What is the nervous system?. The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and. 

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The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and

coordinates body activities. It is made up of two major divisions, including the

• 
Central nervous system. This consists of the brain and spinal cord.

• 
Peripheral nervous system. This consists of all other neural elements,

including the peripheral nerves and the autonomic nerves.

In addition to the brain and spinal cord, principal organs of the nervous system

• 
Sensory receptors located in the skin, joints, muscles, and other parts of the

What are some disorders of the nervous system?

The nervous system is vulnerable to various disorders. It can be damaged by the

• Degeneration. • Structural defects. • Tumours. • Blood flow disruption. 

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Disorders of the nervous system may involve the following:

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Vascular disorders, such as stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA),

subarachnoid haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage and hematoma, and

• 
Infections, such as meningitis, encephalitis, polio, and epidural abscess

• 
Structural disorders, such as brain or spinal cord injury, Bell's palsy, cervical

spondylosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, brain or spinal cord tumours, peripheral

• 
Functional disorders, such as headache, epilepsy, dizziness, and neuralgia

• 
Degeneration, such as Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington chorea, and Alzheimer disease

Signs and symptoms of nervous system disorders

The following are the most common general signs and symptoms of a nervous

system disorder. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

• 
Persistent or sudden onset of a headache

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A headache that changes or is different

• Muscle rigidity. • Tremors and seizures. • Back pain which radiates to the feet, toes, or other parts of the body. 

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• 
Back pain which radiates to the feet, toes, or other parts of the body

• 
New language impairment (expression or comprehension)

The symptoms of a nervous system disorder may look like other medical conditions

or problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Healthcare providers who treat nervous system disorders

The best way to manage nervous system disorders is with the help of a team of

healthcare providers. You may not need all members of the team at any given time.

But it's good to know who they are and how they can help. Here is a list of some of

the healthcare providers that may be involved in treating nervous system disorders:

• 
Neurologist. The medical healthcare providers who diagnose and treat

nervous system disorders are called neurologists. Some neurologists treat

acute strokes and cerebral aneurysms using endovascular techniques.

• 
Neurosurgeon. Surgeons who operate as a treatment team for nervous

system disorders are called neurological surgeons or neurosurgeons.

• 
Neuroradiologist and interventional radiologist. This is a radiologist who

specializes in diagnosing nervous system conditions using imaging and in

treating nervous system conditions such as cerebral aneurysms, acute

strokes, and vertebral fractures. This provider also does biopsies of certain

• 
Psychologist. Emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, mood

swings, and irritability are common in nervous system disorders. Your

psychologist can help. Psychologists may do testing to find out how much

your disorder is affecting the way you think and feel. Psychologists also do

talk therapy (counselling) to help you deal with the emotional effects caused

• 
Psychiatrist. Like your psychologist, this team member deals with emotional

and behaviour symptoms caused by nervous system disorders. In most

cases, talk therapy works best for these problems. But if you need medicines. 

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cases, talk therapy works best for these problems. But if you need medicines

to treat symptoms such as depression or anxiety, this doctor can help.

• 
Physiatrist. Healthcare providers who work with people in the rehab

(rehabilitation) process are called physiatrists.

• 
Physical therapist. This is a movement specialist who can help you move

and walk well. In physical therapy, you can also work on painful or stiff

• 
Occupational therapist. This provider helps you learn to handle your day-to-

day activities. For example, you might have trouble doing tasks you need to

do at work or at home. Your occupational therapist will help you find ways to

adjust to any changes in your physical abilities.

• 
Speech/language pathologist. This provider specializes in communication,

including cognitive communication. They also diagnose and treat swallowing

Complementary & Alternative Therapies in Neurology

• 
Complementary and alternative medicine treatments are increasingly 
employed to supplement traditional Western medicine treatments in 
neurology. These include acupuncture, natural tactic medicine, homeopathic 
medicine, massage, chiropractic treatment, herbal medicine, exercise regimens 
and dietary interventions, to name only the most common types. Until 
recently, the unproven and empiric (“try it and see if it works”) nature of 
complementary and alternative medicine treatments were at odds with the 
rigorous but rigid requirements of the scientifically proven effectiveness of 
traditional Western medicine. More recently, doctors have become 
increasingly receptive to the use of complementary and alternative medicine, 
and scientific studies of the safety and effectiveness of complementary and 
alternative medicines is being undertaken through the National Institutes of 
Health. A brief discussion of each of the complementary and alternative 
medicine options and their common usefulness in neurology patients follows.

Acupuncture. • Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine in which it is presumed that disease symptoms are caused by the disruption of the normal circulation of the vital body energy Qi. Acupuncture involves the placement of very thin needles in precise locations to normalize the flow of Qi. Specialized training for physicians and non-physicians is necessary to practice acupuncture, and the amount and duration of training is directly related to the expertise of the practitioner. Acupuncture may be used in conjunction with Chinese herbal medicine, or Qi Gong, a form of specialized exercises to normalize the flow of Qi. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be helpful for the treatment of headache and chronic low back pain, among other medical problems.. 

