Optimal Health with Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide to Integrating Lifestyle, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine

by Allen C. Bowling MD, PhD

Overview

The only source for reliable, evidence-based information on the relevance, safety, and effectiveness of alternative and lifestyle medicine approaches to MS treatment and the best ways to safely integrate them with conventional medicine.

In addition to conventional medicine, many people with MS also use some form of alternative medicine, and there is growing evidence and interest in the effects of lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, on MS. Yet, until now, it has been difficult to obtain unbiased information about the MS-relevant aspects of these nonmedication approaches. Optimal Health with Multiple Sclerosis provides the accurate and unbiased information people with MS, their friends and family, health care professionals, and educators need to make responsible decisions and achieve the very best outcome.

• Find other options that may provide symptomatic relief when conventional therapies are limited
• Learn about potentially dangerous interactions between alternative therapies and medical treatments used in the management of MS
• Identify alternative and lifestyle therapies that are effective, low risk, and inexpensive
• Recognize ineffective, dangerous, or costly alternative therapies

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936303700
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/20/2014
Pages:	402
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

ALLEN C. BOWLING, MD, PhD, is Physician Associate at the Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI). He is also Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado. Dr. Bowling has more than 100 lay and professional publications, including five books on MS. He has provided consultation or authored publications for many MS and neurological organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the National MS Society (NMSS), and the MS International Federation (MSIF). Dr. Bowling incorporates the approaches outlined in Optimal Health With Multiple Sclerosis in his clinical practice, Neurology Care (www.neurologycare.net), in Englewood, Colorado.

Table of Contents

"; Contents;

Foreword by Rosalind C. Kalb, PhD

;

Preface

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How to Use This Book

;

Acknowledgments

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Part 1: Introduction

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bull; Alternative Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine

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bull; Placebos and Nocebos

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bull; Important Precautions About Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Multiple Sclerosis

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Part 2: Optimal Health With Multiple Sclerosis: A Seven-Step Guide to Integrating Lifestyle, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine

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bull; Introduction

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bull; General Concepts

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bull; Helpful Strategies

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bull; Step 1: Disease-Modifying Medications

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bull; Step 2: Diet, Dietary Supplements, and Weight Management

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bull; Step 3: Tobacco and Alcohol Use

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bull; Step 4: Physical Activity

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bull; Step 5: Personal and Social Well-Being

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bull; Step 6: Prevention and Management of Other Medical Conditions

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bull; Step 7: Symptom Management

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bull; Lifestyle and Unconventional Therapies That May Improve Many Different Symptoms

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bull; Symptoms That May Be Relieved With Specific Lifestyle and Unconventional Therapies

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• Anxiety and Stress

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• Bladder Problems

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• Bowel Problems

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• Colds and Flu—Prevention or Decreasing Duration

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• Coordination Problems

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• Depression

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• Fatigue

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• Pain

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• Sexual Problems

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• Sleep Problems

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• Spasticity (Muscle Stiffness)

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• Thinking (Cognitive) Problems

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• Walking Problems

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• Weakness

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Part 3: Types of Lifestyle and Unconventional Medicine

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bull; Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

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bull; Alcohol

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bull; Aromatherapy

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bull; Aspartame

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bull; Ayurveda

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bull; Bee Venom Therapy and Other Forms of Apitherapy

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bull; Biofeedback

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bull; Candida Treatment

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bull; Chelation Therapy

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bull; Chiropractic Medicine

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bull; Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency

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bull; Colon Therapy, Detoxification, and Enemas

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bull; Cooling Therapy

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bull; Craniosacral Therapy

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bull; Dental Amalgam Removal

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bull; Enzyme Therapy

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bull; Exercise

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bull; Fats: Fish Oil and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

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bull; Feldenkrais

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bull; Fiber

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bull; Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease

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bull; Guided Imagery

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††††††Herbs

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bull; Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Horseback Riding

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bull; Homeopathy

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bull; Hyperbaric Oxygen

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bull; Hypnosis

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bull; Low-Dose Naltrexone

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bull; Magnets and Electromagnetic Therapy

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bull; Marijuana

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bull; Massage

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††††††Meditation

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bull; Mindfulness

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bull; Music Therapy

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bull; Obesity and Weight Management

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bull; Paleolithic Diets

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††††††Pets

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bull; The Pilates Method and PhysicalMind Method

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bull; Prayer and Spirituality

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bull; Probiotics and the Gut Microbiome

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††††††Prokarin

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bull; Reflexology

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††††††Salt

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bull; Tai Chi and Qigong

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bull; Therapeutic Touch

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bull; Tobacco and Smoking Cessation

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††††††Toxins

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bull; Tragerwork

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bull; Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Nonherbal Supplements

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††††††Yoga

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Appendix 1: Ratings of Lifestyle and Unconventional Therapies

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Appendix 2: Dietary Supplements and Herbs That Have MS-Relevant Side Effects or Drug Interactions

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References

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Index

; ; ;

Editorial Reviews

An indispensable aide to health care providers and persons with MS as they partner to achieve ‘Optimum Health.’ The ever expanding knowledge base about MS demands that management of persons with MS requires the integration of traditional allopathic medicine, complementary and alternative strategies, and lifestyle considerations into a coordinated approach to treat the whole patient. Risks as well as potential benefits of any therapeutic regimen should be clearly understood by all parties.” —Barbara Giesser, MD, Professor of Neurology, Clinical Director, UCLA Multiple Sclerosis Program, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine

“A valuable resource. In the course of interacting with someone who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis whether it be early at diagnosis or later in the disease, the question is inevitably asked, “What else can I do or should I be doing to manage my MS?” For every person living with MS as well as for those providing care and education over the course of the disease, the answers to that question can be elusive. Dr. Bowling’s new book takes us all further in our management decisions. We can think in a more global sense that includes conventional approaches as well as a broader utilization of lifestyle management and unconventional therapies which may improve symptoms.” —Pat Kennedy, RN, CNP, MSCN, Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and Past President International Organization of MS Nurses

“Dr. Bowling’s non-judgmental approach lays the groundwork for a very comprehensive analysis of alternative treatment options in multiple sclerosis….The section [on types of lifestyle and unconventional medicine options] is particularly valuable as it contains ratings for each strategy for the reader’s consideration….Dr. Bowling’s previous work has set a high standard for patient and professional education. He has raised the bar substantially with this new book which adds to the body of knowledge in multiple sclerosis and has lasting value as a resource for all those involved in MS care and research. It is my pleasure to recommend this book without reservation.” —June Halper, MSN, APN-C, MSCN, FAAN, CEO, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers

From the Publisher