Note - Proventus only lists therapies that it has researched and is aware of the
benefit provided.
The use of complementary & alternative therapies by those suffering from a serious
chronic condition is widespread - it is considered that 40 -50% of persons use at
least one, if not more, complementary therapies.
As well as any possible therapeutic benefits, some therapies may provide psychological
help.
If an individual considers that they have lost control of their body and the medications
available offer no cure or limited symptomatic help, or serious side effects from
prescribed chronic condition modifying drugs are compromising a person following
a therapy alongside mainstream medicine may provide a feeling of regaining some sort
of control.
Note - Complementary and alternative therapies are not a cure for chronic conditions.
Through the Internet, there is a great deal of information which can be neither impartial
nor reliable. There is very little published research evidence, as compared to mainstream
drugs, that demonstrate the efficacy of complementary / alternative therapy. If a
particular therapy sounds potentially useful always consult a practitioner who has
been recommended by a trustworthy source such as: family member, a friend, and always
consult with your health professional.
Note - Some alternative therapies may not be entirely safe and can cause serious
side effects. Complementary and alternative therapies can carry the same, if not
more, risk as pharmaceutical drugs.
Decide in advance how long it is reasonable to try something out and be prepared
to recognise if something isn't working.
It is important for your health professional to be aware of any therapy being used,
both conventional and CAM and that the therapist[s] are made aware that the individual
has a serious chronic condition problem.
The difference between complementary and alternative therapies
The phrases complementary therapy and alternative therapy are often used as if they
mean the same thing. They may also be combined into one phrase complementary and
alternative therapies
CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
CAM is an American term which covers both complementary and alternative medical therapies.
The use of the term ‘CAM’ is becoming more and more used in the UK and Europe.
A complementary therapy - is one that may help you feel better and cope with chronic
condition but the therapist will not say the treatment can cure you. Complementary
generally means they are used alongside conventional treatment. A complementary therapist
should always encourage you to discuss any therapies with your health professional
and won’t claim that the therapy will cure you. The reasons why people might use
complementary therapies vary.
An alternative therapy - is generally used instead of conventional treatments. Some
may not start conventional treatment and may choose to use an alternative therapy
instead. Or they might stop conventional treatment and switch to an alternative
therapy. An alternative therapist may suggest an alternative approach will work
better than a conventional treatment. There is usually no scientific or medical evidence
to back this up.
Some alternative therapists may claim they can cure you, and may say that other treatments
are damaging, however giving up a conventional treatment may harm your chances of
obtaining a benefit from it.
It is not always easy to decide whether something is a complementary or alternative
therapy.
Some therapies that are considered alternative could be safe to use alongside a conventional
treatment as a complementary therapy.
There are currently very few alternative treatments being tested, so generally we
don’t know how safe they are.
Terms used to describe therapies
Unconventional.
Unorthodox.
CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Integrated healthcare or medicine.
Traditional medicine.
Unconventional therapies.
Integrated medicine or integrated healthcare
These terms are generally used to describe the use of conventional medicine and complementary
therapies together.
Conventional medicine - is the type of medicine and treatment your health professional
would usually use to treat chronic condition - disorder. You may also hear this
called ‘orthodox medical treatment’.
Conventional treatments have to go through rigorous testing in order to demonstrate
their efficacy. Nearly half of all conventional medicines or drugs are developed
from plants or other natural substances. As conventional drugs, they are tested
and used in a controlled way. Clinical trials make sure that conventional treatments
work, that we know what their side effects are, and that any benefits of using them
to treat Conditions may, or may not, outweigh any risks.
What works for one person does not always work for another with the same problem.
Note
There is a widespread belief that complementary/alternative therapies must be safe
because they are natural but this is not true.
Complementary & Alternative therapies can interact with conventional therapies.
Complementary & Alternative therapies can cause serious side effects.
Some complementary & alternative therapies may provide a palliative benefit but they
are not a cure for a serious chronic condition.
If you experience, or have experienced any serious side effects from a complementary
or alternative therapy and sometimes it may be difficult to know whether a side effect
is due to the use of a particular therapy, or something else (such as the disorder
itself) but even if it is only a suspicion that a therapy or combination of therapies
may have caused a side effect be sure to report it to the relevant drug regulatory
agency.
Please report any benefit you may have experienced when using a complementary/alternative
therapy to Proventus. This will enable us to provide such information to others.
Please report any serious side effects to Proventus so that we may make others aware.
