Chapter 9
All Things Natural: Alternative Treatments
In This Chapter
Considering alternative approaches to healing
Exploring the many kinds of alternative treatments available
Naming the natural docs who administer treatments
Staying on guard when searching the Internet for natural treatments
When you’re suffering from postpartum depression (PPD), it may be helpful for you to consider alternative treatments and healing methods. Many of the alternative treatment options seem to work, at least some of the time, and some of them seem to be helpful most of the time (but none of them are helpful all the time, as Bob Dylan might say). They’re generally less costly and invasive than what conventional medicine recommends, and for the most part (with some important exceptions), they’re unlikely to harm you. Ultimately, though, whether or not alternative treatments do you any good depends on many factors, including the specific alternative treatment you’re pursuing, the practitioner or supplier that you’re relying on, and the specifics of your situation — for example, your physical condition and your frame of mind.
This chapter begins by exploring alternative treatments in general, as compared to other forms of treatment. I then break down a list of the most common alternative treatments into two categories: Ones that are proven to have benefits and ones that aren’t proven (but are still worth considering). As always, remember that no book, including this one, is a substitute for working individually with a qualified medical practitioner, and you should always consult with one before undertaking any significant treatment, conventional or alternative. To help get you started on your walk with alternative treatments, I include a whole section to clue you in on the types of professionals you may consult as well as how to assess — alongside a professional — whether a treatment is working or whether you need to throw it along the wayside and pick up something else. And for those of you with insatiable appetites for options galore, I fill you in on the warning signs you absolutely have to consider before jumping on the Web — a lot of what’s out there won’t do you a lick of good (and may also set you back quite a bit financially).
Introducing the World of Alternative Treatments
Alterative treatments have been growing in popularity ever since the 1960s, when “back to the land” lifestyles, vegetarianism and natural foods, and Eastern meditation techniques and spiritual practices were all taken up in various combinations by an increasing number of young people. Some of the alternative practices that were tried back then have since been proven ineffective or even harmful, but many others have found their way into mainstream consciousness and practice (however, these same practices haven’t necessarily made their way into mainstream medical consciousness and practice).
In some cases, treatments that conventional medical doctors thought were impossible have been unquestionably proven, such as the ability of acupuncture to control pain or the ability of certain trained meditators and yogis to control physical functions and processes that were formerly thought to be beyond conscious control. In other cases, the sheer number of people reporting positive success with alternative treatments have brought these options into the domain of the medical establishment. Bestselling authors, such as Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra, have also helped to popularize alternative possibilities and have brought them to the awareness of tens of millions of people. In fact, at times the line between conventional treatment and alternative treatment is blurred. So, many practitioners prefer the term integrative medicine to reflect a style of treatment that’s open to all options that have evidence for benefit.
Looking back on the rise of alternative treatments
How popular are alternative therapies and treatments? Just take a look at some numbers:
In 2005, Harvard Medical School researchers found that 35 percent of Americans used at least one form of alternative medical treatment in the previous year.
Around the world, the numbers are even higher than those in the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that between 65 and 80 percent of the world’s population relies on alternative medicine as its primary form of healthcare and that 80 percent of the world’s population uses herbal remedies as a major constituent of its primary care.
Everything from the spread of yoga studios to the popularity of the supermarket chains specializing in organic foods indicates a rise of interest in alternative treatments and perspectives. There is, then, no question that alternative and holistically medical approaches and perspectives are more popular now than ever. Why? Because they work for many, many people (just the idea that something’s “natural” is often appealing as well).
Having said that, I’m sure you have questions: “What does it mean to say that an approach “works?” “Who judges what is and isn’t effective, and how are such judgments made? And how does this all play out for the new mother who’s overwhelmed by PPD?” And finally, “How can I possibly determine which alternative approaches I should try or how to go about trying them?” As you can imagine, this is a tough enough endeavor when a person is not overwhelmed by PPD. The remainder of this chapter will address each of these questions.
