The use of complementary and alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the rates and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by MS patients. The participants of the study are 67 MS patients. The data for the study were collected through a survey questionnaire developed by the authors. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and are given by frequency and percentage. It has been found that 38.8% of MS patients have used CAM, while 68.1% have not used it. Of those who reported the use of CAM, all employed prayer (100%; n = 39), 89.7% used herbal or botanical therapies (n = 35), and 48.7 % used amulets and talismans (n = 19). Prayer and herbal remedies are found to be the most commonly used forms of CAM in the sample. Patients should be encouraged to inform their physicians and other related medical professionals about any CAM they use because it is important for patient safety, especially with herbal remedies, as these can interact and affect the efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs a patient may be taking. © Gülhane Askeri Tip Akademisi 2014.