Tick this first

THIS IS THE ONLY CHEAT SHEET YOU NEED TO DECIDE YAY OR NAY ON ADDING A TREATMENT TO YOUR ROUTINE.

DID YOUR DOC GIVE YOU THE OKAY?

Your GP may not believe in the method, but they may understand why you’re curious. If it involves needles, IVs or ingesting a substance, they may not be on board, as it could interact with a drug you’re taking, or potentially cause more harm than good.

DO YOU HAVE A REALISTIC GOAL?

If you’ve put your faith in big marketing claims, you’re bound to be disappointed. Go in with healthy scepticism. “If you’re trying reiki to help you sleep, make sure it is helping you sleep,” says integrative medical specialist, Dr Irene M. Estores. “Work with your GP to find another treatment if it’s not.”

DO YOU TRUST THE PRACTITIONER?

Confirm their training and licensing and whether they have treated other women with your symptoms. Feeling confident in, and deeply cared for, by your doctor is key. You can get positive results even from fake treatments, research shows.

DOES IT PASS THE GOOGLE TEST?

Do what doctors do: open your web browser and do a basic scan for research (no, you don’t have to be super science literate!). Red flags should wave if no studies exist, or if the only research is on animals or includes a very small number of people.

If you ticked all four boxes, give the therapy a go. If not, talk to your GP before scheduling an appointment that, at best, won’t work and, at worst, could set your health (and wallet) back.