They are unaware that they are often merely subjecting themselves to placebo effects. Regrettably, providers of such therapies never offer the kind of patient information and data that can be used for scientific studies or evaluations. It depends on the situation and the implementation of the therapy. Sometimes the alternative approach is more invasive than the scientific one. To deprive oneself or one's dependents of scientifically based medical treatments must be totally rejected.
Safety also is an important issue.
A physician may not have certain specific tools available to relieve troublesome symptoms, and may use a placebo-type treatment to try to help or comfort. But this is done without jeopardizing the patient's health. This should be the goal for all health care workers, whatever they call themselves. The Powerful Placebo by A. K. Shapiro and E. Shapiro. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1997.