THE FOLLOWING ARE SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS COMMONLY TREATED BY THE WASHINGTON ACUPUNCTURE CENTER. AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS Amyothrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurological disease which becomes evident in adult life, usually after age 20 and before age 65. It is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy beginning in the hands or throat. The legs and muscles in all parts of the body eventually become involved, but the mind remains clear. This is the disease which afflicted famous baseball player Lou Gehrig and is therefore often referred to as LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE. Medical science has not yet discovered the cause or cure for this disease, which is being diagnosed at an increasing rate in the United States. Medical textbooks state that life expectancy after diagnosis of ALS is only three years, that there is never any improvement or remission and that no treatment is effective. Acupuncture may be the only effective treatment for relieving the symptoms of ALS. The Washington Acupuncture Center has been treating some patients with ALS for many years with improvement rather than deterioration in their condition during this period. Significant improvement is usually noticed by the time 6 - 10 treatments have been given but many more treatments are needed for maximum improvement and maintenance. Several courses of 10 - 20 treatments should be given each year. Guanadine and snake venom have been considered effective in a few cases by some researchers but have undesirable side effects and are not accepted as beneficial by most neurologists. Some people have found Vitamins C and E along with other essential vitamins and various diets helpful. At least these are harmless and should improve general health. Nutritional therapy can be given along with acupuncture. Physiotherapy does not seem to be helpful in this disease. Excessive bed rest may promote muscle atrophy, but fatigue and chilling should be avoided. next