Effective Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Treatments

Yale University: Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Arthritis | Asthma | Cancer | Complementary Medicine | HIV/AIDS & STD Prevention

Nearly half of the U.S. population reports using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Nationally recognized CAM authorities and a subcommittee of CAM practitioners reviewed the literature and conducted pilot studies to identify effective CAM treatments, including acupuncture/Chinese medicine, chiropractic, energy therapy, massage therapy, mind/body therapy, naturopathy/homeopathy, and traditional osteopathy. The panel helped researchers identify methods, sites, and conditions for evaluating CAM interventions. Five pilot studies addressed gaps in evidence and high-priority conditions. One study evaluated the use of homeopathic treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children aged 6–12. Another study reviewed the medical charts of men with prostate cancer to assess the impact of modified citrus pectin (MCP) on spread of the disease. In another massage therapy was conducted on men and women with osteoarthritis of the knee to determine whether the therapy would decrease pain and improve joint mobility. In a fourth study, adults with mild to moderate asthma took part in a trial to assess the effectiveness of yoga and breathing techniques on health status. The fifth study analyzed the effects meditation (with and without massage) had on the quality of life among people with late-stage AIDS.

 

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