Alternative Medicine

In addition to his roles as TV host and author, Dr. Mehmet Oz is a highly respected heart surgeon and a professor of surgery at Columbia University in New York City. Much of the health advice he offers on his show - for example, his frequent reminders to get plenty of sleep and exercise - fall well within the medical mainstream. But other suggestions don't have nearly as much scientific footing. •Forskolin, an herbal compound that supposedly helps burn fat. A 2011 report in Obesity Review concluded that there's meager evidence that it works.

In addition to his roles as TV host and author, Dr. Mehmet Oz is a highly respected heart surgeon and a professor of surgery at Columbia University in New York City. Much of the health advice he offers on his show - for example, his frequent reminders to get plenty of sleep and exercise - fall well within the medical mainstream. But other suggestions don't have nearly as much scientific footing. •Forskolin, an herbal compound that supposedly helps burn fat. A 2011 report in Obesity Review concluded that there's meager evidence that it works.

In the beginning, Debra Jones was simply trying to do a favor for a friend, but today she is a leader in the cause of finding natural remedies for the childhood maladies known as attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a fertile and growing field. Her organization, Parents Against Ritalin, is a rallying point for opposition to the leading prescription treatment for ADD and ADHD, and interest is "like never before," she said.

As if Dr. Paul Offit hasn't made enough enemies  already by insisting (correctly) that parents put their kids' health at risk when they refuse to get them vaccinated, now the infectious disease expert appears to be picking a fight with those who believe in alternative therapies like prayer healing and acupuncture. In an essay to be published in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn., Offit questions the way the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine doles out its $130-million annual budget.

Brentwood real estate broker Joan Gardner was suffering such excruciating pain with a swollen knee, months after a fall, that she was homebound, depressed and unable to work. Her doctor and orthopedic physical therapist encouraged her to have surgery, but Gardner declined because, "I'm stubborn and vain." Instead, she decided to try something different.

There are few things more frustrating than finding a health care treatment that works for you — a chiropractic adjustment that relieves nagging lower back pain or a yoga class that helps reduce anxiety — only to find that your insurance won't pay for it. But this is often the case when using products and services deemed "alternative" or "complementary medicine. " Most individuals with private insurance have little, if any, coverage for alternative medicine.

Leon Wittman tweaked his shoulder in 1994 while attempting to keep his basement from flooding during a thunderstorm by scooping water out of a window well with a bucket. His left arm began to ache. He realized about a year later that he rarely used it anymore and could no longer comfortably sleep on that side. A physician said the only cure was surgery. Wittman and his wife Charlene have always shied away from physicians, preferring to "maintain a good attitude, drink lots of water and figure things out on our own," as he puts it. And so he opted instead to try a pain relief supplement that included acetaminophen, alfalfa, cramp bark and valerian root -- which, he says, improved his shoulder within a month.

Thank you for "Life and Death on Fringes of Medicine" (Feb. 4). Unfortunately, it will mostly fall on deaf ears. Many who choose "alternative" medicine live in an alternative universe, believing that doctors have a cure for cancer but won't use it to save people. They are the ones who think 500 calories of carbohydrates will put on more weight than 500 calories of fish, and that a doctor of mathematics knows as much about curing people as a doctor of medicine. People who turn their backs on modern medicine in favor of something else choose to live in a fantasy land.

I would like to comment on your article on alternative treatments ("Hospitals Like the Alternative," Sept. 8, by Shari Roan). Overlooked was economics. The traditional medical profession is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century because they realize they are losing money to "nontraditional treatments." When the insurance companies start to realize that alternative treatments are less costly and more effective, we will see a true revolution in health care. I am on Medicare and took a Medigap policy strictly as insurance.

There is no evidence that alternative medicines, including some promoted on the Internet, are effective in treating anthrax or other biological agents, a leading government scientist said. Certain natural treatments could interfere with proven antibiotics, and there is little reason to believe they hold promise in responding to bioterrorist attacks, said Dr. Stephen E. Straus, director of the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

The recent series of articles by Trine Tsouderos in the Los Angeles Times misrepresents the scientific contributions and future research agenda of the National Institutes of Health and its National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ["New Age Cures Put to the Test," Jan. 23]. In its 12 years as an NIH center, NCCAM's more than 3,000 research studies have provided answers to important questions about complementary health approaches to help consumers and medical professionals make informed decisions.

Growing numbers of U.S. hospitals, responding to patient demand, are integrating acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative services into their conventional medical care, a new national survey shows. Forty-two percent of hospitals in the survey said they offer one or more alternative therapies, including meditation, relaxation training, homeopathy and chiropractic care. That's up from 37% of hospitals that said they offered such medical services in 2007. The alternative options are provided mostly in outpatient settings and come primarily in response to patient requests.

Dr. Andrew Weil, among the best-known medical doctors practicing alternative and complementary medicine, suggests researchers are ignoring an important endpoint when they evaluate the success or failure of clinical drug trials: how the patient feels about the treatment. Weil, a longtime leader in alternative -- or integrative -- medicine, is best known today for his books, blog and various products. It's been awhile since he ventured into the serious business of scientific research and medical practice.

Alzheimer's, MS and Parkinson's are devastating diseases with no known cures. Some patients turn to alternative medicine hoping for pain relief and maybe even a cure. This expert can explain whether alternatives are worth a try or a waste of money. Dr. Steven Novella, an academic clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine, will be the guest of Chicago Tribune health reporter Trine Tsouderos during a live Web chat Tuesday (1 p.m. EST, noon CST, 10 a.m. PST) . Novella also is president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society and hosts a weekly science podcast called "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.

James Randi launched a bold challenge Saturday that aims to debunk so-called homeopathic drugs. The fraud-busting magician even offered $1 million to any manufacturer who could prove they work as directed. RELATED: Magician James Randi, skeptics launch attack on makers of homeopathic 'drugs' Finding science and medicine experts to defend homeopathy isn't easy. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine offers a primer complete with an explanation of homeopathy regulation, the status of research and more.

Echinacea has been used as a common cold remedy for years, but does it really work? In a recent study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison tested 719 patients who were coming down with a cold to see whether echinacea was effective in curing their symptoms. The study looked at four groups: some given no pills, some given a placebo, and two groups that received echinacea. Those who received echinacea were given 10.2 grams of the dried root during the first 24 hours and 5.1 grams over the next four days.

When I'm sick or just want to feel healthier, the type of advice typically offered by traditional doctors doesn't offer all of the options I want to explore. But as I explore alternative therapies, I also don't want to waste time and money on untested remedies. Fortunately, the field of alternative medicine is evolving quickly into an area that medical experts now refer to as "complementary" or "integrative" medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recommends asking the following questions of your insurance provider before seeking alternative or complementary treatments: Is this treatment covered for my specific health condition? Does this treatment need to be preauthorized, preapproved or ordered by a prescription? Do I need a referral from my primary care provider? Do I have to see a practitioner that is part of my network for the service to be covered?

There are few things more frustrating than finding a health care treatment that works for you — a chiropractic adjustment that relieves nagging lower back pain or a yoga class that helps reduce anxiety — only to find that your insurance won't pay for it. But this is often the case when using products and services deemed "alternative" or "complementary medicine. " Most individuals with private insurance have little, if any, coverage for alternative medicine.