Sorting out basic treatment-type terminology
Before going any further, it may be helpful to get a bit clearer about the medicine labels. First off is the kind of presumably no-nonsense medicine that’s practiced in modern hospitals and medical centers. This type of medicine can be referred to by any of the following names:
Conventional medicine
Western medicine
Standard medicine
Allopathic medicine (in contrast to homeopathic medicine)
Modern medicine
The alternative to conventional Western medicine also goes by a number of different names:
Alternative medicine
Complementary medicine
Holistic medicine
Indigenous medicine
Integrative medicine
Natural or naturopathic medicine
Traditional medicine
Complementary medicine is also a useful term because alternative treatments complement standard medicine. As such, the medical community (especially in conventional medical literature) often uses the acronym CAM to refer to “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.”
Note that the term traditional medicine is somewhat confusing because people use it to describe both sides of the treatment coin. Sometimes it refers to medicine the way native people have practiced it for hundreds or even thousands of years, for example, by using herbal medicine and the laying on of hands. But sometimes people use it to refer to what has been traditional in the United States for 100 years or so — that is, the conventional medicine practiced by MDs and hospitals.
The U.S. government’s response to alternatives (therapies, that is)
Recognizing the growth of interest in alternative therapies, treatments, and modalities, in 1991, the U.S. government formed the Office of Alternative medicine, which was later renamed the National Center for Complementary and Alterative Medicine (NCCAM). Overseen by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NCCAM’s job is to explore alternative practices scientifically and to spread the word about their effectiveness both to professionals and to the public. Its four main focuses are research, training and career development, outreach, and integration (that is, ways of bringing alternative medicine’s best practices into conventional medicine and into the medical curriculum of medical, dental, and nursing schools).
The rise of the alternative: A story that spread the news
One way that alternative treatments become popular is through anecdotal stories. One of the most famous anecdotal reports concerns Norman Cousins, the long-time editor of the Saturday Review. In 1964, experiencing severe joint pain and fever after a trip to Russia, Cousins was diagnosed with a very serious disease, a collagen illness that attacks the body’s connective tissue. He was put in a hospital bed and given high doses of painkillers.
But Norman Cousins had surmised that a different kind of treatment — laughter — might be more effective. He took himself off of the painkillers (don’t do this without your doc’s approval) and hired a nurse to read him funny stories and show him lots of Marx Brothers movies. The ensuing hearty laughter that he experienced relieved his pain and enabled him to sleep.
Twenty-five years later, in 1989, an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (called JAMA for short, and taken as the single-most authoritative medical journal) stated that laughter therapy could immediately relieve the symptoms of chronically ill patients and help improve their quality of life. In this case, it took science a quarter-century to catch up with an innovative and courageous magazine editor!
Combating the negative stigma of the alternative route
Moving up the ladder of proof, there’s a relatively tiny amount of clinical and strict experimental evidence about alternative and holistic approaches for PPD. Generally, because of the cost of performing clinical or experimental studies (a study can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to undertake, especially if a large sample of clients is to be studied), these are only done when someone with a considerable economic stake in the outcome is willing to fund it. Without meaning to criticize the U.S. economic system, many alternative and holistic treatments are inherently unprofitable, and therefore those who can afford to test them aren’t interested.
As a result, there’s relatively limited scientific proof for many holistic and alternative treatments, regardless of how strongly they’re backed up by anecdotal or even clinical evidence. And even for those alternative treatments where good, widely acknowledged scientific evidence exists, it seems that a new study will always come out either completely questioning or substantially rearranging what was previously accepted. Just because a study says that eating cooked tomatoes is good for you doesn’t mean that the next year’s study won’t come out and say just the opposite. At minimum then, it’s important to constantly be on the lookout for the latest evidence regarding any approach or treatment.
But even though establishing unquestioned scientific proof is difficult or impossible for many holistic and alternative treatments, there’s still a great deal about many of these approaches that obviously works, obviously makes sense, and is obviously worth trying. For example, if your dietary habits are quite poor, it makes sense that a partial or complete change in this part of your life may make a real difference to your physical and mental health (refer to Chapter 12 for ways to boost your mood with food). Likewise, if massage feels good to you (and you can afford it), even if there’s no proof that it helps women with PPD, you may want to get a massage regularly anyway. (Interestingly, at least one study shows how massage may help PPD!)
