My husband's been on Swank since diagnosis. He's done very well on the diet. Many, many MS patients have found stability on Dr. Swank's diet. This is a post from Lyndacarol from a year ago, with specific quotes from his book....this is why I personally think the diet works so well. Dr. Swank was a brilliant researcher and ahead of his time. Check out his book-
Quote:
Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book by Roy L. Swank, MD, PhD
In reading this book again, I found ideas I wanted to post. Assuming it would be listed in the "Reading Nook," I looked here to add comments. If it is here, I can't find it; so I'll make a new entry.
For those folks who have a library of MS-related books, I recommend the first acquired book be Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease by T. Jock Murray, OC, MD.
The second should be The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book by Roy L. Swank, MD, PhD & Barbara Brewer Dugan. First published in 1959 and most recently again in 1987, it is often referred to in MS information. In my opinion, much of its information is outdated and even incorrect; for example, I do not support the low-fat diet idea for anyone. (I believe we need fat in our diet in order to be healthy, to manufacture myelin and hormones; we don't need carbohydrates.)
I find his ideas on the genesis of the disease plausible. Page 81
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The random distribution of the symptoms and accompanying neuorological signs, and the frequent location of the pathological lesions (plaques, or areas of demyelination) in the brain and spinal cord surrounding small venous channels, suggest that the small blood vessels (microcirculation), which include the arterioles, capillaries, and venules, play a role in the genesis of this disease. This contention has been supported by the observations that small arterioles and venules of the brain and spinal cord are thickened, often tortuous, nodular, and alternately constricted and dilated, and by the occasional accumulations of platelets (thrombocytes) and small blood clots in small central venules inside the demyelinated lesions.
Page 87
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In other studies, it was found that blood serum from multiple sclerosis patients (also from normal subjects) caused reversible demyelination of cultured nerve fibers and also blocked the passage of nerve impulses through these fibers.
Page 90
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Swank and his collaborators showed that infusions of normal plasma into multiple sclerosis patients in exacerbation resulted in a rapid recovery of the patient, especially in the early phases of the disease.
If evidence has pointed to blood and the bloodstream, I am disappointed that researchers have not examined there thoroughly first! A few are starting now, I guess.
for more info, use the search function at the top of the forums page and search Swank...you'll get lots of discussion. best to you!
cheer
_________________
Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS 
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Hi. I have recently started what I would consider a modified Swank diet. It's new, and as we know it's not easy. But I'm choosing to believe I'm doing the right thing for myself and that it's a process. I'm glad to have somewhere to come to discuss with others. Looking forward to sharing the process. A.*
