title: The state of research on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology.
abstract: This article reviews available evidence on complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric rheumatology. Despite its common use in pediatric rheumatology (34%-92%), there is still uncertainty as to its efficacy and safety. Although results are promising for some treatments such as massage, acupuncture, mind-body interventions (eg, guided imagery and meditative breathing), and some natural health products (eg, calcium supplements and Tripterygium wilfordii), there is a need for high-quality trials investigating the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of these therapies as well as research on their use in this population of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada. ktoupina@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Karine Toupin
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: April
authors.forename: Rishma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walji
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome