Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cases in South Korea

Abstract

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) sometimes consider complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because of ineffective treatment. This study investigated the prevalence and utilization pattern of CAM among patients with ALS in South Korea. Participants were recruited through homecare services for mechanical ventilation in South Korea. This study comprised a face-to-face cross-sectional survey with staff members available to address any queries. Fifty-five participants were included; all had used >1 CAM treatment option for ALS symptoms. Dietary treatments were most common, followed by functional food and massages. Most participants had obtained relevant information from family members or friends. The main reason for CAM use was an expectation that symptoms will improve with CAM; most patients were unsure of the effects. CAM use was previously discontinued by the majority of patients because of unsatisfactory effects. The mean expenditure on CAM was 288,385.28 ± 685,265.14 won per month, and the mean duration of CAM use was 11.54 ± 20.09 months. The results indicate that there is a high prevalence of CAM use among ALS patients. Healthcare providers should inquire about CAM use and openly provide accurate CAM information. Further evidence of CAM efficacy is required, as is specific guidance for consulting ALS patients regarding CAM.

Relationship between Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and the Prognosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…Similarly, Yu et al [5] and Baek et al [31] showed that the mean ΔFS was 0.73-0.75, and the mean ALSFRS-R score was 35-37. The average age of symptom onset was also 50.7-55.9 in the other Korean studies [31,32], which was similar to 54.6 years in the present study. Additionally, the rate of events, including PEG, tracheostomy, and death, was 57.8%, which was similar to the 61.0% result in the previous study [5].…”

A Survey On patients’ Disease Perception and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Persons Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Malaysia

“…A high percentage (n = 31; 83.8%) opted for CAMs, of which the majority preferred vitamins and supplements, in addition to other types of holistic therapies such as traditional Chinese, Malay and Indian treatments. This is in agreement with studies from other Asian countries including South Korea and China [12,13]. The type and prevalence of alternative therapies are highly dependent on the country [6], whereby the use of vitamins and supplements are widely reported in both Chinese (90.5%) and South Korean (46.7%) ALS patients, while a survey conducted by the German Association for Neuromuscular Diseases reported the wide usage of acupuncture (47%) and homeopathy (40%) [6].…”

Traditional East Asian Herbal Medicine for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

“…In a study conducted in South Korea, all patients used CAM with the expectation of improvement in symptoms. However, 70.6% of the patients were not satisfied with the outcome and discontinued CAM; furthermore, only 14.5% reported intending to recommend CAM to others [ 9 ]. ALS progression is rapid and fatal.…”

“…Therefore, patients with ALS and their families can consider complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for ALS treatment. A Chinese study [ 8 ] reported that 99% of patients with ALS underwent integrative therapy (IT); moreover, a recent South Korean study [ 9 ] reported that every patient who participated in the survey received CAM treatment. In a German questionnaire study [ 10 ], 54% of patients with ALS reported having received CAM treatment.…”

“…In particular, in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, traditional East Asian herbal medicines, which reflect regional characteristics and share basic concepts, have been applied to the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, in these countries, there is a constant demand for treatment using traditional East Asian herbal medicines for intractable neurological diseases, such as ALS, that cannot be significantly effective with conventional therapies alone [ 8 , 9 ]. In response to that demand, research using traditional East Asian herbal medicines continues.…”