Use and Self-Reported Benefit of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

We conducted a survey to study the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Oregon and southern Washington. We mailed questionnaires to 5316 people using the mailing list of the Oregon Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). The survey enquired about demographic and clinical characteristics, use of various CAM and conventional therapies for MS by the respondents, and the respondents' self-perceived benefit ratings for the various therapies. We received 2026 responses (38%). Eighty-four percent of the respondents reported using one or more CAM therapies at some time after diagnosis of MS (CAM users), the most common being diet (59%), nutritional supplements (46%), herbal treatments (36%), and mind-body therapies (32%). CAM therapies rated as very beneficial included yoga; meditation; Swank, vegetarian and low-fat/low-cholesterol diets; and vitamin B12. Respondents also used conventional exercise (86%) and disease-modifying therapies (77%). Our survey confirms the common use of various CAM therapies by MS patients. CAM therapies such as low-fat diets, essential fatty acid supplements, yoga, and meditation appear to be frequently used and considered very beneficial by a significant number of MS patients and may warrant further exploration.