Alternative Treatments that Make the Cut for Their Success
This section reveals a list of alternative treatments that may be useful for treating your PPD. However, remember that this list isn’t by any means complete. A complete list would be impossible to put together because scientific knowledge — whether anecdotal, clinical, or experimental — is always moving forward. Treatments that years ago would have seemed ridiculous may very well prove to be useful, and other treatments (both conventional and holistic) that were commonplace fade away over time.
Here, then, in alphabetical order, are some holistic and alternative treatments that women with PPD may find useful.
Energy work
Many different types of energy work have delivered a great deal of value and comfort to those receiving them. It may just be that, as with massage, the patient is receiving the loving and warm touch of another human being, which in and of itself tends to have a healing effect. But some who practice energy work look at it as more than this. They claim that they can channel energy from their body and through their hands into the body of the receiving patient.
Therapists now know that sometimes the old-fashioned “talk therapy” doesn’t help with trauma and that it can actually end up re-traumatizing the client. Energy work has proven to be extremely helpful with many of my clients who experienced postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (see Chapter 3 for more on this disorder). For example, with some types of energy work, the “grip” of the person’s trauma is released so the person is no longer experiencing the terror, nightmares, or flashbacks.
Here are a few of the many energy therapies that have provided relief for women suffering from PPD. Although healthcare professionals don’t always know exactly what is working or how, these methods certainly seem to be making a difference:
Reiki: Meaning “universal life energy” in Japanese, Reiki is one system of healing. Reiki is said to go through the practitioner as electricity goes through a conduit, healing only what it finds most pressing in the body of the patient. Because the intervention is noninvasive, there are no defined contraindications. Reiki supposedly helps the energy channels of the body to flow, stimulating the body to heal itself. Many of my clients report feeling very calm after a Reiki treatment — it seems to alleviate their stress and anxiety. It’s used to reinforce the effects of any other method of therapy. (Check out Reiki For Dummies to get more in-depth info on this healing system.)
Reiki has been used for stress reduction and deep relaxation. One lengthy study investigated the effects of Reiki on depression and found it to be a successful treatment method.
Polarity therapy: An interesting blend of Ayurveda and both chiropractic and osteopathy, polarity therapy is said to balance the positive and negative energies that make life possible, and it also involves bodywork and nutrition.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): EFT is similar to acupuncture, except needles aren’t used. Instead, you stimulate energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is very easy to memorize. And, because all you need are your hands, you can do this anywhere.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a therapy that researchers believe works through stimulation of the two sides of the brain. This technique, which involves a back-and-forth motion by the practitioner that the patient’s eyes follow, has tremendously helped many of my clients with postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Although clients still remember the traumatic event after the treatment, the emotional distress associated with it is gone (or at least dramatically reduced). After the distress subsides, the therapist is able to do psychotherapy with the client.
EMDR has been tested carefully in the treatment of trauma (no fewer than 24 research studies), and the results have been impressive. The American Psychiatric Association in 2004 reported that EMDR was given the highest level of recommendation (the category for robust empirical support and demonstrated effectiveness). In 2004, both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense placed EMDR in the “A” category as “strongly recommended for the treatment of trauma.”
Therapeutic Touch (TT): Developed in the late 1960s after researchers observed how healers of ancient healing practices prepared and performed treatments, therapeutic touch is a light touch that’s now performed in hospital settings. TT is used to balance and enhance the flow of human energy and it helps with healing and relaxation. It’s taught in colleges around the world and has a substantial base of formal and clinical research.
Exercise
For simple suggestions on incorporating exercise into your busy life, see Chapter 12. There’s a lot of research on the benefits of exercise for relieving depression and anxiety (if done correctly).
Guided imagery
Guided imagery is a form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. It works by helping the patient or client use the power of her own imagination to explore a particular area of concern. The process provides an opportunity for her to allow an image to form that in some way holds significant information or knowledge of the area being addressed. Guided imagery — often supplemented with beautiful music — creates calm and peaceful images in your mind. Basically, it’s a mental escape for therapeutic purposes. The use of guided imagery can prove to be a powerful psychological strategy for enhancing your coping skills. It can help you cope with — and possibly overcome — stress, anger, pain, depression, and insomnia. After you meet with a practitioner one or more times, you can use this process at home.
Light therapy
It’s well established that light therapy — purposeful exposure to bright light — can have a positive impact on those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It can also help individuals realign and get their sleeping patterns back in synch. One study of pregnant women suffering from SAD found that light therapy helped lessen their depression. Another study reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2000) found positive impacts on women with PPD. Recent advances in light therapy generally show that a particular spectrum of light in the blue range has the greatest effect and can be used at lower light intensities. This treatment is showing a great deal of promise, and more studies are being set in motion.
To implement light therapy, clients use special lighting or a light box in their houses or in a professional’s office. The light box is just what it seems: A box that emits a very bright light. Patients are instructed to position the light box in a specific way where their eyes are open (but not staring directly into the light). The exposure times that a professional prescribes range from 30 to 90 minutes daily, six to seven days a week in the morning.
Massage
Massage tends to make almost everybody feel better. Look for a massage therapist who does the kind of work that you like. Some people prefer light sweeping strokes, as in Swedish massage, while others prefer deep tissue work.
Meditation
Meditation , which is sometimes described as an altered state of consciousness, is a form of relaxation that, unlike sleep, is entered into purposely. Meditation is usually practiced regularly, for at least 10 to 15 minutes each day. You can meditate in many different ways, but one of the most common ways is to clear your mind by focusing on your breathing or on one thought, word, or phrase (which is called a mantra ).
Omega-3 fatty acids
Please see Chapter 12 for an in-depth description (and suggestion for a particular supplement) of what this remarkable essential fatty acid does for your body and mind. I highly recommend this supplement, and evidence shows its success in relieving depression and PPD.
SAMe
SAMe (short for S-adenosylmethionine and pronounced sammy ) is a nutritional supplement that helps control the functioning of brain chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine (both of which are tied to your mood). In healthy brains, amino acids produce enough SAMe, but this isn’t so for women with PPD. Numerous controlled studies have found SAMe to be one of the most effective natural antidepressants, and it’s better tolerated and works faster than many antidepressant drugs. It has been widely used in Europe for at least 20 years, but it’s newer in the U.S.
Alternative Treatments that May Add a Bit of Benefit
Many alternative treatments can help you recover, some of which have more research and “proof” of alleviating PPD than others. I have listed some of the most popular ones in this section, but they aren’t necessarily proven to work.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing that prevents and cures specific diseases and conditions by sticking very fine, solid needles into specific points on the body. This method stimulates the body’s ability to resist or overcome illnesses and chronic conditions by correcting imbalances. Acupuncture also prompts the body to produce chemicals that decrease or eliminate painful sensations. Acupuncture has also been shown to increase melatonin, which reduces anxiety and insomnia.
Acupuncture has a long and varied history, and over time it has won the confidence of an increasing number of MDs (some of whom have themselves decided to study acupuncture and incorporate it into their practices). However, its ability to fight depression, and specifically PPD, remains scientifically unproven. Nonetheless, in my own practice, I have seen numerous women suffering from PPD who benefit from acupuncture, both emotionally and in their sleeping habits. Acupuncture is showing promise as a safe, effective, and acceptable treatment of depression in pregnancy, but more studies with a greater number of subjects are needed.
Applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical, and mental aspects of health by using manual muscle testing along with other standard methods of diagnosis. AK is based on the Triad of Health, which uses chemical, mental, and structural factors to balance the major health categories. In order to fix a problem, a practitioner must evaluate all sides of the triad for the underlying cause, because a health problem on one side can cause an imbalance on the other sides. Usually the patient lies on a table while the practitioner muscle tests the patient (pushing down on her arm as she resists) to see what strengthens her and what weakens her. From the assessment, various treatments will be prescribed and either carried out right then or in a series. From my simplistic description, AK may sound pretty “way out there,” but I have personally benefited from this method and have witnessed my clients regain sound sleep and a sense of wellbeing.
