Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of complementary and alternative medicine? Complementary and alternative medicine, as defined …
What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine CAM?
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here are many terms used to describe approaches to health care that are outside the realm of conventional medicine as practiced in the United States This fact sheet explains how the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM, a component of the National Institutes of Health, defines some of the key terms used in the field of complementary and alternative medicine CAM Terms that are underlined in the text are defined at the end of this fact sheet What is complementary and alternative medicine? Complementary and alternative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine1,2 While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies–questions such as whether these
therapies are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches to health care emerge Are complementary medicine and alternative medicine different from each other? Yes, they are different
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Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of MD medical doctor or DO doctor of osteopathy degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western, mainstream, orthodox, and regular medicine; and biomedicine Some conventional medical practitioners are also practitioners of CAM 2 Other terms for complementary and alternative medicine include unconventional, nonconventional, unproven, and irregular medicine or health
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Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy to help lessen a patients discomfort following surgery Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor
What is integrative medicine? Integrative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness What are the major types of complementary and alternative medicine? NCCAM classifies CAM therapies into five categories, or domains: 1 Alternative Medical Systems Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice Often, these systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach
used in the United States Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda 2 Mind-Body Interventions Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the minds capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance 3 Biologically Based Therapies Biologically based therapies in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins Some examples include dietary supplements,3 herbal products, and the use of other socalled natural but as yet scientifically
unproven therapies for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer
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Some uses of dietary supplements have been incorporated into conventional medicine For example, scientists have found that folic acid prevents certain birth defects and that a regimen of vitamins and zinc can slow the progression of an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration NCCAM - 2
4 Manipulative and Body-Based Methods Manipulative and body-based methods in CAM are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage 5 Energy Therapies Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields They are of two types: Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the human body The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands
in, or through, these fields Examples include qi gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields
What is NCCAMs role in the field of CAM? NCCAM is the Federal Governments lead agency for scientific research on CAM NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals
Definitions
Acupuncture AK-yoo-pungk-cher is a method of healing developed in China at least 2,000 years ago Today, acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries The acupuncture technique that has been
most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation Aromatherapy ah-roam-uh-THER-ah-py involves the use of essential oils extracts or essences from flowers, herbs, and trees to promote health and well-being Ayurveda ah-yur-VAY-dah is a CAM alternative medical system that has been practiced primarily in the Indian subcontinent for 5,000 years Ayurveda includes diet and herbal remedies and emphasizes the use of body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention and treatment Chiropractic kie-roh-PRAC-tic is a CAM alternative medical system It focuses on the relationship between bodily structure primarily that of the spine and function, and how that
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relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health Chiropractors use manipulative therapy as an integral treatment tool Dietary supplements Congress defined the term dietary supplement in the Dietary Supplement Health and
Education Act DSHEA of 1994 A dietary supplement is a product other than tobacco taken by mouth that contains a dietary ingredient intended to supplement the diet Dietary ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, and metabolites Dietary supplements come in many forms, including extracts, concentrates, tablets, capsules, gel caps, liquids, and powders They have special requirements for labeling Under DSHEA, dietary supplements are considered foods, not drugs Electromagnetic fields EMFs, also called electric and magnetic fields are invisible lines of force that surround all electrical devices The Earth also produces EMFs; electric fields are produced when there is thunderstorm activity, and magnetic fields are believed to be produced by electric currents flowing at the Earths core Homeopathic home-ee-oh-PATH-ic medicine is a CAM alternative medical system In homeopathic medicine, there is a belief
that like cures like, meaning that small, highly diluted quantities of medicinal substances are given to cure symptoms, when the same substances given at higher or more concentrated doses would actually cause those symptoms Massage muh-SAHJ therapists manipulate muscle and connective tissue to enhance function of those tissues and promote relaxation and well-being Naturopathic nay-chur-o-PATH-ic medicine, or naturopathy, is a CAM alternative medical system Naturopathic medicine proposes that there is a healing power in the body that establishes, maintains, and restores health Practitioners work with the patient with a goal of supporting this power, through treatments such as nutrition and lifestyle counseling, dietary supplements, medicinal plants, exercise, homeopathy, and treatments from traditional Chinese medicine Osteopathic ahs-tee-oh-PATH-ic medicine is a form of conventional medicine that, in part, emphasizes diseases arising in the musculoskeletal system There is an underlying
belief that all of the bodys systems work together, and disturbances in one system may affect function elsewhere in the body Some osteopathic physicians practice osteopathic manipulation, a full-body system of hands-on techniques to alleviate pain, restore function, and promote health and well-being Qi gong chee-GUNG is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi an ancient term given to what is believed to be vital energy in the body, improve blood circulation, and enhance immune function Reiki RAY-kee is a Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy Reiki is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a Reiki practitioner, the patients spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body
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Therapeutic Touch is derived from an ancient technique called laying-on of hands It is based on the premise that it is the healing force of the therapist that affects
the patients recovery; healing is promoted when the bodys energies are in balance; and, by passing their hands over the patient, healers can identify energy imbalances Traditional Chinese medicine TCM is the current name for an ancient system of health care from China TCM is based on a concept of balanced qi pronounced chee, or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body Qi is proposed to regulate a persons spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin negative energy and yang positive energy Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage
For More Information
Sources of NCCAM Information NCCAM Clearinghouse Toll-free in the US: 18886446226 International: 3015193153 TTY for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers: 18664643615
E-mail: info@nccamnihgov Web site: nccamnihgov Address: NCCAM Clearinghouse, PO Box 7923, Gaithersburg, MD 208987923 Fax: 18664643616 Fax-on-Demand service: 18886446226 The NCCAM Clearinghouse provides information on CAM and on NCCAM Services include fact sheets, other publications, and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners
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Sources of Information on Dietary Supplements Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH Web site: odsodnihgov E-mail: ods@nihgov ODS supports research and disseminates research results on dietary supplements It produces the International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements IBIDS database on the Web, which contains abstracts of peer-reviewed scientific literature on dietary supplements US Food and Drug Administration FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Web site: wwwcfsanfdagov Toll-free in the US:
18887233366 Information includes Tips for the Savvy Supplement User: Making Informed Decisions and Evaluating Information wwwcfsanfdagov/dms/ds-savvyhtml and updated safety information on supplements wwwcfsanfdagov/dms/ds-warnhtml If you have experienced an adverse effect from a supplement, you can report it to the FDAs MedWatch program, which collects and monitors such information 1800FDA1088 or wwwfdagov/medwatch
This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain Duplication is encouraged
NCCAM has provided this material for your information It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider The mention of any product, service, or therapy in this information is not an endorsement by NCCAM National Institutes of Health US Department of Health and Human
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Source:aliveandwell.org
