Acupuncture as a complementary therapy for MS?
Originally from China, acupuncture has been practised in the east for centuries and in recent years has become an increasingly popular treatment in the UK. There is now a body of research building up which demonstrates its efficacy for a range of conditions, from back pain to post-operative nausea. Also, when used by professionally qualified therapists, it is a very safe treatment modality. Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which also includes herbal medicine, massage, exercise and diet, and it is often referred to as a holistic therapy as it treats the whole person and not just isolated symptoms. It is perhaps more accurate to refer to acupuncture as a complementary therapy however, especially with regard to the treatment of a disease like MS, as the person having treatment should maintain a link with their GP and neurologist in order to receive the best possible care.What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a method of using fine needles to stimulate invisible lines of energy (called meridians) running beneath the surface of the body. Along each of these meridians are a number of points (acupoints) where the Qi can be accessed and manipulated. There are approximately 365 acupoints on the body, although only about half of these are regularly used. According to Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on our body's motivating energy (Qi - pronounced chee) moving in a smooth and balanced way through these meridians. If this becomes unbalanced then illness may result. By inserting fine needles into a prescription of acupoints the acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore natural balance.Many of the points used are adaptogenic; that is, they bring the body function of that point into balance. For example, acupoint Large Intestine 4 can relieve both constipation and diarrhoea. In an ideal situation all the meridians, and, therefore, all of the points on the meridians will be in balance, but there are a number of factors that can upset this balance and disturb the smooth flow of Qi. They include emotional states, diet, trauma, weather conditions, drugs, exercise and rest and hereditary factors and we are all subject to them in varying degrees. By taking these factors into account the acupuncturist can then advise on the most appropriate changes and how they can affect the overall health of the person seeking treatment. It is therefore very common for a TCM trained acupuncturist to give advice about appropriate diet, eating habits, stress management, exercise and rest which is tailored to the person's diagnosis.
