TCM Treatment for Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, recurrent and typically progressive disease which manifests itself as the demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS) - the damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in different regions of the brain and/or spinal cord. Depending on the domain of the CNS which is affected, MS can cause different symptoms including: numbness; motor, sensory, or visual impairment; speech impairment; degeneration of muscular coordination; fatigue; bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction; cognitive impairment; and depression. Moreover, MS patients also face severely reduced quality of life.

At this stage, MS is an incurable disease, and treatment typically centres around the use of drugs and medications designed to provide relief from the manifestations of symptoms. Such medication includes immunotherapy and corticosteroids. However, such drugs and medications are not fully efficient and can result in many adverse effects. Depending on the type of medication taken, side effects may include: drowsiness; gastrointestinal upsets; fluid retention; swelling; flu-like symptoms; skin irritation at the site of injection; and mood-altering effects.

Today there is an increasing trend of MS patients seeking complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments - including TCM - to help with their condition. Diagnosis based on TCM theory holds that MS is the result of Dampness affecting the muscles and Spleen and/or a deficiency in the Kidney and Liver Zang affecting bones and tendons. According to such TCM theory, the early stages of MS are often caused by Dampness, but chronic MS can generally be the result of Kidney and Liver Zang deficiency in the body causing the Liver Yang to rise, and symptoms like tremor, dizziness, stiffness or paralysis to occur. TCM treatment, including acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine combine with lifestyle therapy can help subside some of the symptoms associated with MS and could improve the quality of life in these patients.

MS is a condition which I have treated numerous times in my practice. Generally speaking, the results are quite impressive, with the treatment facilitating substantial improvements in the quality of life for patients.