Research is blurring the border between conven-
tional and alternative therapies. The bottom line:
Good choices about treatments depend on good
information about risks and benefits.
has gone from being an obscure
and poorly understood practice
to a popular activity nationwide.
Its healing ability has been the
focus of many formal clinical
trials, including in people with
MS. The highest quality study
of yoga in MS had three treatment groups—one did yoga,
one participated in conventional
exercise, and one had no specific
treatment (the “control group”).
Both the yoga group and the
conventional exercise group
experienced measurably less
fatigue than the control group.
Studies in other medical conditions have indicated that yoga
may relieve depression, anxiety,
pain and muscle stiffness. Yoga
can be modified for people with
disabilities and some communities have yoga groups specifically
for those with MS.
Tai chi
Like yoga, tai chi is an ancient
Asian healing method. It was
developed in China and is a
component of traditional Chinese
medicine. The slow, rhythmic
body movements of tai chi were
an uncommon sight in the past.
When I first saw someone doing
tai chi in public in the 1980s, I
actually thought the person had
some kind of psychiatric condi-
tion. Awareness and acceptance
of tai chi has grown substantially
since then. Several early clinical
trials conducted in elderly people
found that tai chi produced an
improvement in balance and
decreased the risk of falls. Tai chi
has undergone only limited investigation in MS. One small study
found that it improved walking
speed, muscle stiffness, and social
and emotional functioning. Studies in other conditions indicate
that tai chi may improve strength
and reduce fatigue, depression
and anxiety. As with yoga, tai chi
is available in many communities
and can be modified for people
with disabilities.
Vitamin D
The use of dietary supplements
is frequently viewed skepti-
cally by conventional medical
practitioners. However, there
has been a change in attitude
towards supplements of vita-
min D, fueled by an explosion
of research on this vitamin
and many medical conditions,
including MS. Limited studies
in the past suggested an associa-
tion of vitamin D with MS, and
the topic generated some 10–20
professional articles a year. In
2010, there were nearly 100
professional articles on MS and
vitamin D. Low levels of vita-
min D have been associated with
increased risk for developing
MS, and among those with MS,
low levels have been associated
with an increased risk for attacks
and higher levels of disability.
(See the Summer 2011 issue
of Momentum.) Although
definitive research is still needed,
testing individual vitamin D levels
and recommending vitamin D
supplements is now common in
the conventional medical care of
many people with MS.
Other “borderzone” therapies
There are many other therapies
that fit this category, having
“Conventional”
or “alternative”
may matter to
your insurance
carrier
Health insurance providers
may not cover borderzone
therapies, even with a phy-
sician’s prescription. Medic-
aid and most Medicare and
private health plans cover
only therapies considered
mainstream. Still, there is
no harm in asking. Flex
benefit plans may allow
reimbursement even if
health insurance says no—
and the therapy provider
may be willing to discuss a
payment plan.
