The book provides competent assistance to all those affected by Multiple Sclerosis to better understand the disease and educates them about current diagnostic methods and treatment approaches. With independent information, the guidebook provides the key to a self-determined life with the disease. Complex medical facts such as the malfunctioning immune system or MRI findings are explained in understandable words and accompanying drawings. This companion also raises awareness beyond conventional medicine to take into account important influencing environmental factors.

The author provides answers to the many questions that are asked again and again in the doctors practices and cannot always be answered to this extent and with this clarity due to time restrictions. For this reason, it is a highly helpful tool to both MS practitioner and patient.

The book is structured as follows:

What is MS? - How the central nervous system is structured - What happens when the nervoussystem is misdirected - MS relapse and typical symptoms - The path to diagnosis - An excursion into our immune system - The MRI findings - Why lumbar puncture - What to do during an MS relapse - I'm fine, why therapy? - MS and the desire to have children - What can I do myself: Nutrition, Vitamin D, intestine and microbiome.

Anke Friedrich, born in 1964 in Duisburg-Rheinhausen, grew up in Geldern on the Lower Rhine and studied medicine at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, where she obtained her doctorate in paediatric haematology and oncology in 1991. After working for two years as an internist in Brig/Switzerland and in oncology in Duisburg-Rheinhausen, her interest in neurological disease patterns grew, so that her further training path led via neurology (Oberhausen), neurosurgery (University Hospital Essen) and psychiatry (LVR Hospital Essen) to become a specialist in neurology. In 1998 she decided to become self-employed and joined a group practice in Essen where she has played a decisive role over the last 25 years in developing the Zentrum für ambulante Neurologie. Her conviction of a holistic concept of health also led her to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with acupuncture training (Beijing/China and Bramsche/Germany). Her experience that the environment and the space also have an influence on the health and well-being of people also led Dr. Friedrich to train as a Feng Shui and Geomancy consultant. During her many years of neurological practice, she became particularly interested in the treatment and support of patients with MS, and over the years Multiple Sclerosis has become her main area of practice. She is a sought-after speaker on this topic, gives specialist lectures for medical colleagues and "MS nurses" and knows the concerns and questions of MS sufferers first-hand. Inspired by these questions and the desire for more information, the idea for her now published "Multiple Sclerosis Companion" came about. Anke Friedrich lives in Essen, is married and in her free time enjoys photography and cycling in the countryside.  She is interested in architecture, design and art and loves spending time together with her family, dogs and friends over a delicious meal and a good glass of red wine.

Part I: MS - Understanding the disease: 1 What is MS? - A first overview.- 2 Do I really have MS?.- 3. An excursion into our immune system.- 4 Why MRI?.- 5.  The most important facts about the nerve fluid.- Part II: MS - Understanding the therapy: 6. How MS is treated.- 7. What to do in an acute MS episode.- 8. I am fine - why therapy?.- 9. MS therapy yesterday and today.- 10. How the progression of the disease can be influenced - the MS drugs in detail.- 11. The therapy goal has a name: NEDA.- 12. MS and vaccinations.- 13. MS and the desire to have children.- Part III: MS - and what you can do yourself: 14. Own initiative helps.- 15. Forest fire MS.- 16. "Western Diet" and "Blue Zones.- 17. Nutrition works.- 18. The intestine and its inhabitants.- 19. Microbiota and microbiome.- 20. How the microbiome develops.- 21. How bacteria can be identified.- 22. Stool transplantation.- 23. The intestine and MS: what scientific research says.- 24. Vitamin D - sense and nonsense.- 25. Action plan and recipes to follow.- 26. Summary of the most important recommendations.
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