Complimentary or Alternative Treatments

If conventional medical therapies prove unsuccessful or have unwanted side effects, many people choose to pursue complementary or alternative therapies (CAM). Complementary therapies are done in addition to traditional medical treatments, and alternative therapies are done instead of medical treatments.

Many CAM modalities exist and incorporate a holistic approach and may allow patients to feel they are more actively participating in their own healthcare. Examples of CAM therapies include herbal/dietary approaches, acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, meditation, and movement or breathing exercises such as tai chi or yoga.

Of note, it is often perceived that “natural” therapies will be more safe and effective than “synthetic” medications. This is not always supported by evidence, unfortunately, and recent difficulties seen with such herbal therapies as Ephedra and Aristolochia show that some CAM therapies are unsafe. As the awareness of both functional gastrointestinal disorders and CAM increases, better study of the variety of potential treatment options must increase as well.

Over the next decade we can expect to see much more information about the safety and efficacy of CAM treatments, which is currently lacking. It is important that CAM practitioners, primary care doctors, and gastroenterologists work together with their patients to find the appropriate treatment or combination of treatments from the vast array of conventional and alternative options available.