Also called: Also called: CAM
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicines.
The claims that CAM treatment providers make about their benefits can sound promising. However, researchers do not know how safe many CAM treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many CAM practices.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Are You Considering Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/
Also available in Spanish http://nccam.nih.gov/espanol/medicinacam/
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What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/
Also available in Spanish http://nccam.nih.gov/espanol/informaciongeneral/
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About Complementary / Integrative Medicine(University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) - http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/CIMER/dIndex.cfm?pn=7B632E4A-56B2-11D5-812100508B603A14
Also available in Spanish http://www.mdanderson.org/SP/departments/cimer/dIndex.cfm?pn=7B632E4A-56B2-11D5-812100508B603A14
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What Is It?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alternative-medicine/PN00001/METHOD=print
- Tai Chi Helps Cut Pain of Knee Arthritis(10/27/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70873.html
- Use Caution with Ayurvedic Products(10/16/2008, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/ayurvedic101608.html
- Evidence Lacking on Massage Benefits for Athletes(10/14/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70394.html
- Hypnosis Cuts Hot Flashes for Breast Cancer Survivors(09/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69725.html
- More News on Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#complementaryandalternativemedicine
- Biofeedback: Using Your Mind to Improve Your Health(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/biofeedback/SA00083/METHOD=print
- Biologically Based Practices: An Overview(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/biobasedprac.htm
- Energy Medicine: An Overview(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/energymed.htm
- Frequently Asked Questions about Music Therapy(American Music Therapy Association) - http://www.musictherapy.org/faqs.html
- Hypnosis: Another Way to Manage Pain, Kick Bad Habits(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hypnosis/SA00084/METHOD=print
- Introduction to Naturopathy(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/naturopathy/
- Introduction to Reiki(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/
- Manipulative and Body-Based Practices: An Overview(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/manipulative.htm
- Massage Therapy as CAM(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/
- Meditation for Health Purposes(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
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MedlinePlus: Herbs and Supplements(Natural Standard) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb_All.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/druginfo/herb_All.html
- Mind-Body Medicine: An Overview(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/mindbody.htm
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) Benefits Go Beyond Back Pain(American Osteopathic Association) - http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=you_omtbenefit
- Prayer and Spirituality in Health: Ancient Practices, Modern Science(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2005_winter/prayer.htm
- Questions and Answers about Homeopathy(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy/
- Questions and Answers about Using Magnets to Treat Pain(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/magnet/magnet.htm
- Tai Chi for Health Purposes(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/taichi/
- Use of Magnets for Pain(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/magnet/
- What Is Ayurvedic Medicine?(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/
- Whole Medical Systems: An Overview(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/wholemed.htm
- Alternative Medicine: Evaluate Claims of Treatment Success(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alternative-medicine/SA00078/METHOD=print
- Bioterrorism and CAM: What the Public Needs to Know(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/bioterrorism/
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Selecting a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioner(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/practitioner/
Also available in Spanish http://nccam.nih.gov/espanol/seleccionarundoctor/
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Tell Your Doctor about Your Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/timetotalk/forpatients.htm
Also available in Spanish http://nccam.nih.gov/espanol/horadeconversar/pacientes.htm
- NCCAM Image Gallery(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/gallery/
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Massage Therapy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/massagetherapy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/massagetherapyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Paying for CAM Treatment(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/financial/
Also available in Spanish http://nccam.nih.gov/espanol/pago/
- About Clinical Trials and Complementary and Alternative Medicine(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/factsheet/
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Complementary Therapies(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=complementary+and+alternative+medicine
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Homeopathy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/intervention=homeopathy
- About CAM on PubMed(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/
- Lifestyle Changes May Affect Cell-Level Processes Related to Disease(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/100908.htm
- Pilot Study Provides New Insight on Effect of Ginkgo Extract on Dementia in the Elderly(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/022608.htm
- St. John's Wort Shows No Impact on the Symptoms of ADHD(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/061008.htm
- Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles Virus in Older Adults(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/040607.htm
- Article: The effects of a mindfulness intervention on obsessive-compulsive symptoms in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18852623&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Detecting awareness in children by using an auditory intervention. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18813040&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The powerful placebo. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18807625&tool=MedlinePlus
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(complementary+therapies[majr]+NOT+acupuncture+therapy[mh]+NOT+manipulation,chiropractic[mh]+NOT+phytotherapy[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Massage Therapy Terms(American Massage Therapy Association) - http://www.amtamassage.org/about/terms.html
- Index of Alternative Therapies and Modalities(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/34968.html
- AMTA's Find a Massage Therapist(American Massage Therapy Association) - http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/locator.htm
- Choosing an Alternative or Complementary Medicine Practitioner(Alternative Medicine Foundation) - http://www.amfoundation.org/practitioner.htm
- NCCAOM: Find Nationally Certified Practitioners(National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) - http://www.nccaom.org/find/index.html
- American Music Therapy Association - http://www.musictherapy.org/
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - http://nccam.nih.gov/
- Credentials for the Massage Therapy Profession(American Massage Therapy Association) - http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/credential.html
- New Findings on Americans' Use of CAM(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006_summer/findings.htm
- Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/news/camsurvey_fs1.htm
- Alternative Medicine and Your Child(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/alternative_medicine.html
- CAM Use and Children(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/children/index.htm
- Thinking about CAM Therapies for Young People(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007_winter/youngpeople.htm
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/alternative_medicine.html
- Yoga(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/yoga.html
- Integrative Therapies and Women's Health(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/alternative_medicine/hic_integrative_therapies_and_womens_health.aspx
- Complementary and Alternative Medicines(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) - http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=7
- Older Americans' Discussion of CAM with Doctors(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007_winter/olderamericans.htm
- Acupuncture - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/acupuncture.html
- Cancer Alternative Therapies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/canceralternativetherapies.html
- Chiropractic - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chiropractic.html
- Herbal Medicine - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herbalmedicine.html
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/complementaryandalternativetherapies.html
- Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine is the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - http://nccam.nih.gov/