Dietary Supplements and Multiple Sclerosis: A Health Professional's Guide (Paperback)

by Allen C. Bowling (Author), Thomas M. Stewart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
There is a relatively high use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), especially dietary supplements, among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Health professionals with CAM information can improve the quality of patient care by guiding patients away from possibly harmful therapies and, if appropriate, towards low-risk, possibly effective therapies.

Dietary Supplements and Multiple Sclerosis is meant to be referred to when people with MS ask a question about a particular dietary supplement. Supplements are arranged in alphabetical order under the most commonly used name. In addition, the index contains a listing of these common names as well as less common names that may be encountered. The main information about the supplements is written in a concise summary form that usually discusses only the MS relevance of the supplement.

The supplements selected for inclusion are those with specific MS relevance, such as those that are known to be used by people with MS, have claimed efficacy for slowing disease progression or relieving MS symptoms, interact with drugs commonly used to treat MS, and potentially worsen MS or its symptoms. Also, supplements are reviewed that are popular in the general population or are known to have serious adverse effects.

About the Author
Allen C. Bowling, MD, PhD, is Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain MS Center. He is also the Director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program based at the center and a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bowling has published numerous articles in clinical and basic science journals. He has presented information and original research on CAM and MS at national and international medical conferences as well as to lay audiences. His work on CAM has received numerous awards.

Thomas M. Stewart, JD, PA-C, MS, is a physician assistant and Associate Director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Programs at the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center. With Dr. Bowling, he is involved in developing information related to multiple sclerosis and alternative medicine, and has presented information and original research on CAM and MS nationally to both professional and lay audiences.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Demos Medical Publishing; 1 edition (December 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888799900
• ISBN-13: 978-1888799903
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #340,285 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #56 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Multiple Sclerosis
  #90 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Alternative Medicine > Diet Therapy
  #90 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Alternative & Holistic > Diet Therapy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jampacked with lots and lots of essential information those of us with MS need, July 6, 2005

By	Barbara L. Timmer "Nightsky Weaverwombon" (Cincinnati, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

WOW! I now no longer feel like I'm fumbling around in the dark about dietary suppplements and MS! Dr. Bowling thoroughly and objectively examines supplements and their effects on MS! How empowering it is to know that certain supplements have the side effect of nausea, which is my most frequent and bothersome MS sypmtom and the one thing I simply can't cope with.

No more Evening Primrose Oil for me! I've replaced it with Flaxseed Oil, which does basically the same thing, but unlike Evening Primrose Oil does not have nausea as a side effect!

I would gladly trade more physical disability if I just could find a way to do something about the nausea!

And even more important information, supplements that stimulate the immune system. Also of importance is the information on which supplements can cause liver damage, particularly important for those of us who are on one of the interferons!

With Dr. Bowling's excellent book in hand I am adding herbal supplements to my regimin, and I do notice a measurable improvement in my overall condition!

However, as all us MS'rs know, our lovely little disease has a tendency to go through periods when it kicks our butts less than at other times, and with that knowledge, I'll do an update on this review towards the end of this year.

Obviously, highly reccomended to anyone with MS! I'd pretty much put this in the category of a must-read book for my Sisters and Brothers with MS.

Doesn't having MS absolutely STINK?????

10/19/05 As promised, I'm updating this review. Well, so far the improvement is continuing. Actually, I think it's a combination of several different things. I feel that the fact that I workout 4 to 6 times a week is also very beneficial! So this book still rates a 5+ with me!

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad intention & Questionable Credibility , September 28, 2005

By	Bismillah "Bless Us All" - See all my reviews

Dear MS-er:
If you expect this book to present a "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program" that can help you with your disease (As could be implied by the authers' profissional field), then you are mistaken. If you are looking for "Dietry Supplements" (As could be implied by the title of this book) then look else where.

If you need to read such silly claims like"Excessive Vitamin E can increase risk of bleeding" ( may I ask if this has been clincially proven? huh), then buy this book and enjoy.

This book makes me wonder, if it was written with the intention to help MS suffes or was intended to favor beta-Interferon manufacturers over alternative Medicin?

False claims in the book makes the authers' credibility questionalble.

A POSITIVE, yet challenging,approach in handling the subject would be listing those supplements that can benifit MS suffers instead of a list to warn about.

Logically, a satement like "No clinical proof that X supplement have any impact on MS" - does NOT imply that X spplement has NO impact on MS but rather it means that NO clinical trials were conducted to prove its effectiveness.

Surprisingly enough, TWO of the most exciting herbs, backed up with clinical experiemens - proven to positively impact MS (Turmeric -resommended by Dr. Weil- , Polypodium Leucontomos ).

More funny thing about this book is that it considers "Turmeric" which is an Indian food spices to be equivelant to "GOLDENSEAL"!!!!! and warns against its sedative impact!!! by the way, it doesnt mention Polypodium!!!

If I would comment on all rubbish claims in this book, I could endup with another book of its size or even more!

Take Care