Aligning Practice, Policy and Education with Evidence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is commonly used Harris PE, et al [1], but its outcomes are mixed. For example, some prevention remedies such as Echinacea for secondary prevention of common colds have not been shown to be effective [2]. And some treatment interventions such as actual (compared to simulation) acupuncture for alleviation of some types of chronic pain have been shown to be effective [3,4]. The endorsement of CAM as such – by practicing clinicians and others supporting health care such as policy makers and health educators – when it is not rigorously shown to be more effective than placebo or sham/ simulation care, is arguably unethical, as has been demonstrated to be the case with orthomolecular psychiatry [5]. Such endorsement of CAM should thus be addressed from a practice, policy and education perspective.