ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Stem Cell Healing & Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

By
David Steenblock, M.S., D.O.
WARNING – Patients who have ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) should read this before having stem cells anywhere! If you or a loved one are misfortunate enough to get ALS (or any other devastating neurological disease) you are probably considering the use of stem cells (and rightfully so). Unfortunately, no doctor, or person for that matter, has all of the answers yet, and even stem cells, in my experience, are only one of many treatments that can and should be used to slow the progression of and remediate ALS. Indeed, prior to getting stem cells, there are issues to be addressed that have to do with why a person has ALS in the first place. Doesn’t this make sense? After all, you cannot douse a fire while simultaneously fanning the flames.

What is needed in ALS in my professional opinion is body cleansing as well as more natural methods to treat the disease, something that sets the stage for a better response to stem cell-based therapy. One very insightful and compelling collection of natural body cleansing methods is contained in books penned by an ALS patient of mine, Eric Edney (who was diagnosed with ALS over twenty years ago. Typically, ALS patients live two to five years after being diagnosed.) Two of his books, “Eric is Winning” and “Surviving without your MD” are both available for purchase online. Another great book about the reasons behind diseases like ALS, as well as how to cleanse your body, is “The Truth About Migraines To Multiple Sclerosis And More: What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You But Science Has Proven” by Barbara J. Tancredi BSc, CN available on Amazon. These books should be read immediately and carefully in my opinion and experience. Why? Because I have found no clinic, hospital, clinical trial or doctor who is currently addressing the fundamental problems that are contributing to the progression of ALS prior to the administration of stem cells. I admit that at various times I have recommended the immediate use of stem cells when a patient was losing ground quickly. However, in most cases ALS sufferers do have time to obtain a careful evaluation, and to have their body cleansed of the poisons that are either causing or contributing to this terrible condition.

As is true of all diseases, variations in lifestyle, environment, and genetics influence disease progression. As such all ALS patients need to be thoroughly evaluated. There are at least 100 known players with respect to ALS including many different types of mutations of the SOD (superoxide dismutase) enzyme. One common factor in ALS and similar diseases is the contribution of free radicals which lead to the production of superoxide anion which, in turn, reacts with nitric oxide producing a very toxic substance called peroxynitrite. There are a multitude of reasons why one person produces excess nitric oxide, and these include the presence of infections, consumption of and/or inability to handle glutamate and consuming too much arginine, an amino acid which is extraordinarily high in nuts, seeds and chocolate. Peroxynitrite damages and even destroys the supporting cells of the motor neurons as well as the spinal cord motor neurons themselves. By the way, one of the best natural substances to help stop this destruction immediately is to take a powerful flavonoid complex called LutiMax™ that can be ordered from my office or directly from www.luteolin.com.

Stem Cells and ALS:

So where to start? The tests that I recommend for patients with ALS will help determine what needs to be cleansed from the body, especially prior to considering stem cell therapy. These tests include: 1) DMPS Challenge tests 2) CDSA and parasite test 3) urine organic acid test 4) immunological tests and 5) hormonal tests to determine which hormones and growth factors are missing.
STEM CELL-BASED TREATMENTS AVAILABLE in either my Mission Viejo, CA clinic or at a facility I consult for in Tijuana, Mexico:
1) Simple bone marrow transplant. This is the least expensive and also least effective route ($4K USD.)
2) Neupogen® pretreatments and then bone marrow transplantation which is 5 times more effective than #1 above in my experience and estimation ($7K USD.)
3) Bone marrow stem cell isolation, culture and injection into cerebrospinal fluid (50-75 million cells are given per CSF injection.) This is by far more effective than #1 or #2 above and runs $12K USD. This is done in Mexico.
4) Continued culture of bone marrow stem cells (see #3) and then repeat cerebrospinal fluid stem cell administration of 50-70 million cells. This may be done up to 6 times after one bone marrow collection with the cost per lumbar puncture (CSF administration) running $3K USD. Example: If you want to come every month for a CSF injection of stem cells the cost for 6 months of therapy this would be $12K USD for the first and $3K USD for each subsequent injection X 5= $15K USD. Total for the original bone marrow procedure, cultivation of cells and delivery of 50 million cells into the CSF is $12K USD plus 5 more CSF injections at $15K USD would be $25K USD for the entire 6 month course of stem cell therapy. The total number of stem cells you would be receiving during this time would be over 300 million stem cells (again, directly into your CSF) on a monthly basis. If you decide to do it only once than the cost would be $12K USD. For another $3K USD you can come back and have the same treatment that you just paid $12K USD for. In other words, it is much cheaper and better for you to commit to 6 months of therapy than doing only one CSF injection since you will get almost 5 times more for your money.

