Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Turmeric [1, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that turmeric can help in the treatment of pain. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 15, 16, 17]:

WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which reports the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [1, 14]:

Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pau D'arco helps to treat pain. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Cannabis (Marijuana, weed, hemp) [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Evidence shows that smoking or ingesting cannabis may help in relieving symptoms of pain, although some studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Chaparral (Larrea Tridentata Coville [1, 2, 3, 4]:

Please note, this herb is HIGHLY TOXIC, and has been reported to cause severe and permanent liver disease which can be fatal.

Recommendation: strongly against (Existing evidence shows that Chaparral is not an effective treatment for chronic pain. In addition, this herb is highly toxic and potentially life threatening.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Red Pepper (Capsaicin):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that red peppers help to treat or prevent chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Black Cohosh (cimicifuga Racemosa):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Cohosh helps to treat symptoms of pain in any way. Studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weak (There is not enough evidence supporting the role of TENS in chronic pain therapy)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Therapeutic Touch:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (A reliable study demonstrated that this form of therapy helps reduce some types of pain, but more studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Reiki:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (some studies show that Reiki may help reduce pain among some patients, but this had no effect on the amount of pain medication they needed to take later)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Reflexology:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (A conrolled study showed that Reflexology may help some people with chronic pain for a maximum of three hours, but shows no effect after that)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Polarity Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (available research does not show that Polarity Therapy might help reduce pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Osteopathy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available scientific evidence does not support Osteopathy as helpful alone in chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (no reliable clinical studies have been done to support Neural Therapies role in reducing chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Myofascial Release:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (small initial studies show that myofascial release may help in chronic pelvic pain, but there is insufficient evidience for this, and other types of pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Massage:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (Some studies have shown that massage therapy can help decrease chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Low-Level Laser Therapy:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There have been ambiguous results on the few studies done investigating the effect of laser therapy on chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Acupuncture:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (There is some evidence that suggest that Acupuncture may decrease the need for pain medication)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Qigong:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (One published study found that Qigong may help in reduction of chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Aromatherapy:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (early trials suggest that Aroma therapy helps patients cope with chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Creative Art Therapy (Expressive Therapy):

Recomendation: no recommendation (there is no reliable evidence suggesting that creative arts therapy may help manage chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurveda):

Recomendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence that suggests that Ayurvedic Medicine may help manage chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Curanderismo:

Recommendation: no recommendation (although there are reports from people that Curanderismo may help deal with pain, but there are no reliable studies done yet)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Humor Therapy:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (One study has shown that humor therapy may help increase pain tolerance)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Hypnosis:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (There are many reports that demonstrate that hypnosis helps patients better manage and reduce pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Image Therapy:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (a review of a number of studies conducted showd that Image Therapy may be helpful in reducing pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Meditation:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (clinical trials have shown that meditation can help reduce chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Music Therapy:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (Music therapy has been shown to be effective for short-term management of pain)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Native American Healing:

Recommendation: no recommendation (No reliable studies have shown that Native American Healing may help deal with chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Naturopathic Medicine:

Recommendation: no recommendation (No reliable studies have shown that Naturopathic Medicine may help to deal with chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

 

 

 

 

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1

3. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2005/2005_135-eng.php

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/chaparral

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html

6. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2004/

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/marijuana

8. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/complementary--alternative-medicine/marijuana/index.aspx

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957511

10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12965981

11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370

12. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.long

13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/?tool=pmcentrez 

14. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco   

15. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5

16. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.

17. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica

18. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

19. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

20. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

22. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

23. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric