Guest guest Posted January 13, 2005 Report Share Posted January 13, 2005 Research on Alternative Therapies Is Sought By REUTERS Published: January 13, 2005 WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Reuters) - More research is needed to show that alternative therapies like acupuncture and herbal supplements work, and this may mean changing laws that protect the industry, a committee of experts said Wednesday. Nearly a third of Americans use such therapies, and it is increasingly important to standardize those treatments and show whether and how they work, the Institute of Medicine committee said. It urged Congress and regulators to work with industry, researchers, consumers and advocates to find a way to test alternative approaches. " The main message is that complementary and alternative therapy use is widespread and here to stay, " Dr. David Eisenberg, an expert in complementary and integrative medical therapies at Harvard Medical School, said in an interview. " The same rules of evidence of effectiveness and safety should apply regardless of the origin of the therapy. " The Institute of Medicine, an independent group that advises the government on health, was asked to identify barriers to better research on complementary and alternative therapies. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act says supplements can be regulated as foods rather than drugs. This lets makers not be responsible for safety and efficacy tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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