Dr. Birgitta Brunes is a Swedish MD who has been living symptoms free for the last 20+ years and helped over 1000 people with MS to improve their lives, thanks to the extensive work and research in this field. She works almost exclusively with MS patients since 1987.
Read my other blog about her treatment plan for MS- Dr.Brunes Method. Her method is absolutely brilliant, and is called “Psycho-Neuro-Immuno-Toxicology”.
I will cover here Dr. Brunes’ story of reversing her MS.
Dr. Brunes makes herself clear- she does not claim she cured her MS, although she managed to remain symptoms free for the last 20+ years. She does not describe in great details the steps she took towards reversing her symptoms like Dr. Terry Wahls, but I can only assume she followed the same steps she later recommended her patients to follow.
This is what I’ve learned from her book, “The Slurred Signals” (2011):
Dr. Brunes’ initial symptoms included extreme fatigue and feeling her legs extremely heavy. She thinks the disease likely started during her teenage years, triggered by metal sensitivities (both nickel and mercury sensitivity confirmed by tests later on). Fatigue was the most important symptom during her first pregnancy (1976), and continued during the following years. Despite feeling extremely tired, she managed to get back to work. Her demanding job in the hospital required night shifts and some traveling. In addition, she was taking care of her little twins. Soon after, she experienced new symptoms- numbness in her feet, legs, abdomen and chest. For the following six years, fatigue was the only symptom. In 1985 however, she had the first episode of vision problems, when she received the diagnosis of optic neuritis. At that point, she suspected MS. Other symptoms included numbness in different parts of the body, very sensitive skin(even the pressure from clothes seemed hard to manage), bladder symptoms, weakness in her right arm, legs and loss of balance. Dr. Brunes would feel overwhelmed at times, with lots of responsibilities- being a mother of four children now, a wife, her work as an MD plus looking after a large farm where they grew vegetables and animals.
In 1986 there was another significant episode of fatigue.
At this point she started to look for solutions: how to reduce stress, manage her tasks and responsibilities, and ask for help. She starts to work with a doctor who helps her understand the importance of neurotransmitters and her treatment aimed to improve norepinephrine, the neurotransmitter that provides power and vigilance. Within one week, her symptoms started to improve. Next, she focused on improving another neurotransmitter, the acetylcholine and added antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids, CoQ10, and Omega 3. She removed her mercury(amalgam) fillings and nickel from her kitchen utensils, as she was sensitive to both metals.
Since 1987 she worked with Dr. Berne-Fromell, treating hundreds of patients with MS (by focusing on correcting the neurotransmitters). In 2011 (at the time she wrote the book), she had only one minor symptom: a mild difficulty to move her outer toes of her left foot. However, this does not prevent her from walking, jumping or running. She follows a healthy diet- the so called Norwegian MS diet which excludes gluten and dairy. More recently, she adopted principles of “The Omega Rx Zone”-by Dr Barry Sears.
Dr. Brunes maintains now a good balance between work and rest. She meditates, and her energy levels are better than ever. Some helpful books recommended by Dr Brunes: Enneagram (Elisabeth Wiktoren) and the 9 life strategies and “Reinventing your life” by Jeffrey E Young and Janet S Klosko.
The key point here: we have psychological needs like love, security, independence, praise, and acceptance. When we don’t get these as we grow up, we develop traumas which lead to physical symptoms later on.
Dr. Brunes learned how to meditate and be more present in the moment – i.e. she recommends you could start with simple tasks like focusing on breathing, or paying more attention to your feet when walking. She started to act- rather than respond with emotions. It is better to not think of anything in advance, neither positive nor negative thoughts, use the “go with the flow” attitude. Of course you should plan and organize the future, but would write this down in her calendar and don’t attach resistance or stressful thoughts.
Despite all her problems to get her life and her health back, Dr. Brunes has nothing to regret. Without MS, she would have not known what she knows now, she would have not been aware of and explore her life, or participate in the process of changing her disease.
My note : In my opinion, this is the best statement you could make in regards to a medical condition. It means taking full responsibility and control of your health and life.
