Few complementary therapies have been fully scientifically evaluated, especially in relation to MS. Almost any therapy, scientifically evaluated or not, that has the power to produce very good and positive results, has the potential to do harm. Although complementary therapies are considered as ‘natural’ and, almost by association, to be intrinsically safe, this is not always the case. For example, some herbal medicines have to be very carefully targeted to symptoms and very sensitively administered, otherwise they may be harmful. So it is important both to ask about side effects, i.e. those other than the wanted effects, of
complementary therapies, and to be alert in case they occur. Note that practitioners may expect initial ‘reactions’ or ‘aggravations’ or symptoms as part of the effective working of the therapy. A competent therapist should both warn you about these and what to do, if and when they occur.