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I can't get my mother to go back to her rheumatologist for her arthritis pain. She says she is done with doctors. She's trying everything else possible: acupuncture, massage, yoga, and even hypnosis. Is there any proof that these methods work?

The use of non-traditional healing practices for conditions such as arthritis is called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In some circles, this has become complementary and integrative medicine (CIM).

CAM is more likely to divide treatment into two different camps: traditional and non-traditional. CIM is a blend of both together. With CIM, medical doctors are part of a team of specialists that can also include practitioners of a variety of CAM techniques.

Studies of CAM methods are in their infancy stages. Not much is known about the use of CAM for individual conditions such as arthritis. There is some evidence that acupuncture, relaxation, and biofeedback may be helpful when used along with medical care for arthritis.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and stress management are also effective when used together with presription drugs and other traditional treatment. Other types of CAM may not help but they won't hurt. The real concern is for possible drug interactions between some herbal remedies and conventional arthritis treatments.

It might be best if you could convince your mother to use both allopathic (traditional) medical care along with CAM. Perhaps explain the idea of integrating the two together for the best results. Finding a doctor who is comfortable supervising both types of treatment might help.

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