These include a group of diseases of unknown cause that lead to a degeneration or disappearance of the myelin (insulation) around nerves, with an effect similar to stripping away the rubber insulation from an electric wire.

Demyelinated nerve fibers lose the power to conduct messages or impulses from the brain to the muscles, as well as messages of touch, pain, vision and hearing to the brain. In consequence, there may be paralysis or numbness in an arm or leg, or unsteady (ataxic) gait, blindness, loss of bladder and bowel control. Although some authorities speculate that an hereditary predisposition is responsible for the demyelination of the nerves, and others attribute the illness to some abnormal chemistry in the body, the actual cause remains unknown.

Multiple sclerosis is a strange disease that attacks any part of the brain, spinal cord and nerves with spots of degeneration, and is characterized clinically by paralysis, numbness, blindness, deafness, unsteady gait (ataxia), impairment of speech and mental changes. It usually begins during the early years of life, most often between 20 and 30 years of age.

The first sign of illness may be the sudden paralysis of a leg, or half of the body, or the sudden loss of vision in one eye. This could persist and slowly progress to add other symptoms, but usually the first symptoms disappear within weeks or months, to be replaced in the course of a year or years with a succession of the same or other symptoms, in various parts of the body.

The disappearance of symptoms is referred to as a “remission” and the reappearance as a “relapse.” These remissions and relapses may spread over a period of five, ten or more years, after which there is a tendency toward steady progression of the disease, until partial or total invalidism ensues.

There is no specific treatment as yet, nor any means of prevention of the disease. However, considerable research is under way in hope of reaching better understanding of the cause and the means to combat the illness. There is a Multiple Sclerosis Foundation that may be contacted for information as to the latest developments and prospects. Any person who develops sudden paralysis, numbness, blindness, or deafness, must obtain immediate study by a neurologist.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Because this medical term is so difficult to remember, it has come to be known in popular language as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”, after the famous ballplayer who became afflicted with it. This illness differs sharply from multiple sclerosis, in that the patches of degeneration are not as diffusely spread out through the entire nervous system, but tend to localize on bundles of motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing a slowly progressive paralysis and wasting (atrophy) of muscles on both sides of the body, sometimes more on one side than on the other. The hands often manifest the first signs of wasting and weakness, and later the legs. There is never numbness or blindness here. No specific treatment is, as yet, available for this disease, just as there is none for multiple sclerosis, although injections of B-12 and other vitamins (B-6) prove of some ameliorating value.

Because the brain closely fills the tight compartment of the rigid skull, any added substance inside the skull cavity, be it a hemorrhage, an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or the covers of the brain (meningitis), or increase in blood circulation, or swelling of the brain (edema) due to an allergy or brain in jury, or a new growth in the brain (brain tumor), will cause severe and constant headache until the increase in intracranial (intra-skull) pressure is relieved by spinal puncture (which removes fluid from the brain), by brain surgery, by drugs, or by the natural course of events.

Because of the important centers located in the brain and because of the fixed space inside the skull, any tumor or growth in the brain, whether benign or malignant, has to be considered malignant, since prolonged continuation of the increased intracranial pressure can produce blindness, or paralysis of one side of the body, convulsions, severe head­ache and vomiting.

It is therefore important that any sudden and persistent headache should obtain the early study and attention of a neurologist. Of course, some common sense has to be employed in such decisions, since every headache does not warrant an urgent rush to a neurologist, any more than every pimple or spot on the skin means cancer and a rush for a biopsy. When in doubt, however, it is wisest to consult a responsible authority on the subject.

