What causes MS?
The cause of MS is still unknown. It is suspected that it is an autoimmune disease associated with certain viruses and environmental contaminants. The symptoms of MS are varied and but found the immune system attacking the protective sheath (myelin) surrounding nerves within the central nervous system. The damage caused by the attacks disrupts the transmission of nervous responses. Often the first signs of MS starts with sensations of numbness or tingling in the legs or arms accompanied by muscle weakness, spasticity and dizziness.
The multiple sclerosis is increasingly moving away from injectable treatments in favor of pills such as Novartis’ Gilenya and Biogen Idec’s Tecfidera. The recent FDA rejection of Lemtrada from French drug maker Sanofi is on the grounds that Genzyme had not shown its benefits outweighed its “serious adverse effects”.
How do we treat MS?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a similar condition to MS has been documented in ancient texts. So, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine have been involved in the treatment of MS-like symptoms for over 2,000 years. The results of treatment vary depending on the severity and progression of the disease. In our experience, acupuncture and herbs may decrease the side effects of many of the medications and assist patients to balance their lives and stabilize and halt the progress of the disease.
In my office, we have observed that patients who have regular acupuncture treatments and take herbs, while making significant lifestyle changes, have often managed to stabilize and even slow the progression of the disease. In clinical studies and surveys conducted within the US, pain, spasticity, numbness, and tingling are among the many symptoms reported to be improved due to acupuncture treatments. In our experience, additional symptoms improve such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, and bowel or bladder function when using both acupuncture and herbs together.
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