Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine - also referred to as CAM - is a group of health and medical care systems, products and practices not generally thought to be a part of conventional or "Western" medicine. The phrase "complimentary medicine" refers to therapies used along with traditional medicine and "alternative medicine" refers to therapies used in place of traditional medicine. The four major types of complimentary and alternative medicine are:
- Mind-Body Medicine - Examples include yoga, tai chi, meditation, mental healing, prayer, and therapies that use various creative outlets like art, dance or music.
- Whole Medical Systems - Examples include homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and Aryuvedic medicine.
- Manipulative and Body-Phase Practices - Examples include chiropractic care, massage therapy and osteopathic manipulation
- Biologically Based Practices - Examples include herbal products, dietary supplements, and the use of "natural" therapies
The following will help you learn more about the various aspects of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, but you may also want to refer to our Glossary of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine:
- What Is CAM?
- Are You Considering CAM?
- Are You Considering Using CAM?
- CAM Use and Children
- CAM and Hepatitis C: Herbal Supplements
- Cancer and CAM
- Diabetes and CAM: Dietary Supplements
- Fibromyalgia and CAM: At a Glance
- Menopausal Symptoms and CAM
- Paying for CAM Treatment
- Tips for Talking With Your Doctor About CAM
- Acupuncture: An Introduction
- Acupuncture for Pain
- Ayurveda Medicine: An Introduction
- Chiropractic: An Introduction
- Colloidal Silver Products
- Herbs at a Glance: Aloe Vera
- Herbs at a Glance: Asian Ginseng
- Herbs at a Glance: Astragalus
- Herbs at a Glance: Bilberry
- Herbs at a Glance: Bitter Orange
- Herbs at a Glance: Black Cohosh
- Herbs at a Glance: Cat's Claw
- Herbs at a Glance: Chamomile
- Herbs at a Glance: Chasteberry
- Herbs at a Glance: Cranberry
- Herbs at a Glance: Dandelion
- Herbs at a Glance: Echinacea
- Herbs at a Glance: Ephedra
- Herbs at a Glance: European Elder
- Herbs at a Glance: European Mistletoe
- Herbs at a Glance: Evening Primrose Oil
- Herbs at a Glance: Fenugreek
- Herbs at a Glance: Feverfew
- Herbs at a Glance: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
- Herbs at a Glance: Garlic
- Herbs at a Glance: Ginger
- Herbs at a Glance: Ginkgo
- Herbs at a Glance: Goldenseal
- Herbs at a Glance: Grape Seed Extract
- Herbs at a Glance: Green Tea
- Herbs at a Glance: Hawthorn
- Herbs at a Glance: Hoodia
- Herbs at a Glance: Horse Chestnut
- Herbs at a Glance: Kava
- Herbs at a Glance: Lavender
- Herbs at a Glance: Licorice Root
- Herbs at a Glance: Milk Thistle
- Herbs at a Glance: Noni
- Herbs at a Glance: Peppermint Oil
- Herbs at a Glance: Red Clover
- Herbs at a Glance: Saw Palmetto
- Herbs at a Glance: Soy
- Herbs at a Glance: St. John's Wort
- Herbs at a Glance: Thunder God Vine
- Herbs at a Glance: Tumeric
- Herbs at a Glance: Valerian
- Herbs at a Glance: Yohimbe
- Homeopathy: An Introduction
- About Using Magnets to Treat Pain
- Magnets for Pain
- Massage Therapy: An Introduction
- Meditation: An Introduction
- Naturopathy: An Introduction to Naturopathy
- Omega-3 Supplements: An Introduction
- Probiotics: An Introduction to Probiotics
- Reiki: An Introduction
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and CAM
- Selecting a CAM Practitioner
- Sleep Disorders and CAM
- Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain
- St. John's Wort and Depression
- Tai Chi: An Introduction
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
- Vasomotor Symptoms (Hot Flashes) and CAM
- Yoga for Health: An Introduction
- Evaluating Web-Based Health Resources
- 10 Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine - Spanish Version
- ¿Está considerando utilizar medicina complementaria y alternativa?
- ¿Qué es la medicina complementaria y alternativa?
- Uso adecuado de los suplementos dietéticos
- Uso de la medicina complementaria y alternativa para el cncer
- La eleccion de un profesional de medicina complentaria y alternativa
- Es hora dE ConvErsar. Hable con su médico sobre el uso de la
- Cómo evaluar recursos de salud publicados en Internet
- Consejos para hablar con sus medicos sobre la medicina
- Que hay en el frasco? Introduccion a los suplementos dieteticos
- Pago del tratamiento de medicina complementaria y alternativa
- Suplementos de hierbas: considere también los riesgos
- Pregunte
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine: Source
The Complimentary and Alternative Medicine information found in this library were created and graciously provided by the following:
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) - NCCAM is a division of the National Institutes of Health and is the United States Government's lead group for research on the diverse health and medical care systems, products and practices that are not usually considered to be a part of conventional or "Western" medicine.
