Lifestyle and Alternative Medicine

Authors: Nathaniel C. Bowling, MD, and Allen C. Bowling, MD, PhD
Complementary and Alternative Medicine information and services offered by Dr. Allen Bowling

DISCLAIMER: Multiple Sclerosis is a serious medical condition. Multiple Sclerosis should not be diagnosed or treated on one's own. The information on this site is for informational purposes only. This information should not be viewed as a substitute for visiting your health care provider or for using conventional medications. Before considering lifestyle or unconventional therapies, one should read about Precautions. It is highly recommended that you contact your health professional before using any of these therapies.


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Magnets and Electromagnetic Therapy

Magnets and electromagnetic therapy are forms of energy medicine. For thousands of years, electricity and magnetism have been used in medical treatments. In ancient China, magnets were used on acupuncture points. Minerals with natural magnetic qualities, called lodestones, were used to treat many conditions in the 10th and 11th centuries. The 19th century is referred to as the golden […]

Marijuana Part 1 – General Information

Marijuana has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. It is derived from one of the oldest cultivated plants, Cannabis sativa, and its use spans many different cultures. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Treatment Approach Marijuana can be used in many different forms. The simplest and most common two methods of […]

Massage

Massage has been used as a healing method for thousands of years. It was used as therapy in the ancient civilizations of both China and Egypt. Many of the forms now commonly found in the US are derived from Swedish massage, which dates back to the 1800s. Massage can be used as treatment alone, or […]

Meditation

Meditation is a mind-body therapy that has been used for thousands of years, often in religious practices. It is in the same class of therapies as guided imagery, hypnosis, and biofeedback (see guided imagery, hypnosis, and biofeedback pages). Meditation is also used as one component of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine (see Ayurveda page). Meditation can produce the relaxation […]

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone involved in regulating the normal 24-hour cycles of the body, known as circadian rhythms. Blood levels of this hormone are low during the day and increase during the night. Melatonin has many potential uses. Some researchers have found that melatonin may help with sleep problems and jet lag. Some have suggested melatonin […]

Music Therapy

Music therapy is the practice of using music to aid in healing. Variations on music therapy have existed around the world for thousands of years, from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to Native Americans. Music therapy degrees were first granted in the United States in the 1940s, with the National Association for Music Therapy establishing […]

Omega-Six Fatty Acids

Studies of Linoleic Acid. The are many MS-related studies of linoleic acid supplementation. In an animal model of MS, deficiencies in linoleic acid appear to be harmful, while supplements have proved beneficial. In the 1970s, three randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled studies of linoleic acid supplementation were completed in people with MS. In all three studies, sunflower […]

Omega-Three Fatty Acids

Studies In 1989, a large-scale study of omega-three fatty acid supplementation with fish oil in MS was completed. The results of the study showed a trend towards improvement in the treatment group, but this trend was not statistically significant. Another, smaller study combined supplements with glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) or interferons (Rebif, Betaseron, Avonex). Conventional MS […]

Padma 28

Padma 28 is a complicated mixture of herbs developed in the late 19th century. It is also called Gabyr-Nirynga and Badmaev 28. Both Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine heavily influenced the two physicians who developed Padma 28. Over 20 different herbs, as well as calcium, are found in Padma 28. It is usually taken orally. The […]

Pilates and the Physicalmind Method

Pilates is a type of bodywork that aims to increase strength and flexibility. The Physicalmind method is a variant of Pilates. Joseph H. Pilates, a German boxer, dancer, and inventor, developed the Pilates method during World War I as a way to help wounded soldiers recover from their injuries. The popularity of Pilates in the […]

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