COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

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What are complementary and alternative medicine?

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care.

Types of complementary and alternative medicine

  • Mind-body therapies
  • Biologically based practices
  • Manipulative and body-based practices
  • Energy healing
  • Whole medical systems

Mind-body therapies




These combine mental focus, breathing, and body movements with helping relax the body and mind. Some examples are :
  • Meditation: Focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind and lessen stressful thoughts and feelings.
  • Biofeedback: Using special machines, the patient learns how to control certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness such as heart rate and blood pressure. 
  • Hypnosis: A trance-like state in which a person becomes more aware and focused on certain feelings, thoughts, images, sensations or behaviors.
  • Yoga: Ancient system of practices used to balance the mind and body through stretches and poses, meditation, and controlled breathing.
  • Tai chi: A form of gentle exercise and meditation that uses slow sets of body movements and controlled breathing.


Biologically based practices




This type of CAM uses things found in nature. Some examples are:
  • Vitamins
  • Dietary supplements
  • Botanicals
  • Special foods or diets

Manipulative and body-based practices



These are based on working with one or more parts of the body. Some examples are:

  • Massage therapy: a therapy where the soft tissues of the body are kneaded, rubbed, tapped, and stroked.
  • Chiropractice therapy: a type of manipulation of the spine, joints, and skeletal system.
  • Reflexology: a type of massage in which pressure is applied to specific points on the feet or hands, which are believed to match up with certain parts of the body.

Energy healing



Energy healing is based on the belief that vital energy flows through the body. The goal is to balance the energy flow in the patient. Some examples are:

  • Reiki: Placing hands lightly on or just above the person with the goal of guiding energy to help a person's own healing response.
  • Therapeutic touch: Moving hands over energy fields of the body or gently touching a person's body.


Whole medical systems



These are healing systems and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Some examples are:
  • Ayurvedic medicine: A system from India in which the goal is to cleanse the body and restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods.
  • Traditional chinese medicine: based on the belief that qi (the body’s vital energy) flows along meridians (channels) in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. It aims to restore the body’s balance between two forces called yin and yang.
  • Naturophatic medicine: A system that avoids drugs and surgery. It is based on the use of natural agents such as air, water, light, heat and massage to help the body heal itself. It may also use herbal products, nutrition, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.

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