A Nordic research project carried out by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has mapped alternative medicine usage by patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. They believe that this mapping would impart the necessary knowledge about these medicines for patients suffering from chronic diseases as well as change the way they are seen in the society.It has been noted that individuals with multiple sclerosis opt for alternative treatments often in order to make it easier for their body to live with the disease. Some of the more common alternative medicines used by these patients include dietary supplements, herbal medications and acupuncture.The research aims to find out how these individuals combine conventional and alternative medicine and was carried out across five Nordic countries. In most cases it was found out that MS patients opting for alternative medicine do so not for treatment but as a strengthening and preventative measure.A chronic condition, multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, leading to conditions like limited mobility or sight
In recent years, the number of patients with MS has been rapidly increasing in the West, thereby creating significant challenges related to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.Researchers believe that the experiences of MS patients using alternative medicines would form a knowledge bank, which could help others learn about the effectiveness of these medicines as well. They claim that if people with chronic diseases manage to handle their lives better, they can save the society a lot of money in treatment and rehabilitation costs.The rising trend of self care competence among individuals who can help better their own lives with the help of alternative medicines has also given rise to the pertinent question of why they choose these medicines in the first place, given the fact that alternative medicine could have adverse effects on the body when combined with conventional medicines.Reports from the Health and Sickness Study published by Danish National Institute of Public Health state that more number of MS patients are opting for alternative medicines and treatments over the last few years.
Nearly half of the patients who were questioned indicated that they use a combination of conventional and alternative medicine while a few revealed that they used only alternative medicine.Experts indicate that the inclination to move towards alternative medicines/treatments for chronic diseases and the benefits attained from the same would make these medicines/treatments more than just nonsense as many others claim them to be.The research results also indicate most of the MS patients who opt for alternative medicines happen to be educated individuals, thereby quashing claims by critics that these medicines are used only by naïve, uneducated individuals. Alternative medicines have in fact; become a part of the standard lifestyle of these educated individuals.Researchers believe that these results would help individuals gain more knowledge on how chronically ill patients combine conventional and alternative medicines before making a choice themselves.
