What is
CAM?
Introduction
There are many terms used to describe
approaches to health care that are outside the realm of
conventional medicine. Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D.
(medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by
their allied health professionals such as physical therapists,
psychologists, and registered nurses. 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), a group of diverse
medical and health care systems, practices, and products that
are not presently considered to be part of conventional
medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with
conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in
place of conventional medicine.. Terms that are underlined in
the text are defined at the end of this fact sheet.
What is
CAM?
CAM is a group of diverse medical and
health care systems, practices, and products that are not
generally considered to be part of conventional
medicine. While 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 purposes for which they are used.
Are complementary medicine and
alternative medicine different from each other?
Yes, they are
different.
-
Complementary medicine is used together with
conventional medicine. An example of a
complementary therapy is using
aromatherapy, a therapy in which
the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs,
and trees is inhaled to promote health and
well-being. to help lessen a patient's 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 combines treatments
from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is evidence
of safety and effectiveness. It is also called integrated
medicineAn approach to medicine that combines treatments from
conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some
high-quality scientific evidence of safety and
effectiveness..
What are the major types of
complementary and alternative medicine?
NCCAM
groups CAM practices into four domains, recognizing there can
be some overlap. In addition, NCCAM studies CAM whole medical
systems, which cut across all domains.
Whole Medical
Systems
Whole 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 whole medical systems that have developed in
Western cultures include homeopathic
medicine, a whole medical system that
originated in Europe. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body's
ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly
diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness
or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like"). and
naturopathic
medicine, a whole medical system that
originated in Europe. Naturopathy aims to support the body's
ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and
lifestyle changes together with CAM therapies such as herbs,
massage,
and joint manipulation.. Examples of systems that have
developed in non-Western cultures include traditional
Chinese medicine, a whole medical system
that originated in China. It is based on the concept that
disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and
imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as
herbs, meditation,
massage, and acupuncture
seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and
the flow of qi. and Ayurveda,
a whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to
integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat
disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and
yoga.
Mind-Body
Medicine
Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to
enhance the mind's 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, a conscious
mental process using certain techniques—such as focusing
attention or maintaining a specific posture—to suspend the
stream of thoughts and relax the body and mind., prayer, mental
healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art,
music, or dance.
Biologically
Based Practices
Biologically based practices in CAM use
substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins.
Some examples include dietary
supplements, herbal products, and the use of other
so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies
(for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).
Manipulative and
Body-Based Practices
Manipulative and body-based practices in CAM
are based on manipulationThe application of controlled force to
a joint, moving it beyond the normal range of motion in an
effort to aid in restoring health. Manipulation may be
performed as a part of other therapies or whole medical
systems, including chiropractic
medicine, massage, and naturopathy. and/or
movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples
include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, a type
of manipulation practiced by osteopathic physicians. It is
combined with physical therapy and instruction in proper
posture, and massage, pressing, rubbing, and moving muscles and
other soft tissues of the body, primarily by using the hands
and fingers. The aim is to increase the flow of blood and
oxygen to the massaged area.
Energy
Medicine
Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of
two types:
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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, a component of traditional
Chinese medicine that combines movement,
meditation, and controlled breathing. The intent is
to improve blood flow and the flow of qi.,
Reiki,
a therapy in which practitioners seek to
transmit a universal energy to a person, either
from a distance or by placing their hands on or
near that person. The intent is to heal the spirit
and thus the body, and Therapeutic Touch,
a therapy in which practitioners pass their
hands over another person's body with the intent to
use their own perceived healing energy to identify
energy imbalances and promote health..
-
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 NCCAM's role in the field of
CAM?
NCCAM is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific
research on CAM. . NCCAM's mission is to explore complementary
and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous
science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative
information to the public and professionals.
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