Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence
Complementary Therapies and Multiple Sclerosis
Wellness is about physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being. Staying well with MS means not just keeping on top of your MS, but also taking charge of your general health. Staying well may require you to take a holistic look at the many areas of life that can affect your health — your work environment, relationships, diet, sleep patterns, and more.
The Whole Health approach considers how the Veteran defines wellness, and supports the Veteran’s goals as they relate to physical wellness, desired life activities, emotional well-being, relationships, diet, exercise level, and so forth. We now realize that being healthy and well is much more than making the symptoms go away. Whole Health also considers new and complimentary methods of treatment, including such things as Yoga, Tai-Chi, chiropractic care, acupuncture, or other modalities that Veterans want to use in their care. The principles of Whole Health are all about quality of life.
Active Involvement in Health Care Choices
- Living Your Best Life with MS
- Making the Most of Your MS Telehealth Visit
- Preparing for Your MS Office Visit
- Wellness and MS
- VA Patient Centered Care: Whole Health
- Whole Health in the VA
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Diet and Nutrition
- Dietary Changes for People with MS
- Diet and MS: Is There a Relationship?
- Updates on Vitamin D
- Vascular Disease Risk Factors and MS
- VA Weight Management Program for Veterans
Emotional Well-Being
- Being Mindful of the Present Moment
- Coping Strategies for People with MS
- Mindfulness Strategies for Healthy Living
- Music Therapy in MS
- Resilience: Addressing the Challenges of MS
- Social Worker Support for Veterans and Families
- Stress and MS: Can Meditation Help?
Exercise
- Adaptive Movement for Improved Wellbeing
- Exercise and MS
- Get Out and Play
- Planning Your Activities and Designing an Exercise Program
- Six Exercise Tips for MS
- Staying Active While Living with MS
Heating and Cooling
Smoking Cessation
Social Support and Relationships
- Caring for the Caregiver
- Communication Matters: Self-Advocacy
- Creating a Support Network
- Relationships: Improving the Lines of Communication
- National MS Society: Find Support
Viruses and Vaccines
Additional Information
- American Academy of Neurology CAM Summary of Evidence-based Guidelines for Clinicians
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- National MS Society: Complementary and Alternative Medicines
- National MS Society: Diet and Nutrition
- National MS Society: Exercise
- National MS Society: Treating MS
- US National Library of Medicine: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
- VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- VA War Related illness and Injury Study Center: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
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