Malaria Drugs Help in Recovery from MS. Part 5

This post discusses compelling research and case studies that reveal how malaria drugs significantly help MS patients.

 

Last week’s post reviewed evidence about the many similarities between MS and malaria.

In 1917, Castellani wrote that he observed four cases of malaria that closely resembled disseminated sclerosis which is the same type of condition as MS. His patients had suffered from impaired speech, tremors, vision issues, spastic gait, and increased reflexes. All four cases were cured by the malaria drug quinine. Sadly, he concluded that just because these patients had symptoms of MS and responded well to quinine treatment, he thought they probably did not have genuine MS.

One of the main reasons that experts don’t believe that MS is caused by malaria is because it is assumed that quinine is ineffective at treating ‘real’ MS, but this has never been proven.

At least three different authors between the years 1904 – 1935 believed that quinine was an effective treatment for MS due their observations in their MS patients that used this treatment.

In 1904, although Müller did not believe that malaria caused MS, he still stressed that quinine was useful in treating cases of MS, especially if the disease showed general symptoms involving the CNS and vertigo.

In the 1920’s, Marburg treated MS patients with quinine and found that this drug improved the health and well-being of his MS patients, as long as it was given in small doses.

Between 1930 and 1935, Brickner was, in reality, the first to investigate the question of how useful quinine was in treating MS. He treated 49 patients over 5 years and concluded that, “The experience of five years with forty-nine patients seems to justify the conclusion that quinine is beneficial in cases of multiple sclerosis, especially in the early stages.”

Later, he clearly stated again, “A general view of the present status of the forty-nine patients as individuals strongly indicates that quinine therapy has been helpful.”

Brickner thought that MS lesions might be caused by a circulating fatty substance which would be neutralized by quinine. This theory was proven wrong and the idea that quinine could be a treatment of MS was not accepted. Thus, his findings were totally forgotten.

In 1965, Sibley did not mention Brickner’s studies in his overview of drug treatments for MS.

Because Brickner’s claim that quinine is a very helpful treatment for MS has never been disproven, it must be considered unchallenged. If researchers had discovered malaria antibodies and malaria parasites in MS patients at that time, Brickner’s success would have been more likely been accepted. It wasn’t until 1988 – 1998 that malaria antibodies and malaria parasites were identified in MS patients, but not in controls.

In 1936, Brickner wrote the article, A Critique of Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis, to distance himself from the widespread aggressive scepticism towards standard therapy for MS during his time.

Although it is difficult to find malaria antibodies and even harder to find malaria parasites in chronic silent cases of malaria, researchers did find antibodies against the malaria parasite in 30 – 40% of all MS patients tested and anti-malaria antibodies in less than 20% of MS patients. These results are striking because none of these patients have ever spent time in an area where malaria is known to be an endemic disease and none of them had a history of malaria or a disease resembling malaria.

In 1900, Spiller published the paper, A Case of Malaria Presenting the Symptoms of Disseminated Sclerosis with Necropsy, in which he described a patient who suffered from MS for eight years, had no history of malaria and had never had any malaria attacks. The diagnosis of malaria was made only after his death when the malaria parasites could be seen moving out of the small blood vessels throughout the brain and the spinal cord of the patient. This researcher also found areas of sclerosis in the brain.

In 1945, Perret-Gentil recommended looking for parasites at the moment when treatment with quinine begins because it is then that he was able to observe bouts of fever together with the presence of malarial parasites.

Case study – Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Quinine Hydrochloride by Dr. Stanley D. Conklin MD

 Patient history

• First appointment was October 30, 1934.
• 27 year old, married, American housewife.
• No symptoms until three weeks before admitted to the hospital.  Symptoms: tingling in hands, difficulty writing, both hands clumsy.
• The symptoms gradually increased in severity.
• She could not walk without support, difficulty in rising from a sitting position, changes in personality, memory affected.
• Severe abdominal pain but no nausea or vomiting.
• Chronic sinusitis.
• Obesity.
• Nystagmus – uncontrolled eye movement.
• Tongue heavily coated.
• No atrophy in her legs.
• She was uncoordinated and would fall while walking with her eyes closed if not supported. Unable to walk a straight line with eyes open.
• Very unsteady when standing with her feet together and her eyes open and would fall if not supported.
• History, physical exam and lab findings resulted in an MS diagnosis.

