Complementary and 

Alternative Medicine
 Perhaps you have seen a bottle of an herbal medicine in the 

drugstore and wondered if it might help get rid of your cold.

Or you have thought about going to a chiropractor (KEYEruh-PRAK-tur) to treat your back pain. If so, you are not 

alone. Every year, millions of Americans try some form of 

complementary and alternative medicine—practices and 

products that are different from those normally used by your 

family doctor. 

But you may wonder: Do these treatments work? Am I wasting 

my money? Most important, are they safe? Health experts 

are still trying to answer these questions. More research will 

hopefully shed light on the real benefits and risks of these 

alternative treatments. 

What is complementary and 

alternative medicine? 

The treatments used by most doctors 

are considered conventional medicine. 

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consists of a group of health 

care practices and products that are considered out of the mainstream. 

An “out-of-the-mainstream” treatment 

is considered complementary if you use 

it along with conventional medicine. An 

example would be using acupuncture 

along with painkilling drugs to reduce 

labor pains. A treatment is considered 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 367 
alternative if you use it instead of conventional medicine. An example would be 

using acupuncture as your only treatment 

for headache. 

This chapter will help you learn about 

the major CAM treatments and how 

they might benefit you. Also, just as important, it will tell you about the risks 

of certain CAM treatments and what to 

watch out for. 

Who uses CAM? 

Research shows that 40 percent of 

women in the United States use some 

form of CAM. If you include prayer for 

health reasons and taking large doses of 

vitamins as types of CAM, that number 

rises to 69 percent. CAM is used more 

by: 

l	 women 

l	 people with more education 

l	 people who live in or near cities 

Why do people use CAM? 

People try CAM for a variety of reasons,

including: 

l	 Conventional medicine has not helped 

solve their medical problem. 

l	 They believe that products derived 

from nature are healthier and safer 

than prescription drugs, even though 

they may not be. 

l	 They like the holistic approach taken 

by CAM therapists. A holistic approach involves paying attention to all 

of a client’s needs to help her regain 

and maintain her health. These include 

not just physical but also emotional,

social, and spiritual needs. 

Although something can be said for all 

of these reasons, you should be aware of 

some of the downsides of using CAM 

treatments, such as: 

l	 No CAM treatment has been proven 

to work beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

l	 Some CAM products, although derived from plants, can cause health 

problems. For instance, ephedra, a 

Chinese herbal product, was being sold in the United States to help 

people lose weight and to enhance 

athletic performance. Because ephedra 

increased the risk of heart problems 

and stroke, the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) banned the 

sale of ephedra. 

l	 Some CAM products interfere with 

how prescription drugs work. For 

instance, St. John’s wort, which some 

people take to treat depression, can 

368 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
interfere with the actions of drugs for 

treating HIV, cancer, and other diseases. It may also reduce the effectiveness 

of birth control pills. 

l	 Some herbal products, such as black 

cohosh, are unsafe to use during pregnancy. The safety of many other herbal 

products, either during pregnancy or 

breastfeeding, has not been studied. 

l	 Some people might use an unproven 

CAM treatment that may not work or 

may carry risks, instead of a conventional treatment that is known to be 

effective. 

If you choose to try a CAM treatment,

be sure to discuss it first with your doctor. Your doctor should know whether 

the therapy may be helpful and is safe to 

try along with your current treatments.

Some people don’t mention their use of 

CAM treatments to their doctor because 

they think that their doctor will have 

negative feelings about CAM. If you are 

in this situation and would like to try a 

CAM treatment, perhaps you may want 

to find a doctor that you feel more comfortable talking to about this. 

CAM Treatment Categories 

• CAM treatments found in nature 

• energy medicine 

• therapies that adjust the body 

• mind-body medicine 

• whole medical systems 

CAM treatments found in nature 

Some CAM treatments use substances 

found in nature, such as herbs, vitamins,

and minerals. The idea that natural substances might be used as medicines is

not new. Practically since the beginning 

of time, people have used parts of plants 

and animals to treat diseases. In fact,

some conventional drugs come from nature. For instance, aspirin is derived from 

a substance found in the bark of the willow tree. 

