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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system; there is destruction of the myelin sheaths around the spinal cord, brain, and optic nerves that produce a multiplicity of symptoms depending on the location, extent, and pattern of the deterioration of the myelin sheaths.
Acupuncture is a technique used in traditional Chinese medical practice. It has long been used by the Chinese in alleviating some symptoms of MS, a practice that has gained some acceptance in the West. Acupuncture is a long-established type of Chinese medical practice based on a theory of the flow of energy throughout the human body through 14 pathways called meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine postulates that human disease is the result of an imbalance in the flow of energy and precarious stability between the opposite forces of yin and yang present in all objects and life forms.
The practice of acupuncture involves stimulating specific nerve locations on the skin by inserting thin, metallic needles into points along the body’s meridians to change the flow of energy. Normally, about six to ten sessions may be necessary to establish if acupuncture treatment is effective – its effect is not instantaneous.
 Although acupuncture has been used for centuries by the Chinese in treating a variety of conditions, the practice gained popularity worldwide since the early 1970s only. The increase of licensed acupuncturists have led some people with MS to try acupuncture for the relief of pain, involuntary muscle contractions, lack of sensation, fatigue, melancholy, anxiety, and bowel and bladder symptoms. People who have tried acupuncture continue to use it for the relief of their symptoms although no scientific clinical tests have been carried out to assess the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture in people with MS.
However, the National Institutes of Health have reviewed studies in the use of acupuncture and have concluded that it is a sensible treatment for the management of headaches, facial pain, low back pain, and neck pain. Furthermore, research implies that acupuncture might also be beneficial for anxiety, depression, dizziness, and urinary problems. Based on their reviews, the NIH concludes that acupuncture is a safe treatment that is highly tolerated by most people, especially if performed by a well-trained acupuncturist.
Acupuncture can and does provide relief for some MS-related symptoms, including pain, involuntary muscle movements, numbness and tingling, bladder problems, and depression. However, no concrete evidence exists that acupuncture can reduce, or arrest the development of MS. If acupuncture is used, it should be as a supplement to, rather than as a replacement for, standard medical treatments, and the treatment must be provided by a licensed acupuncturist.
 Just as in China, oral herbal medicines are used as the primary method of treatment with acupuncture used as an additional method of therapy. Therefore, if herbal formulas are used with acupuncture treatment better results can be obtained.
There have been instances though that acupuncture has been effective in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy for which there is no effective Western medical treatment. The Chinese describe peripheral neuropathy as the result of the impediment of the energy and blood due to uncontrolled eating and drinking, excessive fatigue, aging, or chronic disease. An acupuncturist looks at the total body picture and uses acupuncture to improve the health of a patient by bringing the body into balance to heal on its own. Acupuncture helps peripheral neuropathy by improving the circulation and moving Qi and blood to the extremities. The nerve tissues can be nourished and nerve function can be improved. Although acupuncture cannot cure MS, it does bring some relief as it greatly helps to control the symptoms and slow down the development of the disease.
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