MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
A Holistic Therapy
By Walter Last
Severe muscle weakness
becomes increasingly more common in recent times. The classical disease with
severe muscle weakness is myasthenia gravis or M.G. It is most common in young women,
although it may develop at any age and in both sexes. Males are more affected
in their later decades of life.
Certain muscles become
chronically weak and easily fatigued. Most affected are the muscles of the head
and neck, later progressively also the muscles of the chest and limbs. The
first sign of myasthenia gravis is usually a drooping eyelid (ptosis).
Frequently double vision (diplopia) develops as the disease progresses, also
difficulty chewing or swallowing or even breathing. The speech may be slurred
and the vision blurred. Usually the condition becomes worse as the day
progresses.
In medical treatment a
group of drugs, called anticholinesterases, is used, such as neostigmine or
pyridostigmine. These delay the normal inactivation of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine, which results in a temporary improvement in muscle functions.
Frequently the thymus gland is greatly enlarged and may be surgically removed.
This can result in some medium-term improvement in one-third of cases.
There are frequent side
effects from drug therapy, such as abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea,
vomiting, excessive mucus formation, bronchial spasms, twitching of face
muscles, spasms and freezing of muscles, tremors, incoordination and paralysis.
It is easy to overdose with a resulting 'cholinergic' crisis often resulting in
death.
Removal of the thymus
results in disturbances of the calcium and manganese metabolism, it greatly
weakens the immune system and perpetuates the muscle weakness which then does
not respond any more to biological therapy.
CAUSES OF MYASTHENIA
GRAVIS
Myasthenia gravis has been
shown to be an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks
some of its own body proteins. Specifically, the transmission of signals from
the nerve endings to the muscle receptors is partly blocked by antibodies. The
messenger chemical or neurotransmitter released as signal from nerve endings to
muscles is acetylcholine. Acetylcholine molecules travel the short distance in
the gap between nerve ending and muscle to find a receptor on the motor end
plate. When a sufficient number of acetylcholine molecules are attached to
muscle receptors, there is an electric discharge of the normal membrane
potential and the muscle fibre can contract.
In myasthenia gravis many or
most of the receptors are already occupied by antibodies, therefore, not enough
acetylcholine molecules find receptors to trigger this discharge and subsequent
muscle contraction. Normally, the acetylcholine is split by an enzyme and, with
this, removed from the receptor in a fraction of a second. Using drugs, which
hinder this enzyme, acetylcholine molecules have more time to find receptors
with an increased chance to lead to a discharge.
However, if too much of
this enzyme antagonist is present, the cells remain discharged for too long and
the muscles become more or less paralysed. This is a 'cholinergic crisis' in
which heart and breathing may stop. A modern complication is the additional
antagonistic action of fluoride on this enzyme. Fluoridated water may trigger a
crisis or contribute to the long-term deterioration. This also applies to
commercial liquids, such as soft drinks, soymilk or reconstitutet 100% fruit
juices in countries where water fluoridation is practised.
It has been stated that
myasthenia gravis has manifested after exposure to crop sprays with chemicals
which have an antagonistic effect on acetylcholinesterase.
To test the theory that
antibodies clog up muscle receptors serum from a myasthenia gravis patient was
injected into mice, which promptly developed M .G. symptoms. The same
electrical symptoms as in myasthenia gravis could also be produced in healthy
human muscle when exposed to the serum of a myasthenia gravis patient.
This is as far as the
conventional medical understanding of myasthenia gravis goes. The cause of the
main event, the blocking of the muscle receptors by antibodies, is not known.
There is also at present no attempt to overcome this disorder with nutritional
therapy.
Nutritional Factors
A wide variety of vitamins
and minerals are involved in muscle activity, partly in energy production and
partly in the synthesis of proteins and neurotransmitters. The main B-vitamins
are essential for energy production in the muscles and some improvement in
myasthenia gravis has been reported with B-complex supplementation so that, for
instance, less of the enzyme-blocking drug was required.
In experiments with
separately administered vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, pantothenic acid and choline
(as from lecithin) were reported to be beneficial in myasthenia gravis.
Conversely, myasthenia gravis like symptoms could be produced in monkeys and
humans by making them deficient in the vitamins B1, B6 and pantothenic acid.
