Abstract

The limits of the scientific evidence or Suitability methodological research in Complementary Therapies. Index Enferm [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.4, pp.271-275. ISSN 1699-5988.

The article is part of the author's doctoral thesis, entitled "Towards an integrative medicine. Coexistence of eastern and western model health care between Spain and Japan. "It is questioned whether the legitimization of Complementary Therapies goes by the scientific evidence as biomedicine understands, acknowledging that the CT work, but could not agree to work if do not respect the criteria of scientist dominant, and only argues placebo as a cause of its success. Medicine or Nursing Evidence Based has become a new ritual that has come to be seen above the individual and the clinical experience of the professional staff. However, it is required a methodological suitability for some therapies based more on empiricism that positivism. It outlines two mixed methodological proposals. Nursing took the scientific evidence as a way to take hold disciplinary, but it is necessary to know its limits, because care nurse implies the consideration of comprehensive and personal care. There is a need to investigate without fear in the CT or other related topics and deep in the qualitative and social point of view, and it doesn’t mean to forget their "scientific" character.

Keywords : Health care systems; Integrative medicine; Third medicine; Anthropology of medicine; Complementary health care; Comparative anthropology.