By, Casey Frieling

REFERENCE GUIDE TO COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

(CAM)

What is CAM? •Complementary” generally refers to using a non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine.•“Alternative” refers to using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine.

A Closer Look at CAM Therapies• Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most

often by inserting thin needles through the skin.• Massage therapy includes many different techniques in which practitioners manually manipulate

the soft tissues of the body.• Most meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or transcendental meditation,

involve ways in which a person learns to focus attention.• Movement therapies include a broad range of Eastern and Western movement-based approaches;

examples include Feldenkrais method, Alexander technique, Pilates, Rolfing Structural Integration, and Trager psychophysical integration.

• Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation, are designed to produce the body’s natural relaxation response.

• Spinal manipulation is practiced by health care professionals such as chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and some medical doctors. Practitioners perform spinal manipulation by using their hands or a device to apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The amount of force applied depends on the form of manipulation used.

• Tai chi and qi gong are practices from traditional Chinese medicine that combine specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing, and mental focus.

• The various styles of yoga used for health purposes typically combine physical postures or movement, breathing techniques, and meditation.

Most Common Forms of CAM

Positive Aspects of CAM Therapies • Positive motivations• Perceived effectiveness• Perceived safety• Philosophical congruence: “Zeitgeist”; spiritual dimension;

emphasis on holism; embracing all things natural; active role of patient; explanations intuitively acceptable• Control over treatment• “High touch, low tech”• Good patient/therapist relationship: enough time available; on

equal terms; emotional factors; empathy• Non-invasive nature• Accessibility• Pleasant therapeutic experience• Affluence

Controversy Surrounding CAM• There is not a lot of scientific research to prove the benefits of CAM therapies are legitimate • It is widely thought of as an opinion based treatment • Results of treatments vary from a patient to patient case

The Rise in CAM Popularity • The current budget for NCCAM is over $100 million, and, to date, they have funded 10 university- based centers for research on alternative and complementary medicine

CAM Awareness in Medical Schools • Medical School across the country are now integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine into their curriculum. •These dominant topics were acupuncture, herbs and botanicals, meditation and relaxation, spirituality/faith/prayer, chiropractic, homeopathy, and nutrition and diets.

Reflective Note • I decided to create an informative PowerPoint describing Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Benefits of creating a PowerPoint presentation is that it is brief and to the point of the information. The PowerPoint is directed toward patients who do not know much about CAM therapies, and who are looking for more, brief information on it. The patients would be able to find this reference in a integrative medicine office, or they may find it online during their research about Complementary and Alternative Medicine treatments. This is not a reference just for patients looking to learn more about CAM therapies and treatment, it is also a reference for healthcare professionals looking to learn more about CAM, what they are, and how they work.

References• Brokaw, J, Runnicliff, G, Reass, Saxon, D. (2002). The Teaching of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in U.S Medical Schools: A

Survey of Course Directors. Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges. 77(9)

• Ernst, E. (2000) The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. BMJ.

• Coulter, I., Willis, E., (2004) The rise and rise of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Sociological Perspective. Vol 180

• Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative health: What's in a Name? National Center for Complementary And Alternative Medicine. (2013).

IMAGEShttp://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam http://www.drpbody.com/educational_materials.htmlhttp://www.google.com/search?q=holistic+medicine&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vrH6UcqdH7Gq4AOk4YHoCg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1540&bih=970#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=complementary+and+alternative+medicine&revid=295474294&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.50165853%2Cd.dmg%2Cpv.xjs.s.en_US.seW1cfrvSKg.O&fp=d3e8907b51df2941&biw=1540&bih=970&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=crrobr5H983SXM%3A%3B-Dcy361qeH4e_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.scienceofnaturalhealth.com%252Fimages%252FCAM.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.scienceofnaturalhealth.com%252Fcomplementary-alternative-medicine-prevalence.html%3B307%3B251

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