During World War 2
myasthenia gravis developed in prisoners of war in
In addition to the general
effect on energy production and protein synthesis, several vitamins have been
shown to have a specific relationship with myasthenia gravis
Vitamin B1, working
together with manganese, is the key vitamin for the synthesis of acetylcholine
in the nerve endings. A lack of this vitamin, therefore, can cause a reduced
signal from nerves to muscles and, with this, muscle weakness and other
neurological complications. Vitamin B1 also helps acetylcholine to bind to
receptors. It also has a significant role in nerve excitation and enhances the
effects of acetylcholine. Furthermore, with low vitamin B1 levels lactic acid
accumulates in the muscles and causes fatigue, deficiency can also lead to
nerve degeneration.
Vitamin B2 is important for
tissue respiration, for the storage of glycogen in muscles and liver as well as
for the metabolism of glycine, an amino acid linked with myasthenia gravis. A
deficiency lowers the resistance to stress. Vitamin B6 is essential for the
synthesis of neurotransmitters and receptors.
Pantothenic acid supplies
the acetyl part in the synthesis of acetylcholine. It opposes the effects of
substances that are known to block receptors. Pantothenic acid is the
anti-stress vitamin, most important for healthy adrenal glands, which are
especially weak with myasthenia gravis
Vitamin C is another
anti-stress vitamin. It is essential for collagen synthesis. Collagen is the
connective tissue between muscle cells, cementing them together. Vitamin C is
involved with the use of glycogen in muscles, with muscle contractions and
exercise tolerance. It affects muscle metabolism and the functioning of muscle
membranes. Together with folic acid it is involved with the synthesis of
neurotransmitters and steroid hormones. It has a mild anticholinesterase
activity and this enhances the action of the reduced amount of acetylcholine
that finds a receptor. A study on 2000 smokers revealed that their vitamin C
blood levels were 40% lower than those of non-smokers. Myasthenia gravis
patients reported increased muscle weakness after smoking.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid
are required for the synthesis of choline before forming acetylcholine. Vitamin
A is needed for the immune system, to produce steroid hormones and to protect
the thymus and adrenal glands from the effects of stress. Vitamin A deficient
rats developed weakness of the head and leg muscles. The importance of the
stress-protective vitamins can be seen in the observation that myasthenia
gravis frequently develops during or after a period of intense stress.
Vitamin E is important to
protect cell membranes from damage through oxidation and peroxidation, while a
deficiency causes changes in muscle protein with swelling and fragmentation of
individual muscle fibres, leading to muscle weakness, dystrophy and paralysis.
It is directly involved with the energy metabolism of muscles, deficiency
causes increased amounts of muscle protein to break down and be expelled with
the urine as it happens in myasthenia gravis
Vitamin E deficient chicks
have been shown to develop serious abnormalities of the central nervous system.
In other animals large amounts of 'old-age' pigment (lipofuscin) accumulates in
the nerve cells. The development and function of all endocrine glands depends
on it. The pituitary gland has an exceptionally high content of vitamin E, 15
times higher than in other parts of the body, while in the adrenal glands it is
almost 6 times higher.
Babies have a high
requirement for vitamin K, otherwise the development of glands, nervous system
and muscle structures will be weak or faulty. Breast milk has about 10 - 20
times more vitamin E than cows' milk and colostrum even much higher levels. It
is similar with vitamin C and various other essential nutrients.
The importance of vitamin E
in myasthenia gravis can be seen in a case report were the initial use of other
vitamins improved the condition somewhat, but only after the addition of
vitamin E did all symptoms of the disease disappear.
In a study using rabbits
with experimentally induced myasthenia gravis more animals survived with
high-dose vitamins B1, C and E than in the unsupplemented group. These same vitamins
in mega-doses (very high amounts) were successfully used for myasthenia gravis
patients as stated in several published reports. However, I found that on a
high-quality diet only a moderate amount of vitamin-mineral supplements was
required for permanent remission. A patient who recovered on a raw food diet
with only minimal supplementation initially persisted with double vision but
overcame this with a hot castor oil pack over the forehead and eyes.
While magnesium is an
essential mineral and activates many enzymes, a large dose of a magnesium
supplement acts as a muscle relaxant and causes myasthenia gravis patients to
deteriorate. Another problem is caused by the enzyme-poison fluoride. A
well-controlled patient was reported to wake up with extreme weakness one
morning. It was later learned that the water supply had been fluoridated for
the first time during the preceding day.
