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- What is complementary
and alternative medicine?
- Are complementary medicine
and alternative medicine different from each other?
- What is integrative
medicine?
- What are the major
types of complementary and alternative medicine?
- What is NCCAM's role
in the field of complementary and alternative medicine?
- Dictionary of Terms
- Resources
There are many terms used
to describe approaches to health care that are outside the realm of conventional
medicine as practiced in the United States. This fact sheet explains how
the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM),
a component of the National Institutes of Health, defines some of the key
terms used in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
A dictionary of terms that are underlined in the text can be found at the
end of this fact sheet.
What is complementary and alternative medicine?
Complementary and alternative medicine,
as defined by NCCAM, is a group of diverse medical and health care systems,
practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of
conventional medicine.1,2 While some
scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there
are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific
studies--questions such as whether they are safe and whether they work
for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used.
The list of what is considered to be CAM
changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and
effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches
to health care emerge.
Are complementary medicine and alternative
medicine different from each other?
Yes, they are different.
- Complementary medicine is
used together with conventional
medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy
to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery.
- Alternative medicine is used
in place of conventional medicine.
An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer
instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended
by a conventional doctor.
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, combines mainstream medical
therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific
evidence of safety and effectiveness.
What are the major types of complementary
and alternative medicine?
NCCAM classifies CAM therapies into five
categories, or domains:
1. Alternative Medical Systems
Alternative medical systems are built upon
complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems have evolved
apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the
United States. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed
in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine.
Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include
traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
2. Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques
designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms.
Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream
(for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy).
Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation,
prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as
art, music, or dance.
3. Biologically Based Therapies
Biologically based therapies in CAM use
substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples
include dietary supplements,3 herbal products, and the use
of other so-called "natural" but as yet scientifically unproven therapies
(for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).
4. Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
Manipulative and body-based methods in
CAM are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the
body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, and
massage.
5. Energy Therapies
Energy therapies involve the use of energy
fields. They are of two types:
- Biofield therapies are intended
to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the human
body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven.
Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure
and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in, or through, these
fields. Examples include qi gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch.
- Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed
fields, magnetic fields, or alternating current or direct current fields.
What is NCCAM's role in the field of complementary
and alternative medicine?
NCCAM is the Federal Government's lead
agency for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine.
NCCAM's mission is to explore complementary and alternative healing practices
in the context of rigorous science, to train CAM researchers, and to inform
the public and health professionals about the results of CAM research studies.
Notes
1
Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical
doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health
professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered
nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western,
mainstream, orthodox, and regular medicine; and biomedicine. Some conventional
medical practitioners are also practitioners of CAM.
2
Other terms for complementary and alternative medicine include unconventional,
non-conventional, unproven, and irregular medicine or health care.
3
Some uses of dietary supplements have been incorporated into conventional
medicine. For example, scientists have found that folic acid prevents
certain birth defects, and a regimen of vitamins and zinc can slow the
progression of an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Dictionary of Terms
Aromatherapy ("ah-roam-uh-THER-ah-py"):
Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils (extracts or essences)
from flowers, herbs, and trees to promote health and well-being.
Ayurveda ("ah-yur-VAY-dah")
is a CAM alternative medical system that has been practiced primarily in
the Indian subcontinent for 5,000 years. Ayurveda includes diet and herbal
remedies and emphasizes the use of body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention
and treatment.
Chiropractic ("ki-roh-PRAC-tic")
is a CAM alternative medical system. It focuses on the relationship between
bodily structure (primarily that of the spine) and function, and how that
relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. Chiropractors
use manipulative therapy as an integral treatment tool.
Dietary supplements:
Congress defined the term "dietary supplement" in the Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product
(other than tobacco) taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient"
intended to supplement the diet. Dietary ingredients may include vitamins,
minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as
enzymes, organ tissues, and metabolites. Dietary supplements come in many
forms, including extracts, concentrates, tablets, capsules, gelcaps, liquids,
and powders. They have special requirements for labeling. Under DSHEA,
dietary supplements are considered foods, not drugs.
Electromagnetic fields:
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs, also called electric and magnetic fields)
are invisible lines of force that surround all electrical devices. The
Earth also produces EMFs; electric fields are produced when there is thunderstorm
activity, and magnetic fields are believed to be produced by electric currents
flowing at the Earth's core.
Homeopathic ("home-ee-oh-PATH-ic")
medicine is a CAM alternative medical
system. In homeopathic medicine, there is a belief that "like cures like"
meaning that small, highly diluted quantities of medicinal substances
are given to cure symptoms, when the same substances given at higher or
more concentrated doses would actually cause those symptoms.
Massage ("muh-SAHJ")
therapists manipulate muscle and connective tissue to enhance function
of those tissues and promote relaxation and well-being.
Naturopathic ("nay-chur-o-PATH-ic")
medicine is a CAM alternative medical
system in which practitioners work with natural healing forces within the
body, with a goal of helping the body heal from disease and attain better
health. Practices may include dietary modifications, massage, exercise,
acupuncture, minor surgery, and various other interventions.
Osteopathic ("ahs-tee-oh-PATH-ic")
medicine is a form of conventional
medicine that, in part, emphasizes diseases arising in the musculoskeletal
system. There is an underlying belief that all of the body's systems work
together, and disturbances in one system may affect function elsewhere in
the body. Some osteopathic physicians practice osteopathic manipulation,
a full-body system of hands-on techniques to alleviate pain, restore function,
and promote health and well-being.
Qi gong ("chee-GUNG")
is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement,
meditation, and regulation of breathing to enhance the flow of qi (an ancient
term given to what is believed to be vital energy) in the body, improve
blood circulation, and enhance immune function.
Reiki ("RAY-kee")
is a Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy. Reiki is based
on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a Reiki practitioner,
the patient's spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body.
Therapeutic Touch
is derived from an ancient technique called laying-on of hands. It is based
on the premise that it is the healing force of the therapist that affects
the patient's recovery; healing is promoted when the body's energies are
in balance; and, by passing their hands over the patient, healers can identify
energy imbalances.
Resources
For more information on CAM or NCCAM,
contact
NCCAM Clearinghouse
Toll-free: 1-888-644-6226
International: 301-519-3153
TTY (for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615
E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov
Web site: nccam.nih.gov
Address: NCCAM Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 7923, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-7923
Fax: 1-866-464-3616
Fax-on-Demand Service: 1-888-644-6226
For more information on dietary supplements,
contact
Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
Web site: ods.od.nih.gov
Center for Food Safety and Nutrition
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
Web site: vm.cfsan.fda.gov
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NCCAM has provided
this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for
the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We
encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your
health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy in
this information is not an endorsement by NCCAM.
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This document is in the
public domain. Duplication is encouraged.
NCCAM Publication No. D156
May 2002
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