Beyond conventional care: exploring complementary and alternative medicine for autoimmune disorders

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Autoimmune diseases present complex, long-term healthcare challenges.
• Conventional therapies often require extended management.
• There is a growing interest in complementary and alternative modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on complementary and alternative modalities for autoimmune disease management.
• To explore the efficacy and patient-reported outcomes of various CAM therapies.
• To highlight the role of CAM in a holistic patient care model.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review.
• Analysis of studies on herbal remedies, dietary interventions, and mind-body practices.
• Inclusion of emerging therapies for autoimmune conditions.

Main Results:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is associated with increased patient satisfaction.
• CAM modalities can aid in pain management and patient adaptation.
• Diverse CAM therapies show potential in managing autoimmune diseases.

Conclusions:

• CAM plays an evolving role in the supportive management of autoimmune diseases.
• A holistic approach integrating CAM enhances patient care.
• Further research into CAM's efficacy and safety is warranted.