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Comple mentary and other therapies

Read me… Complementary and other conduct a ‘double-blind’ trial - a research method used in the scientific community therapies to prove the safety and effectiveness of a or treatment where some of the Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) people enrolled in the trial receive the real use complementary and other therapies. treatment, and some receive a . These can be in addition to or complementary to conventional treatments including disease-modifying ‘Try one thing at a time and be clear therapies. They are generally used to but realistic about your expectations.’ create an overall sense of wellbeing.

It is estimated that around 70 per cent of Many people receiving complementary people with MS have used a form of therapies report that they find them complementary or other therapy to treat beneficial. If you are considering trying a their symptoms (1). The results of a recent complementary therapy, it is important to short survey by MS-UK showed the most find a reputable therapist who is fully common therapies tried by people with insured and a member of a professional MS are and . body. You can contact the complementary therapy’s organising body to find a A qualified complementary therapist will therapist near you. See further information aim to treat the whole person and not just for details of how to find a practitioner in the symptoms. Each person is treated as your area. an individual and any treatment is tailored to the specific needs of that person. All practitioners should be fully aware of any potential contraindications and will One of the main advantages of using advise of these if relevant. these treatments is that it puts you in charge of decisions around your own Some of the more commonly used - doing something positive to help therapies amongst people with MS are: yourself. Reflexology, massage, yoga, relaxation, meditation, , and ‘Go for it, if you don’t try you might (2). never know what works for you.’ Please note - before booking any treatment please remember to check the cost of the treatment you choose, Research is limited in evaluating the particularly if there is more than one safety and effectiveness of session required. complementary therapies in MS (1). This is because the nature of complementary therapies mean that it is difficult to

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There are a number of other therapies may help eye problems and bladder that you may be interested in. These may urgency. It may also help to reduce not all be covered in the following pages. fatigue and increase levels and Please contact MS-UK and we will find out give a boost to the immune system. more for you. APS Therapy

‘Try different therapies to find out APS stands for Action Potential what one/s work for you best, although Simulation. It helps to stimulate the body’s give them a chance as not every own healing mechanisms. The APS therapy will feel like it’s helping after machine sends a microcurrent signal to only one session.’ the to start the bodies own action potential and release cellular energy. Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practised for ‘I have benefitted greatly with pain thousands of years, originating from relief in my back and stopping of leg China. It works with the energy (or ‘’) of spasms. Now working to improve the body which flows through channels or movement in leg. Looking to purchase meridians. It is believed that acupuncture machine to use at home.’ stimulates the nervous system and causes the release of neurochemicals to promote physical and emotional APS Therapy is a safe, effective, drug free wellbeing. treatment for pain relief, which can also enhance recovery or injury repair, and Acupuncture involves the use of very fine improve energy levels (4). It is applied in a sterile needles, which pierce the skin to similar way to a TENS machine but works reach an acupuncture point. They are in a different way. inserted very precisely and connect with the body’s qi. It is not considered painful, Conditions that have been successfully just a small prick to the skin and maybe a treated include muscular pain, nerve pain, dull ache for a few seconds when the neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, point is reached (3). Some people find chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches (5). they benefit quite quickly, others require more extensive treatment and for some it Aromatherapy may not provide the results they are looking for. This uses powerful, fragrant essential oils with massage to help you feel relaxed or For MS, acupuncture is used to help energised. Essential oils are the essence relieve pain and tension, improve of the plant. They are extracted from movement, sensation and spasticity. It herbs, flowers, shrubs or trees. Each one

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is different with its own fragrance and ‘Massage, reflexology and helped therapeutic use. Some oils have anti- me to relax and eased sore muscles.’ inflammatory properties, others bring about a feeling of relaxation and others are stimulating. There are a number of different types of massage, some gentle, others more An aromatherapy massage can help to vigorous. These include: relax the whole body, improve sleep, reduce pain, help with the mobility of  Therapeutic massage – a and muscle, and provide an improved traditional type of massage. Good sense of wellbeing (6). for relieving aching joints and muscles  Manual Lymphatic Drainage – a very gentle massage. Works on the This is a system of gentle manipulation of circulation of the lymph, stimulating the body to treat disorders of the joints, lymphatic drainage ligaments and muscles and their effect on  – a very stimulating the nervous system. It is used for back massage where firm pressure is pain, neck pain, headaches, migraine and applied to points. It sports injuries. In MS, many of the helps with a range of symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms could be including depression, constipation managed with (7). and low vitality  Aromatherapy massage – Relaxing Treatment consists of a wide range of massage where essential oils are manipulation techniques designed to used to help give symptomatic improve the function of the joints, relieving relief with sleep, relaxation, pain and muscle spasm. mobility and an improved sense of wellbeing Massage There are many other types of massage This is one of the oldest known therapies therapy that may also provide some and has been used for thousands of years symptomatic relief. to help ease stiffness in muscles and joints, relieve pain, improve blood and lymph circulation, and increase wellbeing. ‘Being able to relax relieves muscle It can also be used to stimulate the spasms and spasticity.’ various systems of the body and can also help with posture, ease stress and release tension. It has been found that massage lowers anxiety, reduces pain, promotes relaxation and improves patient wellbeing (8).