Some CAM products are sold as dietary 

supplements. These are products taken 

by mouth that are intended to supplement, or add to, the diet. They come in 

many forms, including tablets, teas, and 

powders. 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 369 
Label Regulations 

The FDA regulates dietary supplements as foods 

rather than drugs. The laws about putting foods (including supplements) on the market are less strict 

than the laws for drugs. For instance, a manufacturer does not have to prove that a supplement is useful for treating any health problem before it is sold. 

Some dietary supplements have been shown not to 

contain what was listed on the label. In some cases, 

pills did not contain as much of the supplement as 

the label said they did, or they contained more. In 

other cases, supplements were found to be contaminated with toxins, bacteria, or other substances. To address these problems, the FDA 

has issued new regulations requiring that: 

• a dietary supplement contains what its label says it contains and in the dose listed 

on the label 

• supplements are not contaminated
 

The new regulations took effect in August 2007 and will be phased in over 3 years.
 

Below are some CAM products found 

in nature that have been tried for various 

diseases and medical conditions: 

Black cohosh and other plant products for 

treating menopausal symptoms 

Black cohosh is often used for treating hot flashes and other menopausal

symptoms. Research has generally shown 

that black cohosh by itself has little to 

no effect on menopausal symptoms.

But one research study found that black 

cohosh combined with St. John’s wort 

was somewhat effective in treating these 

symptoms. 

Research studies have followed women 

taking black cohosh for only 6 months 

or less, so it’s not known if the herb is 

safe to take for periods longer than 6 

months. Black cohosh has been linked 

to a few cases of hepatitis (inflammation 

of the liver), but it is not clear whether it 

caused the problem. 

370 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
 

Other plant products that have been 

used for treating menopausal symptoms 

include: 

l	 Red clover. Research has not shown 

red clover to be effective in reducing 

hot flashes. 

l	 Dong quai (doong kweye). Research 

has not shown dong quai to be effective in reducing hot flashes. It also 

contains substances that may cause 

cancer. 

l	 Ginseng. Research has shown that 

ginseng might help menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, depression, and 

feeling tired. But it does not seem to 

reduce hot flashes. 

l	 Kava. Kava may decrease anxiety but 

does not seem to reduce hot flashes. 

The FDA has issued a warning about 

kava because it can damage the liver. 

l	 Soy. Research on the effects of soy on 

hot flashes has produced mixed results.

When taken as a food or dietary supplement for short periods of time, soy 

appears to have few if any serious side 

effects. But taking soy extracts for several years may cause thickening of the 

uterine lining. This can cause abnormal 

vaginal bleeding. 

Cranberry 

We normally think of cranberry as a 

food. But research suggests that cranberry can also be used for its health benefits. Cranberry—in the form of juice or 

tablets—may be able to prevent urinary 

tract infections in women. Cranberries 

contain a substance that prevents bacteria from sticking to cell walls in the 

urinary tract. 

Echinacea 

Echinacea (EK-ih-NAY-shuh) is commonly used to prevent or treat colds, flu,

and other infections that affect breathing.

Research suggests that echinacea is not 

effective in preventing or treating colds 

in adults. One research study showed 

that echinacea was not effective in treating colds and similar infections in children but reduced the chances that the 

children would develop them again later. 

EChInACEA FlowEr, AlSo CAllED purplE ConEFlowEr 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 371 
FrESh gIngEr 

Ginger 

Research suggests that ginger can relieve 

the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

Researchers studied pregnant women 

who were given about 1 gram of ginger 

per day, which is about the amount commonly used in cooking. They took the 

ginger for up to 3 weeks. No serious side 

effects occurred using ginger in these 

amounts and for this length of time. But 

some herbal medicine textbooks caution 

against using larger amounts of ginger. If 

you are pregnant and considering using 

ginger, discuss it with your doctor. 

