CAM stands for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and encompasses a diverse group of medical and health care systems, products and practices that are not considered to be conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is that which is practiced by those who are medical doctors (M.D.s) or are doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s) or those who have degrees and are allied health professionals such as registered nurses, psychologists, physical therapists and other health care providers. Conventional medicine uses drugs and surgery as a means for promoting good health and preventative medicine.
It is possible for healthcare providers to use both conventional medical practices and complementary medicine and alternative medicine in the course of caring for patients. As approaches and therapies that are considered to be CAM are researched and found to be safe they are more and more incorporated into conventional medicine so the list of CAM approaches and therapies is constantly changing.
Together complementary medicine and alternative medicine make up CAM but separately they are different such as complementary medicine being used together with conventional medicine and alternative medicine being used in place of conventional medicine.
CAM can consist of whole medical systems such as homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda medicine. It can also include mind-body medicine such as meditation, prayer, cognitive-behavioral therapy, patient support groups, and music therapy. Biologically based practices are also a part of CAM and are products found in nature such as herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal therapy products. Manipulative and body-based practices such as chiropractic care, or osteopathic manipulation, and also massage therapy.
Energy medicine is another group of therapies and practices most of which have not been scientifically proven but for which there is some evidence that they can have a positive effect on the health of the individual. Energy fields are the common ingredient and include biofield therapies and bioelectromagnetic – based therapies.
There is an organization that oversees scientific research on CAM, a U.S. Federal Governmental agency called NCCAM. This agency explores complementary and alternative healing practices and approaches and assesses the validity of claims, trains CAM researchers and gets out authoritative information to professionals and to the public.
Complementary and alternative therapies include acupuncture, herbal therapy, chiropractic care, dietary supplements, homeopathy, integrated medicine, and phytotherapy.
Individuals can seek out complementary or alternative medicines (CAM) on their own but it is best to always discuss alternative or complementary therapies and approaches with your primary healthcare professional as many products that are considered to be alternative or complementary such as dietary supplements or herbal remedies can have an adverse reaction when taken alongside conventional drugs. It is also possible that some CAM therapies and approaches may be counter indicated such as those with advanced stage of osteoporosis should not undergo chiropractic manipulations.
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