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In addition to a wide variety of therapeutic options that have been incorporated to a greater or lesser degree into conventional western medical practice, other nonwestern systems of medicine can be utilized in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. These are complete systems of medicine that have been practiced in many cultures for thousands of years. Among the most available in the U.S. are Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda (the ancient medical system of India). Other less common but potentially effective approaches available in the U.S. include Kampo (Japanese), Curandera (Hispanic), Native American Medicine and Tibetan Medicine.
The integration of these systems into an expanded concept of medical care involves the use of diagnostic and therapeutic tools that are part of standard medical practice as well as unique methods of diagnosis and treatment that represent a different way of understanding health and disease. While some practices have been studied in Western clinical trials, including acupuncture, acupressure, qigong, tai chi, yoga, meditation, Chinese herbal medicine and Ayurvedic herbal medicine, the use of these systems as complete medical approaches has not yet received significant scientific attention (Bell, 2002). Nevertheless it is clear that literally billions of people around the globe have successfully used these and other traditional medical systems as their main source of health care for centuries. Further investigation into the incorporation of "the wisdom of the ancients" into our modern armamentarium is warranted. It will also be important to study the possible adverse effects of combining traditional remedies (particularly herbals) with conventional remedies (especially pharmaceuticals).
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