Natural treatments for myasthenia gravis and lifestyle habits may help control symptoms and improve quality of life. These can include acupuncture, speech/swallowing therapy, a balanced diet, and supervised exercise. However, they should not replace standard medical therapy. 

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a long-term autoimmune disorder. MG causes weakness of muscles you can control, especially those in the eye, face, throat, neck, and limbs. It occurs when the immune system disrupts the communication between the nerves and muscles. 

Standard treatments for myasthenia gravis include medications, surgery, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Natural Treatments for Myasthenia Gravis: A Closer Look at the Evidence

Natural treatments may help some people with myasthenia gravis improve their quality of life. Nonetheless, they should not replace conventional MG treatments. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine. During an acupuncture session, a practitioner inserts fine needles through the skin at specific points on the body. According to the practitioners, doing so will help rebalance the flow of “life force” in the body. 

Acupuncture is mainly used to treat:

• Dental pain 
• Neck pain
• Low back pain 
• Labor pain
• Menstrual cramps 
• Joint pain

Acupuncture may help reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life in some MG patients by stimulating local nerves. 

For example, in a 2024 review, researchers found that acupuncture (combined with conventional treatments) may benefit MG patients as a supportive therapy. In this study, acupuncture was associated with improved quality of life and reduced symptom severity [1].

Likewise, participants in a small 2025 trial reported improvements in MG symptoms after twice-weekly acupuncture for 12 weeks. According to the researchers, acupuncture is safe and feasible for MG patients [2].

However, this is an ongoing area of research. Large high-quality studies are necessary to establish acupuncture as an effective MG treatment. 

Speech and Swallowing Therapy

People with MG often have difficulty speaking and swallowing. These issues can occur because MG significantly weakens the muscles in the head, neck, and throat. A 2025 study found that people with MG have a significantly higher risk of speech and swallowing difficulties compared with the general population [3]. 

Common speech problems include vocal fatigue, monotonous or hypernasal voice, and periods of voice loss. 

Speech therapy can help people with MG improve their speech clarity. Moreover, they can learn compensatory strategies to increase understandability, such as [4]:

• Using short phrases
• Taking regular breaks to avoid vocal fatigue
• Developing alternative modes of communication 
• Using gestures or facial expressions for effective communication 
• Avoiding speaking in loud environments 

Common swallowing problems include coughing or choking during or after eating, slow eating, and shortness of breath when eating or drinking. 

Swallowing therapy is an evidence-based approach. This rehabilitation program may help reduce the risk of choking, aid efficient eating, and strengthen swallowing-related muscles.

Respiratory Muscle Training 

Sometimes, MG can weaken muscles involved in breathing, such as the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. If this happens, a person may experience shortness of breath. 

Respiratory muscle training (RMT) can help increase respiratory muscle endurance, improve functional outcomes, and reduce fatigue in MG patients [5,6].

A respiratory therapist may recommend breathing exercises, such as:

• Belly breathing 
• Inspiratory muscle training
• Pursed-lip breathing 

Lifestyle Measures for Myasthenia Gravis

Find Ways To Save Your Energy

Fatigue is a common, often debilitating feature of myasthenia gravis. To conserve your energy, try the following:

• Schedule important or physically demanding tasks appropriately. 
• Sit more often than you stand.
• Rest when you need to. 
• Ask for help when you need to. 
• Try to eat when you feel the strongest. 
• Use tools to save your energy. 

Manage Potential Triggers

Stress, infection, heat, and overexertion may worsen myasthenia gravis symptoms. Take steps to avoid these triggers. These can include:

• Avoiding extreme heat when possible. 
• Avoiding exposure to people with signs of an infection. 
• Saving energy to reduce fatigue. 
• Consulting a healthcare provider before using a new medicine or getting a vaccine.

Symptoms may also worsen during pregnancy. Inform your provider if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant. 

Exercise 

Because exercise can increase fatigue, many people with MG tend to avoid physical activity. However, exercise is still crucial for overall health, mood, balance, and strength. 

If you have mild to moderate MG, consider an appropriate activity to meet the weekly goal of 150 minutes of exercise. Always consult your provider before starting any new activity. Also, make sure you don’t overexert yourself. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, or yoga are effective and less rigorous on the body.

A Healthy Diet 

A healthy diet is the foundation of health. While there’s no MG-specific dietary guideline, the fundamentals of healthy eating still apply. 

We have an entire article dedicated to healthy eating when you have myasthenia gravis. Read more about the Best Diet for Myasthenia Gravis. 

Myasthenia Gravis Natural Treatments: Frequently Asked Questions 

Can myasthenia gravis be completely cured?

No. Currently available treatments help manage symptoms and prevent complications, but don’t cure myasthenia gravis. 

Are there natural supplements for myasthenia gravis?

Limited evidence suggests certain Chinese herbal formulas and vitamin supplementation may offer additional benefits. However, there is no evidence that these remedies significantly affect disease progression. Always talk to your healthcare provider before trying supplements. 

What medications can trigger myasthenia gravis?

Certain antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and anti-seizure medications may worsen MG symptoms. 

What foods should I avoid if I have myasthenia gravis?

Foods to avoid with myasthenia gravis include:

• Difficult-to-swallow foods, such as dry/crunchy/crumbly foods
• Dry bread products such as bagels, muffins, and sandwiches 
• Tough meats that are hard to chew and swallow
• Ultraprocessed foods, which are high in added salt or sugar
• Foods high in caffeine, such as coffee and soda
• Hot, spicy foods

Does vitamin B12 benefit people with myasthenia gravis?

There is no evidence to suggest that vitamin B12 affects MG disease activity or that vitamin B12 supplementation can improve symptoms. 

Plasmapheresis (or plasma exchange) is a type of intravenous therapy used in severe cases of myasthenia gravis (MG), especially when there is a high risk of respiratory failure. MG is a rare, long-term neurological condition that causes profound muscle weakness and extreme fatigue. 

In the United States, around 30,000 to 60,000 people are living with myasthenia gravis. With modern treatments and improved critical care, most people with MG can live a normal or near-normal lifespan. However, severe complications such as myasthenic crisis — which can affect breathing — require urgent medical attention.

There are several treatment options available for MG, but plasmapheresis is one of the fastest-acting and most effective rescue therapies for severe MG symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing. 

If your doctor has recommended plasmapheresis, this article will help you understand what plasmapheresis is, why it is recommended, how the treatment works, what you can expect during the procedure, and its possible benefits and limitations. 

Myasthenia Gravis: Brief Overview

Myasthenia gravis, or MG, is an antibody-mediated autoimmune neurological disorder that affects the voluntary muscles, especially the muscles of the eyes, face, throat, neck, arms, and legs. This condition occurs when the immune system produces autoantibodies that attack the connection between nerves and muscles (known as the neuromuscular junction). 

This immune attack makes it harder for muscles to receive signals from the nerves, so they become weak and tire easily. Common symptoms of MG include:

• Drooping eyelids
• Double or blurred vision
• Trouble speaking or swallowing
• General muscle weakness

In severe cases, the weakness can involve the respiratory muscles. This medical emergency, known as a myasthenic crisis, is life-threatening and requires urgent medical care. During a crisis, a person may struggle to breathe, have difficulty speaking clearly, or be unable to swallow food or liquids safely.

While there is no cure for MG, certain treatments, such as oral medications (e.g., corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, cholinesterase inhibitors), surgery (e.g., thymectomy), and intravenous therapy (e.g., IVIG and plasmapheresis), can help manage symptoms and reduce immune activity in patients. 

Plasmapheresis: A Form of Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis

Plasmapheresis, or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), is a medical procedure in which the liquid part of the blood (plasma) is removed and replaced. 

Your blood is made up of four main components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Plasma is the liquid portion that generally contains proteins, antibodies, hormones, and other substances. 

In patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), harmful antibodies that attack the neuromuscular junction are present in the plasma. By removing these harmful antibodies, plasmapheresis helps alleviate symptoms, provides rapid symptom relief, and improves muscle strength and motor performance in MG patients.

When It Is Recommended

Doctors recommend plasmapheresis to MG patients under the following circumstances: 

• Myasthenic crisis, when breathing or swallowing muscles are severely weakened
• Severe symptom flare-ups, even if a full crisis hasn’t developed
• Before surgery (including thymectomy) to reduce the risk of complications
• When medications are not working well enough or take too long to show benefit

Many MG patients experience rapid symptom improvement within a few days of receiving plasmapheresis.

Plasmapheresis and Myasthenia Gravis: Key Research Insights

Research shows that plasmapheresis can be an effective treatment for people with moderate to severe myasthenia gravis, especially during sudden worsening of symptoms or a myasthenic crisis. 

In fact, a real-world study found that plasmapheresis produced rapid clinical improvement in approximately two-thirds (66.7%) of patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab)–positive generalized myasthenia gravis. The most notable benefit was improvement in respiratory and limb muscle weakness during disease exacerbations or myasthenic crisis. This study also suggests that plasmapheresis treatment was most effective in patients with higher antibody levels and those with thymus involvement.

Similarly, another study found that people with moderate-to-severe myasthenia gravis showed clear improvement within 2 weeks of plasmapheresis. Patients who had more severe symptoms at baseline, tested positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies, and had thymic abnormalities or a history of thymectomy were more likely to experience significant benefit.

These findings suggest that certain clinical features can help predict who will respond best to plasmapheresis.

What To Expect During Plasmapheresis

The plasmapheresis procedure is only performed in a hospital or specialized treatment centers. It usually takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on your height, weight, and blood health. 

During the treatment:

• You will sit in a reclining chair or lie on a bed. 
• A healthcare provider will insert a needle or catheter into your vein (usually in the arm) to draw out the blood.  
• The needle or catheter is connected to tubing that carries your blood to the plasmapheresis machine.
• The blood will then slowly pass through a machine to separate the plasma from the blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets).
• The plasma, which may contain harmful antibodies, is removed and discarded. 
• The remaining blood cells are mixed with a replacement fluid, such as a protein-albumin solution or plasma collected from healthy donors, before they are returned to the body.
• This cycle is repeated until the required volume of plasma is exchanged (usually 1–1.5 times your total plasma volume per session).

You may receive multiple sessions (often four to six sessions) over 1 to 2 weeks, depending on your symptom severity and how well you respond.

Benefits of Plasmapheresis 

Plasmapheresis offers several benefits to MG patients, which include:

1. Rapid Symptom Relief

Unlike many MG medications that take time to resolve symptoms, plasmapheresis removes harmful antibodies directly and helps reduce symptoms quickly, often within days. Patients with severe weakness or breathing problems (myasthenic crisis) benefit the most. 

2. Short-Term Treatment

For patients who cannot tolerate high doses of steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs, or who experience other complications, plasmapheresis can be a useful short-term treatment, as it does not rely on immune suppression over the long term.

3. Improved Daily Function and Quality of Life

Plasmapheresis strengthens muscles and improves motor performance. This makes everyday activities like breathing, eating, speaking, and performing routine tasks safer and easier for MG patients.

Side Effects and Limitations of Plasmapheresis 

Generally, plasmapheresis is a very safe procedure, but it also has some side effects and limitations. 

Possible Side Effects

Serious side effects are rare, but you may feel cold (hypothermic), dizzy, or nauseous during or after the treatment. Hypotension (low blood pressure) and hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia (low calcium) are also common. 

Tell your healthcare provider or medical staff immediately if you experience any of the above side effects.

Limitations

A major limitation is that plasmapheresis provides temporary relief from severe MG symptoms. Because the body continues to produce antibodies, symptoms may gradually return weeks after treatment. For ongoing disease control, doctors rely on medications like immunosuppressants and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. 

Hence, plasmapheresis cannot be used as a long-term standalone treatment for myasthenia gravis. Moreover, if it is used repeatedly, it may increase the risk of serious infections such as catheter-related infections. 

Key Takeaway

Plasmapheresis is an effective and widely recommended treatment for providing rapid symptom relief during a myasthenic crisis. However, it does not replace your regular MG medications. Even after plasmapheresis, you will usually need to continue your regular MG medications, such as immunosuppressants or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, to help control the disease and prevent future flare-ups.