Integrative medicine: Find out what works – Mayo Clinic

Integrative medicine: Find out what works

Don't take claims of cure at face value. Do your homework when considering complementary and alternative treatments.

Once considered fringe, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, such as herbal remedies and meditation, are gaining acceptance in Western medicine. Thanks to increasing research, doctors are better able to understand the role these therapies play in helping to treat and prevent illness.

As a result, doctors are starting to combine these techniques with conventional treatments. This approach called integrative (in-tuh-GRAY-tiv) medicine takes advantage of evidence-based conventional and alternative medicine practices to improve health and treat illness.

While nonconventional approaches such as acupuncture, music therapy and animal-assisted therapy have been found to be effective, others haven't been studied well enough to determine whether they're safe and effective.

When considering any treatment, take time to learn about the risks and benefits. Gather information from a variety of sources and check credentials. Talk with your doctor before trying a new treatment especially if you take medications, have chronic health problems, or you are pregnant or nursing.

When researching treatments, do what doctors do. Look for high-quality studies. These large, controlled and randomized 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 cautious about studies in animals and studies that include only a small number of people. Their results may not hold up when tested in larger trials or on people. Finally, remember that sound health advice is generally based on a body of research, not a single study.

Although scientific studies are the best way to evaluate whether a treatment is safe and effective, it isn't always possible to find good studies about nonconventional therapies. A lack of evidence doesn't necessarily mean a treatment doesn't work but it does make it harder to evaluate whether it's safe and effective. Don't hesitate to talk with your doctor if you have questions.

The web and social media are full of information about integrative health techniques, but not all of it is accurate. To weed out the bad information from the good, use the three D's:

Scammers have perfected ways to convince you that their products are the best. They often target people who have serious and chronic medical problems. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be alert for these red flags:

Herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals, and dietary supplements are often marketed as natural products, but that doesn't guarantee that they're safe. These products can have serious side effects. Even some vitamins and minerals can cause problems when taken in large amounts. Play it safe with these tips:

Consider these tips from the NCCIH when looking for integrative health practitioners:

Following these tips should help you find integrative techniques that enhance your health and quality of life. Just remember that these are meant to assist, not replace, conventional medicine. Keep your doctor informed about all integrative therapies you're using.

Don't change your conventional treatment such as the dose of a prescribed medicine without first talking to your doctor. Continue to rely on your doctor to diagnose and treat health problems. Delaying treatment can be dangerous, particularly for chronic or serious conditions, such as diabetes or cancer.

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Integrative medicine: Find out what works - Mayo Clinic