Definition

As defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Previously referred to as alternative medicine, the addition of the term "complementary" emphasizes the trend in which CAM is used in conjunction with conventional systems of medicine. For example, acupuncture has been used to combat the nausea that can accompany chemotherapy.

 

Classification of CAM Therapies

CAM can be classified into at least five types of therapies:

1. Alternative Medical Systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. They are considered to be fully formed ways of living. Examples include homeopathic medicine and ayurveda.
2. Mind-body Interventions focus on the interaction between the mental and physical self. Examples include meditation and yoga.
3. Biologically Based Therapies use substances found in nature and include botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
4. Manipulative and Body-Based methods are based on the movement of one or more parts of the body. Examples include massaging and rolfing.
5. Energy Therapies involve the use of energy fields. Examples include acupuncture, cupping and therapeutic touch.

 

Websites

The following websites may assist you in providing information on complementary and alternative medicine

 

Metasites

MedlinePlus
http://medlineplus.gov/
MedlinePlus provides extensive information from the NIH, DHHS and other trusted sources on over 700 diseases and conditions. The complementary and alternative therapies topic section contains links to information on common complementary and alternative medicine therapies.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/
One of the Institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals.

Alternative Medicine Foundation
http://www.amfoundation.org/
The Alternative Medicine Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides consumers and professionals with responsible, evidence based information on the integration of alternative and conventional medicine. The site contains resource guides on a variety of alternative treatment modalities, health issues and a primer on medical research studies.

CAM on PubMed
http://pubmed.gov/
PubMed provides access to citations from the MEDLINE database and additional life science journals. Users can limit their results to journal articles related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by selecting "Complementary Medicine" under the Limits option.

NOAH-Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://www.noah-health.org/en/alternative/
NOAH (New York Online Access to Health) provides access to high quality consumer health information. NOAH volunteers (librarians and health professionals) find, select, and organize full-text consumer health information that is current, relevant, accurate and unbiased.

 

Acupuncture

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/
AAMA is a physician-only professional acupuncture society. The "Learning Center" on this website provides general information on acupuncture as well as analysis of clinical evidence and research.

 

Cancer

National Cancer Institute - Acupuncture (PDQ)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/
From the National Cancer Institute (NCI) this site provides an overview of the use of acupuncture as a treatment for individuals with cancer or cancer-related disorders.

Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM)
http://www.cancer.gov/cam/
OCCAM was established to coordinate and enhance the activities of the National Cancer Institute in the arena of CAM. Information is available on CAM issues related to cancer, research and clinical trials.

 

Chiropractic

American Chiropractic Association
http://www.acatoday.com/
The largest chiropractic professional organization, the American Chiropractic Association website includes an overview of the field, information on finding a chiropractor and health and wellness tips.

 

Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements - US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html
The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering "conventional" foods and drug products. Although manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements, they must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading.

Food and Nutrition Information Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/
The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) provides a directory to credible, accurate, and practical resources for consumers, nutrition and health professionals, educators and government personnel. FNIC nutrition information specialists review all site content to ensure top quality resources.

International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) Database
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/Health_Information/IBIDS.aspx
The IBIDS database is a free database from NIH which provides reliable information from the published scientific literature on dietary supplements including vitamins, minerals and botanicals.

Office of Dietary Supplements - NIH
http://ods.od.nih.gov/
The mission of the Office of Dietary Supplements is to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements. The website includes information on dietary supplement use and safety, nutrient recommendation reports and tables and vitamin supplements.

 

Herbal Medicine

About Herbs - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs/
This website for consumers and healthcare professionals provides objective information and a clinical summary for each agent and details about constituents, adverse effects, interactions, and potential benefits or problems. Evaluations of alternative or unproved cancer therapies also are given.

AGRICOLA
http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/
A bibliographic database of citations to the agricultural literature created by the U.S. National Agricultural Library and its cooperators, AGRICOLA contains citations for journal articles, books, audiovisuals and other resources.

HerbMed
http://www.herbmed.org/
HerbMed is a searchable database which provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers and the general public.

 

Native American Healing

American Indian Health
http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
This web resource on American Indian Health, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, is designed to bring together health and medical resources pertinent to the American Indian population including policies, consumer health information, and research.

Tribal Connections
http://www.tribalconnections.org/
This database developed by the National Library of Medicine provides health related resources for Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Content includes columns from Native American health specialists that combine western and Indian approaches to healing and healthy living and that focus on nutrition and diet.