Another patient, after
being symptom-free for years, developed extreme weakness on two separate
occasions during a glucose tolerance test. The same happened after a breakfast
with much sugar.
Three patients in intensive
care failed to respond to any myasthenia gravis drug treatment. However, they
improved greatly on nutritional therapy. Whenever placebos were given instead
of vitamins their conditions deteriorated again.
Manganese and the Thymus
Gland
Manganese and the thymus
gland are the keys to the development and treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Numerous enzymes are activated by manganese and it is essential for the
production of energy from glucose. It is equally important for the growth of
bones, the development of the skeleton and the formation of cartilage. It is
essential for the development and functioning of nerves and muscles,
specifically it is involved with muscular contraction. When muscles are
damaged, manganese leaches into the bloodstream and causes its level to rise.
Manganese deficiency causes
defective growth, muscular weakness, lack of coordination and balance,
reproductive abnormalities and disorders of the central nervous system.
Manganese is required for a healthy immune system and it is also involved in
the synthesis of acetylcholine.
While the thymus gland is
best known for its importance in the development and functioning of the immune
system, it has also other, less known functions which to some degree are
similar to those of manganese.
The thymus is an endocrine
gland situated behind the upper part of the breastbone. It increases in size
until puberty and then gradually shrinks again. Severe stress, including
infection, causes the thymus to shrink excessively and prematurely, especially
if there are deficiencies of the anti-stress vitamins. The experimental removal
of the thymus in animals resulted in a 60% reduction in the contractibility of
muscles, while the capacity to work was reduced by 42%.
In MG, the thymus is
generally abnormal, usually much enlarged (hyperplasia) and not infrequently
containing tumors (thymomas). Administration of high doses of manganese
reportedly causes the thymus to shrink to its normal size in a very short time
and thymomas and symptoms of MG to disappear.
This manganese therapy for
MG was discovered and tested in the 1940's and 50's in the
The report of his first MG
case with this new method is quite instructive. A 43-year-old female developed
the symptoms of MG in 1932. She had intermittent X-ray treatments for thymoma
over many years. Drug treatment was started later but gave only a slight
transient improvement and after some months she failed to respond completely.
Nutritional therapy was started in 1937 with high doses of vitamins A, B, and
C, along with a high salt intake because of severe adrenal weakness, and
glycine, an amino acid important for the muscles. Within three weeks the
patient was much improved. The later substitution of part of the salt with
potassium chloride caused acute glaucoma and had to be stopped.
After a year the therapy
started to become ineffective and the condition deteriorated again. Now vitamin
E was added in the form of wheat germ oil. The condition rapidly improved and
symptoms of MG disappeared except for occasional mild relapses. However, after
two years MG reappeared without relief from the treatment.
In 1942 manganese sulfate
was added to the therapy. Within one week her muscle strength was better than
at any time during previous treatments and all symptoms of MG disappeared. The
thymus tumor that had previously been unsuccessfully treated with X-rays
disappeared as well. Until her death ten years later from a heart attack she
had no more symptoms of MG.
In another case, a young
woman developed rapidly progressing MG after her thyroid had been removed
because of hyperthyroidism. Within 2 days of starting manganese therapy she
showed marked improvement. However, in this case it took two to three years
until she was completely well. In the following years she had two relapses,
which cleared up each time within a few weeks with manganese therapy. This
included shrinking of the enlarged thymus during the initial therapy and the
last relapse.
Another interesting case
was an elderly male who first developed signs of systemic lupus erythematosus
and after several years also signs of Parkinson's disease. Many years later MG
appeared. Nutritional therapy including manganese soon removed the symptoms of
all three diseases.
In his summary, Josephson
states that generally, myasthenia cleared up within days to weeks rather than
months. At the same time, hyperplasia of the thymus and thymomas
‘virtually melted away’.
Josephson’s book is
still in print by A-albionic Research under the title: Thymus, Manganese and
Myasthenia Gravis, see www.msen.com or www.addall.com. However, it is written as a
scientific monograph and difficult for most readers to understand. Amazingly,
there is no indication that this method has been tested in a clinical trial,
despite Josephson having presented it before the American Association for
Advancement of Science at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1946.
