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| CAM therapies | Efficiency | Safety and risk |
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| CHM | CHM may improve endometrial function, inhibit uterine contraction, regulate immune response, and promote the development of the embryo. It is considered beneficial for preventing and treating miscarriage with fewer adverse events compared to current conventional western medicine by being used alone or in combination with western medicines. | Most clinical trials have reported no adverse events or significant risks, but systematic reviews have concluded that no data are available to demonstrate the safety of CHM for the mother or the infant with current publications. In addition, animal studies indicate that the frequently used CHMs have reproductive toxicity for threatened miscarriage, including fetal resorption, growth restriction, and congenital malformations. |
| Acupuncture and moxibustion | Acupuncture, acupoint sticking, auricular acupoint, acupoint injection, acupoint catgut embedding, and moxibustion are recognized as nonpharmacological approaches, which can maintain pregnancy, and enhance the effects with the CHM or western medicines. Most studies show that acupuncture is safe and effective without side effects. | The safety of acupuncture in pregnancy is reasonably well accepted, but there is still a lack of high-quality scientific research to validate the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for threatened miscarriage. There remains a debate regarding the needling points that are historically considered to be forbidden during pregnancy. |
| Nutritional supplements | Nutritional supplements are used as an auxiliary way of supplying amino acids, trace elements, vitamins, and minerals for maintaining maternal health and fetal development. Proper supplementation with Zn, Cu, Fe, vitamin D, vitamin E, and ALA may have efficacy as treatments for threatened miscarriage and to prevent further complications and is convenient to supplement. | Most of studies are of low quality and controversial because of their small sample sizes, poor and inconsistent reporting of methods, excessive confounding factors, and lack of reporting of clinically relevant outcomes such as live birth and adverse events. |
| Psychological interventions | Psychological interventions may help women to regulate their emotions and promote psychosocial well-being during the current pregnancy or after a miscarriage, and this can be beneficial for the offspring. | There is little evidence to suggest that psychological interventions are beneficial in improving psychological morbidity to prevent threatened miscarriage. |
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