Symptoms:
Muscular weakness, fatigue, emotional stress, and droopy eyelids. Difficulty in breathing, swallowing, and speaking.

The onset is gradual, and the symptoms are worse in the evening. The person complains of difficulty in chewing, swallowing, and talking.

Cause:
Myasthenia gravis is a disease characterized by great muscular weakness (without atrophy) and progressive fatigability. The name means "muscle weakness."

Adolescents and young adults, especially women, are the most likely to have this problem. But it sometimes occurs in newborn infants and adults over 40. In the latter case, a tumor in the thymus is involved. It rarely occurs past 50.

The muscles of the face and neck are primarily involved, but those in the trunk and extremities may also be involved.

Some cases are mild; others are rapidly fatal. When the respiratory system is involved, death is much more likely to result from this disease. Progress of the disorder is variable, and prolonged remission may occur.

It is thought to be an autoimmune disease that causes malfunctioning of the enzyme, acetylcholine, which is responsible for inducing muscles to contract. (It is conjectured that there may also be an excess of cholinesterase at the myoneural junction in which the nerve impulses fail to induce normal muscle contractions, but this is less likely.)

There is a failure in transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction. Either the acetylcholine release is not adequate or the muscle response to the acetylcholine is not sufficient. An autoimmune factor may be involved (i.e., there are so many toxins in the body, that the system interferes with normal functions.)

Autointoxication may thus be a primary cause. Toxins accumulate in the bloodstream from chemicals, chronic constipation, etc. Either they destroy the muscular system or they trigger other body systems to do so.

Chronic constipation can cause the cecum to press against the ileocecal valve, releasing poisons of the colon back into the small intestine. This is a dangerous situation, since toxins in the small intestine are absorbed into the blood far more quickly than when they are in the colon.

Treatment:
• Clean out the colon, by means of colonics or high enemas. Go on a fruit/vegetable juice fast for several days.

• Begin eating a nourishing diet, not overeating, and always including an abundant amount of roughage (to aid in preventing constipation). Drink enough fluids.

• A deficiency in vitamin A can produce muscular and spinal cord degeneration. Also important for the nerves and muscles are vitamins B (all), C, and E. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, silicon, manganese, and zinc are also important for muscles and nerves.

• Lecithin is very important for good nerves, as well as chlorophyll.

• Good foods include buckwheat, millet, rye, and red potato peeling broth.

• Avoid the solanaceous crops, for they contain solanine, which interferes with the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. These foods include tomatoes, white potatoes, green and red peppers, egg plants, and tobacco.

• Avoid the glue foods, such as white flour and dairy products. Stay away from fried foods, meat, all animal fats, cheese, and eggs.

• Do not overwork. Learn to relax; learn to work at a more moderate pace, and stop more frequently to rest.

• Walk a little outdoors, and gradually build up. But do not overdo. A little walking is good; too much of any exercise might not be.

• Helpful herbs include slippery elm, comfrey, oatstraw, and the nervine herbs: skullcap, hop, chamomile, valerian, dong quai, wood betony, and small amounts of lobelia.