Oxygen Ion Therapy Information - as promised - Posted by AKMSers - May 18, 2000 Multiple Sclerosis Assoc. of America's (MSAA) April 2000 Newsletter "Life Today" Article. Posted here with author's permission. OXYGEN ION BATHS By Les Bailey I was diagnosed with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) about eight years ago. My condition had deteriorated to the point where I required a cane or the support of a wall to walk. I had lost most the feeling in my feet, legs and hands. I was horribly fatigued, my speech was slurred, and I had lost considerable balance and bladder control. In January 2000, at the urging of my wife, who readily embraces holistic and alternative medical treatments, I tried a new experimental therapy of oxygen ion baths. I am now walking without a cane or the support of the wall. Sensation has returned in my limbs. My speech is normal, my balance and bladder control are back, and my energy level has greatly improved. In fact, I have now begun a regular exercise routine once again, and am walking a couple miles a day on my treadmill. Furthermore, I have resumed lifting weights. While I am not completely fatigue free, my energy level is beyond my wildest dreams. I feel better than I have in years! Improvement began to happen as early as my first treatment. Improvements continued to occur over the six-week course of my initial treatment regiment. Going into these treatments, I did not hold out much hope. As a staunch critic of medical treatments that are not in the mainstream, I am very skeptical of the "Snake Oil Salesmen," who seek to profit at the misery of others. Had the treatment not been free, I would not have tried it. Additionally, I do not believe I am susceptible to psychosomatic cures or the so-called placebo effect. The improvements I experienced are real, and dramatic. In fact, people who have known me for years comment, "Les I haven't seen you looking this good in years." When they inquire as to what I am doing to improve my health, I simply laugh, and confirm that I do in fact feel as good as I look. I tell them, "It is a simple matter of taking baths three days a week; not only does it make me feel better, it helps with the body odor problem as well!" By the time I get through explaining the oxygen ion baths, which consists of absorbing positively charged ions of oxygen in a tub of water, they have generally lost their ability to comprehend how it works.Nonetheless, they are impressed by my new found energy and ability to function at near normal levels. Joan Priestley, M.D., of Anchorage is the primary investigator in a focus group trial to determine the effects of the oxygen ion bath treatments on MS. The funds for the trial are compassionately provided by the Arimathea Foundation of San Francisco, California. By nature, I am a fairly private person; writing this article is a departure from the norm for me. Before this therapy, I felt powerless as my independence, livelihood and quality of life were compromised. Having tried most of the treatment protocols the mainstream medical community suggests, and receiving no relief, I had basically given up. I was playing out the hand life had dealt me, and was muddling through on my own. Although I prefer my privacy, not sharing this information would be neglectful of other MS sufferers. Over the years, I have learned enough about MS to realize that the course this disease takes varies from one patient to another, and the treatment that works for one, may not provide relief for another. I know this is not a cure for our dreaded disease, yet it has greatly enhanced my quality of life, and ability to function. Besides funding the initial 22 treatments, Arimathea Foundation has provided funds for my maintenance treatments for the balance of one year to ensure my current symptom-free state of remission. Bio: Les Bailey lives in Alaska and is a retired Army Officer, received his Masters Degree from WSU and is currently in the nation's top 1 percent of sales in realestate. His e-mail address is homesell@alaska.net