Some believe that if conventional medicine cannot provide a cure, then perhaps alternative medicine will. Others find that seeking more holistic therapies allows them to feel in control of their MS.

Caution should be key, particularly when the use of herbal remedies is being contemplated. A number of these remedies have been shown to interact with prescribed drugs and adverse effects are not uncommon.  Be mindful to let your GP know.

Several of these remedies claim to ‘enhance’ the immune system. However, in people with MS, the immune response is already over-enhanced. It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking or thinking of taking any ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ remedies as some of these can react negatively with prescribed drugs and are often promoted by people with little or no understanding of MS.

Medsafe is the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. It is part of the Ministry of Health and is responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Medsafe regulates products used for therapeutic purposes. This includes:

  • Medicines
  • Related products
  • Medical devices
  • Controlled drugs used as medicines

Keep in mind that information found on the internet or in newspapers may not always be accurate. It’s important to exercise caution, especially when encountering products or information claiming to be a cure for MS. Your neurologist is your best source of reliable and scientifically proven treatments. It’s essential to remember that MS can enter remission unexpectedly and seemingly miraculously, without any apparent cause. Therefore, attributing success to a specific treatment can be misleading.

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