Bioterrorism and CAM: What the Public Needs To Know
November 20, 2001
For Reponse to Inquiries
On this page:
- Introduction
- What are NCCAM's recommendations regarding CAM and bioterrorism?
- Why is CAM not appropriate for diseases such as anthrax or smallpox?
- What about Internet claims offering products to prevent or treat bioterrorism agents?
- Is NCCAM studying CAM for use against bioterrorism?
- In Summary
- For More Information
Introduction
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) understands the public's need to search for ways to protect itself from exposure to biological weapons. Many people are looking to complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) treatments to help them prevent or treat diseases, such as anthrax and smallpox, that could be used a weapons by terrorists. As a component of the National Institutes of Health, the nation's lead agency for medical research, NCCAM is charged with exploring—in the context of rigorous science—CAM approaches and practices, and giving the American public reliable information about the safety and effectiveness of CAM practices.
What are NCCAM's recommendations regarding CAM and bioterrorism?
While modern public health measures and medical advances can control diseases spread by bioterrorism, some people are seeking additional measures to safeguard their health and the health of their loved ones. The public is asking about the appropriateness of CAM in regard to bioterrorism.
In dealing with the threat of bioterrorism, the best approach is to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (See the CDC Web site, which answers frequently asked questions about anthrax, at www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/faq/treatment.asp.) NCCAM fully supports the CDC recommendations for managing potential exposures to biological weapons. People should not place their faith in CAM to provide adequate protection against the diseases used in bioterrorism.
Why is CAM not appropriate for diseases such as anthrax or smallpox?
While advances in medical science in the past century have had a great impact on the length and quality of life, there is still a great human burden of disease and suffering. Therefore, many people turn to CAM, hoping to harness their own, natural healing powers. While this approach may prove beneficial for some illnesses, and is a focus of much research funded by NCCAM (see our website at nccam.nih.gov), there is no scientific basis to believe that CAM is likely to be of value against virulent infections spread by biological weapons.
Diseases like anthrax and smallpox progress too rapidly for our immune system's natural ability to control them. Simply stated, these diseases can kill us before our immune system can rally to defend against them. While many CAM practices do have a place in treating other conditions, especially in relieving symptoms, and in improving one's quality of life, in the case of bioterrorism, there is no CAM practice that has been shown to sufficiently stimulate the immune system to fight these deadly diseases. Nor do any dietary supplements or other CAM products have the potency to eliminate highly lethal microorganisms and toxins, once they have entered our systems.
What about Internet claims offering products to prevent or treat bioterrorism agents?
There are many Internet sites that claim their CAM products can protect against anthrax and smallpox. NCCAM is unaware of any scientific basis that these or other CAM therapies would be effective in protecting the public from biological or chemical weapons. (For more information on Internet claims, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/11/webwarn.htm.)
Is NCCAM studying CAM for use against bioterrorism?
NCCAM funds well-designed research on complementary and alternative medicine and welcomes proposals from researchers to study CAM approaches for major public health problems, including those of bioterrorism. Before a CAM remedy would be used for the diseases of bioterrorism, careful studies would need to be conducted in the laboratory and with animals to verify that the remedies are helpful and would not interfere with more conventional treatments. It would, of course, be unethical and dangerous to conduct research studies in people that withhold proven drugs and vaccines to see whether CAM remedies could protect or cure those exposed to fatal diseases associated with biological weapons.
In Summary
Because there is no evidence in the scientific literature that CAM products are effective against diseases like anthrax or smallpox, the claims about these products are misleading and dangerous. In dealing with bioterrorism, the best approach is to trust in the currently approved drugs, vaccines, and related public health measures.
For More Information
View the NCCAM Director's full testimony before Congress on November 14, 2001.
