ALS - Introduction

Nutritional and Alternative Therapies Can Successfully Be Used
To Improve ALS Symptoms and Retard Progression of the Disease
Process

This paper is in honor of Warren Schaeffer, an exceptional person, adventurous being
and a first-class gentleman.

  Introduction

My client, Warren, had been diagnosed with ALS. His medical doctors had not held out any hope for his recovery and were simply monitoring the progression of his illness.   The doctors had not given him any information or advice on supplementation to slow the progression or lessen the symptoms. 

Some months after the original diagnosis, with his disease  progressing, Warren had decided to seek out alternative/complementary providers,  like myself, to help ease his symptoms.   At our third appointment, Warren  told me that his family had seen progress over the several months he had been utilizing alternative energy therapies and supplements.  Indeed, Warren had told me that his son had said his “father’s laugh was  back.” His son accompanied Warren to his next appointment to get a better idea of the alternative therapeutic methods being used.   As part of the client intake and review of the past month’s progress or  lack thereof, I will typically ask a series of questions focused on the symptoms and whether there was any change.   Since Warren’s son was with his father, I decided to get his viewpoint as  well.  He commented that his  “father’s voice was better.”  This  reflected the improvement in lung function that Warren was noticing. 

Even though Warren died several months later, he had been able  to continue to work full time and enjoy trips with his family while adding  complementary modalities to his life.

  Thesis

“Standard medical practice”/western medicine does not hold much hope for people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  The cause has not been determined and there is little offered to the patient in the way of intervention.  On the other hand, alternative medicine has some proven methods to assist people with ALS to improve their lives and  retard the progression of ALS. This paper will present modalities, supplements, and lifestyle changes  that have shown some promise in the treatment of people with ALS.

  Overview

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS) is a degenerative disease involving the motor neurons. Its origins are unknown and the prognosis is severe.   The motor neurons retract from the muscle and the muscle ultimately dies (Da Cruz).  The mechanisms cited in ALS research that are involved in the motor neuron degeneration include oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, growth factor deficiency, and glutamate excitotoxicity (Brooks).  Other potential
mechanisms involve environmental factors such as exposures to heavy metals, metalloids, pesticides and cyanobacterial toxins (Vinceti,  Bonvicini and Bergomi 279).   Some researchers believe it to be of viral origin (LEF Protocol for ALS). Other researchers believe that the cause may be an interplay between genetic /metabolic causes and external factors such as the environment and lifestyle (Zoccolella,
Santamato and Lamberti).

What is known about ALS is that it is a progressive, degenerative, neuromuscular disease which attacks and destroys the motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord.   The destruction of the motor
neurons causes a lack of communication from the brain to the voluntary muscles.  Voluntary muscles do not include the heart or digestive system but do include the limbs, torso, face and breathing.  Brain function and senses remain unaffected in most patients while the person’s ability to move and
breath are compromised.  Once a patient is diagnosed, the disease progresses rapidly and most patients die within three to five years after diagnosis.

Fortunately, this is a rare disease. It is found in one to three people per 100,000. It mostly strikes people between 30 to 60 years of age. The most common cause of death for ALS patients is respiratory failure from complications after the muscles that  control breathing are affected (LEF Protocol for ALS).