Considering Natural Treatment Options for MS

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, approximately 250,000 to 350,000 Americans suffer from Multiple Sclerosis with 200 cases diagnosed each week. Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, disseminated sclerosis, or encephalomyelitis disseminate, is a chronic, potentially debilitating auto-immune disease which affects the central nervous system.

An unpredictable disease which varies in severity from person to person, MS may manifest itself through any number of symptoms including, but not limited to, numbness, weakness, tingling or pain, loss of vision, tremors, loss of coordination, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive difficulties, sexual dysfunction, urinary and bowel problems, and depression.

To date, there is no definitive cause for MS although factors such as genetics, diet, gender, environment, and stress are believed to influence whether or not an individual develops this condition. As regards prognosis, most individuals with MS have a relatively normal life span with two-thirds of patients remaining mobile 25 after the onset of the disease. Eventually, about 70% of patients report some physical limitations.

There is no cure for MS. Conventional treatment may include medication to address the various symptoms, and physical therapy when necessary. However, as most of the medications available also carry potentially dangerous side effects, many choose to manage the disease through diet and exercise (both of which have proven beneficial).

In addition to lifestyle changes, a number of individuals seek alternative treatment. Despite the fact that there is “unclear or conflicting evidence” supporting the clinical efficacy of any single alternative treatment for MS, there are several which have been shown to be potentially beneficial.

One such treatment of particular interest is magnetic therapy. To date, several clinical trials have explored its use in the treatment of MS. In one double-blind study performed by researchers at the Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, which evaluated the efficacy of a magnetic pulsing device in the treatment of MS, it was found that the (Enermed) device had an statistically significant effect both on patient performance scales and on alpha EEG magnitude during a language task.

Another randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study evaluating data gathered from multiple research institutes found that, although use of the device did not significantly increase bladder control, it did significantly decrease fatigue in individuals with MS. In their conclusion, researchers stated that that the device should be considered as a treatment for the fatigue associated with MS.

In addition to magnetic therapy, other Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medical (ICAM) therapies that have shown promise in the treatment of MS. These include colostrum, creatine, evening primrose oil, ginkgo biloba, vitamin B-12, massage, vitamin D, yoga, acupressure (Shiatsu), acupuncture, the alexander technique, astragalus, bee pollen, boswellia, calcium, chiropractic therapy, detoxification therapy, DHEA, healing touch, Kundalini yoga, liver extract, meditation, music therapy, organic food, ozone therapy, phosphorus, qi gong, reflexology, reishi mushroom, resveratrol, rutin, SAMe, spiritual healing, tai chi, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), therapeutic touch, and thymus extract. More studies on these and other therapies are ongoing.

References

1. rVita: Alternative Medicine
2. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12185153
4. http://faculty.washington.edu/toddr/magnetic
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17613606

Danielle Grilli is the Content Director of rVita.com