🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has accumulated new experience using a combination of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and five other integrated Chinese-Western medicine approaches to treat multiple sclerosis. To date, the hospital’s Department of Neurology has treated 11 patients with this condition, successfully controlling acute flare-ups, prolonging remission and stability phases, and reducing residual symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory demyelination in the central nervous system. Its clinical features include multiplicity of lesions and multiplicity in time—i.e., recurrent episodes alternating with remissions. Clinical manifestations include dizziness, double vision, numbness, paralysis, unsteady gait, etc. The etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis are complex, involving immune dysfunction, viral infections, genetic factors, and others. Currently, treatment in China primarily relies on Western medicine. The disease responds well to corticosteroids, but long-term use leads to significant side effects and dependency.
Dr. Nie Hui, Deputy Director of the Department of Neurology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has dedicated herself to exploring multiple sclerosis. From scattered clinical cases to systematic research, she has summarized five integrated Chinese-Western medicine treatment methods, achieving satisfactory results. First, during acute phases, different doses of corticosteroids are used, supplemented with medications to reduce steroid side effects. Second, herbal medicines with steroid-like effects are administered intravenously and orally to exert anti-inflammatory effects, reduce demyelination edema, and provide immunosuppression without steroid side effects—suitable for acute phases, tapering periods, and post-discontinuation. Third, syndrome differentiation and treatment based on etiology: clear heat and detoxify, extinguish wind and stop spasms, strengthen the spleen and nourish the kidneys, tonify the kidneys and generate marrow, especially during remission to prevent relapse and achieve twice the result with half the effort. Fourth, acupuncture therapy, based on holistic principles, employs various methods including conventional filiform needles, scalp acupuncture, water acupuncture, and back-shu point needling, tailored to symptom needs and applied during both acute and remission phases. Fifth, rehabilitation therapy includes preventing colds, avoiding overwork and mental stress, pregnancy, childbirth, and other triggers, supplemented by walking under shade, uphill walking, massage, using traction bands, and moxibustion on affected limbs.
A 26-year-old female patient, Ms. Li, developed hiccupping, nystagmus, blurred vision, balance disorders, and painful spasms after a miscarriage last September. MRI confirmed a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Dr. Nie Hui treated her with one high-dose steroid pulse, three low-dose pulses, and concurrently administered intravenous and oral Chinese herbs and acupuncture therapy, successfully stabilizing her condition.
Experts have commented that the advantage of the five integrated methods lies in fully leveraging the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine; significantly modulating the self-immune function of multiple sclerosis patients, alleviating painful spasms, paralysis, and numbness, and combining the strengths of both systems to reduce complications.