| Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be thought of as an | | | | number of MS lesions, delaying the progression of the |
| inflammatory process involving different areas of the | | | | disease, and providing symptomatic relief for the |
| central nervous system (CNS) at various points in | | | | patient. Several different drugs have been developed |
| time. As the name suggests, multiple sclerosis affects | | | | to treat the symptoms of MS. However, in patients |
| many areas of the CNS. | | | | with the relapsing-remitting type, it is often difficult to |
| Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and | | | | determine if symptomatic improvements are the |
| affects the central nervous system. Central nervous | | | | result of drug therapy or if it is just the natural |
| system is made up of nerves that act as the body's | | | | course of the disease. |
| messenger system. It damages the myelin sheath, | | | | Beta interferons. Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron) and |
| the material that surrounds and protects your nerve | | | | interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) are genetically |
| cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages | | | | engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in |
| between your brain and your body. Multiple sclerosis | | | | your body. They help fight viral infection and regulate |
| (MS) usually affects woman more than men. The | | | | your immune system. |
| disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 | | | | If you use Betaseron, you inject yourself under your |
| and 40, but can strike at any age. | | | | skin (subcutaneously) every other day. If you use |
| Staying healthy is important for everyone, but | | | | Rebif, you inject yourself subcutaneously three times |
| persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) have to pay | | | | a week. You self-inject Avonex into your muscle |
| extra attention to their health. Multiple sclerosis | | | | (intramuscularly) once a week. |
| symptoms and sometimes the medications used to | | | | Disease-modifying drugs may slow down the |
| treat the disease can have an impact on a person's | | | | progression of your disease and help to reduce the |
| mobility, energy level, eating habits, and feelings, | | | | frequency or severity of attacks. Those licensed for |
| thereby compromising a person's overall well-being. | | | | use in the UK are interferon beta-1a (Avonex or |
| Minerals such as zinc and selenium, help strengthen | | | | Rebif), interferon beta-1b (Betaferon) and glatiramer |
| the immune system, and also may well have value in | | | | acetate (Copaxone) injections. You will only be able |
| warding off viral infections. It has also been | | | | to receive these medicines on the NHS if you meet |
| suggested that herbs such as goldenseal and | | | | specific criteria and they can only treat certain types |
| echinacea have value in strengthening the immune | | | | of MS. They must be prescribed by a neurologist at a |
| system One problem with these herbs is that they | | | | specialist MS centre. |
| may cause hypersensitivities and questions still remain | | | | Glatiramer (Copaxone). This medication is an |
| concerning the wisdom in taking these herbs over a | | | | alternative to beta interferons if you have relapsing |
| long time period. I would suggest caution in their use | | | | remitting MS. Doctors believe that glatiramer works |
| for MS treatment with echinacea perhaps being the | | | | by blocking your immune system's attack on myelin. |
| safest herb to use to strengthen the immune | | | | You must inject glatiramer subcutaneously once daily. |
| system. | | | | Side effects may include flushing and shortness of |
| The treatment of MS focuses mainly on decreasing | | | | breath after injection. |
| the rate and severity of relapse, reducing the | | | | |