Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment & MS

Background: 

Magnetic resonance spectroscopyhas shown that lactate, the hallmark of hypoxia (low tissue oxygen) is present in acute lesions. 

Blood–brain barrier disturbance precedes the symptoms and is involved in migration of auto-reactive T-cells into the nervous system. Hyperbaric oxygen has been shown to improve BBB integrity.

Naturally, the oxygen rich environment is favorable for Myelin repair especially when appropriate building blocks are given such as Vitamin K, B12, Phospholipids/Citicholine, Methyl-Folate, Pregenolone and Essential fatty acids.

Hyperbaric treatment allows for resumption of normal aerobic metabolism in acute areas affected by the disease process. 

Stem cell release may contribute to the repair of areas of damage in the nervous system. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy ameliorated symptoms in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) the animal model of multiple sclerosis in numerous studies.
 

Human Data:

In 1980, Richard A. Neubauer, M.D, published his observations on 262 patients with MS using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

His clinical impression was that "patients who received the therapy and continued with occasional follow-up treatments did not progress as far or as rapidly as those who never received the therapy."

Fischer (1983) studied 40 patients with advanced chronic MS who were randomly divided into two groups and treated at 2.0 ATA for 90 minutes for twenty treatments.

The experimental group received pure oxygen, and the placebo group received 10 per cent oxygen and 90 per cent nitrogen.

Objective improvement (mobility, fatigue, balance and bladder function) occurred in 12 of 17 patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen and in 1 of 20 patients treated with placebo.

Improvement was transient in seven and long-lasting in five.

Those with less severe forms of the disease had a more favorable and lasting response.

At one year of follow-up, deterioration was noticed in 2 patients (12 per cent) in the oxygen group, neither of whom had had an initial response, and in 11 patients (55 per cent) in the placebo group. 

Barnes (1985) used similar parameters to Fischer (90 minutes, 2.0 ATA and 20 treatments) and found improvements in bladder function in 12 of 51 patients in the hyperbaric oxygen group.

The bladder improvement was present after 1 month of treatment and was maintained for 6 months without additional treatment.

Oriani et al (1990) studied 44 MS patients - 22 in the 100% oxygen group and 22 in the compressed normal air group.

Both receiving 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes initially for 1 month then multiple "booster" treatments over a 1 year period. 

In the Hyperbaric group, 14/22 reported benefits, 4 reported no change and 4 declined vs. 2 in the Hyperbaric air group reporting benefit.

Pallota et al. (1986) followed 22 MS patients for 8 years.

All MS patients had an initial course of 20 Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments, and 11 were treated thereafter with two Hyperbaric treatments every 3 weeks.

The frequency of relapses decreased dramatically in the long term treatment group whereas they increased in the group which received the initial treatment.

HBOT in Edmonton

UK Data

In the United Kingdom a charity called "The MS National Therapy Centres" installed Hyperbaric facilities across the UK. Since 1982 over 25,000 MS patients were treated with more than 3,000,000 individual Hyperbaric treatments (without a significant incident). 

Seven hundred and three patients were followed in detail since first receiving their treatment. The study was predominantly females (66%) with Chronic progressive MS. 

UK MS Therapy Centres Protocol

After twenty treatments, 70 % of patients obtained relief of two or more symptoms.

In general, the response was better in patients with less advanced disease.

Further assessments were made between 2 and 4 years, and again between 6 and 8 years after the initial course.

They suggested that the initial improvements were being maintained by regular treatment.  

A third survey was conducted between 10 and 14 years, out of 446 patients, 103 (23 %) were no worse after regular treatment for 10–14 years and 30 patients (7 %) actually improved

An analysis suggested that one treatment every 2 weeks was required to retard the progression of relapsing/remitting state where as once weekly was even more effective. 

Improvement after initial 20 treatments

Specific abilities also improved after the initial course such as Brushing teeth, doing up buttons, holding a cup, brushing hair and many of these maintained after four years.  

The Naturopathic Approach to MS: 

Dr. Muradov focuses on many areas in his MS patients but there are a few key areas often considered: Gut Integrity & Dietary Augmentation, Infectious Triggers, Toxic Triggers.

Diets we consider: Swank, Dairy and Gluten Free, Paleo, AIP, Low Lectin, Ketogenic, Wahls and Carnivore and idiosyncratic triggers through IgG testing.

We dive deeper into gut health, with comprehensive stool cultures with PCR to identify pathogenic inflammation driving agents affecting our Edmonton patients. 

Infectious Triggers are screened for: Candida, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, HHV-6 and EBV. 

In Dr. Muradov's experience, Viral triggers seem to dominate in young Edmonton patients with Autoimmune diseases, MS included. 

Screening for Lyme disease in MS patients is occasionally fruitful as misdiagnosis between the two is possible albeit rare in our experience. 

IV Treatment can frequently be helpful for our Edmonton MS patients.

IV Glutathione is an effective option for acute inflammation.

IV Therapy with B Vitamins can be helpful for energy and mood.

NAD+ IV is a newer promising option for energy in MS.

Ultimately, our Naturopaths will construct a unique evidence based protocol to meet the needs of your particular MS.

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