In 2003, with NIH funding, Georgetown University created a master's degree in alternative therapies.
Alternative therapies offer treatment for all complaints, from circulation and digestive problems to depression and stress.
BBC: NEWS | Health | Medical notes | Complementary medicines: A guide
But so are fears that alternative therapies may do harm for instance, by tempting patients to shun real medicine.
"Slowly, but surely, complementary and alternative therapies are being recognised as a having health and well-being value, " he said.
Alternative therapies that actually reduce or eliminate the pain should be tried and at least incorporated into the treatment regimen.
The study found that parents used alternative therapies to treat anything from constipation to clotting disorders, and diabetes to cerebral palsy.
He said there was insufficient funding available to carry out extensive and meaningful trials to prove the worth of alternative therapies.
Alternative therapies, such as music and other non-pharmacologic solutions, may also work, although we need more evidence-based research to know for sure.
In women with specific risk factors, a clinician should weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of alternative therapies compared to those of traditional HRT.
BBC: Some women are using alternative therapies instead of HRT
Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at Exeter University, says it is well known that alternative therapies can have side effects, especially in vulnerable groups like children.
In Britain and Australia, horrified scientists are fighting hard against the teaching of alternative therapies in publicly funded universities and against their provision in mainstream medical care.
"It is two years now since Waltham scientists in the United States started to look for alternative therapies other than for instance aspirin which can actually cause damage to dogs long term, " Dr Karyl Hurley from the centre told the BBC.
The Scottish researchers argue, however, that resources could probably be better spent on other ways improving quality of life for patients such as rehabilitation, physiotherapy and alternative drug therapies.
When being cross-examined by counsel for Sally Roberts, the doctor was asked about alternative treatment and therapies.
Prof Steve Jones, who heads the Spectrum Centre, says web therapy provides an alternative to traditional face-to-face therapies which few people with bipolar actually access.
Why don't you present an alternative argument from Christian Scientists in your reporting on cancer therapies, for example?
Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, has announced that 3, 600 therapists are to be trained during the next three years in England to increase patient access to talking therapies, which ministers see as a better alternative to drugs.
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