The ancient practice of acupuncture has been practiced for thousands
of years with much success. Today, it is enjoying resurgence in
popularity for a variety of conditions. However, would it be
beneficial to try and alleviate the symptoms of MS with this method?
There are several concerns about this medical practice in terms of the
disease and experts feel that it is possible that it could actually
make matters works in terms of this autoimmune disease that strikes
the nerves.

Accolades for Acupuncture

Acupuncture works by placing needles on certain energy trigger points
throughout the body which helps to unblock the body’s energy. This
ancient Chinese practice does not recognize the theory of a nervous
system but rather pathways of energy that runs through the body.
Researchers who have studied acupuncture believe that the energy
released from the various placements of the needles believe that it
stimulates the immune system.

Indeed, acupuncture has been successful in treating addicting
behaviors like overeating and smoking. Also, it helps relieve pain
from surgery or a chronic condition. It is the perceived relationship
between the needle placement and the stimulation of the immune system
that has doctors worried about how MS patients would fair with
acupuncture.

The Acupuncture-MS Relationship

Many doctors and researchers believe that multiple sclerosis is an
autoimmune disease which means that the body’s own immune system is
attacking healthy tissue like the myelin that protects the nerves. So
what might happen when acupuncture stimulates the immune system of
someone with MS?

This stimulation of the immune system is what has many people worried
about the overall outcome for the MS sufferer. Will it actually give
the immune system a kick in the pants and stop destroying healthy
cells? Or, will acupuncture actually make matters worse and stimulate
the immune system to cause further damage to healthy cells, at perhaps
a greater speed.

The Bottom Line for Acupuncture

Doctors who treat MS patients are quick to advocate alternative
treatment that could help alleviate the pain of the disease as long as
they are confident that there would be no repercussions. However,
while many doctors believe that acupuncture is a valuable tool in many
other health conditions, they will not definitively advocate its use
in multiple sclerosis. There have been no tests done and no treatment
history exists for MS patients who have tried acupuncture. Therefore,
it is best not to try this alternative ancient practice for MS
symptoms.

Some people may feel that they have nothing to lose and will likely
try acupuncture anyway. One can only hope that it is successful and
that they report their experiences and how the practice affected their
MS symptoms. In the meantime, there are plenty of other alternative
therapies to try that have been proven safe and beneficial for MS
patients. With so many unknowns about acupuncture and its potential
benefits or repercussions in regards to MS, it’s better to take a wait
and see approach. After all, what could work for one patient may not
work for another. There is no definitive way to get an objective
result.