Complementary therapies

NICE (2007) outlines that 60% of children with atopic eczema have tried complementary therapies. However, to date, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of complementary therapies in atopic eczema, as in the case of medicinal herbs (Sheenan and Atherton, 1994). The National Eczema Society advises patients with eczema, who wish to try a complementary therapy, to go to a properly trained and registered practitioner, always let your health care professional know about the complementary therapy and not to suddenly stop using prescribed eczema treatments (National Eczema Society, 2009).

Safety can also be an important issue. Complementary products sold as ‘natural’ may have added synthetic ingredients; an example being the addition of steroids within medicinal herbs (Graham-Brown et al., 1994). Furthermore, it cannot always be assumed that natural is safe. An investigation into fraudulent practice with unregistered complementary therapies revealed the addition of potent corticosteroids (All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin [APPGS], 1999). The sound recommendations from NICE (2007) include informing patients on the problems of fraudulent practice and for patients to inform their health care professional.