Energy medicine 

Some CAM therapies involve using different types of energy to treat illness.

Some of these therapies use energies that 

everyone agrees exist, such as the energy 

field surrounding magnets. Other therapies claim to use a “life energy,” which 

may or may not exist. 

Magnetic therapy 

Magnets have been used at least since 

the time of the ancient Egyptians to 

treat medical problems. The magnets 

that we are most familiar with are static 

magnets. These are usually made of iron 

or steel, and their magnetic fields are 

static, meaning that they do not change.

Refrigerator magnets are a type of weak 

static magnet. 

Static magnets have been used to treat 

painful conditions, such as painful menstruation. Typically, magnets are placed 

directly on the skin or into products that 

come into contact with the body, such as 

bandages. 

Research studies on the use of static 

magnets to relieve pain have produced 

mixed results. Some experts say that 

research studies that have shown pain 

relief have used stronger magnets than 

those that have not shown pain relief. 

Another type of magnet is the electromagnet. Electromagnets consist of 

an iron core surrounded by a wire coil.

When electricity flows through the coil,

the iron core produces a magnetic field.

When the electricity is turned off, the 

magnetic field goes away. In general,

research studies using electromagnetic 

therapy to reduce pain have produced 

more positive results than those using 

static magnets. 

“Life energy” therapies 

The idea that a special type of “life energy” flows through people’s bodies is common among cultures around the world.

For instance, the ancient Chinese called 

372 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
 

it qi (chee), whereas ancient Hindus 

called it prana (PRAH-nuh). Also common is the idea that certain “healers” can 

treat illnesses by passing their life energy 

into others. They do this by holding their 

hands on or near a person’s body. In Japan, this is known as Reiki (RAY-kee).

In Western cultures, it’s called therapeutic touch, laying on of hands, or polarity 

therapy. Some researchers have claimed 

to detect a unique form of energy given 

off by healers. But the findings of these 

research studies are controversial. 

In research studies, energy healing 

seemed to: 

l	 reduce pain in conditions involving 

muscles, bones, and joints 

l	 help women receiving radiation treatment for cancer feel more energetic 

and less pain 

In other research, energy healing did not 

seem to be effective. These research studies showed that energy healing: 

l	 had no effect on the nerve pain that 

can occur in diabetes 

l	 had no useful effect in people recovering from a stroke 

Therapies that adjust the body 

Some CAM practices involve handling,

pressing, or moving parts of the body.

Examples include: 

l	 chiropractic 

l	 osteopathy (OSS-tee-OP-uh-thee) 

l	 massage 

Chiropractic 

Chiropractors believe that the body has a 

natural healing ability that is controlled 

by the nervous system. They also believe 

that if the bones in the spine are not sitting on top of each other correctly, they 

put pressure on nerves along the spine.

This can disrupt the flow of nerve signals 

to parts of the body. If a body part does 

not receive its normal supply of nerve 

signals, it becomes diseased, according to 

this theory. 

To make the spinal bones line up 

straight, chiropractors make one or more 

“adjustments.” A chiropractic adjustment 

involves applying a sudden controlled 

force to a joint. 

Research suggests that chiropractic adjustments may offer short-term relief for 

low back pain. However, most cases of 

short-term low back pain get better in 

several weeks no matter what treatment 

is used. 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 373 
 

Chiropractic adjustments for low back 

pain are generally safe. But there have 

been cases of stroke following neck adjustments because of the tearing of arteries leading to the brain. There has also 

been concern that some chiropractors 

overuse x-rays, which may increase your 

risk of cancer. 

