We are huge fans of research like the following, that shows a common and readily available supplement may have beneficial therapeutic effect on MS. The supplement: N-acetyl-L-cysteine (commonly referred to as NAC), which can be obtained at most health food stores.

The study was done on the rat model of MS, EAE, which has been shown time and again to not mimic the human variant of MS. However, the pathways that NAC seems to affect are commonly accepted as being involved in human MS, so a reasonable argument could be made for applicability across the models.

Certainly, research like this is empowering and a refreshing change of pace from the "expected release in 2010" we see in pharmaceutical clinical research, but then again, the benefit of such a supplement is not quantified and has not been subject to trial in humans.

"We report that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment blocked induction of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and iNOS in the CNS and attenuated clinical disease in the myelin basic protein induced model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats... These observations indicate that NAC treatment may be of therapeutic value in MS against the inflammatory disease process associated with the infiltration of activated mononuclear cells into the CNS."

Click "read more" for the study abstract...

Here's a new story about how curcumin could have a positive effect on the serious chronic illness, cystic fibrosis. Studies last year showed that turmeric could likewise have a positive effect on multiple sclerosis patients.

"A bright yellow spice common in curry might hold a key to treating deadly cystic fibrosis.

Eating large doses of a substance found in the spice turmeric significantly cut deaths among mice with the genetic disease, and scientists soon will begin studying the effects in people...

The next step: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is funding a first-stage study in two dozen CF patients this summer to hunt for an appropriate dose and check for side effects.

But both Caplan and the CF Foundation stress not to try curcumin treatment on your own.

Aside from possible drug interactions, treatments that help mice don't always help people — and because dietary supplements are largely unregulated, there's no proof supplies are pure, they caution."

Click "read more" to read the full story...

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a readily available supplement... in this experiment, giving it orally to animals prevented them from getting EAE (which is supposedly the animal model of Multiple Sclerosis). However, the tricky part of this study is that in animals that had already developed EAE, it does not seem that oral administration helped, but rather an injection-administration was required :(

Still it now seems that taking ALA is a very smart thing to do for people with MS.

"alpha-Lipoic acid (alpha-LA) is a neuroprotective metabolic antioxidant that has been shown to cross the blood brain barrier. We tested whether alpha-LA is capable to prevent MOG35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Daily oral administration of alpha-LA, starting at the time of immunization, significantly prevented EAE progression as compared to control mice...

Our data indicate that alpha-LA can effectively interfere with the autoimmune reaction associated with EAE through mechanisms other than its antioxidant activity and supports further studies on the use of alpha-LA as a potential therapy for MS."

Click "read more" for the full abstract...

A general article on using herbs to treat illness, with specific comments on Echnicea, St. John's Wort, and Ginkgo. There's also a warning about using Echnicea if you have multiple sclerosis.

"Echinacea "should not be used if you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis," Anding said. "Like other herbs, Echinacea can also affect prescription medications and can sometimes cause allergic reactions."