Acupuncture for MS Patients

Acupuncture, which is one form of traditional Chinese medicine, is based on a theory of body functioning that involves the flow of energy—known as qi (pronounced chee)—through 14 pathways (called "meridians") throughout the body. According to the theories of Chinese medicine, disease results from an imbalance or disruption in the flow of energy and in the optimal balance between the opposite forces of "yin" and "yang."

According to two recent surveys in the United States and Canada, approximately 20-25% of respondents with MS had tried acupuncture for the relief of pain, spasticity, numbness and tingling, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and bowel and bladder symptoms. Of those who had tried acupuncture for symptom relief, 10-15% indicated that they planned to continue using it. To date, however, there have been no controlled clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in people with MS.

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