Table 3
Summary of Evidence for Selected Complementary Health Approaches by Type of Pain - sham or placebo, attention controls
| Approach | Back pain | Fibromyalgia | OAa of knee | Neck pain | Severe Headache/Migraine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | 1 positive trial, 2 negative | 1 positive trial, 3 negative trials | 1 positive trial, 3 negative | ?b | ? b |
| Chondroitin | ? b | ? b | 1 negative trial | ? b | ? b |
| Glucosamine | ? b | ? b | 2 positive trials, 3 negative trials | ? b | ? |
| Chondroitin & Glucosamine | ? | 1 positive trial, 2 negative trials | ? | ? b | |
| Massage therapy | One positive trial | ? b | ? b | 2 positive trials | One positive trial |
| MSMa | ? b | ? b | 1 positive trial | ? b | ? b |
| Omega 3 fatty acids | ? b | ? b | ? b | ? b | One negative trial |
| Relaxation approaches | ? b | 1 positive trial, 2 negative | ? | ? b | 3 positive trials |
| SAMea | ? b | ? b | ? b | ? b | |
| Spinal Manipulation | 6 positive trials, 3 negative | ? b | ? b | One negative trial | One positive trial |
| Osteopathic Manipulation | 1 positive trial, 1 negative | ? b | ? b | ? b | ? b |
| Tai Chi | ? b | 2 positive trials | 3 positive trials | ? b | ? |
| Yoga | One positive trial | b? | 1 positive trial | ? b | ? b |
MSM = Methylsulfonylmethane;
OA = osteoarthritis;
SAMe = S-Adenoysl methionine
b no U.S. RCT’s identified