CAM, Research and FDA Approvals
Another major problem for patients and doctors who want to choose a CAM therapy, is that most have not gone through any form of approval process with the FDA. Conventional therapies are rigorously tested, and must apply to the FDA in order to be released and marketed to the public. CAM therapies do not require FDA approval.
Since CAM therapies do not have that same requirement, it's difficult to judge whether they are safe or not.
There is also the question about using the word "natural." Many herbal supplements, for example, claim to be natural. But natural and safe are not necessarily the same thing. Arsenic is natural and deadly. So is hemlock, among many other toxic plants.
A wise patient will learn more about how these studies work and the controversies behind gathering the evidence.
Practioners, Education and Licensing
One of the important aspects of choosing the right doctor is to check into his or her qualifications. Medical education, state licensing, and board certification -- these are important credentials that improve the chances you will get the advice and follow through you need.
There are formal educational opportunities, including degrees and certificates, for some (but not all) CAM approaches. There is formal training for chiropractic, massage therapy, and doctors of naturopathy, for example. Please note, a naturopath and a doctor of naturopathy are not the same.
The people who practice CAM medicine may or may not need to be educated or licensed. Some are. Some aren't. With few exceptions (and those exceptions vary from state to state) anyone may read a book, take a course, or simply hang out a shingle saying they are a practitioner of whatever therapy they claim.
To find out whether your particular therapy choice requires a license in your state, you can do a search for the name of the therapy, your state and license. Example: "acupuncture, Texas, license." If you learn the therapy requires a license, then be sure the practitioner you choose is licensed.
Before you make alternative or complementary medicine choices, be sure to understand the following:
