Complementary and Alternative Therapies - What Are They?
When people think of CAM, they most commonly think of herbal supplements. However, the spectrum of alternative modalities is much broader. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recognizes five major types of CAM:
1. Alternative Medical Systems
2. Mind-Body Interventions
3. Biological Based Therapies
4. Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
5. Energy Therapies
Alternative medical systems are approaches based upon a unified theory of health and illness. Examples in Western cultures would encompass homeopathy and naturopathy. Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, a healing system from the Indian subcontinent, are illustrations of Eastern systems.
Mind-body interventions focus upon the power of the mind to affect bodily functions and symptomatology. Mainstream mind-body interventions may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, the use of support groups and biofeedback. Interventions such as art therapy, the use of music and dance, prayer and meditation remain in the realm of CAM.
Biologically based therapies include herbal remedies and dietary supplements. The caveat is that these substances must be found in nature. Many biologically based therapies have a basis in theory or have been tested in increasingly rigorous scientific trials.
Chiropractic/osteopathic practice and massage are examples of manipulative and body-based methods. In some areas, the use of chiropractic medicine has become so common that it has become accepted, if not considered conventional by allopathic practitioners. Nationwide, one out of 10 Americans has used chiropractic. Furthermore, many osteopathic physicians complete allopathic medical residencies adding manipulative therapies to a more traditional Western medical approach.
Energy therapies may be divided into biofield therapies such as qi gong, Reiki and therapeutic touch as well as bioelectromagnetic-based therapies. These include the use of alternating or direct current, magnetic fields and pulsed fields.