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What Health Challenges Are Integrative and Alternative Therapies Used For?
Americans use Integrative therapies to manage a number of health problems. For example, according to the 2012 National Health Interview Study, about 40% of Americans who suffer from a musculoskeletal […]
Americans use Integrative therapies to manage a number of health problems. For example, according to the 2012 National Health Interview Study, about 40% of Americans who suffer from a musculoskeletal pain disorder use Integrative health approaches in some way. However, only 14% of them actually use these approaches to manage their pain. Others report using them to manage stress and improve their overall quality of life.
As the opioid epidemic continues to claim tens of thousands of American lives each year, researchers have also been looking into the benefits of Integrative therapies in the management of all forms of chronic pain. According to a 2017 literature review by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, studies show that pain sufferers receive some benefit from the following:
- Acupuncture
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
- Massage
- Spinal manipulation
- Hypnosis
- Mindfulness meditation
- Music therapy
However, only acupuncture has been shown to reduce patients’ need for opioids.
Integrative and alternative therapies are also sometimes useful in the treatment of mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety, panic disorders and depression. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, there is currently little research to support their use, but a few studies have shown promising results. For example:
- Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease the likelihood that a young person who experiences an episode of psychosis will develop a more chronic and severe form of schizophrenia
- Folate (also called folic acid and vitamin B9) may help reduce the severity of symptoms of certain mental illnesses, especially in people whose blood levels of this essential vitamin are low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved one form of folate, l-methylfolate (Deplin) for use as an adjunct to traditional therapies in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia.
- Equine-assisted therapy, in which a person is trained by a licensed mental health professional to groom, ride and care for horses, has been shown in several small studies to be useful in the management of depression, anxiety and impulsiveness related to mental illness.
Additionally, many people who suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and COPD use various Integrative therapies to manage their symptoms, decrease stress, and achieve a greater sense of overall well-being.
Sources
“New Analysis of Data Reveals Americans’ Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Musculoskeletal Pain”. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/new-analysis-of-data-reveals-americans-use-of-complementary-health-approaches-for-musculoskeletal-pain
“Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures”. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
“Chronic Pain and Complementary Health Approaches”. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chronic-pain-and-complementary-health-approaches-usefulness-and-safety
“Complementary Health Approaches”. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Complementary-Health-Approaches/
