencies, excess sugar, and foods that fail to significantly reduce oxidative stress. In addition, gluten, cow's milk, or some other allergen further promotes autoimmune disease. The coupe de grâe, however, is a thyroid hormone deficiency that causes an abnormal need for dopamine. Dopamine is very susceptible to oxidative stress and can break down to form toxins such as dopachrome and other chrome indoles. These, in turn, kill oligodendrocytes, the cells needed to repair the damage to myelin caused by chronic inflammation. Beyond this, a shortage of triiodothyronine in multiple sclerosis patients appears to reduce their ability to produce new oligodendrocytes. Therefore, myelin deteriorates and the symptoms of multiple sclerosis worsen. Wilcoxon and Redei have shown that such associated thyroid malfunctions in adults may be triggered by environmental challenges early in life. This process is termed fetal programming.

If the three step hypothesis presented in this book is correct, then it is possible to prevent and reverse multiple sclerosis. However, to achieve such goals requires societal and individual commitment. This volume concludes with an outline of the strategies that are needed. These include promoting anti-inflammatory diets and methods for avoiding the allergens that trigger inflammatory cascades and associated chronic auotimmune disease. Also discussed are orthomolecular techniques for mitigating the negative impacts of the neurotoxins associated with the oxidation of excess dopamine and for stimulating the body to produce higher levels of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase. In summary, this book provides new evidence on the causes of multiple sclerosis and offers approaches for reversing its impacts.

About the Author

The author lives with his wife Sarah and cat McNuff in Victoria, British Columbia. A Canadian by choice, he was born in Tunstall, Yorkshire, England where he was educated at the Hull Grammar School and University College London. While at university, he specialized in geology and geography, earning a B.Sc. in 1964 and Ph.D. in 1968 from London University.

He has been a faculty member in the Department of Geography, University of Victoria, since 1967. A tenured professor, he has authored or edited some 250 publications, the majority of which focus on reducing disaster losses or identifying the causes of chronic disease or longevity. He has published hypotheses on the origins of numerous diseases including myocardial infarction, SIDS, cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, stroke, and AIDS.

His many books include Disaster Planning: The Preservation of Life and Property, Springer Verlag, New York; Reducing Cancer Mortality: A Geographical Perspective, Western Geographical Press, Victoria; and The Ozymandias Principles, Southdowne Press, Victoria. Further books by the author include Health, Disease and the Environment, Bellhaven Press (now John Wiley), London, and What Really Causes AIDS, What Really Causes Schizophrenia and What Really Causes Alzehimer's Disease, Trafford Publishing, Victoria.

He is a member of the Explorers Club and several academic organizations including the New York Academy of Sciences, the Royal Geographic Society, and the Royal Society of Literature. In addition, he is series editor of the Western Geographical Press and is a member of the boards of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and the International Schizophrenia Foundation. He has been a consultant to numerous organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, and the governments of Canada, Ontario, and British Columbia. Every day he takes at least the recommended daily allowance of the known essential nutrients, in the belief that this will slow the aging process. As a consequence, most of his salary is spent in health food stores. His other bad habits include providing treats to all the neighbourhood dogs; losing at chess to his computer; being regularly beaten by his stepson Dan at video games; and, with the assistance of @Derby and various computer models, failing to correctly predict the outcomes of horse races. For a more complete curriculum vitae visit www.hdfoster.com. Free copies of this book and What Really Causes AIDS, What Really Causes Schizophrenia and What Really Causes Alzheimer's Disease can be downloaded at this website.