Heidi Weinhold, ND
How a young woman with MS, optic nerve inflammation, and recurrent uveitis found remission through homeopathy, dietary changes, and neuroregenerative support
Abstract
This case study presents the integrative naturopathic management of a 29-year-old woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), optic nerve inflammation, and recurrent bilateral uveitis. Facing the possibility of long-term immunosuppressive therapy, the patient sought alternative treatment to manage her symptoms and promote healing. Through a comprehensive approach combining homeopathy, dietary intervention, neuroregenerative supplementation, and emotional support, the patient achieved remission. Her care plan included gluten- and casein-free nutrition, botanical and nutraceutical support, homeopathic remedies tailored to her trauma and neurological history, and lifestyle changes to reduce inflammation. Significant improvements in vision, energy, mood, and neurologic function were documented. This case underscores the potential for naturopathic medicine to complement conventional care in managing complex autoimmune conditions.
Introduction
A lovely, fair-haired, pixie-like woman scheduled an appointment with me for September 2024. For anonymity, we will call her Brittany. She was 29 years old, from a small town in West Virginia, and her complaint was most serious: she had recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was experiencing blurred vision.
Brittany first visited the eye doctor in 2021, describing her vision as ‘like a fog’. In June 2023, she was referred to a retina specialist and diagnosed with bilateral intermediate uveitis–a distressing diagnosis given her youth and interests. Brittany was a flight attendant and had been taking flying lessons to become a pilot.
She was prescribed two sets of steroid eye drops to be used QID, and was also, last year, prescribed oral steroids. In addition to her visual symptoms, she reported fatigue, occasional tingling in her arms, brain fog, acne, anxiety, and depression. I initiated her on a gluten-free and casein-free diet, fish oil, curcumin, and NAC supplementation.
Hospitalization and Escalation of Symptoms
In October, Brittany experienced a bout of eye pain and tunnel vision that persisted behind the eye. She would experience eye pain with movement. Brittany went to her eye doctor, who admitted her to the hospital. Her prescription was wrong, and she was given a new retina specialist. They did an MRI in the hospital, and the imaging revealed that her optic nerve was inflamed due to an MS lesion. She was given IV steroids during her stay, and the doctors wanted to put her on immunosuppressant therapy.
Seeking an alternative, Brittany returned to my office looking for a naturopathic approach to her care and an alternative to immunosuppressant therapy.
Integrating Homeopathy
I decided to add Homeopathy to her protocol. Homeopathy can be helpful for autoimmune conditions, including MS. Homeopathy is based on the ‘law of similars’. Whatever most closely matches the person’s symptoms needs to be used. Microdoses help to modulate the immune system and won’t interfere with other medications. Homeopathic Conium maculatum has the keynote “worse with movement of the eye”. Conium has an affinity for the nerve cell. Homeopathic Conium is made from Poison Hemlock and dates back to antiquity.1
A History of Trauma
Brittany had a history of trauma and caregiver stress. Her parents were divorced, and her mother, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, raised her. She had a history of being in multiple car accidents throughout high school. In one incident, she was thrown from the back of a 4-wheeler and smashed her head and left eye. The officer on the scene thought she was dead. After high school, Brittany was the primary caregiver for her father, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Her father moved in to live with her. It was a lot of stress, and Brittany can remember waking up one day and not being able to see out of her left eye.
Treatment Protocol
In August 2020, she was involved in another car accident with a concussion. Her strong history of anxiety and depression, along with multiple car accidents, led to the prescription of Homeopathic Natrum sulphuricum 200ck. Nat Sulph is a standard medicine used for whiplash and post-concussive syndrome involving the eyes and depression.1
Barb Dively and Michael Reece, ND, first introduced me to the effectiveness of Homeopathy for post-concussion syndrome. They were involved with an Acquired Brain Injury Support Group in central Pennsylvania. When conventional care failed to help, many members of the group turned to homeopathy to help with long-term recovery. Members described incorporating homeopathy ‘like peeling layers of a fog’. They reported that their symptoms of brain fog, confusion, anxiety, and memory issues would slowly clear. Historically, Boericke noted homeopathic medicines for concussions under the rubric “never well since.” I prescribed alternating homeopathic medicines in 200 CK potency, 5 pills QID, one day, once a week. Example: Week 1: Natrum Sulph, week 2 Conium, week 3 Nat sulph, etc. When I first graduated from naturopathic medical school, I received additional training in homeopathy from Dr. Ramakrishnan. He would tell his students to be bold enough to use the indicated homeopathic medicine more frequently. He believed deep-seated pathology required more repetition. I have found this approach to be successful in clinical practice.
