Actually, there is a fair amount of evidence and the body of evidence is growing, regarding CAM. The NIH has dedicated a section to the legitimate research of CAM, and specifically, herbals. Completed studies have determined pretty much what you would expect: some herbals work, others don’t.
Placebo effect is up to 70%, so anecdotal stories about what may or may not have worked for one or more person are not useful. Placebo controlled, double blinded studies are the gold standard, but are not required to demonstrate good effect; especially because certain treatment methods do not lend themselves to such studies, certainly not ethically.
There is good evidence that some people obtain relief with appropriately applied chiropractic. There is also solid evidence that the complication rate with chiropractic is often unacceptably high. Accupuncture has been well researched and, for certain applications, is very useful. There is no good evidence for cupping, candeling, coining, etc. Some herbals have been found to have extremely dangerous side-effects that far outweigh any possible benefit. Others have been found to be relatively safe and effective. The whole field is fraught with land mines and I would definitely say that anyone who wants to utilize CAM had better do their homework. That said, I use certain, well researched herbals (I grow my own) and have referred patients to an accupuncturist for certain treatments. Remember, though, that in the US, unlike some other nations, herbals are not regulated as pharmaceuticals but sold as supplements. The quality is, therefore, highly variable. Taking capsules from a jar labled as having a certain dosage does not, therefore, assure you that you are getting the labeled dosage. It has been demonstrated that US based herbals companies are notoriously inconsistent in their production standards. So, when my patients asked about using herbals, if the requested substance was well researched I suggested they obtain it from Germany or another country known to appropriately regulate herbal production.
As an aside, my medical training included courses regarding what many would consider CAM. Like most science-based fields; medicine does require that the evidence demonstrates good effect and little or controllable adverse effect (the whole “first do no harm” thing).
I didn’t answer the poll because it asked about CAM as a whole. Certain types of therapy classified as CAM are useful; others are downright dangerous; so I couldn’t give an answer.