Do you remember the 4 steps that people with MS take in the process of reversing MS ? Let s recap: 1. They lose bodily competence (and experience significant symptoms), 2. They develop responsibility 3. They took control of their health and 4. They adopt a healthier diet, use supplements and other CAM modalities ? I see here that Dr. Brunes took all these steps. She also took a huge step forward : she helped thousands of patients (and counting! ) to do the same.
To get more information about her treatment go to her website and read the details.
Other important advices from Dr. Brunes:
You need to switch from being a victim of MS to developing coping mechanisms .
“The worst advice a doctor can give to a newly diagnosed person with MS is to live life as before”. It is wrong. Since stressful factors often trigger the first episode and relapses, you do need to stop living as before and evaluate your life. “ Ask yourself how have you been? Did you have a good balance-physically and emotionally ? “. Any major traumas (i.e.pregnancy, divorce, the death of a loved one?
She also mentions it is normal to experience grief when you receive the diagnosis, followed by anxiety, depression and feeling a victim (my note: I see she is using a theory similar to Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross’ five stages of grief model: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). I also like her emphasis on acceptance of the disease.
Dr. Brunes mentions final acceptance as a final step in the grief process. Being in denial that you have a problem is replaced by acceptance- this change is important. She notes only when you reach the final acceptance of MS you can start working to reverse the course of the disease. “Final acceptance means you accept what is new, even if you don’t like it, you stop being in denial, you stop fighting with yourself. The pain occurs in the gap between how it actually is (the reality) and how you want to be. Acceptance is a prerequisite for a new orientation, wanting and beginning the process of healing….
Only when you go through all 4 steps (of major loss- which are denial, aggression, depression and acceptance) you can start to change the course of the disease”….
“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation” (resignation would mean you lose your health and you get depressed)…” On the other hand, by accepting the new life you can move forward, make changes and start the healing process.”
“Don’t get angry on the symptoms you experience – that heavy feeling or numbness in your foot tells you something. Is telling you to start taking care of your foot. Look at everything else that works in your body and be grateful for it …”
Observing symptoms and note how they change is not about focusing on the illness, but help you understand the link between cause and symptom (the effect), this can give you peace of mind.
Use a log to record your symptoms and use a scale from 10 to 0 ( 10=symptom free and 0=the worst possible). Write down symptoms and their intensity (using this scale) and look at patterns, any correlation with stress, or other factors that may influence the symptoms.
“Hope should be always present. Hopelessness and resignation are extremely harmful to the course of the disease… Reset your expectations. Expectations simply mean that something is planned and expected in the future, without getting disappointed (disappointment triggers stress, and therefore worsening the symptoms)…. When you feel better, be grateful for this”
“Rest, rest and rest, take care of your body. Do not walk if you can drive, do not stand if you can sit, do not sit if you can lie down… Best exercises for your legs are in the sitting and lying position ”
My note: Unlike most books that recommend you to stay as active as possible, Dr Brunes suggests quite the opposite: to rest a lot. She mentions in her book studies showing that energy saving (conservation) techniques help improve not only short term, but also long term (one year +) the symptoms of MS. However, she says that some people do better when exercise- in these cases, they should continue to follow a workout routine.
“Avoid as much as possible walking devices like crutches and walkers, as your nerves will receive the signals to “not go”. A better option would be to take extra rest, and then walk”
Dr. Brunes emphasizes the connection between mind and body, and recommends the use the following 4 principles:
1.Love yourself and your body- this may be easier to say than do as it often requires significant work. You need to accept yourself as you are and psychotherapy could be helpful to deal with past traumas.
2.Accept the facts, don’t fight them. Fighting means resistance. Acceptance does not mean resignation; acceptance is a critical step in changing/improving the course of the disease
3.Find a coping strategy. Dr. Brunes help you understand that the disease can be influenced and changed by using effective coping strategies
4.Find the meaning of your life
Regarding the treatment she followed, she noted treating neurotransmitter deficiencies, addressing nutrient deficiencies, improving her diet and removing toxins. I covered Dr.Brunes Method here.
