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Complementary Medicine - The Basics
Does it work?
by Jacqueline Young
Is it safe?
How will I know if it's working?
Many people have dismissed complementary therapies as being purely a 'placebo', claiming that their beneficial effects are due to factors such as the user's belief in the therapy, or the length of time a practitioner spends with a client, rather than the actual effects of the treatment. However, there is now a growing body of research from around the world, investigating the effects, mechanisms and success rates of complementary treatments, which disproves this.
Many studies have reported significant decreases in symptoms as well as high levels of satisfaction amongst users. Some therapies have been clearly shown to work whilst others remain questionable. More funding and research is needed to establish the safety of certain treatments, to determine the best uses and applications for different therapies and to identify any that may be therapeutically useless or even harmful.
Appropriate research models are also needed. The classic double-blind clinical trial whereby patients are divided into groups and given 'real' or 'sham' treatments, without being told which they are receiving, is not always practicable for research into complementary therapies. For example it is very difficult to give 'sham' acupuncture as Chinese medicine asserts that putting needles into almost any part of the body will have some sort of therapeutic effect. Also, those doing research into the effect of complementary treatments on serious illnesses, such as cancer, need to measure changes in the quality of life as well as actual physical changes.
Is it safe?
Most complementary therapies are safe. Generally they involve more gentle or mild forms of treatment and have less side-effects than some conventional treatments. However 'natural' does not necessarily mean 'safe'.
Some herbal medicines may be toxic or even life-threatening if prescribed incorrectly and both herb quality and the level of contaminants can vary enormously. Inexperienced or untrained practitioners can also be dangerous; for example a misplaced acupuncture needle could puncture a lung, with serious consequences, or an over-zealous osteopathic manipulation on a fragile joint could cause pain or even damage.
For this reason it is vital to check the qualifications and training of practitioners, the source and quality of remedies and the safety of the technique used before embarking on treatment. Significant progress on safety has been made within many of the professions themselves, in terms of training, licensing and quality control. A recent House of Lords report on complementary therapies, written in consultation with many of the professional bodies, has recognised this and also recommended more widespread regulation, standardising of training and research to ensure safety.
How will I know if it's working?
It is very important that you don't just continue with treatments waiting for something to happen. Make sure the practitioner explains the treatment plan to you and ask what signs of progress you should expect. For example, with homeopathy and some naturopathic treatments it is normal for symptoms to initially get worse before getting better. This 'healing crisis' is generally regarded as a good sign and is taken to mean that the body is striving to establish a new balance. Aggravation of symptoms is generally short-lived but if prolonged you should go back to your practitioner for further advice.
Sometimes symptoms may first decrease in severity or frequency before disappearing altogether, as in the treatment of headaches and migraines - or they may temporarily shift to another part of the body, as in the case of aching joints.
Get advice from your practitioner on what signs to look for to show that the treatment is working. It may also be helpful to chart for yourself any changes in symptoms so that you can clearly see effects over time. For example, if you are exploring the link between food allergies and eczema it can be helpful to keep a record of what is eaten alongside an indication of the location and severity of the eczema and the treatment undertaken.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/complementary/basic_work.shtml
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