More: The Fourth Leg
Microbiome, movement, and mindset form the core of how I think about managing MS. But if I'm being honest about what has actually contributed to where I am today, there's a fourth category that deserves its own seat at the table.
MS is complex, individual, and stubbornly resistant to tidy explanations. What works looks different for every person, and my own path has been no exception.
Alongside the three core pillars, I've leaned on a wide range of supporting tools — medications and supplements, sauna, plant medicines, mobility aids, and others that don't fit neatly into any single category but have been part of the picture nonetheless.
Calling it "More" is deliberate. It's not a catch-all for things that didn't make the cut — it's an acknowledgment that real-world management of a complex condition rarely fits a clean framework. The tools in this category have mattered. Some have mattered a lot.
The honest version of my story includes all of it. This section is where that lives.
Environment
The core pillars are mostly about things I do. Environment is largely about what I don't do — or do less of. The logic is the same across all of it: I'm building a biological system I want to function well. Introducing unnecessary noise or toxins into that system works against everything else I'm doing. Reducing it costs relatively little. So I do.
My Internal Enviroment
A healthy microbiome and a well-regulated immune system both depend on a supportive gut environment. Unfortunately, many common medications, over-the-counter, and personal care products can damage that. Where medically practical, I avoid unnecessary disruptions to that environment.
This includes non-essential antibiotics, antibacterial products, and acid-suppressing medications like PPIs and antacids that alter the gut terrain my microbiome depends on.
I also avoid alcohol mouthwash, anti-bacterial soap, most synthetic clothing, and personal products that may disrupt my microbial ecosystems.
My Physical Environment
I pay attention to overall load in my physical environmental load — air quality, water, EMF exposure, noise, home products, etc..
My healing trajectory improved noticably after I moved out of an urban setting to a largely cleaner, quieter, and safer rural surrounding. This didn't happen in isolation and I can't isolate the variable — but I notice the difference, and I'd think carefuoly before moving back.
My Cognitive Environment
I also am thoughtful of the media and people around me. I find anger is inflammatory and it's hard to heal if I don't feel safe. Because of that, I am careful with news, media, or people that leave me feeling angry or afraid, especially about things I can't change. What I let in matters as much as what I keep out.
My dog is a often good guidepost for this. Certain programs, noises or people agitate her. Sun, grass, and birds generally don't. I find the environment that keeps her calm often has a similar effect on my nerves.
Biomarker Testing
Data is how I know whether any of this is working. Here's what I track, why, and what it's shown me over time. → Read more
Medications and Supplements
A candid look at what I take, what I've tried, and how I think about the tradeoffs. → Read more
Plant Medicines
An honest account of where psychedelics and cannabis fit into my protocol — and how I think about them. → Read more
Mobility Aids
The tools that have kept me moving when movement was hard, and what I've learned about using them without shame. → Read more
