Acupuncture for MS

It is important to take an active role in your treatment.  More and more people living with MS are choosing to complement their Western treatment with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Acupuncture and TCM can provide safe, natural way for those living with MS to stay as healthy as possible.  Including acupuncture and TCM in your treatment plan can help boost your overall health and relieve symptoms. Practitioners of TCM view MS differently than Western medicine practitioners, taking into account each individual’s overall health, lifestyles, and emotional well-being … not just their symtoms.

TCM is based on the concept that Qi, (pronounced “chee”) or vital energy, flows through the body in channels called meridians. If Qi becomes stagnant, unbalanced, or deficient, symptoms such as those linked to MS can result.  This can occur for any number of reasons, from an inherited constitutional imbalance or illness to stress or an external invader such as wind or dampness.

Your practitioner will work to determine the condition at the root of your symptoms in order to create a treatment plan.  For example, the muscular stiffness and numbness associated with MS are often related to excessive dampness within the meridians, or a deficiency in the Liver and  Kidney organ systems.  Your practitioner will also evaluate your diet and nutrition.

Based on their diagnosis, your acupuncture practitioner will work to balance the Qi in the body’s system by manipulating corresponding points on the body with hair-thin acupuncture needles.  While acupuncture alone can’t cure MS, it has been found to be particularly useful in managing symptoms such as pain, muscle spasms, and bladder problems.