Josephson also reports the
complete failure of nutritional and manganese therapy in a myasthenia gravis
patient who had his thymus removed. He continued to deteriorate and died 9
years after the onset of the disease.
Removal of the thymus gland
is widely practiced as long-term therapy for MG. Most patients improve for a
period and some may continue improving, while others soon deteriorate again. I
believe that the great variability of thymectomy outcomes is due to so-called
accessory thymuses or pockets of thymus tissue that may be present in the neck
area. These will often be sufficient to maintain a reasonable manganese
metabolism and, with this, enable an eventual recovery. On the other hand, if
all thymus tissue has been removed, then a full recovery may not be possible.
However, I am cautiously optimistic that even then a holistic approach can
still lead to considerable improvement and to some regrowth of any remaining
traces of thymus tissue.
Also the removal of the
thyroid makes a cure more difficult as one of Josephson’s case histories
shows. In addition to enlargement and tumors of the thymus, MG patients
frequently have problems with other endocrine glands, such as the thyroid,
pituitary and adrenal glands. There is a close relationship between the thymus
and the thyroid in that hyperthyroidism generally leads to myasthenia or
muscular debility as well as to hyperplasia of the thymus. As the disease
progresses, most or all of the endocrine glands, organs, and metabolic
functions tend to deteriorate. This, then, requires in addition to manganese
therapy individualized support with a wide range of nutrients and remedies as
well as a diet of highest quality.
Another set of problems may
arise if the disease is due to chemical poisoning. This happened to Simon Kelly
as reported on his website www.myasthenia.co.uk.
He had developed MG once before, apparently due to extensively working with oil
paints in a confined space. Six years later he had another stressful period
during which he painted his house and burned off old paint. Not only did he
develop MG a second time, but his blood became very alkaline and his red blood
cells ‘looked like sea urchins’, shriveled up, black, and full of
spikes. He also believes that a high consumption of soymilk contributed to his
condition by causing intestinal inflammation and diarrhea.
After an odyssey of
orthodox and alternative treatments, he had his first real improvement during a
short period on manganese supplements, and then continued to improve further
with Buteyko-type breathing to reduce the alkalinity of his blood. He also used
some wheat grass juice. However, his best improvement came after several months
of stagnation when he tried a second lot of manganese. His eyes were
better than they had been for many years, and the strength of his
legs improved tremendously.
I believe that in this case
the poisoning of the energy-producing mitochondria caused an acute deficiency
of metabolic acids, especially citric acid, in addition to leaching of
potassium from the poisoned cells. This is like developing chronic fatigue
syndrome in addition to MG and may have contributed as much to his weakness as
the MG itself. In such cases clearly the highest quality of support is
required.
From my own experience I
can confirm that manganese therapy does work. My first MG patient was a female
golf professional. She improved on a raw-food diet, but only gradually. When
she started taking manganese, she was back to playing golf within a few weeks.
Initially she still had some double vision, which cleared up after one warm
castor oil pack over the eyes. Another patient also recovered fully within
weeks. I may add that in addition to manganese, Josephson as well as I
recommended improved nutrition and suitable other supplements in all cases.
A Holistic Theory of
myasthenia gravis
From the various known
facts and indications we can now come to an understanding of the likely cause
of MG.
The decisive experiment, in
which antibodies from a MG patient attacked receptors in healthy muscles, shows
that the basic problem is with the antibody production and not with the muscle
receptors of the myasthenics. This means that the muscle receptors are basically
healthy and the antibodies are produced against something else and attack the
muscle receptors only as innocent bystanders. The real target may actually be
in the thymus itself, as it has been shown that the thymus contains muscle-type
cells with acetylcholine receptors.
As the thymus is obviously
diseased, at least in all advanced cases of MG, this suggests that the
antibodies may actually be formed against faulty receptors in the thymus
itself. After all, the thymus develops antibodies against many other
conditions, but does not normally become diseased itself as it does in MG. My
conclusion is that thymus receptors become faulty and susceptible to attack due
to manganese deficiency. Otherwise the autoimmune attack would not stop and
patients start rapidly improving within days of manganese supplementation.
