Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among People with Multiple Sclerosis in the Nordic Countries
Table 2
CAM treatment modalities used by people with MS in the Nordic countries.
CAM modality
Denmark ()
Norway ()
Sweden ()
Finland ()
Iceland ()
(%)
OR
(CI)
(%)
OR
(CI)
(%)
OR
(CI)
(%)
OR
(CI)
(%)
OR
(CI)
Supplements of vitamins and minerals
759
(78.5)
1.36
(1.02–1.82)+
181
(66.5)
1.16
(0.83–1.61)
171
(59.3)
1.03
(0.74–1.44)
244
(79.7)
1.39
(1.00–1.91)+
80
(57.5)
1
Supplements of oils
423
(43.7)
1.74
(1.18–2.56)+
104
(38.2)
1.52
(0.98–2.34)
88
(30.6)
1.21
(0.78–1.89)
123
(40.2)
1.60
(1.04–2.44)+
35
(25.2)
1
Special diet
181
(18.7)
1.53
(0.90–2.60)
40
(14.7)
1.20
(0.66–2.20)
49
(17.0)
1.39
(0.77–2.50)
57
(18.6)
1.52
(0.86–2.71)
17
(12.2)
1
Acupuncture
151
(15.6)
2.39
(1.47–3.88)+
51
(18.7)
2.87
(1.67–4.93)+
34
(11.8)
1.81
(1.12–3.21)+
20
(6.5)
1
29
(20.8)
3.19
(1.75–5.84)+
Herbal medicine
112
(11.6)
1.87
(1.13–3.08)+
31
(11.4)
1.84
(1.01–3.32)+
31
(10.7)
1.73
(0.96–3.14)
19
(6.2)
1
18
(12.9)
2.09
(1.06–4.10)+
Reflexology
107
(11.1)
7.52
(2.75–20.60)+
4
(1.5)
1
9
(3.1)
2.13
(0.65–6.98)
14
(4.5)
3.11
(1.01–9.57)+
15
(10.8)
7.34
(2.39–22.53)+
Yoga
106
(10.9)
1.40
(0.88–2.22)
25
(9.2)
1.17
(0.65–2.10)
42
(14.6)
1.86
(1.10–3.15)+
24
(7.8)
1
32
(23.0)
2.94
(1.67–5.17)+
Meditation
91
(9.4)
1.60
(0.95–2.70)
24
(8.8)
1.50
(0.80–2.82)
33
(11.4)
1.95
(1.07–3.54)+
18
(5.9)
1
19
(13.7)
2.32
(1.18–4.56)+
Alternative massage
49
(5.1)
2.76
(1.09–6.99)+
5
(1.8)
1
14
(4.8)
2.64
(0.94–7.44)
15
(4.9)
2.67
(0.96–7.43)
8
(5.7)
3.13
(1.01–9.75)+
Cranio sacral therapy
45
(4.6)
2.53
(0.99–6.44)
5
(1.8)
1
8
(2.8)
1.51
(0.49–4.68)
0
(0.0)
No data
No data
17
(12.2)
6.65
(2.40–18.41)+
Other supplements (probiotics, superfood, protein supplement, antioxidants, alkaline supplement, colloid silver, enzymes, fiber supplement, amino acid supplement, glucosamine, and mitochondrial energy optimizer, Gelée Royale LDN)
42
(4.3)
2.01
(0.62–6.58)
10
(3.7)
1.70
(0.46–6.29)
28
(9.7)
4.50
(1.35–15.07)+
15
(4.9)
2.27
(0.65–7.97)
3
(2.2)
1
Healing
41
(4.2)
6.49
(1.56–26.98)+
20
(7.3)
11.25
(2.61–48.57)+
17
(5.9)
9.03
(2.07–39.44)+
2
(0.6)
1
17
(12.2)
18.71
(4.26–82.11)+
Homeopathy
28
(2.9)
1.67
(0.64–4.36)
15
(5.5)
3.18
(1.14–8.86)+
5
(1.7)
1
10
(3.3)
1.88
(0.64–5.57)
7
(5.0)
2.90
(0.90–9.30)
Amalgam removal
22
(2.3)
1
11
(4.0)
1.78
(0.85–3.71)
8
(2.8)
1.22
(0.54–2.77)
8
(2.6)
1.15
(0.51–2.61)
7
(5.0)
2.21
(0.93–5.28)
Qi gong
18
(1.8)
1
9
(3.3)
1.78
(0.79–4.00)
30
(10.4)
5.60
(3.07–10.19)+
0
(0.0)
No data
No data
0
(0.0)
No data
No data
Naprapathy
0
(0.0)
No data
No data
14
(5.1)
3.94
(1.28–12.11)+
11
(3.8)
2.92
(0.92–9.28)
4
(1.3)
1
0
(0.0)
No data
No data
CAM treatments with prevalence of use below 5% in all countries Denmark: Tai Chi, kinesiology, Feldenkrais method, osteopathy, hypnosis, orthomolecular treatment, cannabis, vacuum therapy, body SDS therapy, thought field therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, Birgitta Brunes' treatment, CCSVI surgery*, and alternative psychotherapy Norway: Tai Chi, Feldenkrais method, kinesiology, osteopathy, orthomolecular medicine, bioresonance/quantum medical treatment, Mensendick treatment, aroma therapy, thought field therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, Birgitta Brunes' treatment, CCSVI surgery, and alternative psycho therapy Sweden: Tai Chi, Feldenkrais method, osteopathy, kinesiology, hypnosis, bioresonance/quantum medical treatment, antroposofic medicine, Birgitta Brunes' treatment, CCSVI surgery, and alternative psychotherapy Finland: Tai Chi, colonic therapy, kinesiology, cannabis, lymph therapy, osteopathy, CCSVI surgery, and alternative psychotherapy
34
(3.5)
1.19
(0.57–2.52)
16
(5.9)
2.0
(0.87–4.60)
14
(4.8)
1.65
(0.70–3.87)
9
(2.9)
1
5
(3.6)
1.22
(0.40–3.71)
Iceland: Tai Chi, aroma therapy, Feldenkrais method, Birgitta Brunes' treatment, CCSVI surgery, and alternative psycho therapy
Use of one or more use of one or more energetic CAM modalities (including traditional Chinese acupuncture, reflexology, shiatsu massage, healing massage, cranial sacral therapy, healing, homeopathy, spritual psycho therapy, Qi gong, Tai Chi, and kinesiology)
223
(23.1)
2.14
(1.45–3.15)+
56
(20.6)
1.91
(1.21–3.02)+
48
(16.7)
(1.55)
(0.98–2.47)
33
(10.8)
1
43
(30.9)
2.87
(1.75–4.71)
Number of CAM modalities in use
29
29
26
22
20
*It can be discussed whether CCSVI surgery should be classified as a CAM modality. Though it is not a “classic” CAM modality, we have chosen to include it in this table, based on the broad definition of CAM used in this study as an intervention not generally considered part of conventional medicine. “+”signifies that the prevalence is significantly higher than the lowest prevalence. Significance has been determined by interpretation of the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (if 1 is contained in the CI, ).
