​How Acupuncture Treats MS

Acupuncture is uniquely designed to treat the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  It has the ability to treat both the nervous system, cardiovascular system & musculoskeletal system all at the same time.  Treatments lead to reduced stress, less pain & better overall health.
 
Acupuncture strengthens the immune system without the risk of an autoimmune response that might trigger a flare-up in someone with Multiple Sclerosis.  One of my patients, who has a young son & works in the school system with young children reports getting sick less & recovering more quickly if she does catch a bug.
 
While patients who have MS often come to Staying in Balance Acupuncture for help with pain or weakness in their limbs, they find that treatments help them recover more quickly from viruses, sleep better & have more energy.  This is in addition to feeling a reduction in pain & increased strength particularly in their lower limbs.
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How MS is Diagnosed

Multiple Sclerosis has no known cause or specific test to diagnose it.  It is believed to be an illness where the body’s own immune cells attack the nervous system.  Lesions can occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord.  MS is diagnosed by a patient’s medical history, a physical exam, MRIs & a spinal tap.  Each patient is unique, and there is not one typical experience of the illness.

Help Keeping MS in Remission

There is also no cure for MS, however, patients can go into remission & studies have shown that diet, exercise & mediation can reduce symptoms.  At Staying in Balance Acupuncture, I’ll often include wellness & nutritional counseling as part of my treatment protocol.

Treatments give hope that there are things that can be done to mitigate the difficulty of living with MS. 
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Study Shows that Acupuncture Helps with Cognition in MS Patients

The Cognitive Journal of Integrative Medicine recently published a study which showed that acupuncture can reduce cognitive impairments that are found in MS patients.
 
“At the end of the study, people who received acupuncture saw a noticeable improvement in verbal and auditory memory, attention, and processing speed when compared to the sham group. In addition, their fatigue and sleep scores improved (especially falling asleep and using medication to sleep). The acupuncture group also reported lower amounts of depression and some other psychological complaints.”
 
Further information can be found here:  https://www.healthcentral.com/news/multiple-sclerosis/can-acupuncture-improve-multiple-sclerosis-cog-fog
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Next Step Getting Help with MS

If you are wondering if acupuncture can help you or a loved one who has MS, I’m happy to have a conversation with you.  Consultations take place online & are free.  They are part of my mission to help people live healthier, happier and more pain-free lives.
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Questions about how acupuncture can help you? I offer free 20 minute consultations.
“My MS symptoms are not straightforward, especially the chronic fatigue, but I noticed a difference within the first month of my weekly visits. I was mentally sharper and felt my energy sustaining me later in the day than usual. It was such a relief!”  ~Elizabeth B.