Patient Treatment protocol and recovery

• Neurologist WG Spiller of Philadelphia was consulted and suggested that the patient be prescribed quinine hydrochloride (QH). 
• From the time the patient was first seen until treatment commenced, most symptoms became worse especially itching, pain and burning of the hands. Sleep became impossible.
• On November 18, 1934, she started QH.
• Followed the protocol advised by Dr Brickner.
• First dosage was five grains of QH three times per day.
• No symptoms of cinchonism developed so the total daily dosage of 15 grains was continued.
• By the end of the second week of QH she had already improved. Pains in her hands were less frequent and shorter in duration. Sleep had improved. She was able to be up in a wheelchair for only a short time each day. Appetite improved.
• By the end of the third week, improvements continued. All neurological symptoms were subsiding. The pain in her hands occurred twice per day. She was able to walk alone a little each day and slept well without sleep medication.
• On February 15, 1935, she was walking almost normally. The pain and tingling in her hands were practically gone. She had no difficulty in writing or feeding herself. Her memory was perfect. She had a good appetite and was gaining weight.
• On September 13, 1935, she reported that she was in excellent condition. All summer she had been leading a normal life; taking long walks, bicycling and swimming, without symptoms. The tremor in both her hands and feet had not been noticed since early spring.
• The only positive neurologic findings at that time were slightly abnormal eye movement, very slightly swaying when standing and a little difficulty in walking a straight line.
• Between November 1934 – September 1935, she took 5 grains of quinine hydrochloride three times a day without interruption or signs of adverse effects and was then advised to take 5 grains twice each day.
• On January 10, 1936, her condition appeared to be very good, so the dosage of quinine was reduced to 5 grains once each day, and she continued with this dose.
• On January 30, 1937, in a letter from the patient, she stated that she felt perfectly well during 1936 except for having the flu once.
• The patient then worked with Dr. Richard Brickner.
• On February 2, 1937, Dr. Brickner reported that she was symptom-free and was still taking QH. On two examinations, he found that her right foot did not extend quite as well as the left foot, she was slightly unsteady when walking on the line, but only in high heels, and during the finger-to-nose test there was a slight tremor. The only clear neurological sign remaining was nystagmus. All the other factors were normal.

This case confirms the remarkable improvements for MS patients with the use of the malaria drug quinine hydrochloride. Some may question if her recovery was the result of spontaneous remission. Because she had such immediate, continuous and complete relief from her symptoms, one can only conclude that this therapy caused her recovery.

Factors that were helpful to her success were her age and the short duration she had symptoms before treatment started. Her doctors believed that quinine hydrochloride therapy should be tried over a long period, no matter how long a patient has had MS or how dire their condition is.

 

MS News: Malaria Drug May be a Promising Treatment for PPMS

September 2021. The study Hydroxychloroquine for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis was published by researchers at the University of Calgary AB, Canada. Scientists at this university are leaders in publishing important studies about the microbiome and MS.

Normally at least 40% or 14 of the 35 PPMS participants should have experienced a decline in their ability to walk over the 18 months of the study, but at the end of this trial of HCQ, only 8 got worse.

They found that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduced the activity of immune cells in the central nervous system and had neuroprotective effects in vitro.

Participants in the study took 200 mg HCQ twice a day for 18 months. This is a typical dose of HCQ used to treat Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Their conclusion – “…in people with PPMS, HCQ treatment was associated with reduced disability worsening. HCQ is a promising treatment candidate for PPMS and should be investigated further in randomized controlled clinical trials.

February 28, 2024  Wellness Champion Success Updates

The following are just a few examples of life-changing symptom improvements that our students are experiencing as they build and implement their Live Disease Free recovery plan.

Student #1 – “I am feeling much better. My numbness is now mild rather than severe and the small electric shock that runs down my spine is more like a slight buzz. I am sleeping well and noticing significant improvement in my right hand with much more sensation and not as numb! I have also had significant improvement in my neuropathy.”

Student #2 – “It was so good to have our friends and their children come to town. It has served as a guide for my progress. Had I not started the LDF program I never would have been able to keep up with the activity – both mentally and physically. I didn’t have to go to bed early or nap while our friends were here. My brain fog has also diminished.”

Student #3. – “This week’s update is that I have been feeling terrific. I have good energy and stamina. The fatigue seems to be so minimal. I can go from one activity to another without having to rest. Even sitting in the sun does not sap my energy or strength like it used to. I get out of bed faster, there’s a lot less vibration or tingling in my hands and feet. And my shower routine is much better. I’m getting in and out, shampooing my head with one hand, it’s all getting better.”

Student #4. – “My mobility has increased noticeably. My balance is almost normal most days now. I’ve noticed less phantom pain in my ribcage area. I honestly didn’t really notice it until it was gone. My mental health and resilience seem to be in a better place as well.”

There are real solutions to recover from parasites today!

To restore health, we must focus on treating the cause of inflammation, which are parasites. First, identify the enemy (parasites), then support the body and treat the parasites while following a holistic approach. When parasitic infections are treated effectively, we can overcome inflammation or disease.

If you’re frustrated with the fact that our standard of care STILL doesn’t offer a real solution for treating MS and other diseases, then click on the link below to watch Pam Bartha’s free masterclass training and discover REAL solutions that have allowed Pam and many others to live free from MS and other diseases.

CLICK Here to watch Pam’s masterclass training

Or take the Health Blocker Quiz to see if you could have parasite infections 

 

Reference:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11516218/ 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11516219/

https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/guthrie.6.4.171