Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and massage won’t cure MS or change its progression, but they may help you manage your symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which your immune system attacks the myelin sheath, the protective layer around nerve fibers, in your central nervous system (CNS). Your CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord. Damage to the myelin sheath causes communication issues between your CNS and the rest of your body.
MS can cause a range of symptoms, including:
- bladder and bowel problems
- cognitive issues, such as trouble with thinking and memory
- dizziness
- fatigue
- mood changes
- numbness and tingling
- pain
- sexual dysfunction
- spasticity
- vision problems
- difficulty walking
- weakness
There’s currently no cure for MS, but treatments such as disease-modifying therapies may help reduce the frequency and severity of MS relapses and slow the progression of the disease.
Complementary therapies may also play a role in your MS treatment plan. These are nutritional, psychological, and physical approaches to health that can be used along with conventional MS treatments to help you manage your symptoms.