Pain is the most common reason for people to use complementary and alternative medicine. An analysis of the 13 highest quality studies of pain treatment with acupuncture, published in January 2009, concluded there is little difference in the effect of real, sham and no acupuncture. However other reviews have found benefit. Additionally, there is tentative evidence for a few herbal medicine. There is interest in the relationship between vitamin D and pain, but the evidence so far from controlled trials for such a relationship, other than in osteomalacia, is unconvincing. COUNT 5
QSN1 What is the most common reason people seek out alternative medicine? ANS1 Pain QSN2 What did an analysis of the 13 studies of pain treatment conclude about the effect of real treament versus sham treatments? ANS2 little difference in the effect QSN3 What medicine is there tentative evidence for the efficacy of? ANS3 herbal QSN4 Some contradictory reviews of 13 high quality studies found actual what? ANS4 benefit QSN5 Other than in osteomalacia, what is there no evidence of a relationship between pain and? ANS5 vitamin D