The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in chronic progressive diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS), is highly prevalent. Prior to this study there was no complete analysis about changes in using of CAM measuring the length of disease, stage of impairment or socioeconomic factors. This study captured the using of CAM of MS patients in combination with disease progression.
As the key result of the study patients use CAM in an early stage of the disease. Their EDSS lies between 3.5 and 4.0 points and they suffer medial two years shorter from MS than non–users. The researchers concluded that CAM could be an important appliance to cope with the disease.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine