Alternative Medicine or CAM What is alternative medicine

Alternative Medicine or CAM

What is alternative medicine? • NCCAM defines CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.

CAM • Complementary Medicine is used together with conventional (Western) medicine • Alternative medicine is used INSTEAD of conventional medicine.

What is alternative medicine? • Recognizes a relation between – – – • food one eats one's lifestyle one's surrounding Holistic method

Types of CAM? • • • Natural Products Mind and Body Medicine Manipulative and Body based practices Movement Therapies Energy Therapies Whole Medical Systems

Complementary Medicine/Alternative Medicine NATURAL PRODUCTS • This area of CAM includes use of a variety of herbal medicines (also known as botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other "natural products. " Many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements.

Complementary Medicine/Alternative Medicine Mind-body medicine • This type of CAM focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. • Techniques: – – Visual imagery Meditation Yoga Acupuncture

Complementary Medicine/Alternative Medicine Manipulative and Body Bases Practices • Manipulative and body-based practices focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems. • Techniques – Spinal Manipulation – Massage Therapy

Complementary Medicine/Alternative Medicine Movement Therapy • A broad range of Eastern and Western movement-based approaches used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. • Techniques: – Plilates – Alexander Technique – Feldenkrais Method

Complementary Medicine/Alternative Medicine • Energy medicine deals with energy fields of two types: – Veritable, which can be measured – Putative, which have yet to be measured Techniques: – Magnet Therapy – Light Therapy – Reiki

Types of Alternative medicine? Medical Systems • Complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine • Systems: – – Ayurvedic medicine Traditional Chinese medicine Homeopathy Naturopathy