Alternative medicine: what is the physician's role?

Over the past 10 years, Alternative Medicine has become increasingly popular in the patient population, as reflected by the media and confirmed by several studies. Conventional research has demonstrated benefits of some alternative methods, but many others are questionable or useless. Many alternative methods are not licensed or certified and alternative products are not regulated or controlled. It behooves us as physicians to be aware of our patients' inclinations toward using alternatives and obtain the knowledge necessary to guide them appropriately.