| Abstract: | Alternative therapies, widely used by Americans, include yoga, relaxation techniques, and herbal medications, as well as less conventional and more experimental treatments. The AIDS Research Center in Seattle is conducting the largest study of alternative therapies. Many alternative therapies are used as complements to traditional treatments, and can make a disease easier to manage. Several categories of alternative medicines are detailed: acupuncture and other Chinese treatments, natural treatments including herbal medicine and aromatherapy, and mind-body treatments such as hypnosis and biofeedback. Patients are cautioned to avoid five dangerous therapies: chelation therapy, colonic irrigation, bee venom therapy, hydrogen peroxide injections, and unlabeled medicines. Contact telephone numbers for alternative therapies are listed. |