Osteopathy 

Osteopaths believe that the bones and 

muscles of the body need to be positioned properly so that blood and other 

body fluids flow as they should. This is 

thought to help ensure health. An osteopath will first feel the patient’s body

to find tense muscles and joints that do 

not move well. They then manipulate or 

work with parts of the body to relieve 

muscle tension and help joints move 

more smoothly. Techniques include: 

l	 thrust technique, in which the osteopath applies a brief rapid force to a 

joint, often causing a “popping” noise 

l	 muscle energy, in which the osteopath 

directs you to move into a certain position while providing a specific amount 

of resistance against the movement 

l	 myofascial (MEYE-oh-FASH-ee-uhl) 

release, in which the osteopath gently 

applies force to a tense body area 

Osteopaths receive training in conventional medicine as well as osteopathic 

medicine. Because of this, osteopaths can 

prescribe drugs and perform surgery. 

Research suggests that osteopathic manipulations may be useful for treating 

low back pain. 

Massage 

Massage therapists press, rub, or move 

muscles and other soft tissues of the 

body. Most people use massage to reduce 

muscle soreness and tension and relieve 

stress and anxiety. 

374 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
Research suggests that massage therapy 

may be useful in treating various conditions, including: 

l	 fibromyalgia (feye-broh-meye-ALjee-uh) 

l	 osteoarthritis (OSS-tee-oh-arTHREYE-tuhss) of the knee 

l	 anxiety 

Also, research has shown that preterm 

infants who receive daily massage treatments gain more weight per day and 

show fewer stress behaviors than those 

who do not receive these treatments. 

Mind-body medicine 

Perhaps you have noticed that your 

mood can affect whether or not you get 

sick. If you feel well, you are less likely 

to get sick. If you feel bad, you are more 

likely to get sick. In fact, research has 

shown that mood can affect your health.

For instance, in one research study,

people who were energetic, happy, and 

relaxed were less likely to develop a cold 

even though they were infected with a 

cold virus than were people who were 

sad, tense, and angry. 

Mind-body medicine is a branch of 

CAM that seeks to understand how 

your mind and body affect each other.

Mind-body therapies attempt to use this 

information to improve your health. Two 

examples of mind-body therapies are 

biofeedback and hypnosis. 

Biofeedback 

Biofeedback allows people to control 

things about their body that they ordinarily would not be able to control. These 

include heart rate, skin temperature, and 

muscle tension. During a biofeedback 

SEnSorS uSED In bIoFEEDbACk 

session, therapists apply electrical sensors 

to parts of a client’s body. These sensors 

measure something about the body that 

would be useful to control. For instance,

someone who gets tension headaches 

because of increased muscle tension in 

the head would have sensors on the head 

to detect muscle tension. When the 

muscles become more tense, this is made 

known to the client by a beeping sound 

or a flashing light. The client learns to 

turn off the sound or light by relaxing 

head muscles. This helps get rid of the 

headache. 

Biofeedback has been shown to be helpful in treating a variety of medical conditions, including: 

l	 high blood pressure 

l	 hot flashes 

l	 irregular heartbeats 

Hypnosis 

Hypnotists try to produce a mental state 

in which you are more open to suggestions. To hypnotize someone, a therapist 

will first get them to relax and concentrate on an object. Then the therapist will 

tell them something such as, “You will 

not feel pain when you give birth.” 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 375 
 

 

 

 

 

Research has shown that hypnosis can be 

useful for: 

l	 reducing labor pain 

l	 reducing anxiety before medical or 

dental procedures 

l	 treating tension headaches 

Not everyone can be hypnotized. Research suggests that people who can become absorbed in activities such as reading, listening to music, or daydreaming 

have a greater ability to be hypnotized. 

Whole medical systems 

Whole medical systems are health care 

methods that have evolved separately 

from conventional Western medicine. 

Each medical system involves several therapies that are often used in combination. 

