Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Over the last few years we have started to see number of people getting impressive results when using the Lightning Process with other neurological conditions such as CFS, Parkinsonian type tremors, cerebral palsy and strokes. As a consequence we were asked whether the Lightning Process could be used for improvement and recovery with any other types of neurological illness, particularly Multiple Sclerosis.
Phil Parker, the designer of The Lightning Process spent some time researching into the possibility of applying the process to Multiple Sclerosis and concluded that:
- There have been interesting findings in cases of relapsing and remitting MS. The sclerotic lesions, that are considered to be the cause and the key diagnostic factor of MS, seemed to be relatively unchanged during both the good and bad phases of the illness. This indicates that the lesions themselves can’t be the only factors involved in the expression of the disease and that that there must be some other variables at work which mediate the strength of the symptoms.
- MS has much in common with many other conditions that we have worked with successfully. There is debate as to whether MS is a neurological or immunological condition, but as the LP has already had good results with other illnesses with this type of mixed pathology, this seems to be a good indicator that there is a possibility of making changes with MS too.
- MS diagnosis and “typing” is a complex procedure, (there are currently 4 types), with clients often having had many different diagnoses before and and/or alongside their MS diagnosis. Again this was something we had seen before in many of our other cases.
Phil Parker hypothesized, "Was it possible to influence these other variables to extend the periods of remission, maybe even to 50, 60 or more years, and maybe even restore function permanently?"
The Lightning Process, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and stress
Overview:
Stress has a powerful effect on MS. During remission, although the lesions change little, the symptoms can totally disappear hinting at a more complex picture than the idea that the lesions alone are responsible for the illness.
MS and stress Research
- Researchers found that stress doubled the risk of worsening MS symptoms, reports researcher D. Buljevac, PhD, a neurologist with with Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He speculated that this is probably because serious stress weakens the immune system. British Medical Journal, 2003
- Gamma interferon-inhibits central nervous system remyelination through a process modulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress Wensheng Lin, April Kemper, Jeffery L. Dupree, Heather P. Harding, David Ron and Brian Popko. The Brain, Oxford Journals Feb 2006
- Improving mood may also improve the immune system in people with multiple sclerosis. Lecture, David C. Mohr, PhD 1999
Physiology of stress and MS
The physiology of how stress affects MS is as yet unclear, but it probably involves gamma interferon, which has a regulatory effect on the immune system.
- Gamma interferon is known to inhibit remyelination, and studies with resolving depression in MS showed improvement in symptoms concurrent with LOWERING of gamma interferon.
- Confusingly, gamma interferon is usually considered to be an immune boosting agent, with levels decreasing during stress and increasing when away from stress.
- These two conflicting bits of information suggest that levels of gamma interferon are both reduced and increased by stress further which suggests that:
- More studies need to be done as to why these different results have been found
- There may be another agent that modifies the way gamma interferon influences the immune system
Whatever the mechanisms at play here, the findings indicate that in stress there is certainly an in-balancing of the immune system and an alteration of proper immune function.
The two possible extremes of immune dysfunction are:
- Low functioning immune system, resulting in:
- An inability to clear infections
- Poor detoxification of all body tissues with resulting poor function of all body system
- Inability to distinguish foreign mater from own components and ‘bad’ cells from good
- Over active, out of control immune system, resulting in:
- Inability to distinguish foreign matter from own components and ‘bad’ cells from good – concluding with attacks directed at own, well functioning tissue (auto immune issues)
- astage of body resources
The Lightning Process, MS and stress
In ME and MS we can see both extremes of immune function, for example, the auto immune response of de-myelination in MS and multiple food and chemical sensitivity in ME, and the low immune function preventing good detoxification of the tissus inducing muscle fatigue, amongst other things.
This picture of mixed immune function suggests either a fluctuation in immune system function and management from moment to moment or certain regions of the body being treated almost as separate entities from each other, with some being policed well and other areas being treated as no go areas. This partition of the body is reminiscent of other immune issues such as eczema or psoriasis, which often only affects certain regions of the skin.
It may be some time until research unravels the complicated mechanisms that are at play when stress affects people with MS, but luckily we don’t have to understand exactly what’s going on at such detailed chemical level in order to be able to positively influence our immune function by reducing our stress.
The Pilot Study
Three years ago Phil Parker began a small pilot project (collecting data using Rand sf 36 and other standard outcome measures) into using the Lightning Process training programme to see if it could help people with MS, the results were encouraging, but the group was too small to make the results publishable.
So far evidence suggests that the crucial factor for change is not whether a client has relapsing/remitting MS or progressive MS. The most relevant factor seems to be the individual's willingness to commit to doing the Lightning Process training programme effectively.
This work has been taken forward by a number of Registered Advanced Lightning Process Practitioners over the last few years and the initial results are astonishingly good. As a result of this we, as an organization, feel it’s time to share this news, with cautious optimism, with others.
Anxiety, Stress and Panic Attacks affect many people's lives, find out how The Phil Parker Lightning Process ™ can help with these conditions.