Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine describes health products, practices, and approaches that are not part of conventional medicine. But in the same way that an alternative band can be outside the establishment one year and part of the mainstream the next, the list of once alternative healing practices accepted by conventional medicine changes frequently, as new therapies and treatments are found to be effective. This makes alternative medicine an expanding, changing field of health care, as well as a booming business.
Alternative medicine differs from traditional Western medicine in several important ways: there have been few rigorous studies of the effectiveness and side effects of alternative medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have jurisdiction over many alternative therapies. Most U.S. medical schools do not teach it. Most U.S. hospitals do not use it. And most insurance companies do not pay for it.
Types of Alternative Medicine
Many patients and health care providers use alternative treatments together with traditional therapies - to complement them. This is why this field of health care is often referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), established by the National Institutes of Health, notes that most alternative medicine is holistic, meaning that it considers the whole of a person's physical and emotional well-being. Most alternative healing is also preventative - it tries to prevent health problems before they occur rather than respond to symptoms after a problem arises.
The NCCAM groups CAM practices into five major domains:
Alternative Medical Systems
As the name implies, an alternative medical system is more than just one type of treatment - it is an entire system of theory and practice. Examples of alternative medical systems include eastern medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathic medicine, and naturopathic medicine.
Early on, acupuncture caught the attention of many Americans, probably because it involves puncturing the skin with many tiny needles and many of us grew up hating needles. (Oh, no! A shot!) But acupuncture is just one of many treatments in the complex, centuries-old tradition of eastern medicine. Asian practitioners also use herbal medicine, massage, and Qi gong (pronounced: chee gung), a form of energy therapy. Each of these techniques and several others focus on achieving a balance of energy in the body. Practitioners of Ayurveda, which originated in India and means "science of life," use diet, exercise, meditation, and other techniques to achieve their goal of harmony of body, mind, and spirit.
Homeopathic medicine was established on the principle that "like cures like." This approach treats health problems with very diluted doses of the same substance that, in larger doses, could actually cause the symptoms of a disease. Naturopathic medicine uses diet, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other techniques to return the body to a state where it can heal itself.
Biologically Based Treatments
These treatments rely on things found in nature, including foods and herbs. Herbal therapies made from a plant or a combination of plants often come in the form of teas, capsules, and extracts. About one third of American adults regularly take some sort of herb, anything from a cup of chamomile tea to echinacea to fight a cold.
Many people also take dietary supplements. These can range from a simple daily vitamin C pill during the winter to magnesium, melatonin, or mega-doses of vitamins. (Vitamins, although essential to good health, can be harmful in high doses.) More exotic biologically based treatments include treating cancer with shark cartilage. The FDA does not regulate these substances.
Energy Therapies
People who work with energy therapies attempt to affect fields of energy that surround and pass through the body. Both Reiki (pronounced: ray-kee) and Qi gong use the channeling and flow of energy through the body to try to improve health. Practitioners of therapeutic touch believe that by placing their hands on or near a patient's body they can direct energy and correct disturbances. And bioelectromagnetics is an emerging area of study that uses pulsed energy or magnetic fields to alter the body's electromagnetic fields and cure illness.
Manipulative and Body-based Methods
The treatments in this category focus on moving or realigning body parts.For example, chiropractors adjust the spine, massage therapists manipulate the body's soft tissues, and doctors of osteopathy use manipulation plus traditional medicine.
Mind-body Interventions
Mind-body techniques are based on the belief that the mind can affect the body's functions and symptoms. Hypnosis, a sort of conscious sleep or trance, can help people deal with addictions, pain, or anxiety. Meditation and yoga promote relaxation. Biofeedback, prayer, art, dance, and music therapy also are considered types of mind-body interventions.
What Are the Risks?
For people with serious illnesses, one of the biggest risks in turning to CAM is delaying conventional, proven treatment while pursuing alternative therapies. Illnesses such as cancer and diabetes require the care of a medical doctor. Also, patients may forget to inform their traditional health care providers of the alternative therapies they are using, which may make diagnosis and follow-up more difficult. There's also a risk of drug interactions between medicines prescribed by a traditional health care provider and substances taken as part of an alternative therapy.
In addition, choosing a CAM practitioner can be a challenge. Medical doctors are not only trained, they're licensed. Although some states have begun to license CAM practitioners (acupuncturists and massage therapists, for example) most do not. NCCAM recommends asking another health care provider for a referral, talking to people who have been treated by anyone you are considering, and meeting with the practitioner to ask about his or her education, training, licensing, and experience.
The lack of regulation for many CAM therapies presents problems as well. Herbal remedies, for instance, can be strong substances. But because they are not regulated by the FDA, they are not tested by the government to determine whether they are safe or even effective. Ephedra (often sold as the Chinese herb ma huang) was on the market for years until it was linked to several deaths in people with heart problems. In 2002, kava, a popular dietary supplement, was linked to cases of severe liver damage.
Remember that just because a supplement is labeled "natural" doesn't mean it's good for you. Humans have used plants as medicines for centuries, often with powerful results. Today, about 25% of prescription drugs are derived from plants. These drugs are natural - and they're potent.
What if I Want to Try Alternative Medicine?
Keep in mind that most studies of alternative therapies were done on adults, not young people. So their safety and effectiveness in kids and teens, whose bodies are still growing and changing, has not been determined.
If you are interested in CAM treatments, first talk with a parent, a trusted adult, or a doctor. That person can help you find out more before you make changes to your diet or exercise routine or before you embark on any alternative medicine therapies. And if you are receiving traditional medical care for a condition or illness, whether temporary or long-term, do not change or stop your treatment without talking to your doctor. He or she will be able to help you determine if complementary therapy can be used safely alongside your regular treatment.