However, there may be
additional factors to trigger an attack. A relevant observation is the presence
of acetylcholine receptors in various bacteria, especially in E. coli, the
most common type of bacteria in the large intestines. If the intestinal wall is
weak, bacterial proteins or endotoxins can pass from the intestines into the
bloodstream and cause antibodies to develop against any bacterial receptors.
These antibodies, originally formed against E. coli receptors may, in turn,
initiate the attack on thymus receptors in the presence of manganese
deficiency. A surplus of antibodies spills over into the bloodstream and will
then attack healthy muscle receptors.
The thymus, attacking
itself, is unable to obtain sufficient manganese from a diet with marginal
manganese levels, even after the invasion of E. coli endotoxins has
stopped. Therefore, symptoms of MG persist until a sufficiently high manganese
intake allows the thymus receptors to restructure and the attack by its own
antibodies to stop.
The most common causes for
a weak intestinal wall that lets endotoxins invade the bloodstream are
inflammatory conditions due to gluten sensitivity, food allergy, and Candida
overgrowth. It may also be due to general dysbiosis of the intestinal tract as
caused by prolonged or repeated antibiotic treatment. Commonly this is combined
with a malfunctioning ileocecal valve, which normally prevents bacteria from
the large intestines to invade the small intestines. It is possible that the
same inflammatory changes that allow bacterial toxins to pass the intestinal
wall also reduce the absorption of manganese.
An alternative or
additional model of MG may be based on the observation that MG frequently
starts during or following a prolonged period of intense stress. Commonly, this
is emotional stress but may also be due to malnutrition, chemical exposure, or
food sensitivity. This tends to lead to weakness or exhaustion of the adrenal
glands, which manifests as an unusual sensitivity of myasthenics to stress.
The adrenal glands have a
direct influence on the thymus in that a high level of adrenocortical steroids
leads to its atrophy, while adrenal exhaustion, as in Addison’s disease,
tends to retard or prevent the normal involution of the thymus after puberty.
With MG this adrenal weakness may either prevent the thymus from utilizing
manganese or it may be combined with manganese deficiency to produce faulty
thymus receptors. This, then, leads to the formation of antibodies that attack
healthy muscle receptors as an unintended side effect.
Manganese deficiency may
also be due to a diet high in refined food - white bread, for instance, has
only 5% of the manganese content of whole meal bread. Produce grown organically
in mineral-rich soil can have more than a hundred times the manganese content
than if grown commercially with synthetic fertilizers. The highest and lowest
values for manganese found in lettuce were 169 ppm and 1 ppm respectively.
Furthermore, a lack of
gastric acid leads to reduced mineral absorption, while inorganic (ferric) iron
makes manganese unavailable and destroys vitamin E. Also prolonged use of
antibiotics can cause manganese deficiency. Finally, even manganese-rich whole
meal bread may not be of much help, because the high phytate content of whole
meal binds and makes manganese and other minerals unavailable. Minerals only
become readily available after phytates break down. This happens when seeds are
sprouted or properly fermented as in sourdough bread.
Several factors may come
together to upset the utilization of manganese by the thymus, such as a
marginal intake or malabsorption, a low level of anti-stress vitamins during a
stressful period, infection, food allergy and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Sometimes, especially in
milder conditions, the symptoms of MG may disappear even without additional
manganese when high-level anti-stress vitamins are supplied, as these may
reduce inflammatory conditions and improve the efficiency of the thymus in
utilizing manganese. Similarly, a high-quality low-allergy or raw-food diet may
have the same beneficial effect. It supplies increased amounts of manganese and
may at the same time correct intestinal conditions. With a normalized manganese
metabolism in the thymus, the faulty acetylcholine receptors can be quickly
repaired and the production of receptor antibodies stops.
The remaining question is
why the thymus becomes enlarged. Josephson suggested that the thymus reacts in
a similar way to manganese deficiency as the thyroid gland to iodine
deficiency. Both react with hypertrophy. He saw the proof for this assumption
in the observed rapid shrinking of the enlarged thymus with manganese
supplements, in the same way as the enlarged thyroid shrinks with iodine
supplements.
