What is complementary in medicine?

The word “complementary” means “in addition to.” Complementary medicine is a term used for a wide variety of health care practices that may be used along with standard medical treatment. Examples of complementary medicine include: Mind and body practices like acupuncture, massage therapy, and tai chi.

What are examples of CAM?

Examples of CAM include:

• Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Oriental practices.
• Body. Touch has been used in medicine since the early days of medical care.
• Diet and herbs.
• External energy.
• Mind.
• Senses.

What exactly is alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is a term that describes medical treatments that are used instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies. Some people also refer to it as “integrative,” or “complementary” medicine. More than half of adults in the United States say they use some form of alternative medicine.

What is the difference between complementary alternative and integrative medicine?

Complementary medicine is used together with mainstream medical care. An example is using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment. When health care providers and facilities offer both types of care, it is called integrative medicine. Alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care.

What is complementary medicine used for?

Complementary medicine is used along with standard medical treatment but is not considered by itself to be standard treatment. One example is using acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of cancer treatment. Alternative medicine is used instead of standard medical treatment.

What is complementary and alternative medicine used for?

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. People with cancer may use CAM to: Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue.

Who uses alternative medicine?

According to a new nationwide government survey, 36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Who uses complementary and alternative medicine?

What is complementary and alternative healthcare modalities?

Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad term that encompasses diverse healthcare modalities that emanate from a variety of healing cultures. One of the basic principles of CAM is the promotion of cultural pluralism and openness to diverse cultural aspects of health and illness.

How effective is complementary and alternative medicine?

Research shows that some complementary therapies are safe and effective when used with standard cancer treatment. Complementary therapies can help people cope with the side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments.

What is the difference between alternative medicine and conventional medicine?

Alternative medicine refers to non-mainstream practices used instead of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine is health care that uses all appropriate therapeutic approaches—conventional and non-mainstream—within a framework that focuses on health, the therapeutic relationship, and the whole person.