By Marcia Montenegro.

Alternative Therapies, Reiki Massage, Pilates, etc.

‘Alternatives’ have that name because they are not medicine or scientifically-based. Australia banned insurance coverage on several “alternatives.” See https://www.facebook.com/103502882236/posts/10155590818962237/

Alternative Therapies, Reiki, Reflexology, etc.

Alternatives are Pseudoscience and/or New Age/spiritually based treatments. All spiritually based treatments use pseudoscience for an attempted credibility but not all pseudoscience or quackery is New Age. See https://www.facebook.com/103502882236/posts/10155590818962237/

Quote==In 2015, the Australian government completed a review of natural products covered by private health insurance plans. The authors looked for direct evidence of efficacy, focusing on systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (for which there was little evidence.)

And this was 3 yrs. ago! Insurance rates go up when they cover junk medicine like this. It should be criminal to do so but here in the U.S., “Integrative” is the trend. At the very least, doctors and hospitals should disclose the unscientific and spiritual beliefs behind these treatments and not let the patient think they are actually medical.

Their 2015 review evaluated the following treatments:

* Alexander Technique, a form of physical therapy with elements of mindfulness, was not supported by much evidence beyond short-term back pain.
* Aromatherapy, the use of essential oils with therapeutic intent, had no convincing evidence of effectiveness for any purpose.
* Bowen Therapy, a form of massage, had insufficient evidence to make any conclusions about safety or efficacy.
* Buteyko is a Russian breathing technique claimed to be effective for asthma and other respiratory disorders, but with a lack of objective efficacy.
* Feldenkrais is a gentle form of physical therapy lacking good evidence of efficacy.
* Herbalism/western herbalism (Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine were excluded from the review) encompasses hundreds (thousands) of what are effectively impure, non-standardized drugs. There was no data on the overall efficacy identified.
* Homeopathy is an elaborate placebo system where sugar pills are felt to offer medicinal effects. There was no evidence found to suggest homeopathy was effective for any condition.
* Iridology is the study of irises based on the belief that patterns can help diagnose disease. There is a lack of evidence for the practice, for any condition.
* (Applied) Kinesiology, or more properly “applied” kinesiology, is a pseudoscientific combination of chiropractic, acupuncture, and biomechanics. Unlike the science of kinesiology, “applied” kinesiology has no evidence to support its use.
* Massage or manual therapies can encompass a variety of physical treatments. This is another difficult-to-evaluate field, and there’s a lack of good evidence for many of the conditions treated with massage.
* Naturopathy is an alternative medicine practice still based on the idea of vitalism that encompasses many of the therapies on this list, but also conventional therapies. The overall evidence for naturopathic approaches is weak.
* Pilates is an exercise practice based on strengthening the “core” muscles. While it’s very popular there is little evidence in place to support claims of benefit, with the possible exception of low back pain.
* Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure to different parts of the soles of the feet – effectively a form of massage, with the intent of treating other organs in the body. There’s no evidence to show any objective health benefits.
* Rolfing is form of physical therapy with elements of Energy Medicine and massage. There’s a lack of evidence evaluating * * Rolfing and demonstrating its effectiveness.
* Shiatsu is a combination of acupressure and massage intended to open your “energy flows”. There’s a lack of evidence showing it’s effective for any condition.
* Tai Chi is a slow Martial Art intended to balance your “Chi” or “Life Force”. Despite the extensive evidence, the quality of evidence to support efficacy is low..==See https://bit.ly/2Rr7Lys