CAM Introduction

Complementary Therapy Section Overview and Introduction

What is Complementary Therapy and is it the same as Alternative Therapy?

Broadly speaking anything that is undertaken in addition to medical therapy with the idea of improving general health and well-being could be considered a “complementary” therapy.  This could include having a regular physical activity or having a regular sauna and massage.

However, most people use these terms to mean to systems of treatment that are different from standard orthodox western medical treatment.  

When used in this way, sometimes the use of the term “complementary” or “alternative” simply means whether this treatment is being used alongside standard medical treatments or where standard medical treatments are being avoided – either through patient choice or as advised by the “alternative” therapy practitioner.

Examples of such systems of medical treatment include:-

·         Homeopathy

·         Traditional Chinese Medicine

·         Herbalism

·         Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurvedic Medicine)

·         Osteopathy

·         Reflexology

·         Faith Healing

·         Reilki

·         Aromatherapy

These systems of treatment often have theories about the causes of ill health and how they can be reversed that often do not accord with our understanding of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology and pharmacology that have been derived from scientific method.

This is a controversial area for doctors to get involved with.  Often doctors and scientists will dismiss these treatments as shams, fakes, and quacks and advise patients to steer well clear.

On the other hand, certain interventions, such as acupuncture, have been shown in clinical trials to have a positive impact on certain symptoms.  In research done at The Christie, foot massage has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones.

The approach we take in PlanBe is to have some humility and admit that we are not the only arbiters of truth about health care and there is much that, even with through scientific method, remains unknown, or poorly understood about our bodies and how they respond in health and disease.  It is therefore only appropriate to accept that some of these treatments may be useful to our patients.

Our natural tendency, is to suggest that these treatments are subjected to careful clinical research in the same way that our own treatments are tested.  This is all well and good and some randomised trials have been attempted but this type of research is extremely expensive and difficult and in most cases such research has not been done and there is little prospect of it being done in the future.

In the end, a common theme in PlanBe is that we should be respectful of the choices our patients make for themselves.  In PlanBe we are hopefully offering information and tools to help patients with their decisions.