This an an excerpt from the book:
Silica Water the Secret of Healthy Blue Zone Longevity in the Aluminum Age by Dr. Dennis N Crouse
This book is available on Amazon link to book on Amazon
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a
demyelinating disease in which demyelination of nerve cell axons occurs in the
central nervous system (i.e. spinal cord and brain). Myelin sheaths on nerve
cell axons electrically insulate the axons allowing them to very quickly
transfer impulses. Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cells that create
myelin sheaths. Environmental chemicals that disrupt the biochemistry of oligodendrocytes
will cause inflammatory demyelination lesions on axons, interference of axonal
nerve conduction, and ultimately multiple sclerosis with a range of symptoms
including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems. Cognitive
impairment occurs in up to 65 percent of those with MS346. The
specific symptoms of MS depend upon the location of the inflammatory lesions in
the nervous system. MS is triggered by both environmental and genetic factors
that increase the individual’s risk of MS347.
MS was first described in
1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot348. Approximately 2.3 million people worldwide
were affected by MS in 2015 and 18,900 people died of MS worldwide in 2015 compared
with 12,000 people in 1990349. MS is usually diagnosed between 20 to
50 years of age being most commonly diagnosed at age 30. Twelve twin pairs with
identical genetics (i.e. monozygotic) were given a firm clinical diagnosis of
MS in one or both twins. In 6 twin pairs only one twin had MS and in the other
6 twin pairs both twins had MS350. This suggests that the causes of
MS include both environmental and genetic factors.
In 1980 the prevalence of MS
was shown to have a strong dependence on the latitude at which people were
living351. The number of deaths per year due to MS is a good
indication of the prevalence of MS and this is shown globally in Figure 28349.
Migration studies indicated that adult migrants generally retained the MS risk
of their birthplace. However, it was found that those migrating under 15 years
of age by moving either closer of further from the equator acquired the risk of
their new residence351. A review in 2008 revealed that in the
previous 30 years the MS incidence was both less dependent upon latitude and
from 1955 to 2008 the female MS to male MS ratio had increased during this
period from 1.4 to 2.3352.
Figure 28
– Deaths from multiple sclerosis as a function of latitude in 2012349
The latitude dependence of MS
is similar to that of autism in that both diseases are found at lower prevalence
in the tropics351,353. Since
the production of vitamin D3 in the body requires sunlight and there is more
sunlight per day in the tropics, it has been theorized that vitamin D3 may play
a role in preventing autism and possibly MS354. This role could be
due to vitamin D’s facilitation of aluminum elimination by the kidneys, even in
children with chronic kidneys damage355.
Although multiple sclerosis
and autism have the same latitudinal dependence, the female to male ratio of
those diagnosed with MS is the inverse of that observed in autism. It is known
that young boys absorb more aluminum than young girls possibly accounting for
why there are 4 times more boys than girls who are diagnosed with autism128,129. However MS is a disease of women and men not young
girls and boys. Women who are pregnant have almost no silica in their blood
making them more likely to accumulate aluminum (see Figure 8) 85. It
is known that women who have unrecognized MS will start having MS symptoms
during pregnancy or after delivery when they have almost no silica in their
blood356. Also, up to 40% of
women with relapsing-remitting MS will have a relapse after pregnancy357. This data agrees with the hypothesis that low
silica in the blood during pregnancy results in more aluminum accumulation and
MS symptoms in women.
The incidence rate of MS is
rising at a rate faster than accounted for by either a genetic mutation moving
through the population or improved testing for MS358. Three studies have been published that
examined the temporal variation in MS incidence rates and the female to male MS
ratio and the data is presented in Table 31 and Figure 29359-361.
Table 31. MS Incidence Rates and Female
to Male MS Ratios359-361
|
|||||
Location
|
Latitude
|
Years
|
MS Incidence
(per 100,000)
|
Female to Male
MS Ratio
|
Ref.
|
S.E. Wales, U.K.
|
51oN
|
2006
|
7.30
|
4.3
|
359
|
|
|
1983
|
2.65
|
1.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle, Australia
|
33oS
|
2001-2011
|
6.70
|
3.1
|
360
|
|
|
1986-1996
|
2.45
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
1971-1981
|
2.14
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tehran Province, Iran
|
36oN
|
2005-2006
|
5.68
|
3.1
|
361
|
|
|
1989
|
0.68
|
-
|
|
All three of these areas of
the world have seen a dramatic increase in MS incidence in the last 20 to 30
years. Note that S.E. Wales is furthest
from the equator and it does have both a slightly higher MS incidence rate and
a higher female to male ratio than the other two locations.
Figure 29
– MS Incidence Rates and Worldwide Aluminum Production227-229, 359-361
In the thirty year period
from 1975 to 2005 the MS incidence rate of both S.E. Wales and Newcastle
Australia increased three-fold359,360. During this same period worldwide aluminum
production also increased three-fold. This rise in aluminum production has
resulted in higher aluminum ingestion due to aluminum being added to drinking
water, food, kitchen ware, drugs, vaccines, colored candy, and even inhaled air.