Traditional Chinese medicine 

Traditional Chinese medicine includes: 

l	 acupuncture, a treatment that involves 

inserting thin needles into specific 

points on the skin 

l	 moxibustion (MOKS-ee-BUHSSchuhn), the burning of the herb moxa 

(MOKS-uh) (also known as mugwort) 

at an acupuncture point to stimulate 

the point with heat 

l	 Chinese herbal medicines 

The part of traditional Chinese medicine that has been studied the most in 

terms of its health effects is acupuncture.

Acupuncture was developed in China 

more than 2000 years ago. According to 

ancient Chinese beliefs, disease is due 

to a blockage in the flow of qi energy 

through the body. Inserting needles into 

acupuncture points unblocks qi to restore 

health, according to this theory. Modern 

scientists think that acupuncture may 

work by causing the release of natural 

painkillers in the brain. 

Research has shown that acupuncture 

may be useful for reducing: 

l	 pain after dental procedures 

l	 severe vomiting that can occur during 

pregnancy 

l	 labor pain 

l	 pain in osteoarthritis of the knee 

376 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
l	

Also, research suggests that acupuncture 

plus moxibustion may cause a breech 

baby to move to the head-down position, which allows for a normal vaginal 

birth. Before birth, most babies are in 

this head-down position in the mother’s 

uterus. But sometimes the part of the 

baby that is down near the vagina is the 

buttocks or the feet. When a baby is in 

one of these positions before birth, it’s 

called a breech baby. Doctors often deliver breech babies by cesarean section. 

Compared with acupuncture, less research has been done on the health effects of Chinese herbal medicines. But 

drugs for treating malaria have been 

developed from one Chinese herbal 

medicine. 

Ayurveda 

Ayurveda (AH-yur-VAY-duh) is one of 

the world’s oldest systems of medicine.

It started in India more than 5000 years 

ago. Ayurveda involves many different 

treatments, including: 

herbal medicines 

Warning 

Some Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal 

medicines have been found to contain toxic metals and other harmful 

substances. Some Chinese herbal 

medicines have also been found to 

contain prescription drugs that were 

not listed on the label. before taking 

any Chinese or Ayurvedic herbal medicines, you should talk to your doctor. 

For information about new FDA regulations to address problems with dietary 

supplements, which includes these 

medicines, see page 370. 

l	 meditation 

l	 yoga (a system of exercises designed to 

help you gain control of your body and 

mind) 

Research on Ayurvedic treatments is 

still in the early stages. But a number of 

Ayurvedic herbs and spices are showing 

promise in treating various diseases. For 

instance, tumeric, a spice that is often 

used in Ayurvedic treatments, contains a 

substance that may help treat Alzheimer’s disease. 

Homeopathy 

Homeopathy (HOH-mee-OP-uh-thee) 

is a medical system developed in Germany in the early 1800s. It is based on the 

idea that drugs that produce symptoms 

similar to those of a disease can help 

cure that disease. Homeopathic products 

contain these drugs in very small doses 

dissolved in water or alcohol. 

Homeopathic products have been tried 

for many health issues, including menopausal hot flashes and premenstrual 

syndrome. A few research studies have 

shown homeopathic products to work 

for some conditions. But many experts 

question these results because homeoComplementary and Alternative Medicine 377 
pathic products contain such small doses 

of the active drug. More research is 

needed before homeopathy can be considered useful for any medical condition. 

Tips on selecting a CAM therapist 

Selecting a CAM therapist is much like 

selecting a conventional doctor. You want 

someone you feel comfortable with and 

who will help you with your health concerns. Below are some tips for choosing a 

CAM therapist: 

l	 Talk with your primary care doctor 

about your interest in trying a CAM 

therapy. Discuss possible benefits and 

risks of the therapy. Ask if the therapy 

might interfere with your conventional 

treatments. Also, ask your doctor to 

recommend someone who practices 

the type of therapy that you are interested in. 

l	 Some large medical centers have 

CAM therapists on staff. Check to see 

if there is such a center near you. 

