Alternative therapies for MS

People mean different things by the term 'complementary and alternative therapies' (also known as 'complementary and alternative medicines' or CAMs).

Broadly speaking, complementary and alternative therapies are health-related therapies and that aren't usually considered part of mainstream medical care.

Complementary therapies can be part of an 'holistic' approach to health, which looks at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a person as a whole, not just the illness. So complementary therapies work along with conventional treatments like disease modifying therapies, physiotherapy or drugs for particular symptoms.

Exploring therapies outside of conventional treatment can be way of regaining a sense of control. Especially if you feel that mainstream treatment isn't offering a cure or limited help with symptoms. In this way complementary therapies can offer psychological benefits, even if the therapies don't always prove very helpful.

What are complementary and alternative therapies?

There a lot of quite different complementary and alternative therapies. They might be something relatively standard and inexpensive, like Pilates, or something more unusual and unproven, such as honey bee venom.

Sometimes complementary and alternative medicines are described as 'natural' medicine. The term 'natural' can be misleading, as many complementary and alternative medicines are processed and are as 'unnatural' as any other drugs. And about a quarter of medicines produced by the pharmaceutical industry are derived in some way from natural products such as herbs.

Complementary and alternative therapies might include:

What works?

Complementary therapies is an area that’s often poorly researched. That can be because these therapies are rarely suited to traditional research techniques. So there isn’t always much evidence to show how effective or safe the therapies are. Many studies only include a few people, or aren’t conclusive.

However, many people who use complementary therapies say that they make them feel better, so it’s often a case of weighing up things like:

cost – bearing in mind how you’ll feel if the therapy is very expensive and doesn’t make a difference
how effective is the treatment (efficacy)?
is it likely to make you feel better?
safety – could it make your MS worse or interact with other medications?

Cost

Watch out for products that make big promises, cost a lot, say they are scientifically proven or can 'cure MS'. Paying for these treatments or therapies can be a waste of money and leave you disappointed, or perhaps even make things worse.

Efficacy - how well does it work?

Because there probably won’t be clear cut evidence available about the treatment, there may be other things to consider.

For example, maybe a treatment makes you feel more in control of your MS. Or it makes the effects of MS seem less or makes you feel better overall – adding to your sense of wellbeing, reducing stress and helping you relax. These things are important, particularly if other treatments aren’t available or don’t seem to be working.

Think about the source of information - just because someone says something is effective doesn't mean it is. Loads of information is easily accessible on the internet, but it’s often of questionable quality. Anyone can publish a website, without needing to supply names, qualifications or sources, let alone whether the information is based on scientific research.

Anecdotal evidence (what other people say) is obviously solely based on their own individual experience. If you only know them online, it’s hard to be sure they’re reliable or impartial.

Find out why good research is important

Safety

Your GP or MS team can advise you of any risks. And you might check how a particular therapy is regulated. Most complementary therapy practitioners are not regulated. Osteopathy and chiropractic both are regulated, and have strong regulatory bodies established by law.

With other therapies, they have professional bodies that practitioners can join. It’s worth checking these so you can establish a practitioner’s qualifications. It’s ultimately up to an individual to manage their MS in the way they want to, but of course it’s worth bearing safety, cost and efficacy in mind at all times.

Getting treatment

A practitioner is the person who provides the complementary or alternative medicine - for example, an acupuncturist, chiropractor, homeopath, massage therapist or osteopath.

Finding a practitioner

Some people find a practitioner through their doctor, MS nurse, Neuro Therapy Network centre or another member of their health care team. Others look for a practitioner independently. In either case, it is important to do your research before making a commitment.

Check that they are properly trained, have qualifications, and whether they are a member of a regulatory or professional organisation.

First appointment

Before any treatment begins, make sure the practitioner is aware of your MS, any other medical conditions you have, and any medications you take. At the appointment, the practitioner should take a full history of your condition and explain what the process will involve. They should welcome any questions you have and keep you well informed throughout the treatment period.

The practitioner should tell you to see your doctor if they realise you might have something serious that your doctor does not know about. Or if they identify any further health conditions that you or your doctor are not aware of. They should also tell you if they can't help. If possible, they should suggest you see someone else.

Take care if a practitioner pushes you to book many sessions and pay for them in advance, or to 'bulk buy' any products. Also if a therapy seems to be excessively expensive, it’s a good idea to check what the typical costs are for that treatment with one of the regulatory bodies.

Paying for treatments

You might need to pay something towards complementary therapies through the NHS.

Almost half of GP practices in England now provide access to some sorts of complementary and alternative medicines for NHS patients.

When provided on the NHS, it might be at no extra cost or you might be asked to pay something.

Complementary and alternative medicines are also often provided by hospices, palliative care services, and in some hospitals and pain clinics.

Alternatively, some local Healthy Living Centres and MS therapy centres may be able to offer complementary and alternative medicine at subsidised prices.

If you're arranging for private complementary therapy, charges for individual appointments and for full courses of treatment can vary a lot. So ask about all the costs before making a commitment.

Private health insurance

Some private health insurance schemes and medical cash plans will cover the costs of selected complementary and alternative medicines.

If things go wrong

There are various reasons why you may not be happy with complementary and alternative therapies. You might not like the treatment or the way it makes you feel, or you might think it’s not helping you.

As with conventional medicine, a good professional relationship with your practitioner will help you get the best out of a treatment.

It’s worth trying to explain to your practitioner what the problem is - if there is an issue with the treatment, maybe it can be adapted to suit you better. Or maybe this particular treatment is not the one for you.

If you feel you can't sort out the problem by talking to your practitioner, or are not satisfied with a treatment, you might want to complain.

If you accessed the therapist through the NHS, you can use the NHS complaints procedure.

If you found the practitioner independently, you should contact their professional body, if they are a member. You could also contact the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council with your concerns about the therapist.

For further advice and information on complementary and alternative therapies, read our two-part explainer with Dr Agne Straukiene

Download more information on complementary therapies

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