Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, such as herbal medicines and acupuncture, are gaining popularity. And thanks to growing research into CAM treatments, doctors are now better able to understand the role these complementary therapies can play in treating and preventing disease. In fact, conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary medicine treatments can be offered together – a practice called integrative medicine.

But even though complementary and alternative medicine – CAM for short – gives you more options, not all CAM treatments have been studied well enough to know whether they are safe or effective.

When considering CAM treatments, be open-minded but skeptical. Learn about the potential benefits and risks. Collect information from various sources and check the credentials of CAM practitioners. Also talk to your doctor before trying any treatment, especially if you’re taking medications or have chronic health conditions, to be sure it won’t harm you.

How to evaluate treatment requests

Look for solid scientific studies

When seeking CAM treatments, do what doctors do. Look for high-quality clinical studies. These large, randomized controlled trials are published in peer-reviewed journals – journals that only publish articles reviewed by independent experts.

The results of these studies are more likely to be reliable. You can find many of these studies online or by asking a reference librarian at your local library.

Be careful with animal studies, laboratory studies, or studies that include only a small number of people. Their results may not hold up when tested in larger clinical trials or in people. Finally, remember that good health advice is usually based on a body of research, not a single study.

Although scientific studies are the best way to assess whether a treatment is safe and effective, it is not always possible to find good studies on alternative medicine. A lack of evidence doesn’t necessarily mean a treatment doesn’t work, but it makes it more difficult to assess the safety and effectiveness of a particular treatment. Do not hesitate to speak with your doctor if you have any questions.

Eliminate misinformation

The Internet is full of information about CAM treatments, but not all of it is accurate. To weed out good information from bad, use the three Ds:

• Appointment. Check the creation or update date of each article. If you don’t see a date, don’t assume the article is recent. Older papers may not include recent findings, such as recently discovered side effects or advances in the field.
• Documentation. Check the sources. Are qualified healthcare professionals creating and reviewing the information? Is the advertising clearly identified? Look for the Health on the Net (HON) Foundation logo, which means the site follows HON’s principles of information reliability and credibility. If you’re looking for information on social media, be sure to follow reliable and reputable sources, such as the National Cancer Institute.
• Double check. Gather as much information as possible. Visit several health sites and compare information. The website of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine is a reliable source of information. If you can’t find evidence to support a CAM product’s claims, be skeptical. And before following any advice you read on the internet or from a CAM practitioner, consult your doctor for advice.

Supplements: “Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe

Herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements are often marketed as “natural” products, but natural does not always mean safe. These products can have serious side effects.

Even some vitamins and minerals can cause problems when taken in excess. It is therefore important to do your homework and study the potential benefits and side effects of dietary and herbal supplements. Play it safe with these tips:

• Talk to your doctor before taking a dietary supplement. This is especially important if you are pregnant or breastfeeding a baby or have a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease.
• Avoid drug interactions. Prescription and over-the-counter medications may interact with some dietary supplements. For example, ginkgo, an herbal supplement, may interact with warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinning medication, and increase the risk of serious bleeding complications.
• Before surgery, tell your doctor what supplements you are taking. Some supplements may cause problems during surgery, such as changes in heart rate or blood pressure or increased bleeding. You may need to stop taking these supplements at least two to three weeks before your procedure.

MCA and cancer

Many people with cancer turn to CAM as a way to relieve side effects caused by their treatment, actively participate in their care, or find alternative treatments. It is essential to remember that there is no evidence that any complementary or complementary medicine option prevents or cures any type of cancer. Additionally, many of these types of therapies can have their own side effects and could even prevent more proven treatments from working.

Worse yet, if you delay using traditional, proven treatments for your cancer in order to try alternative treatments, your cancer could grow and spread to other parts of your body. If you wait too long, the cancer may become untreatable.

However, if you are considering using CAM to treat certain symptoms of cancer or its treatment, there are certain therapies that may be worth considering. CAM therapies that have been shown to be safe and helpful when used in conjunction with standard medical treatment include:

• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Biofeedback
• Massage
• Meditation
• Music therapy
• Yoga