Types of Brain Tumor

There are many types of brain tumor. Some are easy to reach, especially if they are located near the skull, and may be removed completely. Others are deep seated in the brain and invade large areas of its substance, so that complete removal could only be accomplished at the risk of causing further damaging symptoms, paralysis, or even death. In such situations, a small portion of the brain tumor is removed to allow for the release of the increased intracranial pressure and the temporary easing of the symptoms, with the full understanding that the unremoved parts will continue to grow and lead to paralysis, numbness, blindness, vomiting, wasting of the body and ultimate death. Deep x-ray treatment into the brain can sometimes retard the speed of growth of special types of tumor. Certain tumors such as a glioma grow very slowly and, if situated in a so-called “silent area” of the brain, may not disable the patient severely for many years. When I was 15 years of age, an older brother of a friend had a glioma removed from the cerebellum part of the brain and continued to conduct his small business. When I was 25 years of age, he had a second operation for the removal of a remnant of the same tumor, which in the course of years had grown to large size. When I was 35, he had the third operation for the same regrown tumor, following which he became totally disabled. Research is continuing in many medical centers of the country for better methods of destroying brain tumors without injury to the patient.

This rare condition occurs when certain nerve cells die. These are the motor neurons that run from the brain to the muscles and control the muscles’ movements. The affected muscles cannot be stimulated and used, and they gradually waste away. The affected part of the body becomes increasingly weak. The disease can cause difficulty in swallowing, breathing, walking, or any other muscle powered activity. Thus it can interfere with virtually any of the body’s physical functions.Motor neuron disease occurs most often in people over 40. Little is known about its cause, and it cannot be cured. Treatment is directed at easing symptoms and helping you to remain relatively mobile and independent. In most cases death occurs within two to ten years of the onset of the disease.

‘Depression’ became the common term for the urbanite people. Depression is downturn mood that took place on temporary basis. When one suffers from depression “feels blue”. Depression may cause from various factors such as:

• Family history: In cases of depression like other diseases genes came to play an significant factor.
• Trauma and stress: Problems related to finance, relationship, accidents etc causes trauma and stress on human mind as well as body. This also contributes to depression.
• Pessimistic personality: People from negative outlook towards life or anything under the sun also dig into the problem of depression.
• Physical condition: people who suffers from serious or chronicle health problem also have a tendency to be depressed.
• Other psychological problems like Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, insomania etc also led to depression.

There are thousands of natural remedy for the problem of depression. But it is tough to select the best effective remedy to get rid of this problem called depression. Natural depression remedies are those remedies that have proved to be the effective to this problem. There are some natural remedies for depression.

• St. John’ Wort formula has been proved to alleviate depression and anxiety also.
• Self-help group has an important role to play for the people who are suffering from depression.
• Diet and nutrition will also help people to recover from mental illness called depression.
• Counseling helps immensely to get rid of depression.
• Animal assisted therapies by enhancing socialization skills also contributes to the natural remedy for depression.
• Expressive therapies like Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Music/Sound Therapy contributes to the relieve of depression
• ‘Traditional Oriental medicine’ (such as acupuncture, shiatsu, and reiki), ‘Indian systems of health care’ (such as Ayurveda and yoga), and ‘Native American healing practices’(such as the Sweat Lodge and Talking Circles) helps to cure the problem.

Anxiety has became synonymous to the urbanites. To get relief from the problem called Anxiety there are respective natural treatments. They are: Good nutrition, medical–grade nutritional supplement, Hormonal Balance Profile, Physical activity (perhaps the best anxiety medication), sunlight and fresh air, sleep, emotional experience.

Senile dementia is primarily a disorder of the elderly. Pre-senile dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, is either the same or a similar disorder that occurs in someone under 60. It may be due to an underlying disorder such as hypothyroidism or a brain tumor , and in such cases it can sometimes be successfully treated if the cause is discovered in time. If this is not the case, it may be due to a progressive loss of brain cells, the cause of which is not known. Reasoning powers, memory, and other thought processes tend to deteriorate more quickly than they do in senile dementia, and the disease in a comparatively young person can be fatal within about five years.

Infections of the nervous system are less frequent than infections of other systems such as the respiratory system, because the brain and spinal cord have no contact with the outside. Those infections that do occur gain entry through the bloodstream, the air spaces in the ears or sinuses, or through fractures caused by head injuries. Most nervous system infections cause obvious, serious illness. Early diagnosis is important, since prompt treatment can save a life and prevent long-term damage to the brain, the spinal cord or the nerves. You should familiarize yourself with the symptoms of this type of infection so that you can act quickly and decisively if anyone in your family gets one,