Patient with Multiple Sclerosis （MS） turns to Chinese Medicine
A 23 years old Chinese female with Multiple Sclerosis from Paris came to our Clinic, she was diagnosed as “bulbar multiple sclerosis” by the Paris Hospital 2 years ago, suffering from typical MS symptoms, such as sudden weakness in both lower limbs, difficulty in moving, weakness of the upper levator muscle, drooping eyelids, and double vision. She felt both lower limbs unsteady and have trouble speaking. It was hard for her to drink or eat due to occasionally coughed, so she has to drink slowly, and swallow along the throat muscle on one side when eating.
After being hospitalized for two months, the progress was very slow though her condition improved somewhat, and she finally had to seek to Chinese medicine. After about 10 sessions of treatment, her symptom has improved greatly and the function of drooping eyelids, diplopia, abnormal eyeball shift obviously returned to normal. Chinese medicine as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modality appears to be a helpful integrative therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS).
Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the nervous system that affects areas including the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The nervous system is composed of nerve cells and fibers, and the “myelin sheath” covers its surface for protection, and at the same time, it can speed up the conduction of nerve signals.
In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath is destroyed. The damaged area may scar and harden, which slows or blocks the transmission of signals, affects the brain and spinal cord’s control of the periphery, and causes various symptoms. It leads to muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, coordination disturbances, fatigue, blurred vision, and quadriplegia. Multiple sclerosis is more common in females aged 25 to 35 years old.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), multiple sclerosis can be classified into the category of “atrophy syndrome” (a part of the body becomes smaller, so the strength becomes smaller, or more generally speaking, it becomes weaker), and it is mostly associated with internal causes and diet, which can be the loss of nourishment of the muscles and arteries and weak body caused by evil closure of the meridians, qi deficiency and blood weakness, poor emotions, and qi and blood stasis.
In western medicine, the treatment mostly used for MS include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and immunoglobulin. While Chinese medicine applys TCM syndrome-based treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The MS treatment with Chinese medicine can improve the condition and delay the progression of the disease. Thus, western medicine should be used as the main treatment in the acute attack period, accompanied by scalp and body acupuncture. In chronic period, acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs should be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
The treatment of Multiple sclerosis with Chinese medicine
The main three types of treatments in TCM are as follows:
- Acupuncture: By selecting different acupoints, it can dredge meridians and effectively improve sleep, fatigue, limb movement function and walking ability.
- Herbal Medicine: It effectively improve MS symptoms and reduce its relapses.
- Massage: More than 75% of MS patients have bladder problems, causing adverse reaction such as pains. Massage therapy can provide pain relieve and relaxation, which can help with blood circulation and remove obstruction in collaterals.
Scalp acupuncture combined with herbal medicine has a remarkable treatment efficacy
- Scalp acupuncture can stimulate the functional area of the cerebral cortex
The acupuncturists at Shanghai Medical Clinic have more than 10 years of experience on multiple sclerosis, and has set up a unique and effective treatment sessions which can improve functional impairment in multiple sclerosis.
The stimulation on the functional area of cerebral cortex with scalp acupuncture can promote the repair of cortical nerve cells and improve the function of nerve conduction, and stimulating the limbs can dredge the meridians, improve fatigue, muscle weakness and movement dysfunction.
- The MS symptoms improved by scalp acupuncture include:
Ophthalmoplegia, eyeball displacement, nystagmus, decreased vision, stiffness, pain and movement disorders in both lower limbs, balance disorder, that is, cerebellar ataxia with damage to the cerebellum or spinocerebellar tract, paralysis of the upper and lower limbs, blurred speech and vision, Crooked eyes and mouth and urinary incontinence.
Herbal treatment conditioning
In addition to acupuncture, herbal treatment conditioning can be used to treat multiple sclerosis. Many diseases cannot be completely treated with a single treatment, and multiple sclerosis is a good example. Most Multiple Sclerosis is a long-lasting chronic disease, and acupuncture combined with herbal medicine can prevent and delay the progression of the disease and achieve a better curative effect.
Does TCM treatment help with multiple sclerosis?
Chinese medicine is proved to have curative effect in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, which can improve neurological deficits and reduce side effects caused by hormones. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be prescribed to help considerably alleviate symptoms and slow down the progress of multiple sclerosis.
According to Chinese Medicine theory, there are two basic patterns of Multiple Sclerosis: Damp-Phlegm with Spleen Deficiency and Liver and Kidney Deficiency. Both can be treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The earlier the treatment is started, the better. If treatment begins at the very early stages the symptoms can be completely eliminated and the disease halted indefinitely.
Clinically Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by repetitive remissions and relapses, and most MS patients have certain sequelae. Thus, the treatment for Multiple Sclerosis should be taken as soon as possible. MS patients with limb movement disorder, unstable gait or spastic paralysis should do some functional exercises after the condition is stable. The main purpose of functional exercises is to prevent muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, reduce muscle tension, and accelerate the recovery of paralyzed limbs.
MS patients should, under the guidance of Chinese medicine doctor, supplement some foods rich in protein and vitamins, which is one of the more effective measures in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Scientific diet structure and habits can, to a certain extent, promote the improvement of the patient’s condition and improve the quality of life.
Multiple Sclerosis program from Shanghai Medical Clinic
At Shanghai Medical Clinic, we have experienced TCM practitioners who will work with you in enhancing the recovery of your MS symptoms. Our treatment process in coming up with a MS program for you will address existing health concerns as well as improve your overall wellness.
Allow us to work together in helping you heal and eventually assist you with your MS process. If you want to know more about our MS treatment of scalp acupuncture and herbal treatment, feel free to contact us by phone at +971 4343 4811 or make a booking on our website!
