[Pseudo-natural treatment and alternative methods in rheumatology]

In rheumatology, besides generally acknowledged so-called "natural treatment" methods, disputed and non-suitable methods are alleged as being also "natural methods". In particular, it is the "Action for Biological Medicine" which strives against any necessity of a differentiated approach on the basis of the benefit-risk relation. In this paper, after a short introduction covering the present legal situation in Germany, examples of unconventional diagnostic and therapeutic methods are discussed. Since the alleged benefit of these methods has never been proved, they must without any exception be considered as totally unnecessary. Moreover, because of the high risk involved, some methods must be warned against. Instead, demonstrably successful psychological and behavior-therapeutic methods should be recommended, the more so, as these can assist patients in becoming independent.