Some CAM therapies are not as effective as some conventional medicines. On the other hand, some are more effective and certainly less harmful. For example, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), there are not a lot of good scientific studies proving whether many CAM therapies actually work. Still, centuries of anecdotal evidence in China, India, the South Pacific, and elsewhere does indicate CAM therapies might have some effect on your good health.

Words like "quick cure," "miracle cure," "exclusive product," "new discovery," "magical discovery," or "secret formula" are clues that the claims are unbelievable, unlikely, and probably unscientific.

When the scientific community finds a cure for a disease, it is widely reported.  So, if the claims of great health benefits for a CAM therapy seem too exaggerated, check to see if the claims are backed up by scientific research.

There’s a world of difference between personal stories (testimonials) and the results of controlled research studies.


It is important for people who are considering or using CAM therapies for any health reason to discuss them with their doctors, to ensure safety and a comprehensive treatment plan. Your pharmacist and your doctor may have different views on the subject of a particular CAM therapy. In this case, follow your doctor’s advice.

If you have more than one health care provider, let all of them know about CAM and conventional therapies you are using.


It’s important to know what you are taking, and what the side effects and drug interactions might be. Some perfectly good CAM therapies may interact with your prescription or non-prescription medications – like St. John’s wort, which may cause some medications to be less effective.

Some herbal products also have dangerous effects on their own – like kava, an herb that has been used for insomnia, stress, and anxiety, and which has been linked to liver damage.

Also, because the production of over-the-counter products is not carefully regulated, your supplement can actually be contaminated, have ingredients that are substandard or aren’t listed on the label, or not be accurately labeled as to how much of the ingredient is in the pill. Buy only reputable brands of supplements


Find out if there are any scientific studies on the safety and effectiveness of the therapy. Understand the scientific evidence – and whether the claims are based on scientific evidence or personal stories.

Read Researching CAM therapies


Realize that Western medicine is just beginning to take a serious look at centuries-old therapies that were not studied with controlled research – which doesn’t make them wrong, it just makes them unproven.

More and more studies are underway by reputable researchers, particularly the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

Review our article Research priorities in CAM


Review our article on Choosing a CAM practitioner


We all respond differently to therapies depending on many factors – our general health issues, any medications or OTC products we’re taking, how much we take, and more


CAM therapies are often not covered by insurance.