Hands-on and mind-body therapies: A user's guide

If you decide to try any of these treatments, talk with your physician first to set realistic expectations for improvement. Survey respondents who said their condition was severe still benefited from these therapies but not quite as much as others.

Many insurers cover acupuncture and chiropractic, and some offer discounts for other treatments. Check with your plan. Some treatments might qualify for reimbursement from your flexible spending or health savings account.

We asked our partners at the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an independent research group, to assess evidence on the treatments. Where given, prices are the average per visit as recorded in the federal government's most recent (2008) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey of a national sample of patients and providers.

Acupuncture and acupressure

These traditional Chinese medicine systems use fine needles or pressure from hands and devices along specific points of the body, purportedly to stimulate and restore healing energy, block pain signals, or release natural chemicals.

Evidence

Acupuncture is possibly effective in reducing pain, including knee pain from osteoarthritis, and relieving nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; research is too preliminary to rate acupressure's effectiveness.

Find a practitioner

Contact the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (www.medicalacupuncture.org) or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org).

Price

$66 per session for acupuncture; prices on acupressure not available.

Chiropractic

Manipulating or adjusting the spine by applying controlled force, or a gentler mobilization technique, purportedly relieves impingement of spinal nerves, called subluxations, and helps the body heal itself.

Evidence

Chiropractic is possibly effective for back pain. But there's insufficient clinical evidence to rate its effectiveness for neck pain and many other conditions. Our medical experts warn that it might be risky for neck pain.

Find a practitioner

Contact the American Chiropractic Association (www.acatoday.org).

Price

$71 per visit.

Massage

Swedish massage involves kneading the skin and underlying muscles with deep, circular, rhythmic movements. In Shiatsu, pressure is applied to specific points on the body with fingers and hands. Deep-tissue massage, or Rolfing, involves pressure with knees, elbows, thumbs, fingers, and knuckles.

Evidence

A 2010 expert assessment found that massage in general might be beneficial for low-back pain.

Find a practitioner

Contact the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org).

Price

$60 per hour.

Meditation

Learning to focus one's attention to achieve a state of greater calm and physical relaxation. Techniques include body postures, mantras, and breathing exercises.

Evidence

Possibly effective for stress reduction.

Find a practitioner

For stress-management programs, check local hospitals and nearby medical schools. Or teach yourself with a book or audiotape. The Meditation Society of America posts free instructional information at www.meditationsociety.com.

Price

Variable.

Yoga

This practice usually involves various postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Some practitioners specialize in back pain.

Evidence

Possibly effective for low-back pain, depression, and pregnancy discomfort.

Find a practitioner

Contact your local yoga studio or fitness center. Information about yoga therapists can be found at The International Association of Yoga Therapists at www.iayt.org.

Price

Variable.