What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Cam)

775 Words4 Pages
Student: Class Date Essay # What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine, (CAM)? Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as defined by NCCAM (National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine), is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches to health care emerge. Are complementary medicine and alternative medicine different from each other?: Yes, they are different according to NCCAM. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy 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 are some of the types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s (CAM? There are a number of Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s. NCCAM classifies the major CAM therapies into five categories, or domains: 1. Alternative Medical Systems: Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. 2. Mind-Body Interventions: Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function

More about What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Cam)

Open Document