Mind-Body Research
Evaluating Efficacy and Effectiveness Through Clinical Research
Recent trends have shown a dramatic rise in Americans' use of complementary and alternative approaches to health and wellness. Forty-two percent of Americans reported using alternative therapies for prevention and treatment including herbal medicine, massage, megavitamins, self-help groups, folk remedies, chiropractic, homeopathy, or energy healing. Thousands more Americans now incorporate yoga or meditation into their preventative health strategies. Despite the ancient origins of many of these approaches, there is remarkably little data about their effectiveness. Nonetheless, there is growing evidence that patients with chronic illnesses are seeking such therapies. This is particularly true for patients with life-threatening illnesses: 8 out of 10 cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute, try some form of complementary alernative medicine. Patients seek "alternative'" therapies because they seek relief of symptoms; they also look for approaches that are consonant with their own preferences and values. The vast majority of patients incorporate such alternative modalities without the knowledge or involvement of their physicians. Despite the rapid growth of the use of complementary modalities and widespread beliefs about their positive impact, there is limited evidence about their effectiveness or efficacy. Although more research has been done in complementary and alternative medicine recently, much more needs to be done to develop the evidence-base in natural products (herbals, botanicals and dietary supplements), and mind-body approaches. While more and more people are using alternative approaches to healing, most of these methods are implemented outside of clinical practice. Evidence of their effectiveness is often anecdotal. Based upon the experience of our multidisciplinary clinical research team, we have designed prospective studies and clinical trials to test their effectiveness.
