Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease. Over the years, doctors have learned a lot more about it, and now there are medications that do a pretty good job of managing the symptoms and slowing the disease progression. However, you may still have some lingering symptoms in spite of using your medications as directed. Supplemental treatments, including the following, can be really great at managing these lingering symptoms.
Massage Therapy
Massage — especially gentler modalities like hot stone massage and Swedish massage — can be really good at relieving lingering MS symptoms. Massage can increase blood flow to your muscles, helping you to feel looser and more limber. It can also help reduce your stress levels. When your stress levels are lower, all of your MS symptoms are likely to be less prominent, but especially the mental symptoms like anxiety and depression. Most patients notice an improvement after just one massage, and regular massages deliver even more relief.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice that has gained popularity in the U.S. over recent years. While it is not a wise substitute for modern medical treatment for MS, it can be a good supplement because it's really effective at managing pain. If you're having muscle aches, headaches, or just bodily exhaustion from MS, be sure to let your acupuncturist know where the symptoms are concentrated. They can target certain neural pathways to address the symptoms more directly.
Evening Primrose Oil
Talk to your doctor, or an herbal medicine practitioner, about taking evening primrose oil for your MS. It's a good choice for many patients, but it is still wise to check with a professional before adding any specific treatment to your routine. Evening primrose oil is a great source of linoleic acid, a specific fatty acid that is thought to help slow the progression of MS and ease its symptoms. Capsules of evening primrose oil are pretty easy to find at health food stores.
Cooling Therapy
Cooling therapy basically involves temporarily lowering your body temperature. This is said to help fight the symptoms of MS, from tiredness to muscle weakness. You can practice cooling therapy on your own by simply taking a cool shower in the evening and drinking more cold fluids. However, a session or two with a practitioner who specializes in this treatment may give you more insight into what temperature to use, how long to expose yourself to the cold, and so forth.
Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease, and it often has to be treated from multiple angles. Consider adding the supplemental treatments above to your routine
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