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Educating yourself about alternative medicine helps you determine whether its
treatments are worth exploring. Follow these suggestions to help you assess the
claims.
A l te r n a ti v e m e d i c i n e tr e a tm e n ts r a n g i n g fr o m h e r b a l r e m e d i e s t o a c u p u n c tu r e h a v e b e c o m e
more popular as people seek greater control of their own health. But while they do give you
more options, these treatments aren't always proven safe or effective. W hen considering any
alternative treatments, be a savvy consumer. Be open-minded yet skeptical of medical claims.
Many treatments, both conventional and unconventional, have risks and side effects.
A l te r n a ti v e m e d i c i n e — p r a c ti c e s th a t a r e n ' t ty p i c a l l y
u s e d i n c o n v e n ti o n a l m e d i c i n e — i s g e n e r a l l y th o u g h t
of as being used instead of conventional methods.
When alternative practices are used in addition to
th e c o n v e n ti o n a l t h e r a p i e s , t h e y a r e c a l l e d
c o m p l e m e n ta r y m e d i c i n e . T o g e th e r , th e s e tr e a tm e n ts
a r e s o m e ti m e s r e fe r r e d to a s c o m p l e m e n t a r y a n d
alternative medicine (CAM).
T h e In te r n e t o ffe r s a n i d e a l w a y to d i s c o v e r th e l a te s t
in alternative medicine treatments. W eb sites can be
updated at any time to keep up with new products,
th e r a p i e s a n d a d v a n c e s i n th e fi e l d . B u t b e w a r e — th e
In te r n e t i s a l s o o n e o f th e g r e a te s t s o u r c e s o f
misinformation. Carefully investigate each alternative
medicine site you visit. Considering these three
features can help you weed out the good products
fr o m th e b a d :
D o c u m e n t a t io n . C h e c k fo r t h e s o u r c e o f i n fo r m a ti o n .
• W e b s i te s c r e a te d b y m a j o r m e d i c a l
centers, universities and government agencies are the most credible.
• S o m e W e b s i te s p o s t a l o g o fr o m t h e H e a l th o n th e N e t ( H O N ) F o u n d a ti o n . S i te s
that display this logo have agreed to abide by the HON Code of Conduct, which
r e g u l a t e s r e l i a b i l i t y a n d c r e d i b i l i t y o f i n fo r m a ti o n .
• N o ti c e w h e th e r a r ti c l e s r e fe r t o s o l i d s c i e n ti fi c s tu d i e s .
• L o o k fo r a b o a r d o f q u a l i fi e d p r o fe s s i o n a l s w h o r e v i e w i n fo r m a t i o n b e fo r e i t' s
publis h ed.
• Be wary of commercial sites or personal testimonials that push a single point of
view or sell miracle cures.
• Stay away from sites that don't clearly distinguish between scientific evidence and
advertisements.
Double-checking. Visit several health sites and compare the information they offer. And
before you follow any medical advice, ask your doctor for guidance. If you search all over a
Web site for supporting evidence or you can't find evidence to back up the manufacturer's
claims, be wary of the information.
If y o u r e a d a b o u t s tu d i e s i n j o u r n a l a r ti c l e s ,
a s s e s s t h e q u a l i t y o f th e r e s e a r c h . L o o k fo r
words such as "double-blind," "controlled"
and "randomized." Doctors consider these
types of studies to contain the most valuable
i n fo r m a ti o n . H e r e a r e s o m e c o m m o n te r m s
you'll encounter in research articles:
Look for peer-reviewed journals — those that only publish articles reviewed by an independent
panel of medical experts. Also look for replicated studies, ones that have been repeated by
different investigators with generally the same results.
One or two small studies, whether the results are positive or negative, usually aren't enough to
make a definite decision about whether to use or skip a specific treatment. Unfortunately, there
a r e a l i m i te d n u m b e r o f q u a l i t y s tu d i e s o n m a n y a l t e r n a ti v e m e d i c i n e tr e a tm e n ts . K e e p i n m i n d
that while solid research studies are the best way to evaluate whether a treatment is safe and
effective, a lack of solid evidence doesn't always mean these treatments don't work — but it
does m ean t he y h a v en' t been pr o v ed.
Research studies on alternative medicine are being conducted every year. As research
continues, many of the answers about whether these treatments are safe or effective will
become clearer. Much of the funding for these studies comes from the National Institutes of
Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is also a good
resource to examine when investigating alternative medicine treatments.
Evaluate providers
When selecting an alternative treatment provider, evaluate your options. Simply choosing a
name from a telephone directory is risky if you have no other information about the provider.
You might try checking with:
• Medical centers. At many medical centers, CAM practioners are working
collaboratively with conventional physicians.
• State regulators. Check your state government listings for agencies that regulate
and license health care providers. These agencies may list practitioners in your
a r e a a n d o ff e r a w a y to c h e c k c r e d e n ti a l s .
• N a t io n a l a s s o c ia t io n s . N a ti o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d th e i r l o c a l a ffi l i a te s c a n u s u a l l y
provide you with the names of certified practitioners in your area. To find the
addresses and phone numbers of these associations, visit your local library or
u s e th e In te r n e t to fi n d a s s o c i a ti o n W e b s i te s . B u t b e c a r e fu l — o ffi c i a l - s o u n d i n g
organizations aren't always reputable. Talk with your doctor or another trusted
health care professional for advice.
• Friends and family. If you know someone who's received the treatment you're
considering, he or she can offer advice. Ask about his or her experiences with
specific providers. Call the provider to request an interview.
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