THE DIET
Raw-food diets have
generally been show to improve and possibly cure MG. Therefore it is advisable
to use a high percentage of food raw and in easily digestible form, such as
freshly pressed vegetable juice. This may require a dedicated helper. Grass
juice grown in mineral-rich soil is high in manganese. The best juice is made
from mixed wheat and barley grass together with red beet. Add other vegetables
as available; possibly flavor with apple, ginger root and bee pollen. Drink a
glassful very slowly before most meals.
Another excellent food is
sprouted seeds. They are high in enzymes and their minerals can easily be
absorbed. Easy to sprout are mung beans, brown lentils and fenugreek. If
chewing is difficult, these may be juiced as well or pureed or even cooked. If
chewing is not a problem, then use sprouted seeds as part of a vegetable salad
prepared with gelatin and finely grated root vegetables, such as red beet,
carrot and turnip. As salad dressing use lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil,
herbs, spices and possibly the yolk of a free-range egg.
As cooked food use mainly
fresh vegetables, arrowroot, sago, tapioca, rice and lentils. Buckwheat flour
may be used for binding instead of gluten flour. Instead of cows' milk use rice
milk or almond milk; also yogurt, cheese or cottage cheese from goats' milk.
Tealeaves and walnuts are high in manganese (15 mg /100 g). Use fruits
cautiously before or between meals.
Frequently use beef broth,
also for flavoring salads. While beef is often beneficial for muscle strength,
it should be in an easily digestible form, such as steamed or boiled minced
meat. Better still is raw beef or lamb, see Raw Food Diet.
In addition, simmer fish heads for several hours with the addition of vinegar
or lemon juice in a non-metal pot. Blend and strain the broth as a source of
gelatin and minerals. Steamed fish or seafood is fine. Use only beef that has
been grass-fed and fish low in mercury, see www.grassfedorganics.com and www.mercola.com.
Initially avoid and after
recovery and allergy testing minimize:
This means basically to use
only fresh whole foods, preferably organically grown and nothing that has been
processed. Salted food is beneficial with weak adrenal glands and low blood
pressure (below 120/80).
After recovery you may
carefully introduce new foods to this strict diet. Test your muscle strength
before and after each new food; also compare the pulse rate before and 30 and
60 minutes after meals. An unusual rise is a sign of allergy.
This MG diet is only a
start and a generalization. You then have to adjust the diet to your specific body
conditions as with food allergy testing or closely observing how your body
strength changes with different foods and keeping a diary about it. If you
deteriorate again after adding new foods, then return to the strict diet and
when improved repeat the testing. For more detailed information about any
aspects of this diet see Healing Foods.
Supplements
Initially take 15 mg of
manganese with each meal, best as chelated manganese. If manganese sulfate is
used, dissolve 25 g in 500 ml of water. One ml of this contains 12 mg in the
case of hydrated manganese sulfate and 18 mg with water-free manganese sulfate.
After sufficient
improvement gradually reduce and eventually stop manganese supplementation, but
use it again if there is a relapse. With slow-responding conditions, such as
after a thymectomy, reduce the dose after one month to 15 mg of manganese with
one meal only in order to avoid deficiencies in other trace minerals from
developing.
With meals or 3 times daily
take a high-potency multi-vitamin-mineral tablet; additionally 400 IU of natural
vitamin E as water-soluble d-alpha tocopheryl succinate, not as oil-filled
capsules.
Experiment with additional
vitamin C, up to 10 g daily in divided doses, partly as calcium ascorbate, the
rest as sodium ascorbate.
Initially weekly vitamin
B12 injections (1000 mcg) may be
beneficial, alternatively or subsequently absorb a 500-mcg vitamin B12 tablet
under the tongue once a day. Mix a teaspoon of lecithin granules with each meal
as a source of acetylcholine.
Another beneficial
supplement is vitamin A. Use 10 or 20,000 IU as liquid emulsified vitamin A
once a day. This is especially important if the thymus has been surgically
removed, but also with fat malabsorption and signs of vitamin A deficiency,
such as night blindness, poor dark adaptation and longitudinal ridges of the
fingernails. In this case continue with vitamin A for a long time. However,
watch out for signs of overdose, in particular headaches, dizziness, blurred
vision, joint pain, dry lips, scaly and dry skin and excessive hair loss. For
this purpose beta-carotene is not a suitable substitute for vitamin A.
After thymus removal take 3
to 6 capsules of freeze-dried thymus daily, preferably keep each opened capsule
in the mouth to absorb partly under the tongue, also use it temporarily if the
thymus has been severely damaged by X-ray treatments.
