Ep 76 Mountain Sunrise: Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cells, and Selma Blair's Unfiltered Fight

This week on Medical Media Mixer, we're pairing a sunrise in a glass with one of the most raw and courageous documentaries in recent memory. We're watching Introducing, Selma Blair (2021, Discovery+) — a film that follows actress Selma Blair through a years-long diagnostic odyssey, a harrowing stem cell transplant, and the daily reality of living with multiple sclerosis. Blair, best known for Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, went public with her MS diagnosis in 2018 after her symptoms were dismissed for years as stress and postpartum depression. This week, we break down what MS actually is, why it takes so long to diagnose — especially in women — and how a procedure that requires wiping out your entire immune system can be someone's best shot at a better life. We're sipping the Mountain Sunrise cocktail, a drink literally created to raise money for the National MS Society. Orange is the MS awareness ribbon color, and this drink earns its place on the table. Sources & Further Reading Jakimovski D, et al. Multiple Sclerosis. The Lancet. 2024. McGinley MP, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review. JAMA. 2021. GBD 2016 MS Collaborators. Global Burden of Multiple Sclerosis 1990–2016. Lancet Neurology. 2019. Brownlee WJ, et al. Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: Progress and Challenges. The Lancet. 2017. Faissner S, Gold R. Efficacy and Safety of MS Drugs Approved Since 2018. CNS Drugs. 2022. Piehl F. Current and Emerging Disease-Modulatory Therapies for MS. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2021. Sriwastava S, et al. Recent Advances in Progressive MS Treatment. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2024. Chataway J, et al. Clinical Trials for Progressive MS. Lancet Neurology. 2024. Reich DS, et al. Multiple Sclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2018. Introducing, Selma Blair — Documentary (2021). Available on Discovery+. Mountain Sunrise Cocktail Recipe — Created for MS Awareness. Phoenix Magazine, 2018. National Multiple Sclerosis Society Episodes every Monday ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.