It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Alternative medicine. (Discuss)

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a set of health care systems encompassing both complementary medicine and alternative medicine. It is not part of conventional medicine [1]. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that Complementary and alternative medicine be merged into this article or section. ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Alternative medicine broadly describes methods and practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. ... It has been suggested that Complementary and alternative medicine be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the field of medical practice and health care. ...

Alternative medicine describes practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. This article is about the field of medical practice and health care. ...

Complementary medicine uses "alternative medicine" practices alongside conventional medical treatment. Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ...

Integrative medicine, as defined for USA usage 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 [2]. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine or NCCAM, a division of the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States federal government, was established in October, 1991, as the Office of Alternative Medicine, which was re-established as the NCCAM...

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. See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that treat patients. ...

Contemporary use of alternative medicine

The popularity of CAM therapies is great. A survey released in May 2004 by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine focused on who used complementary and alternative medicine, what was used, and why it was used in the United States during 2002. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine or NCCAM, a division of the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States federal government, was established in October, 1991, as the Office of Alternative Medicine, which was re-established as the NCCAM...

According to this new survey, 36 percent of U.S. adults age 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). When prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of adults using some form of CAM in 2002 rose to 62 percent (See CDC Advance Data Report #343 below, abstract on page 1).

Consistent with previous studies the present study found that the majority of individuals (i.e., 54.9%) used CAM in conjunction with conventional medicine ( page 6). "The data confirm most earlier observations that most people use CAM to treat and/or prevent musculoskeletal conditions or other conditions associated with chronic or recurring pain" (page 5). "The fact that only 14.8% of adults sought care from a licensed or certified CAM practitioner suggests that most individuals who use CAM" prefer to treat themselves (page 6). "Women were more likely than men to use CAM. The largest sex differential is seen in the use of mind-body therapies including prayer specifically for health reasons" (page 4). "Except for the groups of therapies that included prayer specifically for health reasons, use of CAM increased as education levels increased" (page 4). Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ...

Osteopathy, a medical system developed in the United States that employes the use of manipulative techniques in their treatment programmes, is considered by some to be a mix of conventional and alternative medicine. Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) in the USA are trained as medical doctors and surgeons with some different philosophical underpinings. See also: Osteopathic medicine Osteopathy is a system of healthcare that applies a unique philosophy to diagnosis and treatment. ...

Alternative therapies are frequently used in veterinary medicine[3]. Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. ...

The top ten CAM therapies

The 10 most commonly used CAM therapies in the United States during 2002 (See CDC Advance Data Report #343 below, table 1 on page 8) when use of prayer is excluded: Maria Magdalene in prayer. ...

1. Herbalism (18.9%)
2. Breathing Meditation (11.6%)
3. Meditation (7.6%)
4. Chiropractic medicine (7.5%)
5. Yoga (5.1%)
6. Body work (5.0%)
7. Diet-based therapy (3.5%)
8. Progressive relaxation (3.0%)
9. Mega-vitamin therapy (2.8%)
10. Visualization (2.1%)

Of these 10 most commonly used CAM therapies, 6 are relaxation techniques. Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Meditation as a form of alternative medicine brings about mental calmness and physical relaxation by suspending the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. ... Chiropractic, also known as chiropractic care, is a world-wide health discipline that seeks to prevent and treat health problems utilizing spinal adjustments in order to correct subluxations. ... Yoga when used as a form of alternative medicine is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation. ... In alternative medicine, body work or massage therapy refers to any treatment which involves some form of touching or physical manipulation. ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Orthomolecular medicine or optimum nutrition emphasizes the use of natural substances found in a healthy diet such as vitamins, dietary minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids, dietary fiber and intestinal short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the prevention and treatment of diseases. ... The technique of visualization (or visualisation) consists of creating a mental image of a desired outcome, and repeatedly playing that image in the mind. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

NCCAM classification of CAM categories, grouped by popularity (See CDC Advance Data Report #343 below, table 4 on page 9 and table 1 on page 8) when the use of prayer is excluded: Maria Magdalene in prayer. ...

1. Biologically Based Therapy (20.6%)
2. Mind-Body Interventions (16.9%)
   1. Herbal therapy (18.9%)
   2. Diet-based therapy (3.5%)
   3. Exercise-based therapy (not rated)
3. Manipulative therapy (10.9%)
4. Alternative Medical Systems (2.7%)
5. Energy Therapy (0.5%)

In the United Kingdom, the biggest complementary / alternative healthcare professions are: Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... The term Herbalism refers to folk and traditional medicinal practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Manipulative therapy involves use of body work or massage therapy and other physical manipulation of the body for healing, such as osteopathy, and chiropractic. ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ... Terms and concepts in alternative medicine provides a glossary of quick and to the point definitions of important terms and concepts unique to alternative medicine (CAM). ...

1. Herbalism
2. Osteopathy
3. Homeopathy
4. Aromatherapy
5. Acupuncture
6. Chiropractic

In the UK, there is an organisation that monitors CAM practitioners known as British Register Of Complementary Practitioners. On their site,[4], they say "The British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP) is a professional register of practitioners who have proved their competence to practise by either completing an approved course or through an assessment made by the Registration Panel. They also agree to abide by a Code of Ethics and Practice and have full practitioner insurance." This helps monitor the quality of CAM in the UK and reduces the risk of quackery. Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ... See also: Osteopathic medicine Osteopathy is a system of healthcare that applies a unique philosophy to diagnosis and treatment. ... It has been suggested that Classical homeopathy be merged into this article or section. ... Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to affect someones mood or health. ... Acupuncture (from Lat. ... Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession which focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and their effects on the nervous system and general health. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

1. Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #343. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2002. May 27, 2004. Online

Other works that discuss alternative medicine

• Diamond, J. Snake Oil and Other Preoccupations 2001 (ISBN 0099428334), foreword by Richard Dawkins reprinted in Dawkins, R. A Devil's Chaplain 2003 (ISBN 0753817500).
• WHERE DO AMERICANS GO FOR HEALTHCARE? by Anna Rosenfeld, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
• Planer, Felix E. 1988 Superstition Revised ed. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books
• Hand, Wayland D. 1980 Folk Magical Medicine and Symbolism in the West in Magical Medicine Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 305-319.
• Phillips Stevens Jr. Nov./Dec. 2001 Magical Thinking in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Skeptical Inquirer Magazine, Nov. Dec/2001
• Illich I. Limits to Medicine. Medical Nemesis: The expropriation of Health. Penguin Books, 1976.
• Dillard, James and Terra Ziporyn. Alternative Medicine for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., 1998.
• Mary A. Herring (Editor), Molly M. Roberts (Editor). Blackwell Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fast Facts for Medical Practice (June 1, 2002)

External links

General information about alternative medicine

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Alternative Medicine Information
• Entrez PubMed (medical research paper database)
• Web pages for new BBC/Open University television series "Alternative Medicine" that examines the evidence scientifically.

Advocacy of alternative medicine

• A History of Western Natural Healing Practices
• Carla McClain, Weil's integrative medicine gathering steam, Arizona Daily Star, 2004
• Tillotson Institute of Natural Health A resource for physicians and health care practitioners

2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Critiques of alternative medicine

• Quackwatch guide to quackery and health fraud operated by Stephen Barrett, M.D.
• The National Council Against Health Fraud
• Alternative Medicine on The Skeptic's Dictionary by Robert T. Carroll
• Alternative medicine: A Skeptical Look