The state of research on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology.

Author: April KT, Walji R.
Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada; Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Room 201, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
Conference/Journal: Rheum Dis Clin North Am.
Date published: 2011 Feb
Other: Volume ID: 37 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 85-94 , Word Count: 97


This article reviews available evidence on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology. Despite its common use in pediatric rheumatology (34%-92%), there is still uncertainty as to its efficacy and safety. Although results are promising for some treatments such as massage, acupuncture, mind-body interventions (eg, guided imagery and meditative breathing), and some natural health products (eg, calcium supplements and Tripterygium wilfordii), there is a need for high-quality trials investigating the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of these therapies as well as research on their use in this population of patients.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21220088