Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is any type of health care that is not generally considered conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is referred to as Western medicine and is medicine that is practiced by medical doctors (M.D.) and doctor's of osteopathy (D.O.), registered nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, etc. It is complementary medicine when alternative medical practices are combined with conventional medical practices. Alternative medicine is when CAM is used instead of conventional medicine.
There are several categories of CAM practices. Natural products, known as dietary supplements and herbal medicine are often sold over the counter. Multivitamins and calcium supplements would not be considered CAM, but botanical blends would be. The latest in marketable CAM products is live microorganisms called probiotics. Probiotics are sold in foods like yogurt and are similar to microorganisms that occur naturally in the human digestive tract. Probiotics are beneficial to digestion. Fish oil and Echinacea are also popular complementary and alternative medicine products.
Yoga, meditation and acupuncture are all CAM practices that are focused on mind and body medicine to promote health through physical functioning. Acupuncture is among the oldest healing practices in the world and a traditional Chinese medicine, but considered an alternative Western medicine. Chinese medicine has long believed in the mind body connection in healing medicine. Over time, types of complementary and alternative medicine practices can become standard and recognized as a part of conventional medicine. Deep breathing, tai chi, and hypnotherapy are all mind-body complementary alternative medicine practices that have grown in popularity in Western culture.
Massage therapy is another manipulative CAM technique that is used for an assortment of health reasons, such as reducing stress, anxiety and depression; increase relaxation; and relieve pain. Chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopaths and even conventional medical doctors perform spinal manipulation in which the practitioner applies controlled force to a joint of the spine to move it beyond its passive range of motion. Patients with low-back pain often receive this type of manipulative type of CAM. Spinal manipulation has been around since the time of ancient Greeks.
Traditional healing methods such as native beliefs and theories that have been handed down through the generations are also a form of complementary and alternative medicine. For example, Native American medicine men are a CAM method of traditional healing.
Other forms of CAM involving energy fields to affect health, such as magnet therapy and light therapy. Veritable (measurable) and putative (yet to be measured) forms of energy are based upon the belief that people are infused with subtle forms of energy.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate dietary supplements sold in the U.S., but the regulations are not as strict as for prescription or even over-the-counter drugs. For example, a dietary supplement does not have to prove its safety or effectiveness before being sold.
As with any sort of medical treatment, there can be risks associated with complementary and alternative medicine practices. Make sure you have checked the credentials of your practitioner before receiving treatment. In addition, interactions between dietary supplements and other medications can occur, and may contain harmful ingredients that are not listed on the label. Most supplements have not been tested on pregnant women, nursing mothers or children, so exercise caution before use. Check out octa2010.org for more information about complementary and alternative medicine.