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• 
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine in which it is 
presumed that disease symptoms are caused by the disruption of the normal 
circulation of the vital body energy Qi. Acupuncture involves the placement of 
very thin needles in precise locations to normalize the flow of Qi. Specialized 
training for physicians and non-physicians is necessary to practice 
acupuncture, and the amount and duration of training is directly related to the 
expertise of the practitioner. Acupuncture may be used in conjunction with 
Chinese herbal medicine, or Qi Gong, a form of specialized exercises to 
normalize the flow of Qi. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be helpful 
for the treatment of headache and chronic low back pain, among other 
medical problems.

• 
Naturopathic medicine is a method of alternative medicine based on the 
theory that physical symptoms are produced by the body’s reaction to internal 
attacks and stress, and emphasizes the human body’s innate healing power. A 
healthy diet, appropriate rest, exercise and a positive mental and emotional 
state are the keystones of treatment regimens, with the additional use of hot 
baths, colonic cleansing, herbs and vitamin supplements.

• 
Homeopathy treats illnesses with extremely diluted preparations of 
substances thought to produce similar symptoms to the illness being treated. 
That substance is mixed with water and then diluted to the point where none 
of the original substance remains, but its healing power continues to be 
strengthened with progressive dilution. Vitamins, herbs and other 
supplements may also be used.

• 
Physical manipulation, in the form of various types of massage, physical 
therapy, tai chi or Qi Gong, involves either exercise, or manipulation of top 
soft tissues of the body to improve range of motion, function, reduce pain, or 
improve the body’s natural energy flow. A variety of styles and methods have 
been developed, depending on the underlying theory and country of origin.

• Chiropractic treatment is based on the theory that subluxations of the spine produce effects on the spinal nerves, and influence other organs to produce clinical symptoms. Most chiropractors combine a number of techniques, including manipulation, massage, use of a spring-loaded “activator”, traction, herbal and vitamin preparations and occasionally acupuncture. Some chiropractors believe in the necessity of long-term or even lifelong therapy, and have added herbs and vitamins to their treatment regimens. Chiropractic treatment has been demonstrated to be helpful for acute low back pain, and perhaps to some degree for neck pain and muscle contraction headaches.. 

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• 
Chiropractic treatment is based on the theory that subluxations of the spine 
produce effects on the spinal nerves, and influence other organs to produce 
clinical symptoms. Most chiropractors combine a number of techniques, 
including manipulation, massage, use of a spring-loaded “activator”, traction, 
herbal and vitamin preparations and occasionally acupuncture. Some 
chiropractors believe in the necessity of long-term or even lifelong therapy, 
and have added herbs and vitamins to their treatment regimens. Chiropractic 
treatment has been demonstrated to be helpful for acute low back pain, and 
perhaps to some degree for neck pain and muscle contraction headaches.

• 
Herbal medication derives from traditional, cultural, or other origins and 
consists of preparations of plants and minerals to produce a healing effect. 
Many traditional Western medicine pharmaceuticals have their origins in 
herbal medicine, including drugs for the treatment of pain (aspirin from willow 
bark and morphine from poppy plant pods), cancer (Vinca alkaloids from 
periwinkle and tamoxifen from yew plants). Herbal preparations have been 
demonstrated to be effective for mild depression (St. John’s wort), migraine 
headaches (Butterbur) and mild memory loss (ginkgo biloba). Herbal 
preparations, even those that are commonly used, can interfere with the 
action or effectiveness of pharmaceuticals or produce toxicity on their own. 
Herbal preparations are not adequately standardized or regulated in the 
United States (as they are in Germany, for example) and the safety, strength 
and efficacy of preparations are unreliable.

• 
Dietary manipulation to achieve specific health effects has been employed 
for thousands of years and continues to be used. If a dietary program remains 
within the broad outlines of an appropriate balanced nutritional diet, it can 
supplement traditional Western medicine practice. Some unusual and 
potentially toxic diets have been used to treat epilepsy. Additionally, like 
herbal preparations, extremely high doses of otherwise healthful dietary 
supplements can be toxic (for example, megadose of vitamin A can produce 
severe liver toxicity and vitamin B 6 can produce peripheral neuropathy).

• 
It is extremely important that all patients provide a comprehensive list of all of 
their medications, dietary supplements and vitamins and doses to their 
healthcare provider.  As was described, natural substances, herbs and dietary 
supplements you’re taking in certain combinations, or with other medicines, 
can produce severe negative side effects. Many “natural” substances, such as 
cyanide or botulinum toxin, can be quite harmful.

• Your physician will determine whether there are any negative interactions, and can discuss the potential benefits and risks of the complementary and alternative medicines at your visit, and assist you in making choices regarding their place in your overall treatment regimen.. 

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• 
Your physician will determine whether there are any negative interactions, and 
can discuss the potential benefits and risks of the complementary and 
alternative medicines at your visit, and assist you in making choices regarding 
their place in your overall treatment regimen.

Nervous system for Public

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