Intervention & Prevention
MS is diverse in its presentation, involving a range of symptoms and patterns of symptoms. Similarly, the effects of natural approaches such as nutrition can vary from person to person. Fortunately, researchers have revealed numerous potential therapies and health practitioners have included them in regimens for use by all of us.
Though there is no cure for MS nor are there satisfactory conventional approaches to MS symptoms that diminish quality of life (such as pain or fatigue 1, MS patients are expected to live a nearly complete lifespan 2. Therefore, alternative interventions are needed to for relief, especially without complications 3, such as adverse effects of medications 4-6. As a result, the number of MS patients who are switching to or already using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing. Some have been observed to suppress or shorten relapses or to even delay or limit progression 2.
In addition to diet therapy, common CAM methods tapped for MS relief include the following:
- AIP
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Ayurveda
- Best Bet
- Caloric Restriction
- Carnivore
- Coimbra
- Intermittent Fasting
- Ketogenic
- McDougall
- Medical Medium
- MIND
- Overcoming MS
- Paleo
- Swank
- Wahls
- Apigenin
- Bacopa
- Astragalus
- Ashwagandha
- Biotin
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine
- Black Seed Oil
- Cannabis
- Burdock Root
- Citicoline
- Coenzyme Q10
- Curcumin
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Gotu Kola
- Grape Seed Extract
- Green Tea
- Lemon Verbena
- Lion’s Mane
- Lipoic Acid
- Luteolin
- Melatonin
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Panax Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
- Palmitoylethanolamine
- Phytosterols
- Piperine
- Pomegranate
- Probiotics
- Pterostilbene
- Quercetin
- Resveratrol
- Taurine
- Ursolic Acid
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin K2
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin D
References
1. Backus D, Manella C, Bender A, Sweatman M. Impact of Massage Therapy on Fatigue, Pain, and Spasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: a Pilot Study. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. Dec 2016;9(4):4-13. doi:10.3822/ijtmb.v9i4.327
2. Salarvand S, Heidari ME, Farahi K, Teymuri E, Almasian M, Bitaraf S. Effectiveness of massage therapy on fatigue and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. Apr-Jun 2021;7(2):20552173211022779. doi:10.1177/20552173211022779
3. Haider S, Fatmi W, Shoaib N, Sajjad M, Zahid M. Assessment of acupuncture’s effectiveness in mitigating fatigue among patients afflicted with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Sep 6 2024;57:101902. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101902
4. Cockburn N, Pateman K, Taing MW, Pradhan A, Ford PJ. Managing the oral side-effects of medications used to treat multiple sclerosis. Aust Dent J. Sep 2017;62(3):331-336. doi:10.1111/adj.12510
5. Leuschen MP, Filipi M, Healey K. A randomized open label study of pain medications (naproxen, acetaminophen and ibuprofen) for controlling side effects during initiation of IFN beta-1a therapy and during its ongoing use for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. Dec 2004;10(6):636-42. doi:10.1191/1352458504ms1114oa
6. Oldfield BJ, Gleeson B, Morford KL, et al. Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open. Sep 3 2024;7(9):e2434835. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34835
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