Chemical Imbalance

[Pjash]

Someone shared a theory with me today; that MS and certain other diseases are caused by chemical imbalances. My first reaction was, what? Besides the fact that all sources I've ever seen say they do not know what causes MS, I found that this disturbed me.

Can I get some feedback from you all.

[Thinkimjob]

Who knows? No one knows what causes MS. They know what it does, but they don't know why it starts or how to stop it.
There are theories galore, and you'll hear most of them eventually. Some are just plain ridiculous, some are quite reasonable. Some want to "blame" the victim - you've got it because you did this or didn't do that.
Take everything with a very large grain of salt.
Can't (probably literally) wait to find out.

[KatieAgain]

Someone shared a theory with me today; that MS and certain other diseases are caused by chemical imbalances. My first reaction was, what? Besides the fact that all sources I've ever seen say they do not know what causes MS, I found that this disturbed me.

Can I get some feedback from you all.

No they do not know what causes MS. Lots of theories, lots of studies, lots of "my friends cousins dermatologist's son says"...but no concrete evidence of exactly what causes MS.

[misslux]

Do they have a source for this theory? Which chemical is involved?

[JerryD]

Oh, come on. I tried lots of chemicals and none seem to have 'balanced' me.
But honestly, there seems to be a connection between the body's ability to regulate endorphin production and the effects of MS. But, I am sure there is more to it than that.

[tracibk]

I think if it was something as easy as a chemical imbalance we would have a cure.....I wish it was!!!

[Pjash]

Misslux: The person that was telling me about it heard it from a man that we go to church with. He didn't know much about it, but believes it. The guy from church told him there was a lot of research on it, but I couldn't find anything. That people's backgrounds (parents leaving you, upbringing, situations you go through) all create this imbalance which then creates this disease.

It didn't add up to me because it would mean a certain imbalance, mixture of chemicals, is what causes MS. It's unlikely that all who suffer from this have it because we 'share' the same chemical imbalance. I told this person that I didn't think there was cause and effect here. But wanted to ask others. I was diagnosed at 19 just weeks before turning 20. I'm 22 now, and haven't had a serious relapse since the one that led to my diagnosis. The person who told me about this theory insisted that I haven't relapsed because my 'imbalance' has somehow fixed up. My disbelief is also in part because of the fact that no tests, and no doctors have ever said anything about me even having a chemical imbalance.

I honestly was upset tht this person was telling me this. Like thinkimjob said, it really felt like blame was being assigned.

[knuckle]

I think there's something to that.

Look at this new Tecfidera drug, which is a chemical called "fumaric acid esters" or "dimethyl fumarate". This drug is also used as a Psoriasis treatment to correct a defect in the Citric Acid Cycle. People with Psoriasis are thought to have a problem making fumaric acid.

I also think it's no coincidence that Psoriasis and MS are more common at latitudes where it is more difficult to get vitamin D through direct sunlight on your skin. People at those same latitudes who get their vitamin D through diet have lower incidences, like Eskimos and Norwegians who eat lot's of oily fish rich in vitamin D.

You need vitamin D to make the Citric Acid Cycle function correctly and that may have something to do with the fumaric acid defect. People with MS and Psoriasis usually do better when exposed to direct sunlight/vitamin D.

This still doesn't explain "why" however.

The Citric Acid Cycle is the way our cells create energy and Endorphin production is part of it. Endorphins are hormones that reduce pain and increase pleasure. Endorphins also regulate the body's immune system by modulating Tcell activity.

In the end, like JerryD posted, an Endorphin deficiency may be the culprit. This supports why Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), which has the therapeutic action of increasing endorphins circulating in the blood, seems to help people with MS, Psoriasis, many other "autoimmune" diseases, as well as some cancers.

[JanG1360]

Wow

Sorry to tell you but most pastors will blame you for MS saying you where bad or did something wrong in the eyes in his ( your ) all mighty god.

that is bull and if it was a chemical imbalance we would have had a cure a longtime ago

my grandmother has had MS since she was 24 yrs and she is in her 70's now. If there where a cure we would know

[Pjash]

Knuckle; yes, I've heard some of that and thank you for sharing. I am taking vitamin D everyday as 'prescribed' by my neurologist. Ultimately, I guess I just want a definite cause but that may be years away. I try to read upon ms and check out some of the research, but that stuff can be a downer.

JanG1360- yes, some pastors in fact do. My pastor does not, that is why I was especially thrown that a member of my congregation had these theories. Chemical imbalance, ok, if that turns out to be the cause I'd accept that, but one's past relationships, upbringing, etc., the things you go through being the cause? I feel a way about that. We're all too different.

[justacowgirl]

[QUOTE=JanG1360;1424638]Sorry to tell you but most pastors will blame you for MS saying you where bad or did something wrong in the eyes in his ( your ) all mighty god.

that is bull and if it was a chemical imbalance we would have had a cure a longtime ago[QUOTE]

My God doesn't cause disease. And, when I do bad things he forgives me. If a pastor told me I was being punished I would know he was not a man of God. I doubt I can change your opinion but my Almighty God knows you also.

And we don't discuss religion on this forum.

[SNOOPY]

Sorry to tell you but most pastors will blame you for MS saying you where bad or did something wrong in the eyes in his ( your ) all mighty god.

Well, that has not been my experience with Pastors, sorry if it's been yours. I have 2 family members who are Pastors, a son who holds men's bible studies and a friend who is a Pastor.

I have never told I am to blame for MS.

And we don't discuss religion on this forum.

Very true, but since it has been brought up I only have one other thing to say....

justacowgirl:
If a pastor told me I was being punished I would know he was not a man of God.

Amen

[MSer102]

This "theory" made me laugh out loud! Our bodies are nothing but chemicals so EVERYTHING that's wrong is a "chemical imbalance". Being run over by a bus and bleeding to death is a chemical imbalance. Having a cold is a chemical imbalance. Being deprived of sleep causes a chemical imbalance. Eating garbage "food" causes a chemical imbalance. Great theory from somebody who knows nothing and likes to flap his/her gums.

Pjash I can see why this theory disturbed you. It's disturbing the way it was presented and disturbing that somebody believes they have the "key to the universe" when it comes to diseases. Disturbing but also so bad it's funny!