An applied kinesiologist is a doctor who’s licensed to diagnose and treat patients and who has extensive training and certification in the field of kinesiology. MDs, chiropractors, dentists, osteopaths, and others can all be trained in this field.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine. Popularized by Deepak Chopra, MD, Ayurveda is a complex and comprehensive system that has its own unique take on depression generally and PPD in particular. Ayurveda operates on the assumption that various materials of vegetable, animal, and mineral origin have some medicinal value. The medicinal properties of these materials have been documented by practitioners and have been used for centuries to cure illness and to help maintain good health. Ayurvedic medicines are made from herbs or mixtures of herbs, either alone or in combination with minerals, metals, and other ingredients of animal origin. If you choose to pursue this alternative therapy, consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician.
Chiropractic therapy
Chiropractic therapy uses adjustments to the spine and joints to relieve pain and to balance the overall health of the body’s nervous system. These adjustments assist in establishing better coordination between the central and peripheral nervous systems. A major strength of this treatment approach, which many believe has helped their depression, is that it tends to be relatively safe. Although the research is sparse regarding chiropractic therapy’s benefit in treating depression, chiropractic is nonetheless often used as a part of an overall health plan to reduce depression as well as an appropriate maintenance plan to reduce the likelihood of a relapse.
Herbs
Herbal medicine is used by more people throughout the world than virtually any other type of medicine. The helpfulness of herbs with PPD isn’t entirely clear and remains up for question in scientific literature. Despite the uncertainty, in my practice, I’ve seen numerous positive effects in my clients who take certain herbs. Because the changes happen within a few days of beginning the herbs, I’m assuming there’s a cause and effect relationship operating here. But, my observations can’t be taken as proof.
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If you have moderate to severe PPD, you need to have your condition addressed by a qualified psychotherapist or physician. However, if your PPD is more on the mild side, an assessment is always good, but trying certain herbs on your own (if you aren’t breastfeeding) may improve your condition. You can typically find all of the following herbs in health-food stores and in other stores selling natural remedies.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba, which is made from the leaves of one of the oldest living species of trees in the world, is thought to be the most frequently recommended herbal medicine. It’s known to stimulate mental clarity, alertness, and memory. Most people tolerate ginkgo well, but anyone on an anticoagulant therapy should use it with caution.
Kava
Kava (Piper methysticum) has a long history of use in reducing anxiety but has only recently been used for the treatment of the anxiety that often accompanies PPD. Several European countries have approved Kava for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety disorders, and depression. In the U.S., Kava is available as a dietary supplement. Since 1999, some individuals using products with kava in them have reported liver problems, so I’m staying tuned to find out more.
Passion flower
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) is used as a sedative and for insomnia and can relieve anxiety, nervousness, and PMS symptoms, all without side effects. When combined with St. John’s Wort, passion flower can help calm you and possibly reduce high blood pressure and nervous tremors.
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a wild yellow flower used to treat depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Named for St. John the Baptist (because it blooms around the day of his feast), St. John’s Wort is continually being studied to try and validate its alleged benefits.
Over 30 clinical studies have been conducted over the past 22 years to evaluate the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort. The active ingredients in the herb are thought to boost serotonin levels, which are usually lacking in depressed people, including those with PPD. The most recent scientific trials in the U.S. show that it’s effective for mild depression but not for more severe cases of depression. The experiences I’ve had with my clients support these findings.
Increased sensitivity to the sun
Increased blood pressure
Upset stomach
Allergic reactions
Fatigue and restlessness
Cataracts (after long-term use)
In some countries, such as Germany, the sale of St. John’s Wort is greater than the sale of many of the major prescription antidepressants.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is typically quite difficult for conventional medical practitioners to accept because according to homeopathic theory, the more times a remedy is diluted, the more powerful it gets — to the point that supposedly the most powerful doses statistically contain less than one molecule of the original substance. Nevertheless, homeopathy has been around for quite a while, and it’s very popular in Europe. Even though you can sometimes simply consult a homeopathic book to find the right remedy, a good homeopathic professional will spend a great deal of time interviewing you in detail to determine which remedy is the right one for you. After the professional determines the appropriate remedy, he or she will tell you what dosage to take and at what frequency you should take it.
