Acupuncture for MS
By Hotaka Sutton
MS is a diagnosis you simple do not want to get. Acupuncture can help to
make a person suffering from it more comfortable and in control.
MS is a horrible disease of the central nervous system. It attacks a
substance called myelin which sheaths the nerves. There is interference with
messages and signals between the brain and the body. This results in a wide
variety of symptoms depending on the nerves effected. Often the symptoms become
such that the patient becomes confined to a wheel chair due to loss of balance
and motor control. Loss of bladder and bowel control contributes to the
emotional sense of helplessness and depression in the patients. There is no cure
for MS at this time, nor is there any absolute certainty as to its cause.
Interestingly, MS was virtually unknown in
that time, cases began to appear in some of the larger cities. Early studies
attributed the cause of the disease to the stress of modern living and the
pollution common in larger cities. A careful review of available clinical
studies and papers concerning Traditional Chinese Medicine's view of the
causation, prognosis, and treatment of MS, reveals that there is still some
disagreement. It is clear, however, Chinese Medicine offers no claims of being
able to cure the disease.
The use of acupuncture in the treatment of MS is geared toward two goals.
The first is to bring as much relief of the symptoms as possible. The second
goal is to enable the patient to be able to manage the disease in a way that
allows them to fully experience the joy and splendor of human existence. There
are many indications that these goals have a good chance of success through a
combined approach of acupuncture, diet restriction, and mild exercise.
Acupuncture treatments for MS have had much success in reducing pain and
decreasing spasticity. Another area of success is improved bladder and bowel
control. The reduction of stress and the improved feeling of well being
contribute to an improvement in quality of life. The acupuncture treatments
must be given frequently in order to maintain the improvements of symptoms, but
MS is known for its cycles of remission. During periods of remission, the
frequency of the acupuncture treatments can be reduced.
The reaction of Western medical practitioners to the use of acupuncture in
the treatment of MS is mixed. Some recognize that acupuncture tends to release
endorphins and peptides that modulate the transmission of sensory information
through the central nervous system. The clinical results of many patients have
shown control of symptoms and stress reduction and a positive outlook are seen
as important to the overall treatment. Many doctors have admitted that, at the
very least, acupuncture does reduce stress and improve the sense of well being.
A very few in the Western medical field stubbornly refuse to admit that
acupuncture can be helpful and cite dangers from infection and the transmission
of HIV through the use of needles. These concerns are extremely minimal in
acupuncture when a qualified and certified acupuncturist is involved.
Get more acupuncture information at AlternativeHealthCompanies.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hotaka_Sutton