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Meditation ‘I use mindfulness a lot. You only need This is an ancient practice by which a a small amount of time to switch off person learns to be present in the from everything to help you feel moment, allowing them to become more calmer. I use mindfulness to get to relaxed, and peaceful. It helps to slow the sleep at night.’ mind and be more kind and gentle to yourself. It is seen by researchers to be one of the most effective forms of stress Training helps people to become more reduction and has the potential to improve aware of their thoughts, feelings, and quality of life (9). body sensations so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, they’re better able to manage them. ‘Meditation helps me to relax.’ Practising mindfulness can give more insight into emotions, boost attention and Meditation encourages a gradual release concentration, and improve relationships. of all thoughts and feelings. There are a number of different forms of meditation including transcendental meditation and ‘It won’t do you any harm, give it a try. mindfulness (see below). It might just do some good.’

It provides the individual with a number of health benefits including stress reduction, It is recommended by NICE that health relieving anxiety, depression and also professionals consider mindfulness as a reduction in pain (10). way of treating MS-related fatigue (12). It is also recommended as a preventative Mindfulness practice for people with experience of recurrent depression (13). Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist practice and according to Jon Kabat-Zinn, If you feel that you may benefit from it is a practice which is very relevant for attending a Mindfulness course, please life today (11). Mindfulness are speak to your GP in the first instance ways of paying attention to the present about a referral. moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing, and yoga.

Osteopathy is based on the belief that pain and disability stems from abnormalities in the body’s structure and function. An osteopath recognises and treats problems in the , joints,

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muscles and ligaments to help the body around 20 sessions, each one lasting an heal naturally. When the body is balanced hour, spread over a month. These are and working efficiently it will function with followed by top-up sessions, which may minimum wear and tear, leaving more vary from once a week to once a month. energy for living. Treatment can involve gentle, manual techniques to help ease It is easy to communicate with the some symptoms of MS. A small scale operator at any time. All operators should study saw a reduction of fatigue in be skilled and fully trained. patients with relapsing remitting MS (14). To find your nearest MS Therapy Centre Oxygen Therapy offering oxygen therapy, please see our Choices leaflet ‘MS Therapy Centres’ or Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100% contact the MS-UK office. oxygen through a mask whilst inside a pressurised metal chamber similar to that Reflexology used in diving. The chamber is a sealed unit, usually large enough to seat six to Reflexology is a complementary therapy eight people. Over the course of an hour, that works on the feet, lower legs, hands, it is filled with a higher concentration of face or ears, encouraging the body to oxygen than normal air under pressure. restore its natural balance. Gentle As you breathe, the oxygen saturates your pressure is applied to certain reflex points blood and tissues. on either the hands or feet. By working on these points, blockages can be released Anecdotally improvements have been and help to restore the free flow of energy experienced with fatigue levels and around the body. This helps to increase bladder symptoms. Although there is a energy and balance the immune system. lack of research supporting the It may also help to ease tension and effectiveness of oxygen therapy, one improve circulation. Reflexologists should study suggests treatment is better in not diagnose or claim to cure, but some patients with less advanced disease (15). symptoms may be relieved through regular treatments.

‘Oxygen therapy is the only thing that clears my brain, plus it helps ‘Reflexology really relaxes my muscles reduce fatigue.’ and gives me an all over good feeling.’

Oxygen therapy is available in many MS Reflexology is an enjoyable, relaxing Therapy Centres. Treatment requires treatment. In MS, it can help reduce regular attendance at the Centre - usually bladder issues, and help alleviate motor three to four times per week initially. A and sensory disturbances (16). treatment plan may consist of a course of

Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets

Yoga BMAS Northwich

Yoga originates from India and has been BMAS House practiced for over 5000 years. The main 2/3 Winnington Court components of the practice involve Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1AQ postures and breathing. Some studies Call 01606 786782 suggest that yoga is helpful to reduce Fax 01606 786783 aches and pains and lower . It Email [email protected] can also increase physical activity, Visit www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk especially strength, flexibility and balance (17). Painfree Potential (APS Therapy)

Call 01908 799870 ‘I found yoga energises me, Email [email protected] concentrates the mind and improves my balance. But also deep breathing The International Federation of and meditation help with my mental Aromatherapists health and staves off depression.’ IFA Head Office 146 South Ealing Road For MS, yoga has been shown to help Ealing reduce fatigue and may also help to London W5 4 QJ improve depression, anxiety, pain and Call 0208 564 2243 spasticity (10). Fax 0208 840 9288 Visit www.ifparoma.org Further information British Chiropractic Association

The British Medical Acupuncture Head Office Society 59 Castle Street

Reading BMAS London Berkshire RG1 7SN Royal London Hospital for Integrated Call 0118 950 5950 Medicine Email [email protected] 60 Great Ormond St Visit www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk London WC1N 3HR

