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Complementary and alternative treatments

    Allen C Bowling

    Allen C Bowling is Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program and Director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Service at the Colorado Neurological Institute (USA). He is also Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado (USA). He has more than 100 lay and professional publications and has provided consultation or authored publications for many multiple sclerosis and neurological organizations around the world.

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    Published Online:26 Jul 2013https://doi.org/10.2217/ebo.12.439
    Abstract:

    Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments are those therapies that lie outside the scope of conventional medicine. Among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, studies indicate that the majority use some form of CAM. CAM use in MS warrants careful consideration because of the complexity and potential severity of the disease and the diverse safety–efficacy profiles of CAM therapies. This chapter provides a practical overview of commonly used, MS-relevant CAM therapies.

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