PMID: 16520295Mar 8, 2006Paper

The use of herbal supplements and alternative therapies by patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy
Orly Vardeny, M B Bromberg

Abstract

Alternative medicine is widely used in all industrialized Western countries. However, there are no published data regarding the use of botanical or herbal supplements in Ayotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Our goal was to survey patients with ALS in our clinic regarding their use of herbal supplements, vitamins, and other therapies or compounds. Study subjects participated in the University of Utah Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. An anonymous questionnaire was mailed and designed to assess the following: disease duration and onset site, use of riluzole, alternative therapies (i.e., homeopathy, acupuncture), vitamins, herbal supplements, and other compounds, sources of information about herbal supplements or vitamins, estimated monthly expenditure on vitamins, herbal supplements, and other compounds, and expectations from herbal supplements/vitamins. Fifty-three subjects participated; mean age 60 years old (range 39-83 years), 15 females, 38 males. Symptom duration averaged 1-5 years (45 limb onset, 8 bulbar onset). Thirty-two percent took riluzole and 42% used herbal supplements, 70% took vitamins, and 21% used other compounds (prescription medications used for ALS, but not indicated for ALS). Fifteen percent used alternative ther...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 7, 2016·Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration·Sungha KimSungchul Kim
Jul 16, 2008·Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America·Jeffrey Rosenfeld, Amy Ellis
Oct 31, 2015·Neurologic Clinics·Richard S BedlackChafic Karam
Dec 25, 2007·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Leonard B SeeffUNKNOWN HALT-C Trial Group
Feb 2, 2012·Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis : Official Publication of the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases·Kristen A Jefferies, Mark B Bromberg

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