What is alternative medicine? 

• In 2002, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) staff of the National Library of Medicine classified alternative medicine under the term complementary therapies. This is defined as therapeutic practices which are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice. They may lack biomedical explanations but as they become better researched some, such as physical therapy, diet, and acupuncture, have become widely accepted, whereas others, such as humors or radium therapy, quietly fade away, yet are important historical footnotes. Therapies are termed as Complementary when used in addition to conventional treatments,  and as Alternative when used instead of conventional treatment. 

   
 
What is integrative medicine?  
 

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  • Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness.

  
National Center for Complementary  
and Alternative Medicine 

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  • NCCAM , a component of the National Institutes of Health, is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on CAM.
  • NCCAM's mission is to explore complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals.

National Center for Complementary  
and Alternative Medicine  
Categories of CAM  
                     

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  • The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defined some of the key terms used in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
  • NCCAM groups CAM practices into four domains, recognizing there can be some overlap.
  • In addition, NCCAM studies CAM whole medical systems, which cut across all domains.

NCCAM Four Domains 

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  • Mind-Body Medicine
  • Biologically Based Practices
  • Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
  • Energy Medicine

  
 
CAM  
Whole Medical Systems 
 

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  • Whole 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 whole medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathy and naturopathy. Examples of whole medical systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic Medicine.

Homeopathy 

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  • A whole medical system that originated in Europe. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like").

Naturopathic Medicine 

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  • A whole medical system that originated in Europe. Naturopathy aims to support the body's ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and lifestyle changes together with CAM therapies such as herbs, massage, and joint manipulation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine 
Oriental Medicine (OM) 

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  • A whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi (chi) and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi.

Ayurvedic Medicine 

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  • Ayurveda is a whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga.

NCCAM Four Domains 

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  • Mind-Body Medicine
  • Biologically Based Practices
  • Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
  • Energy Medicine

Mind-Body Medicine 
 

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  • 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.

Biologically Based Practices 
 

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  • Biologically Based Practices in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products, and the use of other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices  
 

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  • Manipulative and Body-Based Practices  in CAM are based on manipulation, defined as the application of controlled force to a joint, moving it beyond the normal range of motion in an effort to aid in restoring health.
  • Manipulation may be performed as a part of other therapies or whole medical systems, including chiropractic medicine, massage, and naturopathy. and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, and massage.

Energy Medicine 

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  • Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types:
    • Biofield therapies
    • Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies

Biofield Therapies 

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  • 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 Therapy and Therapeutic Touch.

Qi Gong 

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  • A component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and controlled breathing. The intent is to improve blood flow and the flow of Qi.

Reiki Therapy 

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  • A therapy in which practitioners seek to transmit a universal energy to a person, either from a distance or by placing their hands on or near that person. The intent is to heal the spirit and thus the body.

Therapeutic Touch 

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  • A therapy in which practitioners pass their hands over another person's body with the intent to use their own perceived healing energy to identify energy imbalances and promote health.

Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies 

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  • Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields.

A Word about Diet 

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  • T Colin Campbell’s work
  • The China Study
  • Humans thrive on a whole plant-based diet
  • Less than 5% of diet as animal-based protein
  • Plants can provide all needed protein in a much more digestible form
  • Lower cholesterol, reduce heart attack risk, stroke risk, Alzheimer’s risk
  • Increases metabolic rate, resulting in healthy BMI

Resources 

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  • NCCAM      Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 
    TTY : 1-866-464-3615
  • Web site: nccam.nih.gov
  • E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov

 

 

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  • The China Study
  • Tcolincampbell.org

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