Strategies for Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Therapies
If you’re thinking about trying a complementary or alternative therapy for your child, it is essential that you do your research first. Every person is unique, so what works for one may not help another.
Start by asking your healthcare provider for details about the various CAM therapies that might be suitable for you or your child. Doing this will enable you to decide which type of CAM treatment would be most beneficial to your family and what benefits can be obtained from it.
You might also want to consult other parents who have children on the autism spectrum, as many have found success with different therapies. They may have discovered that making changes to your child’s diet or taking herbal or dietary supplements was beneficial for them.
When selecting a complementary therapy for your child or teenager, the key is finding one that has been scientifically proven safe and effective. As some CAM methods haven’t been extensively studied enough to guarantee efficacy, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional regarding the safety and efficiency of a particular CAM method before using it on them.
Three types of medicine can be used to treat a medical condition: standard medicine, complementary medicine and alternative medicine.
Standard medicine refers to a type of treatment that has been certified as appropriate by a medical expert as the proper cure for an illness, and which is widely utilized by physicians, nurses, or other health professionals. It’s also referred to as best practice, standard of care, or standard therapy.
Complementary and alternative medicine refers to any medicine that is not widely accepted as standard treatment, but used alongside standard medical care. For instance, it might be called alternative medicine if it replaces standard medical treatment entirely, like using acupuncture to lessen cancer drug side effects.
This can be a complex area, as there are so many CAM treatments and they have not all been sufficiently tested to determine their effectiveness or potential risks. This is especially the case for certain mind-body therapies which lack oversight from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Before considering any CAM treatment, it is essential to speak with a doctor or healthcare professional who has experience in that area. You can do this by asking for a referral or visiting an office that specializes in CAM therapies.
It’s essential to search for other individuals who have tried the CAM method you are considering and see their opinions about its advantages and drawbacks. Practitioners who don’t sell their own products or have financial stakes in them tend to provide reliable information about CAM techniques.
Though many people believe in complementary or alternative therapies, it is essential to remember that they have not been fully tested by the US Food and Drug Administration or other governmental agencies to determine their safety and effectiveness. Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable resources for getting reliable information about CAM techniques as well as scientific evidence confirming they’re safe and effective for your child or teen.
