Alternatives
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), defines Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.. Conventional medicine, which is also called Western or allopathic medicine, is medicine that is practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) and D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians. They provide a full range of services, from prescribing drugs to performing surgery, and employ a "whole person" approach to health care. DOs focus special attention on the musculoskeletal system, a system of bones and muscles that makes up about two-thirds of the body's mass. They may use osteopathic manipulative treatment, a system of manual therapy, to treat mechanical strains affecting all aspects of the anatomy, relieve pain, and improve physiologic function.) degrees and by allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. The boundaries between CAM and conventional medicine are not absolute, and specific CAM practices may, over time, become widely accepted.

"Complementary medicine" refers to use of CAM together with conventional medicine, such as using acupuncture in addition to usual care to help lessen pain. Most use of CAM by Americans is complementary. "Alternative medicine" refers to use of CAM in place of conventional medicine. "Integrative medicine" (also called integrated medicine) refers to a practice that combines both conventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.

CAM practices are often grouped into broad categories, such as natural products, mind-body medicine, and manipulative and body-based practices. Although these categories are not formally defined, they are useful for discussing CAM practices. Some CAM practices may fit into more than one category.

Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

Natural Products

This area of CAM includes use of a variety of herbal medicines (also known as botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other "natural products." Many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements. (Some uses of dietary supplements—e.g., taking a multivitamin to meet minimum daily nutritional requirements or taking calcium to promote bone health—are not thought of as CAM.)

Mind-Body Medicine

Mind-body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. Many CAM practices embody this concept—in different ways. Meditation and acupuncture would fall into this category.

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

Manipulative and body-based practices focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems. Two commonly used therapies fall within this category: Spinal manipulation and massage therapy.

Other CAM Practices

CAM also encompasses movement therapies—a broad range of Eastern and Western movement-based approaches used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Alternatives
A more natural way

As with all diseases or conditions, many people feel that they would like their treatment to be more natural or homeopathic. The majority of these methods are accepted and often agreed upon by the main-stream community. These alternative methods, however, must be discussed with your doctor prior to starting any of them.

Some of these methods involve simply taking vitamins and minerals, which many people do to supplement what they eat. A proper supply of daily vitamins and minerals are an important part of your nutritional needs.

It's important that you maintain your mind as well as your body and there are many methods to take care of these. From meditation to other relaxation techniques, it's a good way to get away from all that is around you and try to calm yourself down. Letting go of all the extra things in your mind and focusing on the ones that are truly important is a good way to obtain a bit of "peace" in your life. Activities such as yoga and Tai Chi not only relax your mind, but also help strengthen your body. The slow methodical movements will stretch out some spasticity and will also help strengthen your muscles. Exercise is an important part of everyone's life no matter how little you may be able to do.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine
● Acupuncture
● Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs
● Marijuana
Physical and Mental Well-being
● Reducing Stress Methods
● Relaxation Techniques
● Meditation
● Tai Chi
● Yoga

Medical Marijuana

Herbs are also used and the one that might grab your attention is the use of medical marijuana or cannabis. We must emphasize strongly that the legality of this remains under strong debate. Its medical use as of mid-2010 is legal in 14 states and the District of Columbia and 2 states have enacted laws that are favorable but don't legalize it. It's important to remember that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it to be illegal. If you were to use this as an additional form of medication, just know that in the majority of states it's illegal as well as at the federal level. With that aside, it has been suggested that it helps to alleviate spasticity, pain, and tremors for many people. These claims, however, have not been tested using all acceptable clinical trial methods.

In the states that medical marijuana is legal, it's only for treating specific medical conditions and only with a licensed doctor's prescription. If you choose any alternative method of treatment, remember that it's your decision, but you must inform your doctor whether or not you have his or her consent. Again, we can't advocate the use of any illegal substances or any other method that has not been full tested.

Vitamin D

Biochemistry shows that Vitamin D appears to be an essential component to how people heal from the inflammation injury of multiple sclerosis (MS). Measurements of Vitamin D in MS patients statistically are significantly lower than patients without MS. It's believed that low levels of this don't cause MS, but could reduce the resistance to MS. There have been no conclusions as of yet stating that anyone with MS should take Vitamin D as a treatment, but rather everybody should be sure to consume it along with all of their necessary vitamins and daily supplements. If its effectiveness is determined for MS, then it would be specifically encouraged as a treatment.

Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oils, have been associated with anti-inflammatory antioxidant properties. Cytokines are circulating proteins that are associated with inflammation. Omega-3 as a dietary supplement has been found to suppress the cytokines, reducing inflammation. It's been proven to help Arthero Sclerosis.

The Bee that stings

There is also another therapy worth mentioning that has had some popularity, and that is the process of allowing bee's to sting you. Bee venom therapy (BVT) is used by some allowing a bee to sting them. It's felt by some that the venom can help ease their symptoms. Researchers feel that compounds in the venom, adolapin and melittin, will reduce pain, inflammation, muscle weakness, and assist with coordination. It's believed that is assists the body with the release of natural healing compounds. There, however, have not been any clinical studies done to verify any of the findings. Your doctor must be made aware if this is an option you wish to pursue.

Diet

Your diet can also have an impact on progression. Along with keeping your fat intake down dramatically, you should use natural fish oils such as cod liver oil in your diet. Some fish are a good low-fat source of protein and are also a heart health food. Dropping the saturated fats, animal fats, and hydrogenated oils out of your diet can have a significant impact on your overall health and possibly your MS health. A good well-balanced diet is always a better option for your body, but remember to discuss this with your doctor as well.

Tea has also long been used as a medicinal herb since its beginnings in Asia over 3000 years ago. Since its discovery, green tea has become renowned for its pharmacological properties. While green tea is not classified as a medicine, it does contain medicinal substances. It is ranked as a leading health-giving substance in traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific research is now proving these benefits are due to the antioxidants present in green tea which have shown to be effective in a variety of areas.

A Note About Safety and Effectiveness

Rigorous, well-designed clinical trials for many CAM therapies are often lacking; therefore, the safety and effectiveness of many CAM therapies are uncertain. NCCAM is sponsoring research designed to fill this knowledge gap by building a scientific evidence base about CAM therapies—whether they are safe; and whether they work for the conditions for which people use them and, if so, how they work.

As with any medical treatment, there can be risks with CAM therapies. These general precautions can help to minimize risks:
● Select CAM practitioners with care. Find out about the practitioner's training and experience.
● Be aware that some dietary supplements may interact with medications or other supplements, may have side effects of their own, or may contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the label. Also keep in mind that most supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
● Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about CAM, see NCCAM's Time to Talk campaign.

A Note About Government Regulation

Dietary Supplements

The Federal Government regulates dietary supplementsA product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs. primarily through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs. In general, the regulations for dietary supplements are less strict; for example, a manufacturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is marketed. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors safety and product information (label claims and package inserts), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) monitors advertising.

Practitioner-Based Therapies

There is no standardized, national system for credentialing CAM practitioners. The extent and type of credentialing vary widely from state to state and from one CAM profession to another. For example, some CAM professions (e.g., chiropractic) are licensed in all or most states, although specific requirements for training, testing, and continuing education vary; other CAM professions are licensed in only a few states or not at all.