7 Awesome Natural Remedies to Treat Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

If you have multiple sclerosis you probably know that it can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms like tiredness, pain, stiffness, and numbness. Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system condition. This means that natural remedies cannot treat the disease. But they can help you control your symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

Below are 7 great natural remedies to help you deal with multiple sclerosis symptoms. 

1. Regular exercise

Regular exercise (30 minutes five times a week) may reduce MS symptoms like muscle stiffness, help you maintain a healthy weight, and good posture. Besides, regular physical activity helps avoid heart disease and protect brain function. Aerobic workouts like swimming, cycling, or walking, as well as strength training, are all good for your overall well-being. If you aren’t sure about the type of exercise you need, consult your pain doctor. 

2. Yoga and stretching

Yoga and stretching may provide relief if you suffer from muscle stiffness, exhaustion, soreness, weakness, bladder dysfunction, or difficulty walking. Yoga can also help you relax, increase core strength, strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, and improve your balance and posture. Yoga is accessible to everyone since it is a low-impact type of physical activity and can be modified to meet any physical restrictions you may have.

3. Anti-Inflammatory diet

While diet cannot cure MS, most neurologists recommend an anti-inflammatory diet (like the Mediterranean diet) to manage MS symptoms. Your diet should be high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables while low in processed foods, sweets, and red meat. Eating in this way can increase your energy levels to combat tiredness, and decrease the number of calories your body needs to burn. 

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help you avoid other serious health problems like heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure, all of which can aggravate multiple sclerosis. Moreover, this nutritional strategy is associated with lower MS symptoms and impairment.

4. Stress management

Stress can make your MS symptoms significantly worse. Because stress has been related to brain health and immune response, finding strategies to control it is critical. But how exactly? People with MS should practice proper sleep hygiene to enhance the restorative process while sleeping and to make it easier to deal with stress the next day. You may also enjoy relaxing techniques such as deep breathing, gradual muscle relaxation, and aromatherapy. 

5. Psychotherapy

A psychologist can assist you in dealing with MS symptoms like pain and fatigue. Besides, psychologists can help you manage concerns that exacerbate fatigue, like appetite control, smoking cessation, anxious thoughts, and sleep problems. Psychological counseling is critical for MS patients, not just for adapting to the condition, but also for assisting their mental well-being. Many clinics provide group therapy for people dealing with sleep deprivation and tiredness to help patients adapt and prevent social isolation.

6. Vitamin D supplements

There is no scientific evidence that dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, or herbs) can alleviate the symptoms of MS. But clinical trials on vitamin D demonstrated to help reduce MS relapses. People with multiple sclerosis should take vitamin D supplements since they cannot acquire it from their diet. Before using any supplement, consult with your doctor.

7. Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses small needles to stimulate particular parts of the body. This therapy can be especially beneficial if you experience MS-related discomfort or stiffness. Acupuncture is an ancient practice that may aid in the treatment of numbness, tingling, poor bladder control, and depression. Even better, acupuncture is considered safe, though you may have some discomfort, bruising, or bleeding where the needles were inserted. It’s unclear exactly how acupuncture works, but one theory is that it changes brain activity.