title: Complementary therapy use by persons with multiple sclerosis: benefits and research priorities.
abstract: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are commonly actively involved in self-care, with many accessing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to help in symptom management. To provide increased insight into benefits from CAM use and service user ideas over research priorities, a two-part study, involving a questionnaire and interactive workshop, was undertaken with attendees at a national Congress of the MS Trust in the UK. The six most used therapies were reflexology, massage, yoga, relaxation and meditation, acupuncture and aromatherapy. Each was rated by a quarter to two-fifths as 'extremely helpful'. Insight into the nature of the therapeutic benefit was provided in user comments. Despite the self-selected nature of the sample, the findings point to potential benefits of a set of CAM therapies in helping people with MS. More research on potential benefits of therapies was called for by participants and on the dynamics of the therapeutic effect.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Baines Wing, Leeds LS2 9UT, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Esmonde
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012063:Relaxation; D012890:Sleep