Call 020 7713 9437

Fax 020 7713 6286

Email [email protected]

Visit www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk

Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets

Federation of Holistic Therapists The British Wheel of Yoga

(Massage, & other 25 Jermyn Street therapies) Sleaford 18 Shakespeare Business Centre Lincolnshire NG34 7RU Hathaway Close Call 01529 603851 Eastleigh Email [email protected] Hampshire SO50 4SR Visit www.bwy.org.uk Call 023 8062 4350 Fax 023 8062 4399 MS-UK Choices leaflet for MS Therapy Email [email protected] Centres Visit www.fht.org.uk www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets British Meditation Society Multiple Sclerosis National Therapy PO Box 26 Chard Centres (MSNTC) Somerset TA20 2JT PO Box 2199 Call 01460 62921 Buckingham Visit www.britishmeditationsociety.org/ MK18 8AR Call 01296 711699 General Osteopathic Council Email [email protected] Visit www.msntc.org.uk 176 Tower Bridge Road London SE1 3LU Call 0207 357 6655 Email [email protected] Visit www.osteopathy.org.uk

Association of Reflexologists

Victoria House Victoria Street Taunton Somerset TA1 3FA Call 01823 351010 Fax 01823 336646 Email [email protected] Visit www.aor.org.uk

Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets

Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets

How we create our Choices leaflets

MS-UK believes we must listen to the voices of people affected by multiple sclerosis to shape the information and support we provide. It is these people that bring us perspectives that no one else can give.

For every Choices leaflet we produce, MS-UK consults the wider MS community to gather feedback, and uses this to inform content. All of our Choices leaflets are then reviewed by the MS-UK Virtual Insight Panel before they are published.

Thank you to everyone affected by MS who made this leaflet possible.

Sources

(1) National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI. Complementary and for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Yadav Vijayshree et al. Published: May 2010. Accessed May 2017. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901236 (2) National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI. Complementary therapy use by persons with multiple sclerosis: benefits and research priorities. L Esmonde. Published: August 2008. Accessed May 2017. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18640629 (3) Multiple sclerosis international federation - MSIF. Complementary and alternative therapies in MS. MS in focus. Issue 15, 2010. Pages 8/9. www.msif.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/09/MS-in-focus-15-Complementary-and-alternative-therapies- English.pdf (4) APS Therapy. Action Potential Simulation Therapy ( APS Therapy) for pain in people with MS; Report on a One Year Pilot Study. Published 2014. Accessed August 2017. www.apstherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Action-Potential-Simulation-Therapy- APS-Therapy-for-pain-in-people-with-MS-Report-April-2014.pdf (5) Painfree Potential. APS Therapy. Accessed August 2017. www.painfreepotential.co.uk/what-is-aps-therapy (6) National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI. Uses of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis. Namjooyan Foroogh et al. Published: Jul-Sep 2014. Accessed May 2017. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4142451 (7) American Chiropractic Association – ACA. DCs Treating the MS Patient. L Burkhart. Published: 03 February 2016. Accessed May 2017. www.acatoday.org/News- Publications/ACA-News-Archive/ArtMID/5721/ArticleID/97/DCs-Treating-the-MS-Patient (8) National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI. The Effects of Massage Therapy on Helpline:Multiple Sclerosis 0800 Patients’ 783 Quality 0518 of Life and Leg Function. B Schroeder et al. Published: 08 May 2014. Accessed May 2017. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034721 (1) National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI. Meditation in general practice. C www.msHassed. Published:-uk.org/choicesleaflets August 1996. Accessed May 2017. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8771884 (2) A. Bowling. Complementary and alternative medicine and Multiple Sclerosis second edition. Demos. New York. 2007.

Sources (continued)

(11) John Kabat-Zinn. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life. Piatkus. London. 1994 (12) National Institute of Clinical Care Excellence (NICE). Multiple Sclerosis in adults: management [CG186]. Published: October 2014. Accessed June 2017. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg186 (13) National Institute of Clinical Care Excellence (NICE). Depression in adults: recognition and management [CG90]. Last updated: April 2006. Accessed June 2017. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg90/ (14) Qualita. Multiple Sclerosis: Osteopathy can decrease Fatigue. A Bozzini. Published: 09 Aug 2011. Accessed June 2017. qualita.ca/en/osteopathic-indications/multiple- sclerosis-osteopathy-can-decrease-fatigue/ (15) Long-term hyperbaric oxygenation retards progression in multiple sclerosis patients. DJD Perrins & PB James. Published: 2005. Accessed May 2017. www.ontariohbot.ca/documents/msarticle7.pdf (16) National Institute of Clinical Care Excellence (NICE). Reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled study. I Siev-Ner et al. Published: 09 August 2003. Accessed June 2012. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12926840 (17) NHS Choices. A guide to yoga. Published 11 July 2015. Accessed August 2017. www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/yoga.aspx

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Date: December 2015. Updated August 2017. Registeredwww.ms Charity Number: 1033731-uk.org/choicesleaflets www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets