Navigating the World of Alternative Medicine
Another day, another announcement from some pharmaceutical giant about a product recall or a news bit about someone's botched surgery. Do you ever have doubts about conventional Western medicine? Is Tweety Bird yellow? We thought so.
According to many sources the popularity of alternative medicine is growing, and some suggest as many as one third of Americans are using some form of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine). Not only is CAM controversial, it is also includes a broad range of practices that are subject to differing levels of regulation.
If you are considering any of these treatments, it is important to be informed. We've researched a few of the most popular CAMs here for you:
1) Acupuncture
How: Thin needles are inserted at specific points or "channels" corresponding to the health concern, and then removed after 15-20 minutes. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the stimulation of certain channels regulates the flow of blood and Qi (vital energy) to rebalance the yin and yang in the body. Conventional medicine cannot yet explain why it works, except that the process releases endorphins which are natural painkillers.
What: Acupuncture is meant to treat a wide variety of health complaints, but is found to be most effective for headaches, nausea (e.g. post surgical, pregnancy), menstrual symptoms, and many body aches including chronic. In conjunction with conventional therapies, it has also shown promise treating addictions, asthma, fibromyalgia, and more.
Why: This treatment is non-invasive and with the exception of some tingling at the site is said to have very few side effects (in many cases the side effects are substantially lower than prescription medication or other remedy). Some patients experience instantaneous relief, while others require a prolonged therapy for full results. Acupuncture is gaining credibility among many Western doctors, especially when used in conjunction with modern practices.
Why Not: Many studies have shown similar results using non-essential sites. The so-called placebo effect may come from the relaxing nature of the treatment and a patient's belief in the practice. Some jurisdictions do not require licenses for practitioners, so patients must do their research before selecting an acupuncturist.
FYI: Acupressure is a similar treatment using the same concepts but skipping the needles. Reflexologists massage certain areas on a patient's foot to affect particular areas of the body. Both of these practices manipulate Qi to provide healing.
2) Ayurveda
How: Ayurveda seeks to balance the three fundamental body humours that control the nervous system, metabolism/energy, and body fluids/nutrition. It combines diet, herbal supplements, and massage to treat the body holistically.
What: This ancient Indian medicine is intended to treat the source of all disease by rebalancing the humours, but has been found most effective in reducing stress and emotional issues, and increasing fertility. Following an ayurvedic diet is also an effective way to increase your overall health.
Why: Ayurveda is recognized as an official medical system of health care in its home country of India, where practitioners undergo a minimum 6½ year training to become certified. Its combined focus of herbals, diet, and massage is more holistic than many other medical practices, including standard Western treatment.
Why Not: Herbal supplements are not adequately regulated in many countries and can contain toxic materials or be taken incorrectly which may produce negative health outcomes. Patients should be well informed of any supplements they are taking, as well as the origin of those products.
3) Chiropractic
How: Chiropractors use spinal, joint, and soft-tissue manipulation to improve nerve function, and by extension inner organs and the whole body. They will often suggest massage therapy or acupuncture to complement the chiropractic work.
What: Chiropractic is intended to treat injuries, chronic conditions, and a range of diseases. More patients find relief from headaches, back and neck pain, and specific injury rehabilitation compared to other health complaints.
Why: Chiropractic care is gaining credibility in the conventional medical system, especially when combined with other therapies, and is generally considered safe when done correctly. Most practitioners have specific training and are required to have valid licenses.
Why Not: Accidents, including severe, can occur during spinal manipulations and patients with certain conditions like rheumatoid arthritis should not have certain chiropractic work done.
4) Homeopathy
How: Patients are given highly diluted remedies specifically chosen according to their health concern. The medicines are made from natural and synthetic sources and mixed with water or alcohol, and can be administered in varying concentrations according to the treatment regimen.
What: Treatment is intended to promote overall health while targeting a defined complaint. Homeopathy is used to fight disease, minor health complaints, and in some cases as a substitute for certain vaccines. The evidence of health benefits ranges widely and is controversial.
Why: As with other alternative practices, homeopathy is a holistic approach that tries to eliminate the source of an illness, rather than the symptom. Because the remedies are so highly diluted, they are not considered to be very dangerous.
Why Not: Homeopathy is one of the most controversial forms of treatment. Most conventional doctors claim that the highly diluted remedies cannot possibly have a lasting effect on a patient's health and that any positive results are probably due to the so-called placebo effect. Many practitioners advise patients against conventional care, even to avoid vaccinations and prescription medication. There have been isolated cases of serious infection and death as a result of this type of advice. Patients need to be informed about their care and be cautious about avoiding other medical advice.
5) Hypnotherapy
How: The hypnotic therapist guides patients through a series of relaxation techniques and then usually into a hypnotic state. A guided discussion follows that addresses the patient's health problems.
What: Hypnotherapy has been found to be reasonably effective for chronic pain management (including tension headaches, chemotherapy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, childbirth, etc), insomnia, stress, psychosomatic illnesses, phobias, obesity, and more.
Why: Hypnotherapy has been cautiously endorsed by many medical and dental professionals for its effectiveness, and as a therapeutic device does not pose any direct danger to a patient's health.
Why Not: This treatment might be abused by an unethical practitioner. Many areas do not regulate hypnotherapists in their jurisdiction, so the patient needs to take care when choosing the type and provider of this therapy.
6) Mega-Vitamin Therapy (a.k.a. Orthomolecular medicine)
How: Practitioners use a wide range of tests to determine vitamin deficiencies in the patient, then prescribe a list of vitamins and supplements, often in doses that greatly exceed the typical Recommended Daily Intake (RDI).
What: This therapy is intended to treat many diseases, recognizing that individual nutritional needs vary widely according to genetics, general health, and environmental factors. Some evidence suggests that using this practice may lower cancer risk and coronary disease fatalities. Some cases have shown benefits in AIDS patients and infants with HIV.
Why: Most people accept that their diets are not well-rounded enough to meet their health needs. When used intelligently, a vitamin regimen could well improve general health and have a preventative effect for certain diseases. Most doctors recommend that patients take a daily multivitamin.
Why Not: Certain vitamins and minerals are known to have toxic effects when taken in large amounts, and others will pass out of the body unused if they are not needed. Supplements should never be used as a substitute for a healthy, well-rounded diet.
7) Naturopathy
How: Naturopathic practitioners believe in the body's ability to heal itself. They advocate the use of many different alternative practices, including acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, ayurveda, and aromatherapy to treat a variety of diseases. They use blood tests and diagnostic imaging to determine the nature of the health complaint.
What: Since naturopathy uses many techniques to treat patients, its range of use and effectiveness can vary widely.
Why: It is always in the patient's best interest to look at all options when deciding on a treatment plan. Naturopathy's inclusive approach is well-rounded and practitioners are required to hold valid licenses. While naturopaths shy away from prescription drugs and surgery (as do most other alternative medicines), they are more likely to refer a patient to a conventional doctor when alternative therapies are ineffective.
Why Not: Because naturopathy is so multidisciplinary, patients should take the time to know their doctor's background and qualifications.
8) Reiki
How: Practitioners help patients relax and mentally prepare for treatment, then place their hands on or near target areas. It is a self-healing process where the body's energy is allowed to flow between patient and practitioner as an intelligent force that does not require specific diagnosis of a health condition. The flow of energy heals the patient's health problem.
What: Reiki is a holistic treatment for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues. It is not intended to produce immediate results, but rather improvement over time. It can also be self-administered.
Why: This Japanese healing treatment is completely non-invasive. The patient is relaxed and focused on the healing process, and many believe in the simple healing power of positive thought. At the least, Reiki would be a good stress reliever.
Why Not: Reiki relies on the power of positive energy and does not employ any quasi-medical techniques. For this reason, most mainstream doctors dismiss it as quackery. There is also the danger (as with other alternative therapies) that a patient may put off seeing a conventional doctor for their health problems and endanger their health further as a result.
What's your diagnosis? Is there something to these alternative therapies that appeals to you? I was pleased to notice how many included massage - hey, you don't have to tell me what a good idea that is! Have you tried any of these and noticed results?
***
Editor's note: The summaries of the therapies mentioned are not intended to fully describe the uses and effectiveness (or not), but rather to highlight the basic principles and differences between them. Patients should research any therapeutic program before beginning and ask for recommendations when choosing a practitioner. We strongly suggest that you do not avoid conventional medicine, but rather consider using alternative practices to complement any therapy you may already be receiving. Always tell your doctor and therapist about any medications and supplements you might be taking to avoid potential drug interactions and possible injury.
According to many sources the popularity of alternative medicine is growing, and some suggest as many as one third of Americans are using some form of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine). Not only is CAM controversial, it is also includes a broad range of practices that are subject to differing levels of regulation.
If you are considering any of these treatments, it is important to be informed. We've researched a few of the most popular CAMs here for you:
1) Acupuncture
How: Thin needles are inserted at specific points or "channels" corresponding to the health concern, and then removed after 15-20 minutes. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the stimulation of certain channels regulates the flow of blood and Qi (vital energy) to rebalance the yin and yang in the body. Conventional medicine cannot yet explain why it works, except that the process releases endorphins which are natural painkillers.
What: Acupuncture is meant to treat a wide variety of health complaints, but is found to be most effective for headaches, nausea (e.g. post surgical, pregnancy), menstrual symptoms, and many body aches including chronic. In conjunction with conventional therapies, it has also shown promise treating addictions, asthma, fibromyalgia, and more.
Why: This treatment is non-invasive and with the exception of some tingling at the site is said to have very few side effects (in many cases the side effects are substantially lower than prescription medication or other remedy). Some patients experience instantaneous relief, while others require a prolonged therapy for full results. Acupuncture is gaining credibility among many Western doctors, especially when used in conjunction with modern practices.
Why Not: Many studies have shown similar results using non-essential sites. The so-called placebo effect may come from the relaxing nature of the treatment and a patient's belief in the practice. Some jurisdictions do not require licenses for practitioners, so patients must do their research before selecting an acupuncturist.
FYI: Acupressure is a similar treatment using the same concepts but skipping the needles. Reflexologists massage certain areas on a patient's foot to affect particular areas of the body. Both of these practices manipulate Qi to provide healing.
2) Ayurveda
How: Ayurveda seeks to balance the three fundamental body humours that control the nervous system, metabolism/energy, and body fluids/nutrition. It combines diet, herbal supplements, and massage to treat the body holistically.
What: This ancient Indian medicine is intended to treat the source of all disease by rebalancing the humours, but has been found most effective in reducing stress and emotional issues, and increasing fertility. Following an ayurvedic diet is also an effective way to increase your overall health.
Why: Ayurveda is recognized as an official medical system of health care in its home country of India, where practitioners undergo a minimum 6½ year training to become certified. Its combined focus of herbals, diet, and massage is more holistic than many other medical practices, including standard Western treatment.
Why Not: Herbal supplements are not adequately regulated in many countries and can contain toxic materials or be taken incorrectly which may produce negative health outcomes. Patients should be well informed of any supplements they are taking, as well as the origin of those products.
3) Chiropractic
How: Chiropractors use spinal, joint, and soft-tissue manipulation to improve nerve function, and by extension inner organs and the whole body. They will often suggest massage therapy or acupuncture to complement the chiropractic work.
What: Chiropractic is intended to treat injuries, chronic conditions, and a range of diseases. More patients find relief from headaches, back and neck pain, and specific injury rehabilitation compared to other health complaints.
Why: Chiropractic care is gaining credibility in the conventional medical system, especially when combined with other therapies, and is generally considered safe when done correctly. Most practitioners have specific training and are required to have valid licenses.
Why Not: Accidents, including severe, can occur during spinal manipulations and patients with certain conditions like rheumatoid arthritis should not have certain chiropractic work done.
4) Homeopathy
How: Patients are given highly diluted remedies specifically chosen according to their health concern. The medicines are made from natural and synthetic sources and mixed with water or alcohol, and can be administered in varying concentrations according to the treatment regimen.
What: Treatment is intended to promote overall health while targeting a defined complaint. Homeopathy is used to fight disease, minor health complaints, and in some cases as a substitute for certain vaccines. The evidence of health benefits ranges widely and is controversial.
Why: As with other alternative practices, homeopathy is a holistic approach that tries to eliminate the source of an illness, rather than the symptom. Because the remedies are so highly diluted, they are not considered to be very dangerous.
Why Not: Homeopathy is one of the most controversial forms of treatment. Most conventional doctors claim that the highly diluted remedies cannot possibly have a lasting effect on a patient's health and that any positive results are probably due to the so-called placebo effect. Many practitioners advise patients against conventional care, even to avoid vaccinations and prescription medication. There have been isolated cases of serious infection and death as a result of this type of advice. Patients need to be informed about their care and be cautious about avoiding other medical advice.
5) Hypnotherapy
How: The hypnotic therapist guides patients through a series of relaxation techniques and then usually into a hypnotic state. A guided discussion follows that addresses the patient's health problems.
What: Hypnotherapy has been found to be reasonably effective for chronic pain management (including tension headaches, chemotherapy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, childbirth, etc), insomnia, stress, psychosomatic illnesses, phobias, obesity, and more.
Why: Hypnotherapy has been cautiously endorsed by many medical and dental professionals for its effectiveness, and as a therapeutic device does not pose any direct danger to a patient's health.
Why Not: This treatment might be abused by an unethical practitioner. Many areas do not regulate hypnotherapists in their jurisdiction, so the patient needs to take care when choosing the type and provider of this therapy.
6) Mega-Vitamin Therapy (a.k.a. Orthomolecular medicine)
How: Practitioners use a wide range of tests to determine vitamin deficiencies in the patient, then prescribe a list of vitamins and supplements, often in doses that greatly exceed the typical Recommended Daily Intake (RDI).
What: This therapy is intended to treat many diseases, recognizing that individual nutritional needs vary widely according to genetics, general health, and environmental factors. Some evidence suggests that using this practice may lower cancer risk and coronary disease fatalities. Some cases have shown benefits in AIDS patients and infants with HIV.
Why: Most people accept that their diets are not well-rounded enough to meet their health needs. When used intelligently, a vitamin regimen could well improve general health and have a preventative effect for certain diseases. Most doctors recommend that patients take a daily multivitamin.
Why Not: Certain vitamins and minerals are known to have toxic effects when taken in large amounts, and others will pass out of the body unused if they are not needed. Supplements should never be used as a substitute for a healthy, well-rounded diet.
7) Naturopathy
How: Naturopathic practitioners believe in the body's ability to heal itself. They advocate the use of many different alternative practices, including acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, ayurveda, and aromatherapy to treat a variety of diseases. They use blood tests and diagnostic imaging to determine the nature of the health complaint.
What: Since naturopathy uses many techniques to treat patients, its range of use and effectiveness can vary widely.
Why: It is always in the patient's best interest to look at all options when deciding on a treatment plan. Naturopathy's inclusive approach is well-rounded and practitioners are required to hold valid licenses. While naturopaths shy away from prescription drugs and surgery (as do most other alternative medicines), they are more likely to refer a patient to a conventional doctor when alternative therapies are ineffective.
Why Not: Because naturopathy is so multidisciplinary, patients should take the time to know their doctor's background and qualifications.
8) Reiki
How: Practitioners help patients relax and mentally prepare for treatment, then place their hands on or near target areas. It is a self-healing process where the body's energy is allowed to flow between patient and practitioner as an intelligent force that does not require specific diagnosis of a health condition. The flow of energy heals the patient's health problem.
What: Reiki is a holistic treatment for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues. It is not intended to produce immediate results, but rather improvement over time. It can also be self-administered.
Why: This Japanese healing treatment is completely non-invasive. The patient is relaxed and focused on the healing process, and many believe in the simple healing power of positive thought. At the least, Reiki would be a good stress reliever.
Why Not: Reiki relies on the power of positive energy and does not employ any quasi-medical techniques. For this reason, most mainstream doctors dismiss it as quackery. There is also the danger (as with other alternative therapies) that a patient may put off seeing a conventional doctor for their health problems and endanger their health further as a result.
What's your diagnosis? Is there something to these alternative therapies that appeals to you? I was pleased to notice how many included massage - hey, you don't have to tell me what a good idea that is! Have you tried any of these and noticed results?
***
Editor's note: The summaries of the therapies mentioned are not intended to fully describe the uses and effectiveness (or not), but rather to highlight the basic principles and differences between them. Patients should research any therapeutic program before beginning and ask for recommendations when choosing a practitioner. We strongly suggest that you do not avoid conventional medicine, but rather consider using alternative practices to complement any therapy you may already be receiving. Always tell your doctor and therapist about any medications and supplements you might be taking to avoid potential drug interactions and possible injury.
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