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Complementary therapy use by persons with multiple sclerosis: benefits and research priorities
1School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Baines Wing, Leeds LS2 9UT, UK.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
|July 22, 2008
Summary
People with multiple sclerosis use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for symptom management. Many find therapies like reflexology and yoga extremely helpful, with calls for more research into CAM benefits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients actively engage in self-care.
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by MS patients for symptom management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gain insight into the benefits of CAM use for multiple sclerosis symptom management.
- To understand patient priorities for future research on CAM therapies.
Main Methods:
- A two-part study involving a questionnaire and interactive workshop.
- Participants were attendees of a national MS Trust Congress in the UK.
Main Results:
- The six most utilized CAM therapies included reflexology, massage, yoga, relaxation/meditation, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.
- A quarter to two-fifths of participants rated these therapies as 'extremely helpful'.
- User comments provided qualitative insights into the therapeutic benefits experienced.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest potential benefits of specific CAM therapies for individuals with MS.
- Participants expressed a need for further research into CAM efficacy and the mechanisms of therapeutic effects.
