Do conventional doctors oppose complementary and alternative medicine?

Many doctors aren't opposed to complementary and alternative medicine. But many doctors practicing today did not receive training in CAM therapies, so they may not feel comfortable addressing questions in this area. However, as the evidence for certain therapies increases, doctors in the United States are increasingly referring people to complementary and alternative practitioners. Your doctor may be willing to discuss these options with you.

At the same time, conventional doctors also have good reason to be skeptical when it comes to complementary and alternative medicine. Some complementary and alternative medicine practitioners make exaggerated claims about curing diseases, and some ask you to forgo treatment from your conventional doctor to use their unproven therapies. Some forms of complementary and alternative medicine can even hurt you.

Conventional medicine relies on methods proved to be safe and effective with carefully designed trials and research. But many complementary and alternative treatments lack solid research on which to base sound decisions. The dangers and possible benefits of many complementary and alternative treatments remain unproved.