Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicines.

The claims that CAM treatment providers make about their benefits can sound promising. However, researchers do not know how safe many CAM treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many CAM practices.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary And Alternative Medicine on Wikipedia

'''Alternative medicine''' is a broad term for any diagnostic method, method of treatment or therapy, and products whose theoretical bases and techniques diverge from generally accepted medical methods.

'''Complementary and Alternative Medicine'''

This article is part of the Terms and concepts in alternative medicine#CAM series of articles.


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'''Complementary medicine''' uses "alternative" methods and practices alongside conventional medical treatment. '''Integrative medicine''', as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, combines conventional medical treatments and alternative treatments for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of their safety and effectiveness [http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/#3]. Collectively, these variations on alternative medicine are often referred to as '''complementary and alternative medicine''' (or simply as '''Terms and concepts in alternative medicine#CAM'''). The definition of what is and is not 'alternative' changes with time, generally as the result of research and public acceptance. This change in status can work in either direction. Alternative medicine is generally considered to be the most dangerous form of CAM by the scientific community because it is used in place of conventional medicine.

Contemporary use of alternative medicine

The popularity of CAM therapies is great. A [http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2004/052704.htm survey released in May 2004] by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine focused on who used complementary and alternative medicine, ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Article advocating the unbiased use of scientific proven forms of medicine respecting patient's demand by E. Ernst. British Medical Journal

Sue Akeroyd and Associates - Consultants to the pharmaceutical, complementary and alternative medicine, nutritional supplement, cosmetic and food industries.

InteliHealth: HIV / AIDS - Harvard Medical School-reviewed health information on HIV infection and associated conditions. Includes information on complementary and alternative medicine.

Addiction and Alternative Medicine - Information and research on complementary and alternative medicine therapies for addictions.

Online Gerontology Courses for Health Care Professionals. - Online courses for Health Care Professionals. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Gerontology, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Spirituality, Health, and Healing.

The Alternative Medicine Homepage - Information on unconventional, unorthodox, unproven, or alternative, complementary, innovative, integrative therapies. Maintained by Charles B. Wessel, medical librarian, University of Pittsburgh.

Alternative Medicine Foundation - Non-profit organization in Bethesda, Maryland, dedicated to providing objective information on alternative medicine, complementary medicine, Tibetan medicine and herbal therapies.

The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Supports research projects and educational activities covering complementary and alternative medical topics. Located at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.

Complementary and Alternative Medicines Institute (CAMI) - University of the Sciences in Philadelphia site features natural product monographs, courses, seminars.

Alternatives for Healthy Living - Free information and support on alternative and complementary medicine. Message boards, chat rooms, and reference areas. Based in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine