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Alternative Treatments for MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disorder that afflicts nearly half a million people in the United States. MS is caused by an autoimmune response that leads to the immune system attacking healthy nerves and tissue. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), alternative treatments for MS can be effective in relieving pain, reducing stress and keeping muscles functioning properly.

  1. Acupuncture

    • Acupuncture is a Chinese therapy that can be used to treat MS. Meridians that run throughout the body need to remain balanced, according to the theory of acupuncture, to allow qi, the flow of energy, to flow freely to prevent disease. Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that uses small, disposable needles, which are inserted into four to 12 meridians. According to the NMSS, two surveys conducted in the United States and Canada found that 10 to 15 percent of MS patients who tried acupuncture to find relief from symptoms such as pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, depression, numbness and tingling said they would continue with acupuncture treatments.

    Massage

    • An alternative treatment that is beneficial to people with MS is massage therapy. Massage can relieve stress and ease painful knots of muscle cramps. Depression is often experienced by those who have MS and massage can help lift the mood, easing depression symptoms. Massage therapy also helps with reducing pain levels and boosts the levels of natural endorphins in the blood.

    Exercise

    • Another alternative treatment that is beneficial to people with MS is massage therapy, reports MedicineNet.com. Massage can relieve stress and ease the painful knots of muscle cramps. Depression is often experienced by MS patients, according to the NMSS, and massage can help relieve depression and anxiety. Massage therapy also helps with reducing pain levels and boosts the levels of natural endorphins in the blood, reports enerchihealth.com.

    Biofeedback

    • Biofeedback is a method doctors use to help MS patients regulate breathing and heart rate, according to MSfacts.org. External monitors allow a person to see how their bodies react to internal and external stimuli. The doctor then guides the person in adjusting the reactions to stress and pain.

    Diet

    • Eating a well-balanced diet is the best way to meet all nutritional needs of MS. There are special diets that have been suggested for people with MS---such as the Swank MS diet---with claims that they can treat, or even cure, the disease. There have been no studies that prove that such diets produce effective results, and some diets may even be dangerous. MSfacts.org says most doctors are in agreement that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is best for MS patients. Before trying any alternative treatment for MS, patients should consult their health care provider.

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