Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?
- What is the difference between complementary medicine and alternative medicine?
- What is integrative medicine?
- What are some categories of CAM practices?
- What are natural products?
- What are manipulative and body-based practices?
- What is mind-body medicine?
- What are some examples of CAM whole medical systems?
- What is traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM?
- What is Ayurvedic medicine?
- What is homeopathic medicine?
- What is naturopathic medicine?
- What are some other CAM practices?
- What kind of CAM research does the National Institutes of Health (NIH) fund?
- What are some examples of NIH-sponsored studies of CAM therapies for heart disease?
- What are some examples of NIH-sponsored studies of CAM therapies for cancer?
- What are some examples of NIH-sponsored studies of CAM therapies for arthritis?
- What are some examples of NIH-sponsored studies of CAM therapies for Alzheimer's disease?
- If I'm interested in learning about a CAM therapy, what type of information should I look for?
- How can I get scientific information about a CAM therapy?
- What should I know if I am considering or using dietary supplements?
- What tips should I keep in mind about CAM therapies provided by a practitioner?
- Does insurance cover CAM therapies?
- Why is it important to tell my health care providers about my use of CAM?
- What information about my use of CAM and standard therapies should I discuss with my health care providers?
- Are there special circumstances when it is especially important to speak with a health care provider about CAM use?
- How can I get information about CAM from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)?