National Center For Complementary and Alternative Medicine
CAM is a broad and constantly changing term. NCCAM defines CAM as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered a part of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine, AKA Western or allopathic medicine is practiced by M.D. (medical doctors) and D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine) and allied healthcare professionals. Boundaries between Westernized medicine and CAM therapies are not absolute. Complimentary medicine refers to the use of CAM and conventional medicine. Alternative medicine refers to the use of CAM in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine or integrated medicine is a combination of treatments from conventional medicine CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. "Hello everyone! I am a Nursing Student who is working on a class assignment related to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. For my final assignment I researched various online resources available for those with questions regarding diagnosis, treatment, cause, ext. related to CMT. With that information I chose to develop a website providing a few things to individuals and those whom support them through life. The first thing I wanted to provided was various ways individuals can support one another, family members, and friends who are affected by this disease. The other thing I wanted to provide was alternative therapies that individuals use in addition to medical and/or surgical interventions (i.e. yoga, massage, ext.). With that being said I feel many of you are experts in regard to what works for you. If you would be willing to share things that have helped provide support for both those diagnosed and their family members during testing, surgery, treatments, ext. I would greatly appreciate it and love to add it to the website for others to try. Also I would love to know what alternative therapies help with pain, stiffness, ext. I truly feel that this information would be beneficial to the care and support provided by all affected by CMT." |
Types of CAMCAM practices are often grouped into broad categories, such as natural products, mind and body medicine, manipulative, and body-based practices. These categories are not formally defined and some CAM therapies may fit into multiple categories.
Natural ProductsThis includes a variety of herbal medicine (botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other "natural products." Many are available over the counter as dietary supplements. Supplements such as a multivitamin taken to meet minimal dietary nutritional requirements or calcium to promote bone health are not considered to be CAM therapies. An example of a CAM therapies is probiotics, living mico-organisms (usually bacteria) similar to micro-organisms normally found in the digestive tract and that may have beneficial effects.
Current use of "natural products" has increased in the past few decades. The 2007 NHIS found that 17.7 percent of American adults had used a non-vitaminal/non-mineral natural product. These products were the most popular for of CAM among both adults and children. The most commonly used product among adults was fish oil/omega 3s (reported by 37.4 percent of all adults who said they use natural products); popular products for children included echinacea (37.2 percent) and fish oil/omega 3s (30.5 percent). Manipulative and Body-BasedManipulative 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. Two common therapies are spinal manipulation and massage.
Spinal manipulation This is practiced by health care professionals such as chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, physical therapies, and some medical doctors. Practitioners perform spinal manipulations by using their hands or a device to apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The amount of force applied depends on the form of manipulation used. The goal of this therapy is to relieve pain and improve physical functioning. Spinal manipulation is among the treatment options used by people with low-back pain- a very common condition that can be difficult to treat. Massage therapy This encompasses many different techniques. In general, a therapist press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissue of the body. People use massage for a variety of health-related purposes including to relieve pain, rehabilitate sport injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, address anxiety, depression, and general well-being. Current use according to the 2007 NHIS include, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation and massage ranked in the top 10 CAM therapies among both adults and children. The survey found that 8.6 percent of adults and 2.8 percent of children had used chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, and 8.3 percent of adults and 1 percent of children had used massage. |
Mind and Body MedicineMind and body medicine focus on the interaction among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. Many CAM practices embody this concept- in different ways.
Meditation Techniques include specific postures, focused attention, or an open attitude toward distractions. People use meditation to increase calmness and relaxation, improve psychological balance, cope with illness, or enhance overall health and well-being. Yoga Various styles of yoga are used for health purposes. Yoga typically combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. People use yoga as part of a general health regimen, and also for variety of health conditions. Acupuncture This is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of specific points on the body using a variety of techniques, such as penetrating the skin with needles that are then manipulated by hand or by electrical stimulation. It is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine, and is among the oldest healing practices in the world. Others
Current use include several mind and body approaches ranked among the top 10 CAM practices reported by adults in the 2007 NHIS. The survey found that 12.7 percent of adults had used deep breathing exercises, 9.4 percent had practiced meditation, and 6.1 percent had practiced yoga; use of these three CAM practices had increased significantly since the previous 2002 NHIS. Progressive relaxation and guided imagery were also among the top 10 CAM therapies for adults; deep breathing and yoga ranked high among children. Acupuncture had been used by 1.4 percent of adults and 0.2 percent of children. Other CAM PracticesAdditional CAM therapies include movement therapies- a broad range of Eastern and Western movement-based approaches used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Examples include the following:
According to the 2007 NHIS, 1.5 percent of adults and 0.4 percent of children used movement therapies. Traditional Healers Traditional healers use methods based on indigenous theories, beliefs, and experiences handed down from generation to generation. A familiar example in the United States is the Native American healer/medicine man. The 2007 NHIS found that 0.4 percent of adults and 1.1 percent of children had used a traditional healer. Energy Fields Such fields may be characterized as veritable (measurable) or putative (yet to be measured). Practices based on veritable forms of energy include those involving electromagnetic fields (magnetic therapy and light therapy). Practices based on putative energy fields (biofeilds) generally reflect the concept that human beings are infused with subtle forms of energy; qi gong, reiki, and healing touch are examples of such practices. The 2007 NHIS found relatively low use of putative energy therapies. Only 0.5 percent of adults and 0.2 percent of children used energy healing/Reiki. Whole Medical System These are complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures. Examples include Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. More modern systems that have developed over the past few centuries include homeopathy and naturopathy. The 2007 NHIS asked about the use of Ayurveda, homeopathy, and naturopathy. This therapy ranked 10th in usage among adults (1.8 percent) and 5th among children (1.3 percent). |
National Center for Complementary and Altenative Medicine. (2011, 07). What is complimentary and alternative therapy? Retrieved 12 10, 2012, from NCAM: National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medecine: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam