Review results - Complementary and alternative therapies

Health areas in which Cochrane systematic reviews are available on complementary therapies

We also include some interlinking reviews on lifestyle and health care (but not drug treatments).

These are just some of the systematic reviews of the effectiveness of healthcare interventions available in The Cochrane Library - the Library also has reviews on the use of drugs and allied health treatments, for example (see: www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/topics/index.html)

Therapeutic area	Healthcare condition	Interventions
Neurological	Autism	Diet Vitamin B6-Magnesium Music Sound
	Epilepsy	Diet Vitamins Acupuncture Yoga

Cardiovascular	High cholesterol	Diet Artichoke leaf extract Omega 3 fatty acids
	High blood pressure	Calcium Magnesium Potassium supplements singly and combined Low salt and dietary salt reduction
	Diabetes	Zinc Fish oil Self monitoring Exercise Adherence to treatment Group training in self management
	Peripheral vascular disease	Arterial: Garlic Omega 3 fatty acids Vitamin E Exercise Chelation therapy Homocysteine Ulcers: Horse chestnut seed extract Zinc Electromagnetic therapy Ultrasound
	Stroke	Dan Shen Gingko biloba Electrical stimulation for shoulder
	Heart	Hawthorn extract (heart failure)

Respiratory	Asthma	House dust mite Pets Feather bedding Humidity control Ionisers Staying in caves
		Fish oil Vitamin C Selenium Reducing salt intake Tartrazine exclusion
		Acupuncture Homeopathy Breathing Alexander technique Inspiratory muscle training Physical training Manual therapy

Common ailments	Common cold	Echinacea Vitamin C
	Headache	Acupuncture
	Pain	Touch therapy
	Urinary tract infection	Cranberries
	Muscle soreness	Hyperbaric oxygen
	Wound healing	Therapeutic touch
	Pressure sores	Dietary Support surfaces Electromagnetic therapy Ultrasound
	Ill health	Prayer (intercessory)
	Air travel	DVT Melatonin for jetlag
	Skin	Probiotics for eczema

Sensory	Tinnitus	Ginkgo biloba Hyperbaric oxygen

Mental health	Anxiety	Kava Passiflora Valerian Cognitive behavioural therapy Exercise Meditation Psychological therapies Psychosocial therapies Paraprofessional care
	Depression	Exercise Folate Inositol St John's wort Tryptophan Acupuncture Light therapy Music therapy Transcranial magnetic stimulation Psychological therapy and education Psychosocial therapy Paraprofessional care Psychological therapies for preventing postnatal depression
	Dementia and cognition	Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Vitamin E Omega-3 fatty acids Ginkgo biloba Music therapy TENS Aromatherapy Massage and touch therapy
	Schizophrenia	Polyunsaturated fatty acids Music therapy Hypnosis Art therapy

Musculoskeletal	Osteoporosis	Calcium postmenopause Vitamin D Calcium and vitamin D for people on corticosteroids

Arthritis	Osteoarthritis	Exercise Glucosamine Electrotherapy Low level laser TENS Ultrasound
	Hip or knee joint replacement	Patient education Continuous passive motion
	Rheumatoid arthritis	Acupuncture Herbal therapies Spa therapy Thermotherapy Exercise Electrical stimulation TENS Low-level laser Ultrasound Occupational therapy Splints and insoles
Back	Low back pain	Massage TENS

Cancer	Prevention of gastrointestinal	Dietary fibre Calcium Antioxidants
	Relief of side effects	Aromatherapy and massage Chinese herbal medicines

Women’s health	Period (menstrual) pain	Herbs and diet Exercise Behavioural therapy Spinal manipulation TENS Chinese herbal medicines

Pregnancy	Supplements	Vitamins A, C, D, E Folate Iron and folate Magnesium Zinc
	Blood pressure complications	Calcium Garlic Marine oil Vitamin E
	Incontinence	Pelvic floor muscle training
	Labour	Acupuncture Homeotherapy Enemas Shaving Continuous support Position Fetal monitoring Episiotomy Perineal massage Therapeutic ultrasound
	Low resource areas	Traditional birth attendant healthcare facility training

Men’s health	Prostate enlargement	Pygeum africanum Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) Beta-sitosterols Cernilton

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