As far as alternative research is concerned, I am just as suspicious of their research as mainstream medical. For example, Noetic Science (IONS), founded by former astronaut Edgar Mitchell who walked on the moon!!
I am a holistic practitioner and was involved in research for them. I did not conduct the research, but was asked to provide case studies and longitudinal and observational findings to them over a period of several years. They have the same agenda as most other research that I studied in psychology....and that is....to prove a certain hypothesis. As far as I'm concerned, I don't trust any of it, and think most fudge their data!I have a friend who is a holistic nurse, and she also told me about the studies she has been involved in, and how skewed and unreliable they can be, extraneous variables, etc.....She is discouraged enough to leave the field.
I did not need Noetic Sciences to tell me that a certain protocol or modality worked or did not work. The results (or lack of) spoke for themselves. And the clients feedback was enough for me. I guess I've had my fill of science.