When one things of alternative medicine, they may imagine something that shouldn’t be looked into. Magic herbs that cure cancer. Trying to cure your anxiety by stepping on a bed of nails. That sort of thing.
However, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies may have some point to them. So in this post, we are going to look at CAM therapies and see if there’s any worth to what they have to offer.
What is CAM?
CAM therapies simply refer to nonconventional therapies. They tend to have an Eastern origin and tend to be not accepted by the modern scientific community, or there’s little research to back them up.
You may notice the term “complementary” in the title, and that is important. These therapies tend to be used together with traditional forms of therapy.
Why Do People Use Them?
Let’s now talk about why exactly people use CAM therapies. There are several reasons, including:
It Makes Them Be More Positive
CAM therapies tend to be used when someone has a severe diagnosis such as cancer. CAM therapies may help them to relax, and it gives them some positivity and hope.
Even if there is little evidence to support the effectiveness, CAM may help someone heal through placebo, or through positivity.
They Feel In Control
CAM therapies can also help the person feel like they have more of a choice. When one is taking traditional therapies, they may also choose CAM to give them some say in the matter.
Quite often, the person may be in a situation where they don’t have much control. Letting a person choose a different form of therapy may be beneficial for them in the long run, as long as they try traditional forms of therapy too.
More Natural
CAM therapies tend to involve more natural means of healing. Some people may believe that taking herbs may be better for you than taking medicine made in a lab.
This is a fallacy. There are a lot of natural things that are good for us, but there’s also a lot that can be deadly as well. Replacing natural herbs for life-saving medicine may not be the best idea.
If you have cancer, you should have chemotherapy. Don’t get us wrong. However, also taking some time to try other forms of therapy may also be worth your time as well.
Because There is Some Truth to it
Not all CAM therapies are complete bunk. Yoga is one CAM therapy that has a growing amount of evidence proving that it’s beneficial. It may improve high blood pressure, relieve symptoms of diabetes, and help with other issues as well.
Acupuncture can also help with some problems, such as the side effects of cancer.
You do have to remember that many CAM therapies just haven’t had enough studies done on them. With that said, you may see people who swear by them. They’re not that bad to consider.
In fact, some Eastern therapies become integrated with Western. For example, mindfulness and meditation are practices that have quite a bit of evidence proving that they work, and many therapists may offer treatments that stem from them.
Another form of therapy that is CAM is art therapy, or music therapy. This is the belief that art and music, along with other ways of expression, can allow you to learn more about yourself and how you’re expressing yourself.
Integration is a Big Part About Therapy
When your therapist wants to help with your mental health, they may try several methods. This is what’s known as integrative health psychology. It can help you to try several forms of therapy at once.
For example, a therapist may teach you how to use cognitive behavioral therapy as well as mindfulness. Some therapists may take a mind-body approach to treating your issues.
Many people may respond to one form of therapy, but not another. That’s the importance of being a therapist. When one thing doesn’t work, their job is to go back to the drawing board and allow you to try something else.
With That Said, They Are Limited
At the end of the day, many CAM therapies may not have enough evidence to back it up. Other times, relying only on CAM therapies to help you can be dangerous. For example, you may not want to throw out your cancer treatment for some aromatherapy.
It’s important to find a therapist who understands this, and who allows you to experiment with CAM therapies, but also helps you integrate proven methods as well.
When talking to a potential therapist, see what all they offer. Also, avoid any therapist who would tell you to take herbal supplements and to get off your antidepressants. A good therapist knows how to balance both to ensure that you have the best mental health possible.
Online Therapy Can Help
One way you can get the best help possible is through online therapy. You speak to a therapist through a device and communicate through text, voice chat, or email.
Online therapy helps you to communicate to a therapist on your own schedule and also helps you to find the best fit for you. You can find someone who offers both traditional and CAM therapies in harmony with each other.
Best of all, it’s easy to switch therapies if you find you don’t like it, and you can work with multiple therapists at once. Truly an integrative form of therapy.
So, Are They Worth It?
At the end of the day, there may be use for CAM therapies. However, one should treat them with a healthy dose of skepticism as well. You need to be someone who tries both modern methods of therapy, but also considers other methods as well.
Remember, mindfulness and yoga do have health benefits. However, no reasonable therapist would say they’re a magic cure-all that is a perfect alternative to traditional medicine.
Having a balance of both may be able to help you in the end.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
Feature image by Elle Hughes
