Multiple sclerosis can feel like the body and mind are constantly trying to keep up with each other, even when they’re not on the same page. It’s a condition that shows up differently in everyone, and the unpredictability alone can be exhausting. But when people start looking beyond the medications and clinical tests, many find comfort in natural paths that aim to support the whole body—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. While there’s no known cure, natural approaches can often soften the edges of this experience, helping people feel more like themselves. From nutrition to herbs to therapies that go deeper than just symptom control, holistic strategies have found a real place in the conversation.
At Avena Natural Health, the focus has always been on supporting the body’s natural rhythms while helping individuals reclaim a sense of balance. Here’s a closer look at some natural remedies and thoughtful considerations that people living with multiple sclerosis often explore—always best guided by experienced professionals who understand how the body communicates.
Nutrition That Calms and Fuels
One of the first things that often comes up when looking at natural care for MS is nutrition. Food becomes more than fuel—it becomes part of how the body fights inflammation, manages fatigue, and supports the nervous system. Many people with MS find that certain foods either help or hurt, so the diet often becomes more about noticing and adjusting rather than sticking to one rigid plan.
Diets rich in leafy greens, healthy fats from things like avocados and nuts, and colorful vegetables often become staples. These foods help feed the body on a cellular level, supporting energy and easing digestive burdens. At the same time, people frequently steer away from refined sugars, processed snacks, and dairy—not because there’s a rulebook, but because they notice how their bodies feel lighter and clearer without them. It’s not about being perfect but about listening to what helps the body work with more ease.
There’s also growing interest in gut health and its connection to autoimmune conditions like MS. A strong and diverse gut microbiome may help keep the immune system from becoming too reactive. Probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut or kimchi show up often, as well as prebiotic foods like garlic and asparagus. All of this can be fine-tuned with support from naturopathic doctors in San Diego, who are trained to help connect the dots between symptoms and daily choices like meals and movement.
Herbal Support That Speaks to the Nervous System
Herbs have always had a quiet kind of power. They don’t bulldoze the body into submission, but instead gently shift systems back toward balance. For people managing multiple sclerosis, certain herbs may help calm nerve irritation, improve circulation, or support muscle relaxation. Some well-known options include ashwagandha for stress resilience, ginkgo biloba for cognitive clarity, and turmeric for its gentle anti-inflammatory touch.
Each herb works a little differently, so they’re never one-size-fits-all. That’s where working with professionals becomes essential. They can help identify not just what might help but what fits a person’s specific experience of MS. Some may need more support for muscle spasms, while others may be looking for herbs to help with focus or mood swings. It’s all about the body’s unique conversation with itself, and herbs are just another language it can speak.
The beautiful thing about herbs is how adaptable they are. Some are taken as teas that become part of a calming evening routine. Others are capsules or tinctures, making them easier to work into busy days. When combined with regular check-ins through naturopathic consultations in San Diego, herbs can shift from being vague supplements to truly supportive tools tailored to the body’s needs.
Movement and Energy Therapies That Encourage Flow
Movement often feels complicated for people with MS. On the one hand, staying active helps with strength, balance, and mood. On the other hand, fatigue and muscle stiffness can make even simple activities feel like a challenge. That’s why gentle, consistent movement often wins out over intense workouts. Stretching, walking in nature, or practicing slow forms of yoga can help keep joints loose, boost circulation, and maintain connection between the brain and the rest of the body.
Energy therapies like acupuncture and craniosacral therapy also offer benefits that aren’t always easy to explain with words. These approaches work more subtly, encouraging the nervous system to unwind and realign without forcing it. Many people describe leaving an acupuncture session feeling lighter or more grounded, even if the physical symptoms haven’t disappeared overnight.
Therapies that respect the body’s boundaries while nudging it toward balance have become more common at places like Avena Natural Health, where the goal is to support long-term wellness, not just symptom management. This is also where options like IV therapy in San Diego come into play. With MS, nutrient absorption can sometimes be a hurdle, especially when digestion is under strain. IV therapy can deliver key vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gut and offering fast support that many find deeply restorative.
Daily Rhythms and Emotional Grounding
When a condition like MS becomes part of life, routines often have to bend and adjust. But that doesn’t mean giving up a sense of rhythm—it just means building one that fits a new pace. Sleep, hydration, downtime, and emotional processing all become part of the healing picture. People often underestimate how much emotional stress can stir up physical flares, especially when living with an autoimmune condition.
Creating calm in the day—whether through journaling, meditation, breathwork, or even just stepping outside—helps take pressure off the nervous system. These aren’t about becoming perfect at mindfulness. They’re about finding small moments of calm where the body can breathe, recalibrate, and remember what it feels like to be safe. This kind of nervous system support often works hand in hand with natural physical therapies, helping the body and mind to move in the same direction instead of pulling against each other.
Gentle Support; Natural Balance
Building these practices into daily life, especially with encouragement from providers at Avena Natural Health, can make the process feel less overwhelming and more like a collaboration. MS might not disappear, but the way it fits into life can absolutely shift. Support, guidance, and a real connection to healing professionals can help create that kind of shift—gently, steadily, and with intention.
Living with multiple sclerosis can feel like navigating waves that never settle quite the same way twice. But with thoughtful support, from nutrition to herbs to therapies that nourish from the inside out, those waves can feel a little less sharp. There’s strength in listening closely to the body, in working with it instead of against it, and in surrounding yourself with care that sees you as a whole person—not just a diagnosis.
Media Credit: All photos licensed from Adobe.
Dr. Laura Kostrzewski, a San Diego native, completed her undergraduate degree at California Polytechnic State University, earning a BS in animal science with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She then earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and taught fifth grade in the central coast of California for two years. After being extremely involved in her grandfather’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and end-of-life care, Dr. Kostrzewski decided to move back to San Diego and enroll at Bastyr University California. Dr. Kostrzewski received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University California in June of 2019, and then went on to complete her residency at Bastyr. Before AVENA Wellness, DR. K started her own private practice, focusing on management of neurodegenerative conditions, and continued teaching at Bastyr as adjunct faculty, until founding Avena Health.