ALS RESEARCH being done at Steenblock Research Institute, Inc., my namesake nonprofit research institution and R & D laboratory located in southern California:
Recent preliminary results from some very sophisticated blood tests are showing deficiencies of various interferons and interleukins in the serum of patients with ALS. These changes are now being compared with the same tests done on the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid in hopes of finding more clues to the cause and treatment of this terrible condition.

Another area of exciting ongoing research in our lab is taking ALS patients’ bone marrow stem cells, culturing them and then testing them by growing them in the presence of approximately 800 natural substances found in the body or nature to see which are inhibitory and which are growth-promoting to the stem cells. This is being done because research is proving that there are defects in the functionality of the bone marrow stem cells of ALS patients. The goal is to discern what is helpful to your stem cells which tells us what to prescribe in terms of supplements rich in these helpful agents. This approach should give your stem cells the greatest opportunity to grow and, in turn, repair your diseased nervous tissue. Also, after we determine what factors are best for your stem cells, we can better grow them in tissue culture. This provides more healthy stem cells that can then be given back to you directly into your cerebrospinal fluid (Mexico) which allows the stem cells to get into contact immediately with the diseased spinal cord tissues.

Finally, my medical team and I are beginning to try minimally manipulated stem cell-rich fat tissue injected into the CSF in hopes of getting better results than from the stem cells derived from bone marrow used in Mexico. The only problem so far with this method is obtaining enough fat from the ALS patients who have little fat present. Even with little fat, we can process the cells but it may take longer than usual to get the required number for a good treatment.

We are not the only doctors and researchers who have found that stem cells can aid in treating ALS. As you may know, the reason this is not front page news is because there is little to zero acknowledgement among mainstream researchers and doctors of the many toxins that trigger and contribute to the disease, much less the need to properly test and do a thorough body detoxification prior to stem cell therapy.

In addition, my www.StemCellMD.org group works with clinics in Mexico that have been successfully doing adult (non-embryonic) stem cell treatments for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases for many years now. In Mexico, umbilical cord stem cells can be mixed with your fat and bone marrow stem cells for the ultimate combination stem cell treatment. The cost for umbilical cord stem cells per vial is $6K USD (1.5-1.8 million CD34+CD133+ pure stem cells.)

You can get more information on this program by calling 1-800-288-7016 or e-mailing me at info@stemcell.md. Additional information on umbilical cord stem cells is available at www.stemcelltherapies.org or by purchasing the book “Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy” by David Steenblock, M.S., D.O. and Anthony Payne, Ph.D. from my office at 1-800-300-1063.

For patients who cannot afford any of these treatments I would recommend you go on my ALS diet http://stemcell.md/diets/als_diet.pdf and use my all natural stem cell support supplement Stemgevity™. This product contains 4 mg of lithium per capsule which has demonstrated certain positive effects in patients with ALS in various studies. Begin with one or two per day and gradually build up to the level at which you feel the best and then stay on that dose. If you feel that your disease is progressing or you are experiencing any side effects then stop taking these pills for one to two weeks and start over and bring your dose back to the number per day where you were feeling the best. Taking them at night is the usual method since they can make you feel tired. Stemgevity™ can be ordered from my office toll free at 1-800-300-1063. For more information, visit www.stemgevity.com.