I recently was asked what Shaklee Products would be best to help improve the health of an individual who was living with MS.  It got me to thinking, you know I have always wondered that yet never done much research on it.  So I sat down with my lap top one night while sitting at a table in the Hockey Arena during my sons hockey practice and started some research.  I know there is a lot of information still out there to be found and questions to be asked of people with a lot more nutritional and medical knowledge then I personally have however I believe there is so much to be gained from reading peoples personal success testimonials.  So I have gathered together the beginning of my search for information on Shaklee products and their effects on managing Multiple Sclerosis.  My hope is that either a person with MS or a person who knows someone suffering from MS finds this information helpful to them in their  journey to better health!

My Multiple Sclerosis Story, By Elizabeth Tardy August 28, 2007

First let me tell you the good news! I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in November 1984, on my 40^th birthday-what a present, and my last episodes were in September of 1987, and have been free of any reoccurring MS problems for over 20 years. I am 63 and am very active and in good health. I work on my health every day by getting the nutrition I need to build whole perfect cells.

 Let me revert to the very the beginning of my neurological disorder. I lost the center vision in my left eye sometime during the mid ‘70’s. At the time, the problem was not recognized as being associated to MS. I immediately made an appointment to see Dr. Ralph C. Dunn, a well known Houston Ophthalmologist and vision specialist. He told me the problem was caused by a swollen nerve in my eye and prescribed Prednisone, a powerful steroid, which I took for about 2 weeks. After approximately 6-8 weeks, my vision returned to normal. Let me tell you, I was really scared at the very thought of losing any part of my vision; even temporarily.

 To the best of my memory I had no further problems that may have been attributed to M.S., until 1984. Several months prior to November ’84, I began experiencing several problems with different parts of my body going numb, like my legs or the inside of my mouth. The doctor called it ‘Peripheral Neuritis’ which meant something was wrong with my nerve endings and nothing more was done.

 At this time we had a home in Tyler, where we lived on weekends, and lived and worked in Dallas during the week where we maintained an apartment. Just before Thanksgiving, on the evening of November 17, 1984, a Saturday, I began reading an article in a ‘Reader’s Digest’ at bedtime, got sleepy and put the magazine down before I finished reading the article. I awoke Sunday morning, picked up the book and could not see a word. Needless to say I was frightened and upset. We packed the car, drove back to Dallas and Don took me to a weekend clinic where our HMO was honored. The Doctor’s could not give us any definite cause for the sight problem. On Monday, I started with the family physician, which referred me to an Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist, who referred me to an Ophthalmologist, who on Wednesday referred me to an Ophthalmologist-Neurologist. I went through numerous neurological tests and finally a CAT scan. The Doctor said there was good news and bad news. The good news was I did not have a brain tumor; however the bad news was that I had Multiple Sclerosis and that there was no prevention, treatment or cure. The doctor felt that the eye problem I had in the early 70’s was the first M.S. attack.

 I had lost vision in both eyes, and I think it was like 4/5 loss in the left eye and 3/5 loss is the right eye. All I could see were shadows of figures in various shades of gray. I could not make out facial features so could not recognize anyone by sight. I was so tired and was sleeping about 20 – 22 hours a day, and both legs were totally numb and my hands and both arms were also numb. My legs hurt so bad that I could not stand for anything to touch them other than a very soft material, such as silk. Once again was on more prednisone than I ever thought I would be able to take, as that was the only medication they knew that would lessen the symptoms of an attack.

 I was so sick the Doctor said I needed total bed rest so Don moved our son Durand and me back to our home in Tyler. Don closed the apartment and he moved in with friends in Dallas so he could continue to work in Dallas. He would come home on the weekends. Don’s oldest brother moved in with Durand, our son, and me in Tyler so he could cook and take care of me while Durand went to Tyler Junior College and worked part time.

 Returned to the Doctor in Dallas for regular visits and by February 1985 was already getting some of my sight back. The doctor could not believe it and wanted to know what I felt was the reason for my quick recovery. I told her the reasons listed below-thank you Jesus, thank you to my family, and thank you Dr. Shaklee-her reply-‘Well none of that is the real reason but you can believe it if you wish’. You see the Doctor did not know enough about God, or a family’s love and support or nutrition to believe it her self, however I know better.

 I was off work for 25 ½ weeks and when I went back to work still could not read the large over-head signs on the freeway. We all moved back to Dallas into an apartment and continued to go home to Tyler every weekend. As I had worked for Equifax for more than 16 years they afforded me some privileges, one of which was I could work at home if I did not feel like going into the office. Many weeks I worked 10-14 hours a day and driving as much as 1000 miles a week in this highly stressful job.  It took me about 2 years to be able to return to a full time schedule working 10-14 hours a day, but I was able to do so due to a lot of prayers and mega doses of Shaklee food supplements.

