Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Outside the Western health care system is an entire world of medical treatment practices to which many Americans have little exposure. These therapies are lumped into a single category known as “complementary medicine and alternative medicine” (CAM). Though the effectiveness and usefulness of some treatments are questioned, not all remain outside the mainstream. Many are now widely available and encouraged in western health care, according to the National Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
“Alternative medicine” and “complementary medicine” are terms for therapies ... read more »
Types of CAM
The phrase “complementary and alternative medicine” encompasses a wide variety of treatments, from methods that have been practiced for thousands of years by entire countries, to therapies developed by individuals in the last century. Generally, the treatment methods are classified in five different areas: medical systems, body-based and manipulative practices, mind-body practices, biologically based practices and energy medicine.
Dulcinea's Insight
- CAM medical systems are some of the overarching philosophies practitioners study, such as traditional Chinese medicine. Body-based and manipulative practices are those such as massage, while mind-body practices use thoughts to help heal the body, as in guided imagery. Biologically based practices utilize things that are consumed, such as herbal supplements like ginseng. Energy medicine uses tangible and intangible forces, such as magnets, to help people.
- In this section, we’ve provided an overview of the different areas of CAM, along with more information about a couple of the lesser-known methods within them. To research a specific system in more depth, use the health search engines in the “Finding Health Information” section of our findingDulcinea Health Web Guide.
- To learn more about dietary and herbal supplements, see our findingDulcinea Medication Web Guide.
- Read more in-depth information about yoga at our findingDulcinea Yoga Web Guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For medical systems …
NCCAM
has a comprehensive overview of whole medical systems describing the systems of ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy. Ayurvedic medicine originated in India, while naturopathy and homeopathy began in Europe. These systems share similar characteristics, according to NCCAM, namely the belief that the body can heal itself with the help of spirit, mind and body techniques.
WebMD
offers an article on ayurvedic medicine, and explains that five elements (space, air, water, earth and fire) are represented in the body as three doshas: Kapha, Vatta and Pitta. A person’s good health relies on these doshas being in balance. A healthy diet, herbs, yoga, meditation and counseling can all be used to fix the imbalance and restore a person to health.
The University of Maryland Medical Center
has an introduction to naturopathy, a practice that emphasizes disease prevention and well-being. It was introduced in the United States in 1902 with the establishment of the American School of Naturopathy. Naturopaths today may use water therapy, counseling, herbal medicine and detoxification to help a person.
For body-based and manipulative practices …
NCCAM
says a number of practices fall into the body-based category, such as massage therapy, Alexander technique, Trager bodywork, rolfing and Tui Na. Some methods are very old, while others have only been developed in the last century or so. Studies of the clinical benefits of these methods are mixed. With spinal manipulation, for example, there is a little evidence that it can help relieve back pain in the short term, but not much that suggests it’s a long-term benefit.
The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
in San Francisco says the words “Tui Na” mean “to push” and “to lift and squeeze,” respectively. It has similarities to massage therapy, but acupressure points are also involved. There are no needles used, as practitioners use their hands to massage and remove energy blockages. The college says Tui Na is used to treat or accompany the treatment of all sorts of conditions, including digestive, reproductive and bone and muscle issues.
The European Rolfing Association
describes this therapy as managing the fascial web, or the connective tissue that brings a person’s inner form together. Sometimes this web can be misaligned, and it becomes out of kilter with the earth’s gravitational field. Rolfing works to realign the connective tissue for improved health and well-being.
For mind-body medicine …
NCCAM
offers background information on mind-body medicine that gives examples of the types of therapies included in this field, such as yoga, biofeedback, qigong and visual imagery. Learn the history of mind-body medicine, starting thousands of years ago, and read a summary of how it has been involved in treatments.
The Qigong Institute in California
has a four-minute introductory video on its home page describing qigong as a system with movements similar to tai chi or yoga. More than 80 million people in China practice it each day, according to the institute.
WebMD
explains that autogenic training is teaching “your body to respond to your verbal commands.” Studies have linked the practice to helping asthma, ulcers, cold hands, headaches and a racing heartbeat. It’s not something that someone can expect to master after a couple of sporadic practice sessions, WebMD says. Mastery takes commitment and regular practice.
For biologically based practices …
NCCAM
says biologically based practices include taking vitamins and herbal supplements, prebiotics, probiotics, botanicals, fatty acids, “whole diets” and “functional foods.” These types of therapies are increasingly popular in the United States, according to NCCAM.
The International Probiotics Association
has an introduction to the concepts of prebiotics and probiotics. Essentially, probiotics are microorganisms that can help us when they’ve been ingested, and they are often found in yogurt. Prebiotics are substances that stimulate the helpful organisms in our body.
The International Food Information Council
explains that functional foods are those that provide more than nutrition. They include fruits, vegetables, vitamin-enhanced water and other similarly fortified foods. This page also has a long chart of substances, some foods they are found in, and what health benefits they may offer.
For energy medicine …
NCCAM
divides energy medicine into two types: methods that use measurable energy, such as sound and light, and biofields, which haven’t been measured, but are exploited in acupuncture, qigong and healing touch. Working with these types of energy dates back more than 2,000 years in Asia, and increasingly more people are using them in the United States, according to NCCAM.
Temple University
in Philadelphia is studying millimeter wave therapy with NCCAM grants. This press release describes how the therapy is conducted and gives an overview of its history. The therapy has been used for decades in Eastern Europe to treat all sorts of ailments. It’s believed that millimeter wave therapy can relieve pain, reduce inflammation and boost the immune system without many side effects.
The International Center for Reiki Training
has a slide show that offers an overview of the practice, which was discovered in Japan at the beginning of the 1900s. It is thought to bring relaxation and better health by stimulating an energy field that surrounds every person. A person receives Reiki though a practitioner’s touch. A “Frequently Asked Questions” section offers more detail of the practice.
Finding an Alternative Medicine Doctor
Because alternative and complementary medical practitioners aren’t always in the mainstream ... read more »
CAM News and Research
The Web has a number of databases that house alternative and complementary medicine research. As ... read more »
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