{"id":21781,"date":"2018-12-30T00:41:14","date_gmt":"2018-12-29T22:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mssociety.org.il\/?p=21781"},"modified":"2021-02-05T22:15:38","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T20:15:38","slug":"2018-complementary-alternative-medicines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mssociety.org.il\/en\/2018-complementary-alternative-medicines\/","title":{"rendered":"Complementary & Alternative Medicines"},"content":{"rendered":"

See what is known about the effectiveness and safety of CAM strategies \u2014 and how to integrate complementary or alternative medicines into comprehensive MS care.<\/p>\n

Overview<\/h3>\n

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a wide variety of interventions \u2014 from diets and supplements to meditation and T\u2019ai Chi \u2014 which come from many different disciplines and traditions. Most are considered to be outside the realm of conventional medicine, although others, including, and cooling strategies, for example, are establishing their role in through scientific study and clinical trials.<\/p>\n

When used in combination with conventional medicine, these interventions are referred to as \u201ccomplementary\u201d; when used instead of conventional medicine, they are referred to as \u201calternative.\u201d In the United States today, the vast majority of people incorporate one form or another of CAM as part of their MS management, most often in combination with their prescribed MS treatments.<\/p>\n

Safety & effectiveness<\/h3>\n

Many people use CAM because they believe that anything sold online or over-the-counter at a pharmacy or health food store is healthy and harmless. But many products that claim to be safe and beneficial may not be. Unlike conventional medical treatments that are thoroughly tested and carefully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most CAM therapies have undergone very little \u2014 if any \u2014 scientific study to evaluate their safety and effectiveness. So some forms of CAM may be completely safe for a person with MS while others may actually pose significant risks \u2014 by producing significant side effects, over-stimulating the person\u2019s immune system or interacting negatively with other medications a person is taking. Some may provide some benefit for a person with MS while others offer no benefit at all.<\/p>\n

The American Academy of Neurology recently released a on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in MS. The guideline was developed to address the following questions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do CAM therapies reduce specific symptoms and prevent relapses or disability?<\/li>\n
  2. Can CAM use worsen MS or cause serious adverse effects?<\/li>\n
  3. Can CAM use interfere with MS disease-modifying therapies?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although these are all very important questions, the authors found very few published studies of sufficient quality to provide helpful answers about most of the CAM therapies that are being used by people with MS.<\/p>\n

    The importance of clinical trials<\/h3>\n

    Carefully-designed are the best way to determine the safety and effectiveness of a particular treatment. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Because the course of MS is variable, and each person\u2019s symptoms tend to come and go in an unpredictable way, the only way to determine the effectiveness of a treatment is to test it on a large number of people.<\/li>\n
    • Because most people \u2014 regardless of the disease they have \u2014 will have a positive response to any new treatment they receive (even if it\u2019s an inactive substance or ). The effectiveness of a new treatment can only be proven by comparing it to a placebo or to another treatment that has already been shown to be effective.<\/li>\n
    • Because every treatment carries with it the risk of anticipated and unanticipated side effects, the only way to evaluate a treatment\u2019s safety is to evaluate it in a large number of people over a sufficient period of time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Guidelines for considering or using CAM<\/h3>\n

      Questions to ask when considering CAM:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • What does the treatment involve?<\/li>\n
      • How and why is it supposed to work?<\/li>\n
      • How effective is it?<\/li>\n
      • What are the risks associated with its use?<\/li>\n
      • How much does it cost?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Keep your physician informed about everything you are taking<\/strong>. Not sharing this important information is like asking your physician to treat you blindfolded \u2014 and knowing everything you are taking will allow your doctor to alert you to possible side effects or drug interactions.<\/p>\n

        Don\u2019t abandon conventional therapy<\/strong>. The treatments your physician prescribes for you are the ones that have been evaluated in controlled clinical trials or accepted by the MS medical community as safe and effective therapies. So even if you decide to add CAM to your.<\/p>\n

        Document the experience<\/strong>. Keep a detailed log of what you take or what is done and any changes you experience (.pdf).<\/p>\n

        Complementary approaches to taking care of yourself<\/h3>\n

        Food and diet<\/strong> \u2014 Although various diets have been promoted to cure or control MS, no diet has been proven to modify the course of MS. MS specialists recommend that people follow the same high fiber, low fat diet that is recommended for all adults.<\/p>\n

        Exercise<\/strong> \u2014 Exercise offers many benefits for people with MS. In addition to improving your overall health, aerobic exercise reduces fatigue and improves bladder and bowel function, strength, and mood. Stretching exercises reduce stiffness and increase mobility. The physical therapist can recommend an exercise plan to fit your abilities and limitations.<\/p>\n

        Stress management<\/strong> (.pdf) \u2014 The relationship between stress and the onset or worsening of MS is far from clear \u2014 and different types of stress appear to affect different people in different ways. But none of us feel our best when we\u2019re stressed, so it\u2019s important to find the stress management strategies that work best for you.<\/p>\n

        Acupuncture<\/strong> \u2014 Acupuncture is finding its way into Western medicine, with studies suggesting possible benefits for a wide range of problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        See what is known about the effectiveness and safety of CAM strategies \u2014 and how to integrate complementary or alternative medicines into comprehensive MS care. 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