Complementary Treatments

• Complementary treatments are not subject to FDA approval so you are on your own about whether they are effective and safe. It is advisable to learn about what scientific proof may exist with respect to usefulness of the drug or treatment for the intended purpose, as well as the risks.
• Before starting a treatment, consider asking for advice from your doctor.  If you are working with a treatment center, check to see if there is an integrative medicine department (a department that specializes in integrating complementary and standard Western treatments.) Healthcare professionals who are trained in integrative medicine can offer scientifically proved advice and help you design the best treatment regimen for your particular situaiton. They can also suggest a particular supplement or other product made by high-quality manufacturers so that you do not waste money on low-quality products that may not have anything useful in them or, even worse, may be contaiminated.
  • A medical professional can check to see if there is a dangerous interaction with a drug or treatment you are using, particularly ifyou are considering herbs.
  • The doctor may have some light to shed on the particular drug or treatment you are considering, or have a recommendation that may be better for your situation.
  • If your doctor says "no" to a particular treatment:
    • Ask why. 
    • Ask about other options may be available to accomplish the same goal as the drug or treatment you are considering.
    • If you are not satisfied with the doctor's response, particularly if you feel the doctor is closed minded about complementary treatments, consider seeking a second opinion from a doctor who is more open to complementary treatments.
• Watch for fraud and people who are more interested in taking your money than helping you. To learn how, click here.
• For a list of:
  • General questions to ask, click here.
  • Financial questions to ask, click here.
• It is worth repeating that it is advisable to keep in mind that no alternative treatment has been proved to cure a life threatning condition.
• Check your health insurance. A complementary drug or treatment may be covered. More and more health insurance cover complementary drugs and treatments..

When prescribed by a doctor, CAM treatments may be covered by your health insurance. 

• If the treatment you are considering is covered by your health insurance it is advisable to read: Questions To Ask Your Insurer Before Starting A Complementary Treatment 
  • If your insurer asks for proof about the effectiveness of a treatment you want to use:
    • Ask the practitioner for proof she or he may have
    • Check for research papers on the web site of the National Center for Complementary And Alternative Medicine
• If the treatment is not covered,
  • It is worth taking a few minutes to find out if there is a law in your state that requires coverage of some or all complementary treatments. Either contact your state insurance commission (you can find contact information through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners)  or the group that represents the treatment practitioners. 
  • If paying for a CAM treatment is an issue, see How To Deal With A Financial Crunch

Complementary treatments include the following. For information about each treatment of interest, click on the link. To return to this article, click the back button on your browser.