 M.S. is a disease that is precipitated by stress and the Doctor as well as my company thought it would be best if I retired. I respectfully declined because I felt sure with the recovery team I had on my side –God, my family, and Shaklee nutrition I would make a full recovery. It took me about a year to rebuild my immune system with Shaklee Nutrition and because I was feeling so good I took on the responsibility of running an Equifax Sub-Office in Denton. I was a Private Investigator and began doing insurance investigations again.. From 11-1984 to 9-1987 had a number of reoccurring M.S. attacks; however they were never serious enough to put me to bed for an extended period of time and was able to keep working. Mother continued to council with me regarding my daily Shaklee intake.

I worked for Equifax 28 ½ and retired in November 1997 and joined Mother in her Shaklee business, which she and my daddy started early in 1978.

Upon reflection, I can name 4 major reasons why I have been symptom free for more than 2 decades. The first glory goes to God. I thank Him every day for His healing blessings. Without His grace and healing power, I would not be where I am today. Next in importance, is the continual support of my husband, Don, and the rest of my family. Don’s continuous TLC and our faith in God’s healing grace enabled me to maintain a positive attitude. Don and I also believed that Shaklee nutritional products were key to bolstering my weakened immune system with proven, effective health supplements.

Additionally, my mother advised me on which Shaklee products to take daily and made certain that I had an adequate supply at all times, no matter what.

I took every supplement that she and dad felt I needed, even during those times that I felt too tired or too sick to swallow one more vitamin or drink one more glass of Soy Protein. MS zaps your strength and it sometimes took a Herculean effort on my part, to muster the energy to take all the recommended dosages of vitamins and Soy Protein 3-4 times a day. Mom and dad lived in Spring and we lived in Tyler and Dallas at the time. Mom called me every day to ask how I was feeling and to instruct me on my regimen for the day and how much Soy Protein I should take that day. As my health began to improve, my energy level also increased, which brings me to the 4^th significant reason – daily exercise? Fortunately, we received another important blessing from God that led us to a knowledgeable, intelligent, caring neurologist that had a large practice in Dallas. He told us of the importance of daily exercise and its effectiveness in rehabilitating some MS patients’ health.  Don and I immediately began an aerobic exercise program, which we maintain today.

I do not remember all the Shaklee supplements that became part of daily nutrition, but I do recall that it varied a little each day, depending on how I felt the previous day. I religiously took Shaklee nutritious   vitamins, herbs, and food supplements every day; only the dosages would vary. Remember this was in 1984. The known list of vitamins, herbs and supplements were not as extensive or as complete then, as they are today, due to more extensive health research and advances in nutrition technologies.

 *No person would start on a nutrition program taking all the supplements I take, as that would be like asking a baby to eat a full seven-course meal. Start slow with the Shaklee Essential Foundation+ Detox and continue to add supplements month by month until you get the health results you desire.

June’s Multiple Sclerosis Story  

One year ago in August, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  I knew very little about MS at that time but found out the cause is unknown, is found in women more than men and is cold climate related.  It is not genetic but does run in families.  It hits high energy people, is stress related and there is no cure and I will not get better—according to my Dr. at Mayo Clinic.  The Dr. only prescribes steroid type drugs which have terrible side effects and are costly (for my type of MS the cost would be between $1200 and $1500 a month and insurance probably would not pay for it). 

I came home determined not to take drugs and thus began an intensive research program into MS and supplements/nutrition/exercise etc. and how each of these affect the body and the disease.  It ‘happened’ that we got to talking to Roger and Annette Pryor, friends at our morning coffee group, about this and they said they were in the nutrition business.  I believe God sent them to us.  They had a tape of Brenda McCummons, a nurse, who got her MS under control through nutrition many years ago—and would I like to listen to it?   From that ONE statement we were introduced to information on Supplements, what to look for in supplements in general and to Shaklee supplements in specific.  I looked into many companies but kept coming back to Shaklee – their Mission Statement and beliefs, their track record (50 years) the quality, potency, and purity of all their products and their published clinicals.  I double checked with my Doctors about the information I had obtained and all of them said to go for it.  Every product Shaklee sells is to set the body in balance because it is when we are out of balance, that we get sick.

It all made sense to me, so I set up a total program and committed to it for 6 months.  No matter what, I would follow it and see what happened.  I had nothing to lose.  At this time I was feeling extremely fatigued!  My muscles ached deep down, my balance was off — I would aim at the doorway but didn’t always hit it.  I had a drop-foot, pain in my back and hip and took pain pills every day sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.  I am a type II diabetic and my drug bill was nearly $400 a month.  I wore a brace on my right leg and walked with a cane.  I felt lousy!!!