Licorice root should be
beneficial in all conditions to activate the adrenal glands. Take one capsule
with each meal. However, do not use it with high blood pressure. With
indications of severe adrenal weakness also freeze-dried adrenals may be
beneficial, absorb under the tongue.
If the digestion is weak,
use digestive enzymes and possibly hydrochloric acid tablets with cooked protein
meals. Glycine is an important amino acid for muscle functions, up to a
tablespoon has been used with meals; however, it may not be required with an
ample intake of gelatin as from boiled fish heads.
To normalize the intestinal
tract, have cultures of acidophilus and bifido bacteria as high-potency
capsules. Initially take 2 or 3 capsules before each meal, after sufficient
improvement, reduce that to one per meal and later one per day.
Other recommended
supplements to improve vitality and wellbeing in general are coenzyme Q10,
freeze-dried liver, bee pollen, spirulina, ginseng and MSM. If fresh wheat or
barley grass juice is not used then take commercial dried barley grass juice.
Increase supplement dosages
only gradually and with self-observation, the recommended maximum amounts may
be too much for you. After recovery gradually reduce supplement intake, but
continue with the full amount of multi-vitamin-mineral tablets. The mentioned
natural food concentrates may be used liberally and indefinitely.
ADDITIONAL THERAPY
Avoid stress, emotional
upsets, hot baths, hot showers and hot food, have plenty of rest. Before
performing a difficult task, close your eyes and vividly imagine performing
that task with ease. Then open your eyes and do it. As much as possible be
outside in natural surroundings. Have frequent short expose of your unprotected
skin to mild sunlight.
After thymectomy try to
re-grow sufficient functional tissue from any still existing pockets of thymus
cells. You may have acupuncture or use a magnetic pulser over the thymus area
and experiment with the following methods.
Dissolve some chelated
manganese in water, together with some MSM or aloe vera, and rub it into the
hollow above the breastbone or sternum and along its upper sides. Frequently
tap the top of the breastbone over the thymus with the fingers and tap the
vertebrae at the base of the neck. Strongly press into any tender point along
the upper sides of the sternum and into the sternum itself between the first
and second rib. Also press strongly into any tender thymus reflex around the
ball of each big toe and thumb. You may need a helper to do this.
Use guided imagery: see or
feel a brilliant white or golden healing light enter the top of your head, flow
through your muscles and organs, strengthening and invigorating them. Fill the
thymus with this light; see or feel small pockets of remaining thymus tissue
re-growing to form a healthy thymus. Look up an anatomical atlas for the
location and appearance of a normal thymus. Do these exercises daily for about
an hour, preferably combined with warm castor oil packs over the thymus area.
Warm castor oil packs over
the liver and abdomen, thymus and eyes are beneficial by increasing blood
circulation and strengthening the treated area. They are especially effective
over the eyes for improving double vision. Use a woolen cloth moistened with
castor oil and keep it warm for 1 - 2 hours with a hot water bottle. Repeat as
often as required.
If improvement is rather
slow, as after thymectomy and in very advanced conditions, use additional
therapies, such as acupuncture, liver cleanse, and herbal parasite cure. Have
your teeth checked by a holistic dentist. Any dead teeth, as with root canal
fillings, should be removed. Replace mercury amalgam fillings with plastic
composite and check for osteitis in the jawbone. Be especially mindful
of the teeth in the upper 5 positions, which in acupuncture are related to the
thymus. Preferably have no metal in the mouth but definitely not two different
kinds of metal. Pure gold is least harmful, but commonly in dentistry a cheaper
alloy containing palladium is being used.
In all conditions it is essential to use extensive intestinal sanitation
and antimicrobial therapy as shown in Candida and the
Antibiotic Syndrome. If the thymus has been removed also additional
selenium is important to strengthen the immune system, up to 200 mcg daily.
Conclusion
It seems that MG has a
tendency to reappear in stressful situations, especially in combination with an
unbalanced or unsuitable diet and chemical exposure, which may include medical
drugs. Therefore, if your recovery is slow or difficult and also to minimize
the possibility of a relapse, make sure that you have corrected all conditions
that might weaken your immune system and your adrenal glands. To do this