Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord). According to Mayo Clinic, when you have MS, your immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. This causes communication issues between your brain and everything else. The disease could be disabling if it causes irreversible damage to nerves.
Some common symptoms can include numb or weak limbs, shock sensations, tremors, vision loss, blurry visions, slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, and decreased bodily functions. The symptoms could be different for everyone depending on where the affected nerves are located.
Individuals with MS can also undergo paralysis, mental changes, epilepsy, and more.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says the symptoms are really just unpredictable. In fact, not much is known about the disease. The causes are unknown and the progression of MS can’t be predicted.
Sounds pretty scary as well as frustrating. The severity of these symptoms can fluctuate too. There can be periods of remission, but usually relapses occur. There are two categories of MS depending on the progression and course of the disease: secondary-progressive MS and primary-progressive MS.
Although there is no cure, people with MS can find some relief through available treatments. Some of these treatments are more natural than others. Many people prefer non-pharmaceutical treatments or use them in addition to whatever other therapy they are participating in.
Healthline claims going herbal could be the option for someone with MS. Some possibly helpful natural treatments are:
- Ayurvedic medicine
- Chinese herbs
- Other herbs for MS
- Vitamins
- Supplements
Ayurvedic herbs include ashwagandha, barberry, and chyawanprash. They may ease chronic pain, fatigue, inflammation, stress, anxiety, infection, diarrhea, heartburn, and aid in memory function.
Potentially helpful chinese herbs could be astragalus, burdock root, gotu kola, ginkgo biloba, huo ma ren, and myrrh. These might help by promoting circulation, reducing inflammation, improving symptoms of eye issues, fighting fatigue, improving memory and mental clarity, reducing leg pain and overactive nerve responses, and reducing dizziness. Huo ma ren is used for its sedative properties and soothes nervous system problems which could be beneficial for people with MS.
Most of those have not actually been studied specifically for MS, but their medicinal properties could possibly help.
There are other herbs particularly used for treating MS symptoms. These include agrimony, bilberry leaf, catnip, chamomile, dandelion, echinacea, elderflower, cramp bark, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn berry, licorice, milk thistle, oats, peppermint, red clover, sage, schizandra berry, St. John’s wort, stevia, turmeric, valerian, and wood betony.
Woah that’s a lot. Some of these have antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Others treat vision, digestive, or circulation issues.
Vitamins that can ease MS could be vitamin A, thiamine, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E. Vitamin A plays a role in vision, reproductive, 
immune system, and organ function, for instance. Thiamine is vital for proper brain, nerve, muscle, heart, and metabolic function. Most of these vitamins influence many different bodily functions.
And deficiencies can lead to various concerts like weakness, numbness, and confusion among other problems. Deficiency in vitamin B-6 can cause abnormal brain function, depression, confusion, and kidney problems.
You can get vitamins from certain foods. For example, thiamine is found in nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, eggs, and lean meats.
Supplements such as bee pollen or venom, calcium, cranberry, fish oil, magnesium, mineral oil, multivitamins, fatty acids, probiotics, selenium, soy lecithin, and zinc could benefit people with MS. These can have antioxidant and antimicrobial abilities, support brain and cardiovascular health, contribute to cell growth and digestion, prevent fatigue and neurodegenerative problems, and boost immune system function.
All these possible treatments do come with cautions. Some people can have allergic reactions or some herbs could interact with certain medicines.
According to the University of Michigan, some other treatments that could relieve symptoms are forms of marijuana, magnetic therapy, and reflexology. Remember, these things just treat the symptoms of MS, not the actual cause or disease itself.
Some people change their diets in an effort to treat MS. Popular changes include adopting the Swank Diet, taking dietary supplements, using evening primrose oil and melatonin, and consuming other vitamins and supplements. Good nutrition does simply help a person feel better usually.
Alternative treatments could also help because they reduce things that increase MS attacks like dietary deficiencies, sensitivity to food and toxins, sensitivity to stress and trauma, and early viral infection.
Such alternatives can prove helpful to individuals suffering from MS, but some supplements out there have been shown to be harmful so exercise caution and do your research. And always, always, consult a health professional.
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