l	 Contact a national association for the 

therapy that you are interested in and 

ask for a list of certified therapists in 

your area. To find CAM associations,

ask your local librarian for directories 

that you can look in. 

l	 Some states have agencies that regulate and license certain types of CAM 

therapists. The agency may be able to 

provide you with a list of therapists 

who meet their standards. 

l	 Find out if your health insurance company will cover your visit to a CAM 

therapist. Most CAM therapies are 

not covered by insurance. 

l	 After you choose a CAM therapist, go 

to your first visit with a list of questions that you want answered. Also, be 

prepared to discuss your health history 

and the other treatments that you are 

receiving. 

A final word 

Be sure to mention any CAM therapies 

that you are considering trying with 

your primary care doctor. Your doctor 

will be able to tell you about the possible 

benefits and risks of the treatment. Also,

when it comes to CAM therapies, it is 

probably best to steer a middle course.

Keep an open mind but, at the same 

time, be skeptical. n

378 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages 
one woman’s Story
 

Massage therapy 

has been a safe 

and effective 

complementary 

therapy for me. 

I

have found massage therapy to be a very 

valuable complementary therapy. As a single mother, raising four children, I have over 

the years worked through periods of extreme 

stress. This overload of stress has contributed 

to severe headaches and shoulder and back 

pain. I have found that getting a good massage is the single most effective intervention 

to reduce stress and relieve the muscle tension resulting from too many hours in front of 

a computer. 

Several years ago, while sitting at a red light 

in my car, I was struck from behind and suffered a whiplash injury to my neck. I suffered 

terribly for months with pain, and none of the 

typical treatments provided relief. not content 

to spend my evenings doped up on painkillers and muscle relaxers and unable to participate in my children’s lives, I visited my massage therapist, who also was trained in cranialsacral therapy, which involves adjusting bones in the head and spine. After just a few 

sessions of cranialsacral therapy and massage, the pain from the whiplash injury went 

away and has never returned. 

Massage therapy has been a safe and effective complementary therapy for me. If we all 

had biweekly massages, perhaps we as a nation would be healthier! 

Sarah 

Olney, Maryland 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 379 
For More Information... 

National Center for Complementary and 

Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse, NIH 

po box 7923
 

gaithersburg, MD 20898
 

web site: www.nccam.nih.gov
 

phone number: (888) 644-6226, 

(866) 464-3615 TTY 

Office of Cancer Complementary and 

Alternative Medicine, NIH 

6116 Executive blvd, Suite 609, 

MSC 8339
 

bethesda, MD 20892
 

web site: www.cancer.gov/cam 

phone number: (800) 422-6237
 

Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH 

6100 Executive blvd, room 3b01, 

MSC 7517
 

bethesda, MD 20892-7517
 

web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov
 

American Academy of Medical 

Acupuncture 

4929 wilshire blvd, Suite 428
 

los Angeles, CA 90010
 

web site: www.medicalacupuncture.org
 

American Chiropractic Association 

1701 Clarendon blvd
 

Arlington, VA 22209
 

web site: www.acatoday.org
 

American Holistic Medical Association 

1 Eagle Valley Ct, Suite 201
 

broadview, oh 44147
 

web site: www.holisticmedicine.org
 

American Massage Therapy Association 

500 Davis St, Suite 900
 

Evanston, Il 60201-4695
 

web site: www.amtamassage.org
 

phone number: (877) 905-2700
 

American Osteopathic Association 

142 East ontario St
 

Chicago, Il 60611
 

web site: www.osteopathic.org
 

phone number: (800) 621-1773 

American Society of Clinical Hypnosis 

140 n bloomingdale rd
 

bloomingdale, Il 60108
 

web site: www.asch.net 

Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback 

10200 w 44th Ave, Suite 304
 

wheat ridge, Co 80033
 

web site: www.aapb.org
 

380 The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages