Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease of the insulative myelin sheath that surrounds nerves, primarily of the spinal cord and brain. Although MS has no cure according to mainstream medicine, there are some anecdotal claims that food sources rich in certain nutrients may be able to prevent MS or mitigate its devastating symptoms. Royal jelly is a highly nutritious compound collected from beehives that may stimulate your immune system and provide the building blocks to properly maintain nerve tissue. Ask your doctor about the potential benefits of supplementing with royal jelly.
Multiple Sclerosis
MS is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that destroys the fatty myelin sheath covering the axons of the central nervous system. As the myelin sheath is destroyed, the nerve tissue is unable to transmit and conduct messages sent from the brain, which leads to muscle, organ and cognitive dysfunction and failure. According to “Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,” MS is more common in women, usually occurs in young adults, and has a prevalence as high as 150 per 100,000 people in countries farthest from the equator. MS is usually diagnosed when symptoms are correlated to spinal plaques or lesions that can be seen on MRI or CT scans.
Potential Causes
The progression of MS is better understood than its cause. According to the textbook “General and Systematic Pathology,” MS most likely occurs as a result of some combination of genetic, environmental and infectious factors, as well as vascular problems or lack of essential nutrients. Vitamin D deficiency has been considered because of the increasing prevalence of the disease in northern countries farthest from the equator. Viral and fungal infections and weakened immunity have also been investigated relative to MS, but medical scientists have yet to isolate direct causes.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is a milky gelatinous compound secreted from the salivary glands of specialized worker bees in order to feed the queen bee and larvae within a beehive. The developing larvae receive the royal jelly for about three days, but the queen eats it exclusively for her entire life. Royal jelly is very nutritious and contains numerous vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids. According to “The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs,” royal jelly is rich in most B vitamins, especially B-2, B-3, B-5, B-12 and folic acid, and it is also a source of vitamin C, many minerals, all eight essential amino acids, hormones and acetylcholine.
Royal Jelly and MS
Officially, there is no cure for MS, but if it is caused by a lack of certain nutrients, then consuming nutrient-rich foods certainly couldn’t hurt. B vitamins, for example, are essential for maintaining the health and function of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves. They are also needed for metabolism, energy production, red blood cell production and the immune system. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and also enhances immunity, which could be important if MS is caused by infections and weakened immunity. Royal jelly also contains acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter needed to transmit nerve messages, which is a function that is gradually lost in those with MS. Further, vitamin B-5 is used in your body to synthesize coenzyme-A, which is needed to produce acetylcholine and reduce stress and anxiety. Royal jelly appears to be safe and a nutritious supplement, but clinical studies are needed to better understand its effects on human health and MS.
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; A. Fauci et al.
- General and Systematic Pathology; Paul Bass et al.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs; Nicola Reavley
Member Comments