Most homeopaths undertake three or four years of training, which includes case analysis so that they learn the finely honed skill of matching remedies to specific symptoms. Most naturopathic colleges have programs in homeopathy. In fact, many naturopathic doctors (NDs) use homeopathy in their practices. Homeopathic practitioners who have attended a school of naturopathy also fulfill medical school — like training and clinical application.
Many homeopathic practitioners also are MDs, chiropractors, NDs, and doctors of osteopathy. Unfortunately, a few people practice homeopathy even though they have little formal training. Your best bet is to ask whether the practitioner you’re consulting is certified in homeopathy.
Hormones
The most common theory regarding the cause of PPD is the sudden and precipitous drop in the reproductive hormones following birth. You would think that by replacing the estrogen and progesterone lost at birth, PPD could be prevented. However, even though there are some promising studies using forms of these two hormones to either treat or help prevent PPD, there’s still limited scientific support for this treatment, especially since risks are associated with hormone replacement therapy.
The data does provide evidence that estrogen and progesterone are involved in developing PPD in some women. The confusing fact is that no one actually knows why some women react to the hormone shifts while others don’t. Some women report feeling much better with estrogen or progesterone, and others report feeling much worse (especially with progesterone).
Hypnotherapy
Depression can be lifted substantially if the depressed person can relax her mind (which is pretty tough with PPD). When your mind is relaxed, you sleep better. You become more confident and motivated and are able to bring about positive shifts in your perception and turn negative thought patterns into positive ones, which is very much needed as you recover from PPD. Hypnotherapy can help you do just that.
During a hypnotherapy session, you’ll either sit in a comfortable chair or lie down on a comfy table. Different practitioners use different methods to help you into a state of relaxation (commonly called a trance ). (As a hypnotherapist myself, I basically bore my client into a trance; my voice eventually sounds to her like a droning TV in the background that she can’t wait to tune out.) The hypnotherapist will then help you get information from your subconscious (which inherently knows what you need) by guiding you through different exercises and asking questions of the subconscious. You may be fully aware of everything during the session, or you may be so relaxed and tuned out that you don’t remember much of anything. To find a qualified practitioner, check out the Web site of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) at www.hypnotistexaminers.org .
Reflexology
Reflexology, which is related to acupuncture (they’re both based on the Chinese system of meridians, or energy channels), is a technique in which a therapist applies pressure to specific points on the hands and feet. Reflexologists, like chiropractors and osteopaths, believe that the body has the capacity to heal itself. For example, by manipulating the nerves in the hands and feet (which are related to various parts of the body), reflexologists think that the healing process is stimulated.
Yoga
If you’re wracked with anxiety, concentrating on anything may prove to be too frustrating right now. On the other hand, taking your mind off of your troubling thoughts and focusing on a yoga position may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Choose a type of yoga that you’d enjoy. Bikram yoga, or “hot yoga” may be too intense for you right now (you don’t need to be in an extra-warm room when your hormones are already making you sweat!), but a nice, light “Hatha,” or health-focused yoga could be just the ticket. You can learn and practice yoga from a book or tape, but as with most types of exercise, being in a group environment means you’ll probably get more value from it. Check out Yoga For Dummies by Georg Feuerstein and Larry Payne (Wiley), Power Yoga For Dummies by Doug Swenson (Wiley), or Yoga with Weights For Dummies by Sherri Baptiste and Megan Scott (Wiley) if you want to delve into the wonderful world of yoga.
Administering Alternative Treatments: You and a Pro
When picking your alternative medicine practitioners, you have to consider many factors: their qualifications, your rapport with them, and what types of treatments you have chosen. This section introduces you to many of the common professionals.
Who’s who in the name game
Medical doctors and naturopaths
As for who’s who, I start, of course, with MDs. These traditional medical doctors and specialists, who serve as the practitioners of modern conventional medicine, are the gatekeepers of medical science and are the anchor points in the entire medical delivery system. Hopefully you won’t have to work too hard to find an open-minded MD who’s both good at what he or she does and open to the possibility that alternative treatments and therapies can be quite effective as supplements to conventional medicine.
