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Last Updated: Aug 6th, 2008 - 09:50:39 |
Are complementary medicine and alternative medicine different from each other?
Are complementary medicine and alternative medicine different from each other?
What are the major types of complementary and alternative medicine?
Integrative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. NCCAM classifies CAM therapies into five categories, or domains:
The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States
Americans are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). But, it is often asked, how many Americans? What therapies are they using? For what health problems and concerns?
Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too
Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement (see the box below) that contain herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties.
Do CAM Therapies Help Menopausal Symptoms?
Menopause is a natural process for women as they age. Menopause can also occur as a result of certain medical treatments that affect a woman's ovaries (see Question 1). Many women and their health care providers have become interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for menopausal symptoms. This fact sheet is based on findings from a 2005 National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science (SoS) conference on the management of menopause-related symptoms. It answers some frequently asked questions and lists resources for more information.
Whole Medical Systems: An Overview
Whole medical systems involve complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved independently from or parallel to allopathic (conventional) medicine. Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures throughout the world. Major Eastern whole medical systems include traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine, one of India's traditional systems of medicine. Major Western whole medical systems include homeopathy and naturopathy. Other systems have been developed by Native American, African, Middle Eastern, Tibetan, and Central and South American cultures.
Are You Considering Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
Decisions about your health care are important--including decisions about whether to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to assist you in your decisionmaking about CAM. It includes frequently asked questions, issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information.
An Introduction to Reiki
Reiki (pronounced "ray-kee") is an energy medicine practice that originated in Japan. In Reiki, the practitioner places his hands on or near the person receiving treatment, with the intent to transmit ki, believed to be a life-force energy. Practitioners also believe that they can treat themselves with Reiki and send ki across short or long distances. In the United States, Reiki is part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This Backgrounder provides a general overview of Reiki and suggests some resources you can use to learn more about this practice.
Echinacea for the Prevention and Treatment of Colds in Adults: Research Results and Implications for Future Studies
On July 28, 2005, The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study of Echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold that was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).1 The research was conducted by Dr. Ronald Turner, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Rudolf Bauer, Karl-Franzens Universitaet, Graz, Austria, and collaborators at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Asian Ginseng
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb Asian ginseng--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Asian ginseng is native to China and Korea and has been used in various systems of medicine for many centuries. Asian ginseng is one of several types of true ginseng (another is American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius). An herb called Siberian ginseng or eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng.
Dandelion
This fact sheet provides basic information about dandelion--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Dandelion greens are edible and a rich source of vitamin A.
Black Cohosh
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb black cohosh--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Black cohosh is a plant native to North America.
St. John's Wort
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb St. John's wort--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers.
Saw Palmetto
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb saw palmetto--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Saw palmetto grows in the southern United States.
Valerian
This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb valerian--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia; it is also found in North America.
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