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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffSome complementary and alternative therapies, such as those below, may be helpful in achieving the goals set by your health care team.
- Massage and therapeutic touch may help to reduce anxiety often associated with eating disorders.
- Mind-body therapies, such as meditation, yoga, biofeedback and hypnosis, may provide a sense of mindfulness that could increase awareness of your body's cues for eating and fullness, as well as promote a sense of well-being and relaxation.
- Acupuncture, although not proven, shows promise in studies on anxiety and depression.
Risks of herbs and dietary supplements
Dietary supplements and herbal products designed to suppress the appetite or aid in weight loss may be abused by people with eating disorders. Weight-loss supplements or herbs can have serious side effects and dangerously interact with other medications. If you use dietary supplements or herbs, discuss the potential risks with your doctor.
References
- Binge eating disorder. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/binge.htm. Accessed Jan. 31, 2012.
- Appendix B: Criteria sets and axes provided for further study. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=22§ionid=1891981. Accessed Jan. 31, 2012.
- Sim LA, et al. Identification and treatment of eating disorders in the primary care setting. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:746.
- Herpertz S, et al. The diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. 2011;108:678.
- Hay PJ, et al. Clinical psychopharmacology of eating disorders: A research update. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011; In press. Accessed Feb. 2, 2012.
- Breuner CC. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: Eating disorders. Pediatrics in Review. 2010;31:c75.
- Carei TR, et al. Randomized controlled clinical trial of yoga in the treatment of eating disorders. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010;46:346.
- Forman SF. Eating disorders: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical features. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2012.
- Carrard I, et al. Acceptance and efficacy of a guided Internet self-help treatment program for obese patients with binge eating disorder. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health. 2011;7:8.
- Hudson JI, et al. The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry. 2007;61:348.
- Mazzeo SE, et al. Environmental and genetic risk factors for eating disorders: What the clinician needs to know. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2009;18:67.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Feb. 22, 2012.
- Sim LA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Feb. 20, 2012.
- Goldschmidt AB, et al. Which dieters are at risk for the onset of binge eating? A prospective study of adolescents and young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health. February 22, 2012. http://jahonline.org. Accessed March 21, 2012.
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