Progress and Outcomes
By December 2024, Brittany reported feeling significantly better. Although busy with holiday travel, she maintained her protocol, and by March 2025, we met in person again.
Since July 2024, Brittany has been on steroid eye drops four times daily but successfully tapered to twice daily by December. Brittany recently visited her retina specialist, and he took pictures of the retina. He told her that her eyes look completely calm and he cannot see any inflammation. He reduced her dose of steroid eye drops to only once a day and wants to meet me to discuss homeopathy to support uveitis. He told Brittany that if she were going to experience another uveitis flare-up, it would have happened during the taper.
Brittany noticed mild eye fatigue if she was under a lot of stress or exhausted from flying, for which she used Ruta gravolens 30c as needed. She reported that if her vision was blurred, Natrum Sulphuricum 200ck worked better than topical steroid drops. Last month, she flew her father down on a buddy pass to St Petersburg, Florida, for a long weekend. She took two rounds of five pellets of Natrum sulph, and the blurriness went away.
Brittany reports no tingling, brain fog, or increased energy. Her hair has thickened, her acne has resolved, and she feels happy and more like herself before her last car accident. She has been checking in with a counselor once a month. When she first went to the counselor, the counselor cried after hearing her story. Brittany meditates daily and visualizes her retina being healed. She continues to follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet. She makes a smoothie with 2 cups of organic blueberries, a banana, and cilantro daily.
Her homeopathic schedule was adjusted to alternating Natrum sulphuricum 200CK with Ruta graveolens 200CK every two weeks. She is scheduled for another MRI at the end of March. I recommended discontinuing the Conium because the MS seems to be in remission.
Additional Naturopathic Support
In December, phosphatidylserine and lion’s mane were added to her protocol to help regenerate the nerves. She also had a history of vaping, and I advised her to quit. She’s been weaning off since January.
Her current naturopathic regimen includes:
Morning:
- Fish oil 1000 mg (600 EPA/400 DHA)
- Lion’s Mane (2 capsules)
- Phosphatidylserine 150 mg
- Vitamin B12
- NAC 600 mg
Evening:
- NAC 600 mg
- Vitamin B12
- Liposomal curcumin 600 mg
- Scutellaria lateriflora extract (40 gtt in water)
- Vitamin D3 2000 IU
- Magnesium glycinate
Diet and Lifestyle as Foundations
In Naturopathic Medicine, we talk about removing obstacles to cure. An obstacle can be dietary. Brittany feels that eating wheat makes symptoms of fatigue, tingling, and brain fog worse. In autoimmune conditions, it is important to keep inflammation down. Everything we eat affects our immune system. Dairy can decrease uric acid in the brain, which is neuroprotective. I also advised her to eliminate dairy because casein can promote inflammation, and milk and cheese are high in saturated fat.2 When she was younger, she would drink a couple of gallons of milk a week. Food allergies are associated with increased disease activity in multiple sclerosis.3
Rationale Behind Supplementation
Nutraceuticals and botanicals were incorporated into Brittany’s protocol to increase neuroplasticity. B vitamins play a role in nerve regeneration.4 Lion’s mane is being studied for its neuroprotective effects and ability to stimulate Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).5 Curcumin has been shown to inhibit microglial activation, mitigate neuroinflammation, and stimulate BDNF.6 Supplementing with EPA and DHA found in fish oils is important for brain and eye health. It can also improve concentration and symptoms of anxiety and depression.7 Scutellaria laterifolia (Skullcap) was recommended in the evening to help her unwind and relieve anxiety after a long day.8 N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) has antioxidant properties and has been demonstrated to improve cognitive function in patients with MS.9 Phosphatidylserine is required for healthy nerve cell membranes and myelin.10
Conclusion
This case demonstrates that an integrative, naturopathic approach can complement and enhance conventional MS management. By addressing neurological, emotional, and immunological aspects, we supported Brittany’s recovery and helped her avoid the risks of long-term immunosuppressant therapy.
Her transformation is a testament to the power of individualized care, blending naturopathy and conventional medicine.
Dr. Heidi Weinhold received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Washington & Jefferson College, and received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Tempe, Arizona. Her alma mater honored her in 2017 with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Dr. Weinhold received the 2017 Physician of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Weinhold has a private practice located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. She specializes in natural modalities to manage autoimmune conditions and to help relieve stress and anxiety.
References
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