It is common for individuals with MS to suffer a series of episodes in which symptoms flare and then resolve. There may be periods of several years in which individuals with MS are relatively free of symptoms. Finally, however symptoms return permanently and with increasing severity.

MS patients respond very well to our Comprehensive Intervention Program unless they have reached the point at which the damage caused by their disease becomes irreparable. Up to that point we can completely reverse the symptoms and halt future recurrences. After that point, we can halt further progress of the disease, but not undo the permanent effects.

As you know, there are lesions in the central nervous system of MS patients, and a process of demyelination occurs. As demyelination occurs, improves and then reappears; corresponding symptoms flare, disappear, and return until the point is reached when the demyelination process becomes irreparable and symptoms are permanent.

Zhang et al, Baylor University Medical Center, among others have reported T cell-mediated autoimmune mechanisms present in multiple sclerosis patients. They report that activated myelin autoreactive T cells accumulate in the cerebrospinal fluid and perpetuate in the brain lesions of MS patients. This is one of several mechanisms that describe how the immune system attacks the central nervous system of MS patients, not why the immune system attack occurs in the first place. We do know what is causing this immune system response, and we know how to effectively stop this process.

We are able to halt the disease, prevent further recurrence of symptoms, and return a person to vibrant health. Our approach recognizes that flavor and aroma (volatile) compounds in common foods and volatile compounds now ubiquitous and present at increasingly high levels in homes, offices, and business establishments, are responsible for alarming increases in chronic diseases, including activation and attack of neural tissue in individuals suffering from MS and other diseases of the central nervous system.

Although there are many biochemical mechanisms that are involved, the process is pretty simple. These volatile organic compounds, commonly called VOC's, are readily taken into the blood stream through the lungs, through mucous membranes in the nose, throat and digestive system, and through the skin. They pass throughout the body and into every cell including neural tissue and the brain. The immune system is able to recognize these VOC's as 'foreign' and is able to remove them; however, these substances are continually entering the body and continually stimulating the immune system.

Unfortunately these VOC's, in terms of size, shape, and polarity, are very, very similar to some common, vitally important substances in the body, and the immune system also attacks these important (good) substances. These similar compounds are parts of enzymes, and structural components of neural tissue and other tissues in the body. The immune system operates with a 'shotgun' approach, producing many antibodies that spread throughout the body, bumping into things randomly; when it bumps into a foreign compound it is designed for, the compound is removed. When it bumps into one of the similar important (good) but indistinguishable substances the immune system attacks and attempts to remove the entire structure as well. Unfortunately these (good) substances are frequently part of larger compounds such as the enzymes and structural components mentioned above, and the entire molecule or structure is attacked. Neural tissue is particularly susceptible.

A second process also occurs, while the immune system is removing these VOC's and attacking similar structures throughout the body, the resources of the immune system are fully utilized, and the capabilities for fighting infectious agents are correspondingly reduced. The individual becomes increasingly susceptible to infections, especially to low grade chronic infections. The presence of long term, chronic infections throughout the body increases areas of inflammation and increases the size and number of areas susceptible to immune system attack.

We fully halt this process and stop the attack of the immune system in a very simple way: by completely stopping the exposures to VOC's in food and in the environment. The proof lies in our ability to halt episodes in mid flare solely by the Special Foods Diet and simultaneous complete environmental avoidance. We occasionally see symptoms flare and abruptly disappear again when an accidental exposure occurs. After that, with no further exposures, recovery is complete and is maintained.

Our Comprehensive Intervention Program addresses the underlying cause of MS, which is the body's response to the presence of large numbers of substances it was never designed to handle. Please remember that our immune system is ancient in origin, and was essentially developed in final state as the human race emerged. These individuals lived in large open spaces and were lucky to spend the night in an occasional cave; the roots that are the cornerstone of our Special Foods Diet were the primary food sources. This is what our present day immune system was designed for. Exposure to the substances now so common in our environment was brief and rare, if at all. The immune system was developed to remove these substances and was able to remove these substances quickly and easily when they were present in very low levels and rarely. Our immune system was not designed to handle the high levels now present, especially in the last 10-20 years.

For individuals with MS, including those who are seriously effected but not yet to the stage of irreparable damage, once we stop the exposure to these substances, their bodies return fully to normal function in all ways. They do not suffer relapses unless they resume exposures they have previously been avoiding. The immune system no longer attacks the affected areas; the myelin heals and remain healed. The process that caused the damage in the first place is stopped. They then experience true good health that people have all but forgotten even exists, namely what vibrant good health, vigor, and vast energy of a body working right feels like.

Eventually, when diet and environment are maintained long enough, the immune system becomes less hyper-reactive and functions normally. An individual can then resume a life of vibrant health without the need for dietary restrictions nor the rigorous environmental restrictions; however, people generally make prudent choices that minimize major exposures. This ensures that the old problem or some other new problem will never return.

It appears that the nervous system in general is particularly susceptible to damage from volatile organic compounds now ubiquitous in foods and the environment. There seems to be an individual difference associated with which type of tissue and which part of the nervous system is attacked. The mechanism I just described is also responsible for seizure disorders, autism, hyperactivity, reductions in cognitive processes, mood swings, and depression, among others.

What we have found, is that when the diet and environment are changed, the body functions normally again. Nothing is wrong. Our model, in contrast to the medical model, which assumes that something wrong with the body, is an environmental model which finds that the body is fine and that there is something seriously and fundamentally wrong with the environment.