Research issues in complementary therapies

Complementary medicine views health as a balance of forces to achieve optimum wellbeing of body, mind and spirit, whilst conventional healthcare focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The World Health Organisation estimates that globally 80% of primary consultations occur within holistic therapies (Lewith 1995). Numerous reasons explain this, e.g. dissatisfaction with technological medicine, increasing individual responsibility for health, and more client involvement in treatment. The increased use of complementary therapies in the UK has stimulated debate about health, illness and care which poses issues for the overall delivery of contemporary healthcare. Rising standards of accountability create expectations that research is available which informs safe and effective practice. This article reflects on the particular issue of research methodology into the effectiveness of healthcare.