What is Alternative Medicine?
As you wander the aisles of your local health food store, you
stumble on one that is full of bottles that look like they belong
in a drugstore. Looking up, you notice that the name of the aisle
is "Alternative Medicine."
Seeing the phrase "alternative medicine" might conjure
up images of pungent herbal teas, poultices, chanting, or
meditation. In fact, both herbal remedies and meditation, as well
as dozens of other treatments, fall under the heading of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Although there is no strict definition of alternative medicine,
it generally includes any healing practices that are not part of
mainstream medicine - that means any practice that is not widely
taught in medical schools or frequently used by doctors or in
hospitals.
But the boundaries of alternative medicine in the United States
are constantly changing as different types of care become more
accepted by doctors and more requested by patients. A few practices
(such as hypnosis) that were dismissed as nonsense 20 years ago are
now considered helpful therapies in addition to traditional
medicine. So, are any alternative medicines right for your
family?
Types of Alternative Care
In the United States, the lead agency that's charged with
scientific research into CAM is the The National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIH classifies four general areas of complementary and
alternative care:
-
Mind-body medicine.
This includes practices such as meditation, prayer, Tai Chi, and
music therapy, which are intended to develop the mind's
ability to affect physical symptoms. It focuses on the mind's
role in conditions that affect the body.
-
Biologically based practices.
This includes substances such as herbs, foods, vitamins, and
dietary supplements that are geared to help heal the body. Herbal
remedies include a wide range of plants used for medicine or
nutrition. They are available in grocery stores, over the
Internet, in health food stores, or through herbalists and are
often in the form of teas, capsules, and extracts. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these.
-
Manipulative and body-based practices.
These practices are based on the manipulation or movement of body
parts. It includes methods like massage therapy and therapeutic
touch, which manipulate and realign body parts, to help alleviate
symptoms. You may have heard of chiropractors, who focus on
affecting the nervous system by "adjusting" the spinal
column.
-
Energy medicine.
This area of medicine is based on the theory (which has not been
proved scientifically) that certain energy fields surround and
penetrate the body. This includes practices such as Reiki, qi
gong, and therapeutic touch. Also included
are therapies based on
bioelectromagnetics
, the theory that electrical currents in all living organisms
produce magnetic fields that extend beyond the body.
In many cases, there is overlap between each of these areas.
Acupuncture, for example, is a healing practice that originates in
traditional Chinese medicine. It involves stimulating different
points in the body, mostly with thin solid metallic needles, in
order to balance Qi, certain energy pathways. In addition, NIH
classifies medicine systems, such as homeopathic medicine and
Ayurveda, which may include elements from several of these four
different areas.
How Does It Differ From Traditional Medicine?
Alternative therapy is frequently distinguished by its holistic
methods, which means that the doctor or practitioner treats the
"whole" person and not just the disease or condition. In
alternative medicine, many practitioners address patients'
emotional and spiritual needs as well. This "high touch"
approach differs from the "high tech" practice of
traditional medicine, which tends to concentrate on the physical
side of illness.
Most alternative practices have not found their way into
mainstream hospitals or doctors' offices, so your doctor may
not be aware of them. However, new centers for integrative medicine
offer a mix of traditional and alternative treatments. There, you
might receive a prescription for pain medication (as you might get
from a traditional health care provider) and massage therapy to
treat a chronic back problem. Such centers usually employ both
medical doctors and certified or licensed specialists in the
various alternative therapies.
Despite the growth of the field, the majority of alternative
therapies are not covered by medical insurance. This is largely
because few scientific studies have been done to prove whether the
treatments are effective (unlike traditional medicine, which relies
heavily on studies). Rather, most alternative therapies are based
on longstanding practice and word-of-mouth stories of success.
What Are the Risks?
The lack of scientific study means that some potential problems
associated with alternative therapies may be difficult to identify.
What's more, almost all of the studies that have been done
involved adults as test subjects; there is little research on the
effects of alternative medicine on children. Although approaches
such as prayer, massage, and lifestyle changes are generally
considered safe complements to regular medical treatment, some
therapies - particularly herbal remedies - might harbor risks.
Unlike prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, herbal
remedies are not rigorously regulated by the FDA. They face no
extensive tests before they are marketed, and they do not have to
adhere to a standard of quality. That means when you buy a bottle
of ginseng capsules, you might not know what you're getting:
the amount of herb can vary from pill to pill, with some capsules
containing much less of the active herb than stated on the label.
Depending on where the herb originated, there might also be other
plants, even drugs like steroids, mixed in the capsules. Herbs that
come from developing countries are sometimes contaminated with
pesticides and heavy metals.
"Natural" does not equal "good," and many
parents don't realize that some herbal remedies can actually
cause health problems for their kids. Medicating a child without
consulting a doctor could result in harm. For example, certain
herbal remedies can cause high blood pressure, liver damage, or
severe allergic reactions.
Consider these examples:
- Ephedra, also called ephedrine and 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. The
FDA decided the health risks associated with ephedra were
too great, and banned it in December 2003.
- Alone and in combination with prescription drugs, several
dietary supplements - such as chaparral, comfrey, germander, and
ephedrine - have been linked to severe illness, liver damage, and
even death.
Parents might also give their children much more of an herb than
recommended, thinking that because it's natural, higher doses
won't hurt. But many plants contain potent chemicals; in fact,
approximately 25% of all prescription drugs are derived from
plants.
Choosing a practitioner can pose another problem. Although many
states have licensing boards for specialists in acupuncture or
massage, for instance, there is no organization in the United
States that monitors alternative care providers or establishes
standards of treatment. Basically, almost anyone can claim to be a
practitioner, whether he or she has any training.
Perhaps the greatest risk, however, is the potential for people
to delay or stop traditional medical treatment in favor of an
alternative therapy. Illnesses such as
diabetes
and
cancer
require the care of a doctor. Relying entirely on alternative
therapies for any serious chronic or acute conditions can
jeopardize the health of your child.
Can Alternative Care Help Your Child?
Many parents turn to a cup of chamomile tea or ginger as
first-line treatment against the flu or nausea. Anxious kids can
learn to relax with the help of meditation or yoga. Some
alternative therapies may be helpful for a child when used to
complement traditional care.
If you want to try alternative medicine for your child, you
should first talk with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is
not dangerous and will not conflict with any traditional care your
child receives. Your doctor also can give you information about
treatment options and perhaps recommend a reputable specialist.
By coordinating alternative and traditional care, you don't
have to choose between them. Instead, you can get the best of
both.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date Reviewed: March 2007
Originally reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD, and Sandra Hassink, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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