Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Often, there are different ways to manage the same health issue. In recent years, the idea of complementary and integrative medicine has become more popular. Across many health conditions, interest in using this mix of traditional and nontraditional treatment options is increasing. Complementary and integrative medicine may help with some schizophrenia symptoms.¹

What is the difference between traditional and nontraditional medicine?

Traditional medicine is also called Western or conventional medicine. It is the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. For example, if you have migraine headaches, your prescription migraine drugs are your traditional treatment.²

Nontraditional medicine refers to treatment methods outside of traditional treatment. It is also called complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). With migraine, doing yoga or taking vitamins to help prevent episodes would be considered nontraditional.²

In some cases, nontraditional options have been around much longer than traditional ones. For example, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for hundreds of years. It involves using herbs and natural products to treat health issues. Today, we have advances in medicine that allow us to treat specific health conditions well. But there are still benefits to using options like TCM in some cases, too.^2,3

What is the difference between complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine?

Though they are similar, there are differences between complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. The slight differences between these options are important. Common definitions for each of these approaches are:^1-4

• Complementary medicine– Treatment methods used alongside your traditional plan. An example would be using TCM and drugs prescribed by your doctor to treat a health issue. These are used at the same time. Be sure to check with your provider before adding treatment methods to avoid interactions with current treatment planning.
• Alternative medicine – Treatment used instead of traditional options. An example would be using TCM instead of prescribed drugs. This may be possible for some health issues, but there can be risks to using alternative medicine only. Always ask your doctor before stopping or changing treatment.
• Integrative medicine – Treatment plans that combine traditional and nontraditional methods to make one, holistic plan. A strong integrative medicine plan might include medicine, mind-body practices, nutritional changes, exercise, and more all at the same time. A good integrative medicine plan will safely and effectively treat the health issue while taking into account your preferences and lifestyle needs.

Approaches used for schizophrenia

As mentioned, alternative approaches may not be safe to use for some conditions. Schizophrenia is considered one of these conditions. The gold standard of schizophrenia treatment is antipsychotic drugs. These drugs help decrease the risk of psychosis.^5,6

Episodes of psychosis can be severe and include hallucinations, delusions, or other behavior changes. A person with psychosis may need to be hospitalized. Also, the longer a person is in a period of psychosis, the worse their overall outcome will be. Preventing episodes of psychosis is important in the long-term management of schizophrenia.^5,6

However, some people find complementary or integrative medicine helpful in living with schizophrenia. These approaches may be especially helpful in managing what are called negative symptoms. These symptoms often are persistent between periods of psychosis.^7,8

Common negative symptoms are lack of motivation, loss of pleasure, and inability to feel and express emotions. These symptoms can have a big impact on quality of life, even when psychosis episodes are controlled.^7,8

Safety considerations

Many complementary treatment options are safe to use. But some carry risks. Vitamins and other supplements are an example. In the United States, these are not regulated or monitored as closely as traditional drugs. Some supplements do not contain what the label claims. Different ingredients or contaminants may be present. They also may contain less of each ingredient than what the bottle says.^2,3

Also, some supplements and vitamins can interact with the way certain drugs work. This can lead to side effects or make the drugs less effective. In some cases, this can be dangerous.^2,3

Before starting any new nontraditional treatment methods, talk with your doctor. They can help determine if it is safe in your case. You can even bring supplements or other treatments with you to your doctor’s appointments.^2,3

Vitamins and supplements

Research into the way vitamins and supplements may affect schizophrenia is mixed. There have been no large, controlled trials at the time of this writing. But a few smaller studies show that some supplements may have benefits when used alongside traditional drugs.^9,10

Some experts think certain vitamins or supplements could reduce the risk of psychosis. Others believe that some reduce the risk of co-occurring conditions. Vitamins and supplements that are commonly used by people with schizophrenia include:^9,10

• B vitamins, like vitamins B12, B6, and B9 (folic acid)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin D
• N-acetyl cysteine
• Fish oil or other sources of omega-3 fatty acids
• Melatonin
• Cannabidiol (CBD) – not to be confused with THC or Delta. CBD is the non-psychoactive substance in cannabis and is often extracted from hemp.
• Amino acids like glycine

Results with any vitamin or supplement can vary. If you are interested in trying a new vitamin or supplement, talk with your doctor.

Mind-body therapies

As their name implies, mind-body therapies focus on the connection between the body and mind. Some methods involve you moving your body and controlling your breathing on your own, like yoga. Some options require a trained professional to give you a treatment, like massage or acupuncture.^1,2

Mind-body therapies often are aimed at reducing stress and improving mood. This could be helpful in managing negative symptoms and reducing the risk of future episodes of psychosis.^1-3,8,11,12

Examples of mind-body treatments that people with schizophrenia may use include:^1-4,8,12

• Yoga
• Meditation, mindfulness, or guided imagery
• Breathing exercises
• Biofeedback (using a machine to monitor and learn to control your response to different bodily functions)
• Acupuncture
• Tai-chi
• Massage or chiropractic medicine

As with any complementary option, talk with your doctor before you begin a new mind-body therapy. Some mind-body methods are more intensive than others. Your doctor can help determine what is safe for you.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes also can be an effective tool for managing schizophrenia. Many of these help with overall well-being. Some help reduce the risk of developing common co-occurring health conditions.^10,13

Examples of lifestyle changes that may help the symptoms of schizophrenia are:^10,13

• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Drinking plenty of water
• Exercising regularly
• Quitting smoking
• Getting good sleep and practicing good nighttime routines
• Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs

Your doctor can also recommend other healthcare team members to help with some of these changes. For example, a nutritionist can help create a balanced diet plan for you. A physical therapist can help you develop an exercise plan. The experts on your team can be tailored to your needs.

Before beginning treatment for schizophrenia, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take. This includes over-the-counter drugs.