On the natural side, the rough equivalent of an MD is a naturopath, or ND. Naturopaths are medical practitioners who receive an ND degree after four years of intense schooling. These practitioners use holistic or alternative medicine to treat patients, but they aren’t licensed to practice unlimited medicine like medical doctors and osteopaths can. In the United States, whether a naturopath can prescribe any controlled or prescription drugs (and which types), differs from state to state. Naturopaths have a substantial focus on nutrition as well as a wide range of alternative therapies and treatments.
Chiropractors and osteopaths
Chiropractors focus mainly on addressing spinal misalignments by “adjusting” clients so that a free flow of nerve impulses and bodily energy can be restored, enabling the body to self-regulate, and in turn heal itself. Chiropractors are abundant in many areas. They often prescribe nutritional supplements and holistic therapies to their patients.
Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) are similar to chiropractors in that they have a primary focus on the musculoskeletal system of the body — that is, the nerves, muscles, and bones that make up two-thirds of a person’s weight. They practice a whole-person approach, meaning that they consider both the physical and mental needs of their patients. According to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), osteopathic medicine is a complete system of healthcare with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with the current practice of medicine. Interestingly, just like an MD, a DO is licensed for the unlimited practice of medicine in all 50 states. In other words, a DO can prescribe drugs, authorize surgery, and so on. Remarkable healings are often attributed to osteopaths, who, among other things, work to realign and rearrange the plates that make up the human skull. Although osteopathy is growing in popularity and seeing a bit of a resurgence, it’s typically more difficult to locate an osteopath than a medical doctor.
Acupuncturists
Acupuncture has gained increasing recognition as being effective in treating pain, infertility, and other conditions. MDs with an unconventional orientation sometimes study acupuncture and add it to their offerings. But, a serious study of acupuncture can take many years, so your best bet for acupuncture, if you can, is to find someone who became a doctor in China.
The U.S. has national licensing boards for acupuncturists. If you want to check to make sure a practitioner is board certified, you can contact the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) by going to www.nccaom.org . Another organization to check is the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (www.dabma.org .
Other alternative-therapy professionals
Besides the main alternative medicine professionals described earlier in this section, many other individuals deliver holistic and alternative therapies, from massage therapists and herbalists to those who prescribe color therapy and those who undertake different types of energy work. Many of these talented practitioners use essential oils as part of their various treatments. Among your options are the following:
Massage therapists: These healers may be trained in a variety of massage techniques. An experienced massage therapist can be an important person on your team. Many of my pregnant and postpartum clients regularly schedule massages and put them high on the priority list of expenses. Your massage therapist should be certified. The American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org) recommends that you ask the following questions of a massage therapist to find out whether he or she is trained and qualified:
• Are you licensed to practice massage?
• Are you a member of the American Massage Therapy Association?
• Where did you receive your massage therapy training?
• Are you Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?
Another good organization for checking certification is the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.com).
If you’re pregnant, make sure that your massage therapist is experienced in working specifically with pregnant women. This area is a specialty because certain positions are more comfortable (those where you lie on your side), and certain areas of the body should be manipulated very carefully or not at all. These practitioners are usually the same ones who are experienced with new moms with loose ligaments and muscles that are still sore and healing.
Herbalists: These practitioners treat the whole person and not just the symptom. Two people could visit the same herbalist, with apparently the same condition, but leave with totally different prescriptions. Your herbalist should be registered with the organization called The National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Searching for Other Alternative Treatments: Be on Guard!
You also may run into a lot of haphazard information about what happened to different women when they used various treatments. This load of lyrics may be interesting (if in fact it’s even true), but don’t count on it — this stuff isn’t scientific data. A lot of these anecdotal reports are happenstances, treatments, or alternatives that just happened to work for the woman in question, for whatever unknown reason, but may not be applicable to your situation. If, for instance, you go online and find a random support group and you read a discussion where one woman raves about eating red licorice and how it really made all the difference to her, it’s difficult to tell how seriously you should take her advice. You can try it, if you want, but maybe you’d be better off eating healthful food or trying something that we know works (like dark chocolate!).
