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I wondered how effective Complementary and alternative medicine were. I have done some research and found this article on the internet. There appears to be little evidence about whether it works.
I have cut it down a bit & lifted a few of the intersteing facts...I thought it was quiet interesting....
Title: Complementary and alternative medicine utilisation in NHS and private clinic settings: a United Kingdom survey of 400 infertility patients. By:Catherine Coulson and Julian Jenkins
From: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Assisted Reproduction 2005, 2:5 doi:10.1186/1743-1050-2-5
Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seek a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. Some evidence suggests that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has found increased utilisation among patients seeking infertility treatment, although there is little information available to quantify this phenomenon.
Patients attending for infertility diagnosis and treatment often ask the physician about CAM; Our data suggest a high use of CAM particularly among female private patients, although patients appear sceptical of the efficacy of such treatment which is consistent with the literature.
* Infertility patients in our survey accessed CAM for their infertility more frequently than the overall use of CAM in the general population.
* The most commonly used CAM was herbalism (34%), followed by aromatherapy (21%), homeopathy (17%), acupuncture (14%), reflexology (6%) and massage (6%).
* As the use of CAM in the past by the infertile patients in our survey was consistent with the above reports, it seems reasonable to suggest that infertile patients in general make a greater use of CAM for their infertility than the general population.
* the highest use of CAM among women from the private clinic (40%). This may reflect a greater ability of these couples to afford the cost of CAM, even though they have the additional cost of their fertility treatment.
* CAM therapies used by the infertility patients include: acupressure, chiropractor, naturopathy, cranial osteopathy, osteopathy, Alexander technique, environmental medicine, kinesiology, Reiki, anthroposophic medicine, aromatherapy, autogenic training, visualisation, shiatsu, ayurveda massage, therapeutic touch, mediation and yoga.
* It is interesting to speculate why infertility patients would access CAM despite the lack of evidence of efficacy. Indeed, the patients in our study population registered scepticism regarding CAM themselves.
* Apart from pregnancy, there are other valuable aspects to any infertility treatment. Quality of life measures and sense of well-being are valid, especially in a disability which may become chronic, such as infertility. This condition has a deeply distressing impact on how a woman or man feels about her/himself at the level of core identity. Patients often describe an encounter with a CAM provider in terms of a someone who was "really interested", a person "who listened really carefully to what I was saying" and "who seemed to understand how I feel". From this, it may be offered that traditional doctors would benefit by refining listening and counselling.
* Although it is important to ensure the treatment we provide to patients is safe and effective, it remains vital to consider the patients foremost when managing infertility. As CAM is used so frequently (unsubstantiated claims of efficacy notwithstanding) there is a clear need for further research on this topic [3]. However, treatment offered for infertility should be patient, not doctor, centred.
* Patients should be treated holistically, respecting their own views and moral/ ethical framework. Our study suggests that CAM may be addressing a need that is not fully met by traditional medical practices.
I have cut it down a bit & lifted a few of the intersteing facts...I thought it was quiet interesting....
Title: Complementary and alternative medicine utilisation in NHS and private clinic settings: a United Kingdom survey of 400 infertility patients. By:Catherine Coulson and Julian Jenkins
From: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Assisted Reproduction 2005, 2:5 doi:10.1186/1743-1050-2-5
Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seek a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. Some evidence suggests that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has found increased utilisation among patients seeking infertility treatment, although there is little information available to quantify this phenomenon.
Patients attending for infertility diagnosis and treatment often ask the physician about CAM; Our data suggest a high use of CAM particularly among female private patients, although patients appear sceptical of the efficacy of such treatment which is consistent with the literature.
* Infertility patients in our survey accessed CAM for their infertility more frequently than the overall use of CAM in the general population.
* The most commonly used CAM was herbalism (34%), followed by aromatherapy (21%), homeopathy (17%), acupuncture (14%), reflexology (6%) and massage (6%).
* As the use of CAM in the past by the infertile patients in our survey was consistent with the above reports, it seems reasonable to suggest that infertile patients in general make a greater use of CAM for their infertility than the general population.
* the highest use of CAM among women from the private clinic (40%). This may reflect a greater ability of these couples to afford the cost of CAM, even though they have the additional cost of their fertility treatment.
* CAM therapies used by the infertility patients include: acupressure, chiropractor, naturopathy, cranial osteopathy, osteopathy, Alexander technique, environmental medicine, kinesiology, Reiki, anthroposophic medicine, aromatherapy, autogenic training, visualisation, shiatsu, ayurveda massage, therapeutic touch, mediation and yoga.
* It is interesting to speculate why infertility patients would access CAM despite the lack of evidence of efficacy. Indeed, the patients in our study population registered scepticism regarding CAM themselves.
* Apart from pregnancy, there are other valuable aspects to any infertility treatment. Quality of life measures and sense of well-being are valid, especially in a disability which may become chronic, such as infertility. This condition has a deeply distressing impact on how a woman or man feels about her/himself at the level of core identity. Patients often describe an encounter with a CAM provider in terms of a someone who was "really interested", a person "who listened really carefully to what I was saying" and "who seemed to understand how I feel". From this, it may be offered that traditional doctors would benefit by refining listening and counselling.
* Although it is important to ensure the treatment we provide to patients is safe and effective, it remains vital to consider the patients foremost when managing infertility. As CAM is used so frequently (unsubstantiated claims of efficacy notwithstanding) there is a clear need for further research on this topic [3]. However, treatment offered for infertility should be patient, not doctor, centred.
* Patients should be treated holistically, respecting their own views and moral/ ethical framework. Our study suggests that CAM may be addressing a need that is not fully met by traditional medical practices.
) sadly no bpf though 
