Avoiding Quackery
Because the world of supplements and nontraditional medicine is more loosely regulated than mainstream medicine, there is more opportunity for consumer fraud and subpar or ineffective treatments.
The best way to get quality treatment is to find a quality, credentialed practitioner. Get to know the national professional groups and credentialing organizations for the type of practitioner you wish to see. You can also check with your local and state departments of health to ensure that an alternative practitioner is licensed to practice what he or she claims, and to check for any consumer complaints.
Health care providers that practice alternative or complementary medicine cover a broad spectrum of disciplines. They can range from “traditional” doctors like general practitioners, internists, and even neurologists who advocate the use of select complementary therapies when appropriate, to “alternative” providers like naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine who specialize in these therapies.
The designation OMD stands for Oriental Medicine Doctor, and signifies a health care provider who specializes in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (or TCM). An OMD has undergone a doctorate-level degree program in TCM at an accredited university.
Board certification in a specific discipline is the best way to verify that a health care provider has the knowledge and experience to administer a particular therapy. Typically, most health care board certifications require many hours of training and study, followed by a rigorous examination.
Several medical organizations exist for the board certification of acupuncturists. These include the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA), and the American Manual Medicine Association (AMMA). If a doctor or health care practitioner is board certified by one of these organizations, he will have these credentials:
Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM)
Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture; or DABMA (ABMA)
National Board Certified Practical Acupuncturist; or P.Ac., and the National Board Diplomate Acupuncturist, or Dipl.Ac. (AMMA)
In addition, practitioners are often certified at the state level. For example, in New York, you must be a licensed doctor or dentist and meet acupuncture education and training requirements to qualify for certification. Check with the health department or department of consumer affairs in your state to find out what the criteria is in your area.
A naturopathic physician (ND or NMD), is a doctor who specializes in natural medicine. Naturopaths avoid drugs and surgery and instead use a variety of complementary therapies, including herbs, acupuncture, bodywork, aromatherapy, and homeopathy. They also practice more “traditional” areas of care such as nutrition therapy and counseling. Preventative medicine is one emphasis of naturopathy, as is treating the “whole person,” or holistic health care.
Not all naturopathic physicians are licensed or board certified acupuncturists. If you are seeking acupuncture from an ND, be sure to inquire about his or her credentials in the treatment first. Similarly, medical doctors (MDs) must also have licensing and/or board certification in acupuncture to administer the treatment.
The American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB) is the organization that board certifies practitioners in naturopathic medicine. The designation CTN (Certified Traditional Naturopath) indicates a naturopathic physician has received this certification. Many states also regulate the licensing of naturopaths; check with the department of health to find out the policy in your area.
Perhaps you aren't seeing a complementary practitioner, but are interested in trying out a supplement, vitamin, or other alternative migraine treatment. Of course, it's always best to check with your primary care physician before trying any new treatment — even one touted as “natural” — since the medication you may already be taking can interact with even natural treatments. But there are some signs that the treatment you are considering may be a scam.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Pills, powders, and juices that tout themselves as “miracle cures” should raise a big red flag. A cure is something we just don't have for migraine disease yet.
Watch out for he said/she said. Advertisements that are full of testimonials from “satisfied customers” and even doctors, but that lack hard clinical information and studies, are probably not backed by any scientific proof of efficacy.
Beware of one-size-fits-all claims. If a product purports to treat everything from dandruff to diabetes, it is probably a scam. While some supplements and vitamins can be beneficial for multiple conditions, a laundry list of treatable diseases is a sign of a hoax.
Complementary therapies can be a wonderful addition to your migraine treatment regimen. With some basic consumer shopping smarts, a little research, and the guidance of your health care provider, you can use these “natural” treatments to your best advantage.