These products increase both aluminum ingestion and aluminum accumulation in
our bodies.
Multiple sclerosis is a
demyelinating disease and myelin is made by cells called oligodendrocytes.
Aluminum negatively impacts myelin production by promoting the peroxidation of
myelin in oligodendrocytes363,364.
Transferrin is a molecular iron transporter required by the body to move
iron across the blood-brain-barrier.
Aluminum can mimic iron due to similar size and ionic charge. Therefore aluminum can be transported into
oligodendrocytes by transferrin. When
aluminum complexed with transferrin is incubated with oligodendrocytes there is
a 3 to 4 fold increase in aluminum inside oligodendrocytes362.
Table 32 -
Metal Ion Induction of ROS in Human Glial Cells219
|
|
Metal
Sulfate
|
Relative
Induction of ROS
|
Aluminum
|
10
|
Iron
|
6
|
Manganese
|
4.5
|
Zinc
|
4
|
Nickel
|
3.5
|
Lead
|
3.5
|
Gallium
|
3
|
Copper
|
3
|
Cadmium
|
3
|
Tin
|
2
|
Mercury
|
1.5
|
Magnesium
|
0
|
Sodium
|
0
|
Myelin is the preferential
target of aluminum-mediated oxidative damage363,364. This oxidation
occurs due to aluminum ions being transported by transferrin into glial cells,
specifically oligodendrocytes364. Aluminum ions act as physiological
stressors by stimulating brain cells to produce oxidizing chemicals (a.k.a.
ROS) that cause inflammation in the brain219,365,366. Table 32 shows
how much ROS is produced from a cell culture of human glial cells exposed to
50nM aqueous solutions of various common metal ions219.
As shown in Table 32 aluminum
tops the list of metal ion inducers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human
glial cells, like oligodendrocytes.
Aluminum at very low concentration (i.e. nanomolar) has also been shown
to induce pro-inflammatory gene expression in human brain cells366. The accumulation of
aluminum in oligodendrocytes causing inflammatory lesions is a likely causal
factor of MS.
Chris Exley’s group at Keele
University has shown that people with MS have a higher than normal body burden
of aluminum. They have also shown that OSA rich drinking water facilitates
aluminum elimination in those with MS. The median daily aluminum excretion in
the urine of people with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS is
7.4 and 2.6 times higher, respectively, than people without MS367. The amount of aluminum excreted by those with relapsing–remitting
MS was twice as high as people suffering aluminum intoxication. The median
aluminum excretion in the urine of 14 out of 15 people with MS was found to 2.5
fold higher when drinking up to 1.5 liters of silica-rich water (35ppm OSA) per
day with women excreting more aluminum than men368. Therefore people with MS
absorb and accumulate more aluminum than normal and silica water facilitates
aluminum elimination in those with MS.
But do people with MS
accumulate more aluminum in their brains than normal? This question was
recently answered by Chris Exley’s group at Keele University369.
They analyzed brain tissue from 14 donors with a diagnosis of MS for aluminum.
They found that the aluminum content of brain tissue in those with MS was
“universally high” with many tissues bearing concentrations in excess of
10mcg/gram dry weight and some exceeding 50mcg/gram dry weight, while 1mcg/gram
dry weight is considered normal. Aluminum specific staining showed aluminum
both inside and outside of cells369.
These results indicate that people with MS have a higher
body-burden of aluminum than normal and some of that aluminum is in their
brains at much higher than normal levels. Drinking silica-rich water facilitates
the elimination of aluminum and possibly ultimately lowers the frequency of
relapsing or slows the progression of MS.
There is limited anecdotal
information available regarding OSA treatment for MS. But in 2014 a book was
published titled the “The Wahls Protochol” written by Dr. Terry Wahls, M.D. 454. Dr. Wahls was diagnosed
with MS eventually requiring a wheelchair. But then miraculously she healed
herself. She can now ride her bike as much as 18 miles in a day. This brings to
my mind the biblical phrase: “Physician heal thyself” (Luke 4:23 King James
Version). She changed her diet and a
number of lifestyle choices that both increased OSA ingestion and decreased
aluminum ingestion and accumulation for example:
·
Consumed at least 6-9 cups of
vegetables a day – Increases OSA ingestion (see Table 23)
·
Consumed much more vegetables
than fruit – Increases OSA ingestion (see Table 23)
·
Added fermented vegetables to
the diet – Increases OSA ingestion
·
Reduced protein in the diet –
Increases OSA ingestion due to substituting vegetables
·
Switched to stainless steel
and cast iron cookware – Lowers aluminum ingestion
·
Used sauna 4 times a week – Facilitates
aluminum elimination that is enhanced with OSA
·
Performed daily aerobic exercise
– Increases hippocampal volume and produces more neuropeptide YY (a.k.a. PYY)
that lowers aluminum absorption and accumulation1.
MS Due to Vaccine Injury
The
human papilloma vaccine (a.k.a. HPV, Gardasil) contains aluminum as an adjuvant
and is given as a series of vaccinations to people aged 9 to 44. The HPV vaccine is primarily given to people at
an age when they have the highest risk of MS.
In 2015
a Scandinavian study of 4 million girls and women age 10 to 44, of whom 800,000
were given the HPV vaccination, reported no statistically significant increased
risk of MS370. Of the 4
million eligible for the study 5,553 individuals were excluded “because of prevalent
multiple sclerosis” and 4,322 individuals were first diagnosed with MS during
the study. However, of the 800,000 who received the HPV vaccination only 73
were diagnosed with MS during a 2 year period following HPV vaccination. However,
30 to 44 year olds who were given the HPV vaccine were shown to have a slightly
increased risk of MS diagnosis within 2 years of vaccination compared to those
who did not receive the vaccine (40/100,000 versus 30/100,000).
The
Scandinavian study did not evaluate the risk of a relapse of MS symptoms due to
the HPV vaccine in those 5,553 people who were excluded “because of prevalent
multiple sclerosis”. These 5,553 girls and women are most likely to be both
aluminum absorbers and negatively impacted by HPV vaccination. For instance, relapse
of MS symptoms, for those diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, is likely
triggered by either high levels of aluminum and/or low levels of silica in
their blood. A study is needed to evaluate the risk of relapse after
vaccination with an aluminum containing vaccine in those people diagnosed with
relapsing-remitting MS. Currently the MS Trust in the U.K. recommends, if you
are experiencing a relapse affecting your ability to carry out daily living
activities, delay vaccination until your symptoms are resolved.
In 2018
in Miami, Florida two teens, one male and one female, who were 14 and 17 years
of age experienced symptoms of MS within 1 to 2 weeks of vaccination with HPV
vaccine371. They both were diagnosed with optic neuritis and had
symptoms of blurred vision and in
one case numbness and weakness in the legs.
Oliogoclonal bands (i.e. bands of immunoglobulins) were found in their
cerebrospinal fluid but not their blood serum indicating inflammation of the
central nervous system that is indicative of MS. Both teens experienced a relapse of symptoms within 2 months of
initial symptoms and were both diagnosed with relapsing–remitting MS371.
MS is a
disease with “obscure symptoms” 371. Therefore MS may fail to be
correctly diagnosed in all cases. In the following anecdotal information from
Facebook we may have an example of undiagnosed relapsing-remitting MS. Possibly
due to both childhood vaccinations with aluminum containing vaccines and a diet
of junk food and healed by drinking silica water and avoiding junk food:
“My son has always been healthy, and I cannot remember a time
where he has needed to go to the doctor in all of his 10 years. But at age 10 he went from healthy to
wheelchair bound in the space of 6 months. First he had blurred vision and I noticed he was walking too close to walls and
hedges, almost walking into them. Then
he had chronic weakness in his legs
and would fall over, unable to move his legs. He was tested and they found
nothing wrong, believing it must be a mental problem. After all these tests he
remained undiagnosed, untreated, and continued to deteriorate physically and
mentally. I researched and followed Chris Exley's advice, giving my son Volvic
silica water each day. We noticed a difference within 3 days, he was out of the
wheelchair within 10 days, and doing PE and gymnastics at school in 45 days. A relapse of symptoms happened recently. Unfortunately
when my son strays off the healthy food and eats junk food over a certain
amount of time, his symptoms reappear. Doctors don't want to admit that they
failed and a daily bottle of silica water cured him. He has been on Volvic water
since November 2016. This is something we will do for as long as we can. It is
not a quick fix and needs to be a lifestyle change. Sorry to say it, the health
system failed us, but Prof Exley's research saved our son. It sounds too simple
to be true, but it worked unquestionably for us.” August 2018
Note that the symptoms in this anecdotal case (i.e. blurred
vision, weakness in the legs, relapse of symptoms) are identical to those
observed recently in Florida after HPV vaccination. These are likely examples
of aluminum in vaccines and/or aluminum in junk food triggering MS or a relapse
of MS symptoms. For more information on aluminum containing junk food to avoid
and vaccines that contain aluminum see Appendix II and III.
Conclusion of Multiple
Sclerosis - MS is a demyelinating disease that slows nerve impulses on nerve
cell axons. The myelin that coats the outside of axons and associated glial
cells (e.g. oligodendrocytes) that make myelin are targets for aluminum
accumulation and toxicity363-364. In several areas of the world the
incidence of MS is rising at the same rate as world-wide aluminum production227-229,
359-361. Aluminum ions are known to damage glial cells by stimulating the
production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) 365. ROS
induced inflammation of glial cells results in inflammatory lesions that are
characteristic of MS347.
Compared with those without
MS, people with relapsing-remitting MS have 7-fold more aluminum and people
with secondary progressive MS have 2.6-fold more aluminum in their urine on
average367. Also people with MS have much higher than
normal concentrations of accumulated aluminum in their brains369. Silica-rich
drinking water has been shown to increase aluminum excretion in the urine by
2.5-fold in those with MS368.
Further research is needed to find if a steady diet of silica-rich
drinking water and/or OSA rich vegetables will lower the frequency of relapsing
or the slow the progression of MS.