October 22^nd, 2005 I started my program:

1. Exercise — Physical Therapy 3 times a week
2. Rest more, read, listen to tapes and learn all I could about nutrition
3. Keep stress at a minimum
4. Meditate every day (this also helped me stay focused)
5. Watch diet as usual and modify where needed
6. Total supplement program – high doses of protein (builds and repairs cells), nutriferon (for immune system), Omega 3’s, B’s, C’s, alfalfa, E’s (to soften the scar tissue), etc.

After the 1^st week I found I had more energy.  By the 3^rd week I was doing PT 5 times a week.  After 8 days, I quit taking the pain pills and have had only 3 total to date.  Five weeks later, I saw my regular Dr., my Neurologist, and my eye Dr.  They were amazed at the progress I had made.  My Physical Therapist wrote a letter to the Mayo Clinic Dr. to tell him the excellent progress I made.  I kept getting better and better and after 6 months, I decided it was going to be a lifetime program. 

Today, my balance is better (not perfect yet), fatigue is minimal, no pain pills, no brace on my leg, no problem with diabetes, drug bill is down to $25 a month, and I feel good every day.  The Mayo Clinic didn’t need to see me back this year, and all my Doctors have given me excellent reports. 

Shaklee is an extraordinary company that made an extraordinary difference in my life.  I am so grateful to Roger and Annette for telling me about Shaklee.

Multiple Sclerosis – Brenda’s Story

In 1978, while working as a R.N. in charge of a busy Emergency Room, I became ill and within 24 hours had lost the use of my left side, and lost much of the sensations assessment of my right side.  Within a week, while in a metropolitan hospital outside of Detroit, MI, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by a well-respected neurologist.  Really, any pre-med. student could have made the diagnosis; my symptoms were so “textbook” in presentation.

Although very severe in the beginning, the situation did not progress much in the first year. Then I launched into a remission/exacerbation phase for the next couple of years. Next I proceeded into a more aggressive downhill slide.  During this time, I had been an adamant student of MS (diagnosis and current treatment).   Realizing current therapies only treat the symptoms and were not curative; I sought information from other Countries concerning preventing, and hopefully control of the disease. Canada and Europe seemed to be more naturally oriented in their approach, advocating the used of supplements, along with diet and lifestyle changes.  My husband and I, (he has always been so supportive and encouraging), started the following program for me:

1. Fairly large amounts of health food store brand vitamins and minerals, (suggested in the literature I was reading).
2. Diet changes: I combined AHA, ADA, & ACA guidelines to reach these conclusions: Low fat, low sodium, no caffeine, no white sugar or artificial sweeteners, no white flour, very little gluten, and to eat as naturally as possible (example: eat an orange instead of orange juice from a can). This eliminates all junk foods.
3. Strict routine of rest and exercise. (I did whatever level of exercise I was able to do on a daily basis without causing severe fatigue, which is a huge problem for people with MS anyway.)
4. A continual plan to insure a good attitude.
5. Decreasing and (as much as possible) eliminating stress;

In 1982, while continuing to progress rapidly downward in spite of my adherence to the above program, I was introduced to Shaklee by an acquaintance. He did not know about the disease and was not suggesting treatment, but thought I might be interested in the great Shaklee products that had helped him so much. This man was John Larkin, Rod Larkin’s father, to whom I owe my life!  Being of the persuasion that all vitamins were alike, I decided to switch to Shaklee just to help John out and to take advantage of the 30-day money back guarantee.  Little did I know of the amazing revelation that was ahead of me!

The rest of the story goes like this: I soon learned that many people took more than the amounts that were suggested on the label.  Making this personal choice, I increased my quantity of all the Shaklee supplements. I had nothing to lose. Having now acquired a minimal understanding of the huge demands this disease placed on the body; I realized what an important decision this was. It took me a year to be able to say I wasn’t getting any worse, and the fatigue was much less. In addition to the Shaklee supplements (of course I had discontinued the other brands), changes to my program were:

1. A growing understanding and daily feeding on God’s Word concerning healing and thus a growing belief.
2. A new awareness of the importance of visualization and affirmations.
3. Regular chiropractic treatment.
4. AND a lot of very supportive and positive new Shaklee friends in my life.

Over the course of the next seven years, I gradually lost all my symptoms. However, it took me another five years to learn how to keep them away.  Because I would frequently over-due, I would get old symptoms back which would then take me weeks to recover from again.  The process took over twelve years, BUT worth every minute and every penny!  I never thought of quitting the program, because it was never thought of as a program to cure, only to help build a stronger immune system and thus, a stronger body. By the way, my husband and I were nearly penniless at the time of joining Shaklee. Mr. Larkin kindly showed us how to get our products free, and eventually how to enjoy the benefits of a successful Shaklee business. 

Now, January 2000, I have been symptom-free for several years.  Praise God and thank you Shaklee!  I still follow my program faithfully, wanting to increase my resistance to other diseases and intend never to quit.  I have been truly blessed and feel so grateful.           

