Michaël Friedman - Theres No Pill for This: A Naturopathic Physicians Personal Prescription for Managing Multiple Sclerosis

Praise for Theres No Pill for This

My wife lived with MS for fifty years, and her diagnosis started me on the road to holistic health and medicine. I never let her know what her neurologist predicted, and her diagnosis helped me start to teach patients how to live well and cultivate a survivor personality. Dr. Michal Friedman is what I call a native. He is living the experience; he is not a tourist who doesnt understandwho treats the disease but not the person experiencing it. I truly recommend Theres No Pill for This because it contains the wisdom of a health care professional who also has the experience of being a patient. Read and learnparticipate in your own health and healing and let his wisdom guide you on your journey.

BERNIE SIEGEL, MD, author of No Endings, Only Beginnings and Love, Medicine & Miracles

Though no one wants to partake in trial-by-fire, the experience does, in fact, carve a powerful path and purpose. Dr. Friedmans touching account of the circuitous exploration of his health challenges will help others return to the sacred rhythm of their own lives. He reminds us that we are more than our body and our diagnosis, and offers empowering, insightful, scientifically informed, terrain-based anecdotes and recommendations to address a devastating disease with wisdom and wit.

NASHA WINTERS, ND, FABNO, coauthor of The Metabolic Approach to Cancer ; founder, drnasha.com

Theres No Pill for This combines the best of conventional medical treatments with a wide range of complimentary and holistic healing modalities for people with MS. The author, a brilliant and compassionate doctor, has written not only a practical guidebook for both health care professionals and people suffering with MS, but also the inspiring story of his own healing journey. Written with insight, compassion, and humor, this deeply personal book offers hope and direction to all of those suffering from MS and other neurological disorders.

ROSEMARY GLADSTAR, herbalist; author; founder, Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center

Dr. Michal Friedman has written the most robust, informative, easily accessible, and helpful book ever for those trying to navigate the rough road of multiple sclerosis. Part personal journey, part modern research, and part clinical pearls, this wonderfully researched guidebook covers a wide variety of conventional, nutritional, and natural therapies as well as novel approaches. I highly recommend this treasure trove of options for patients and their doctors alike.

DR. JILL STANSBURY, ND, author of Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals

Michal Friedman gives us a clear, genuine, firsthand account of the physical, psychological, and emotional obstacles that MS patients face each day. Through his own experiences, Dr. Friedman has gained immense knowledge and understanding about living with MS, and he uses his wisdom and skills to speak directly to others dealing with such challenges. He lays out the options for therapeutic strategies, weaving in diet, herbs, mindset, nutritional supplements, and many lifestyle activities that can improve the quality of life for MS patients. Theres No Pill for This is not only for those living with MS, but also for those who live with MS patients, and it will help health providers broaden their perspective and understanding of what their patients must deal with.

DR. MARY BOVE, ND, author of Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants

Michal Friedman has written the first comprehensive integrative protocol for multiple sclerosis. This book was born out of his fight not only for survival, but also for the right to live a full life with a health condition that can have a terrible prognosis. Theres No Pill for This is a must-read for clinicians and patients who choose to fight for a better now and a longer tomorrow. Thank you, Dr. Friedman, for bringing your own journey to the public to help others.

DR. DECKER WEISS, NMD, naturopathic cardiologist; founder, Peace Possible

A unique and powerful personal account of living with MS and using natural strategies to navigate the physical, psychological, and emotional challenges of this mysterious and debilitating condition. Theres No Pill for This is a helpful guide to empower and offer hope for patients living with MS.

AMY BERGER, MS, CNS, author of The Alzheimers Antidote and The Stall Slayer

Theres No Pill for This

A Naturopathic Physicians Personal Prescription for Managing

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Dr. Michal Friedman, ND

Chelsea Green Publishing

White River Junction, Vermont

London, UK

Copyright 2020 by Michal Friedman

All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all illustrations copyright 2020 by Michal Friedman.

No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

Project Manager: Alexander Bullett

Editor: Fern Marshall Bradley

Copy Editor: Laura Jorstad

Proofreader: Diane Durrett

Indexer: Shana Milkie

Designer: Melissa Jacobson

Page Layout: Abrah Griggs

Printed in Canada.

First printing October 2020.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 120 21 22 23 24

Our Commitment to Green Publishing

Chelsea Green sees publishing as a tool for cultural change and ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book manufacturing practices with our editorial mission and to reduce the impact of our business enterprise in the environment. We print our books and catalogs on chlorine-free recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks whenever possible. This book may cost slightly more because it was printed on paper that contains recycled fiber, and we hope youll agree that its worth it. Theres No Pill for This was printed on paper supplied by Marquis that is made of recycled materials and other controlled sources.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Friedman, Michal, 1968- author.

Title: Theres no pill for this : a naturopathic physicians personal prescription for managing multiple sclerosis / Dr. Michal Friedman, ND.

Description: White River Junction, Vermont : Chelsea Green Publishing, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020036561 (print) | LCCN 2020036562 (ebook) | ISBN 9781603589727 (paperback) | ISBN 9781603589734 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Multiple sclerosisAlternative treatment. | Naturopathy.

Classification: LCC RC377 .F75 2020 (print) | LCC RC377 (ebook) | DDC 616.8/34dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036561

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036562

Chelsea Green Publishing

85 North Main Street, Suite 120

White River Junction, VT 05001

Somerset House

London, UK

www.chelseagreen.com

To all the patients who have neurological disease, and to their loved ones who support them.

Contents

My deep gratitude goes to my wife, Sarika Tandon, who has been a great support for me in this journey, along with my very supportive children, family, and friends. Im also grateful to my healers and neurologists and all the people before me who have had the wisdom to understand the complexity of the body and the powerful healing systems passed down from our global ancestors.

Finally, Id like to offer a heartfelt thank-you to all my peers who have helped in terms of reviewing, writing, editing, commenting on, and contributing to the design of this book: Jane Dunbar; Gary Miller; Liz Sutherland, ND; Mary Bove, ND; Jen Palmer, ND; Karan Baucom, MD; and Tim Newcomb.