You probably can't find clear answers about the effectiveness of particular complementary therapies because much of this research is in the early stages and needs to be repeated in trials with larger numbers of people or better designs. When reading about studies on specific therapies, keep in mind the size of the study, how the participants were chosen, and where it has been published; very small studies are less likely to be reliable than larger studies, and studies that have been published in reputable, peer-reviewed journals can generally be considered more reliable than studies that are unpublished, have only been presented at a conference, or appear only on websites.

Because of the indefinite nature of early research, it is wise to discuss the probable risks and benefits of any particular therapy with your physician or other members of your healthcare team, and also confer with your family or friends or others who have used the therapy. Reading the reviews of safety and effectiveness on the authoritative websites in this list may give you some idea of what is and is not known about any treatments you are considering.