Respectfully yours,   

Brenda

Multiple Sclerosis – I Am Symptom Free

In January 2001, at the age of 31 and a single Mom of a 7 year old son, I became very ill.  I was an avid runner, personal trainer and worked as a bartender in the evenings.  My first symptom was numbness in my left hand and foot along with dizzy spells.  Within 2 days my whole right side of my body was basically paralyzed.  My speech was slurred and my hearing very sensitive.  My vision was as though I were in a tunnel.  I lost my ability to read and write and felt very confused.  There were nights when I felt I wouldn’t wake up.  I would lie in bed with the Bible on my chest and pray that my son wouldn’t find me dead.  These symptoms were devastating to me. I was unable to run, couldn’t teach my yoga classes, couldn’t lift weights and barely made it through the day.  I was exhausted.  I quit bartending and cancelled my personal training sessions with my clients.  I felt my life, as I knew it, was over!

January 2001:  My primary doctor immediately suspected that I had M.S. and sent me to my first neurologist.  He ordered an MRI and Spinal Tap and later diagnosed M.S.  February 2001:  Later, not satisfied with the doctor or diagnosis, I sought a second opinion.  After the second MRI, I accepted the diagnosis of M.S. and was given my medical options.  I had one month to decide what medication I wanted to start.  All of which involved injecting poison into my body.

During this period, I turned to nutrition as my baseline.  Feeding off information from friends and family about natural alternatives to alleviate symptoms, I literally started taking any vitamin I could get my hands on and put it into my body.  I started juicing once a day and eliminated certain foods from my diet at my Mom’s suggestion.

A business acquaintance, a chiropractor, noticed that I was not as energetic and was walking funny and asked what was wrong, had I injured myself.  I proceeded to tell him that I might have M.S.  He said to come see him at his office, that he could help me.  Knowing I was in dire straits, he offered his services as a gift.  He gave me further direction with nutrition and supplements.

Around this same time (March 2001), I met Roxanne.  She was at my gym promoting her Shaklee business and osteoporosis prevention.  We started talking and she said she had some information that may be able to help with my M.S.  I was very interested.  She introduced me to Brenda McCumons, RN and her M.S. story.  After talking with Brenda, I felt encouraged that the natural route was the way to go for me. 

I immediately started taking Shaklee food supplements, because that’s what Brenda used and my Mom also said they were the best.  At this point, the only deterrent for me following the natural approach was the fact that I had a son and what if it didn’t work.  I didn’t want him to lose his only parent.  With that concern in my mind, Roxanne introduced me to Diane Petosky, Homeopath and Nutritional Consultant. Diane explained that I could do both medication and nutrition if that made me feel more comfortable, but it would take longer for me to heal.  Diane believed that if I followed her plan, I would have complete recovery. It was very encouraging and enlightening talking with Diane.

Three weeks later, armed with lots of information, and on Shaklee products, I called to schedule a doctor visit.  I had decided to get the IV shot to alleviate my symptoms as per Diane Petosky and my neurologist.  The nurse asked if I was having any symptoms and I said no, and she said you don’t need the IV then.  She asked if I had decided on a course of medication, and I immediately said I wanted to heal naturally, but was afraid they would not help me anymore if I did.  She reassured me that they would support my decision to heal my body naturally.  My doctor was reluctant because of the severity of my case (12+ active lesions), but supported my decision.  He stated that he would monitor me closely with more frequent MRI’s and if I had any symptoms, he would highly suggest I go immediately on the medicine.  I agreed, but stated I wanted a chance to do it my way first. I proceeded to follow Diane Petosky’s Nutritional and Supplementation Plan (Shaklee supplements only). 

I started to retrain my body to lift weights, run and forced myself to teach my yoga class.  I became faster, stronger and leaner than ever before in my whole life.  I continued my regular chiropractic visits.  I went to regular counseling and changed my mindset from negative to positive.  I surrounded myself with only positive, caring and loving people.  Anyone else was eliminated–including the daily news.

I have been completely symptom free since May 2001.  My June 2001 MRI revealed that my lesions had decreased in size, and are no longer active and the plaque on my brain stem was virtually gone.  (The brain stem was the main area of concern).  These results happened within a 3 month period of time.

I still have M.S. and am actively fighting it, but I will have this out of my body.  My personal goal is 1 year.

I feel this disease is the best thing that ever happened to me because it showed me how to love myself completely, Mind, Body and Soul.  I vowed, if this worked, I would help and tell as many people about this as I could, because I know what it feels like to be among the walking dead and to be brought back to life.

Life is precious. Do All You Can to Take Care of Yourself

God Bless,

-Dakin

The above is NOT a prescription, and should not be treated as such.  This is simply a testimony of an individual who had a positive experience with the product(s) listed.  These are personal testimonies and are not endorsed by Shaklee Corporation.