The prevalence of multiple sclerosis, a destruction of the myelin sheaths around the rapidly conducting nerve fibres of the central nervous system, has increased massively in all industrialized countries. Initially, the neurological deficits recede because the nervous system can partially repair the damage. MS is not a hereditary disease in the strict sense, and it is not contagious, although several bacterial pathogens can trigger relapses when the brain has already been damaged by neurodegenerative processes caused by malnutrition, neurotoxins and oxidative stress. Vitamin D reduces the risk, while intoxication with mercury from amalgam fillings, consumption of fish, vaccines, pesticides, T-shirts containing tin, organic solvents, wood preservatives and electromagnetic pollution are further important causes of multiple sclerosis.

Obesity, Western diet, salted animal food, high homocysteine levels and lack of exercise increases the risk of MS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, while a vegan nutrition and omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk. Malnutrition causes a disturbance of the intestinal flora, considered as an extremely important cause of MS. It causes lipid peroxidation in the myelin layers of the brain. Lack of sleep before midnight and melatonin deficiency is considered an important partial cause of MS. For more than 100 years, patients with MS have been healed at the Bircher-Benner Clinic with a fresh vegetable raw food diet, careful detoxification and a new, healthy lifestyle. This path to healing is carefully described in our Manual Number 1: “For Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases,” ready for practical use.

Dr. med. Andres Bircher: