How to Use Herbs to Treat Multiple Sclerosis

There are a number of clinically proven and medically approved disease-modifying therapies available for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Many patients who suffer from this disease may also wish to consider alternative therapies such as treatment using herbs and supplements. Talk to your doctor about alternative herbal medicines that may be used to treat the symptoms of MS.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Herbal or vitamin supply store
• Neurologist
• Homeopathic remedy store

1. Understand that the term alternative therapy refers to any treatment designed outside the medical establishment. Among those suggested for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis may involve the use of herbs delivered in pill or injection form as well as other forms of high-dose dietary supplements.
2. Know that the intake of adequate amounts of vitamins is advised for all patients with MS. There is no scientific proof that additional doses of vitamins, sometimes called megavitamin therapy, may change the course of this disease.
3. Find that recent research suggests that dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (a common form of which is evening primrose oil) as well as fatty acids such as fish oil appear to moderately slow down the progression of the disease and may reduce the severity and duration of exacerbations found in the course of relapsing-remitting MS.
4. Try to follow a balanced diet including appropriate amounts of protein, fats and carbohydrates. Diets such as the Swank and Kousmine diet have not been proven to change the course of the disease. However, because they lay stress on low-fat eating habits, they may help to reduce the risks of secondary symptoms of MS such as heart disease and obesity.
5. Follow ongoing clinical research into the effectiveness of herbs such as gingko biloba to treat the inflammation brought on by demyelination caused by the autoimmune reactions which occur with MS. Currently, studies do not indicate that oral doses of this medication have any effect however clinical trials have suggested that the use of injections of this herb may reduce nerve inflammation.

Tips & Warnings

• The restrictions which govern the testing and approval process for prescription medications is not applied to most alternative medicines such as herbs, vitamins and supplements. You should consider the risks associated with any medical treatment you may embark upon and discuss your plans with your neurologist before you discontinue use of any prescribed medication for the treatment of MS.

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