any type of therapy not considered standard practice in a given culture. In most Western countries, CAM includes traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy and chiropractic. Complementary therapy is typically used as an adjunct to standard therapy, while alternative medicine is used instead of standard therapy.
treatment of disease in ways without the allopathic drugs and invasive procedures, including such things as homeopathy, herbs and hands-on therapy
Complementary and alternative medicine, as defined by National Institutes of Health, is a group of diverse medical and health-care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine
Health care practices and approaches that are not presently considered to be part of traditional or conventional medicine, ie, medical practices that are not commonly prescribed by licensed doctors and other health care providers.
Health care practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) 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.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Examples of CAM include acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and osteopathy.
A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered an integral part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.
Treatment of health care problems with the use of acupunture and homeopathy. These treatments can include guided imagery, meditation, massage, therapeutic touch, etc., and are often combined with standard therapy.
Includes all such practices and ideas which are outside the domain of conventional medicine in several countries and defined by its users as preventing or treating illness, or promoting health and well-being. These practices complement mainstream medicine by (1) contributing to a common whole; (2) satisfying a demand not met by conventional practices; and (3) diversifying the conceptual framework of medicine. (CAM definition adopted by the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field)
CAM. Forms of treatment in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.
CAM emphasizes the bodyâ€(tm)s ability to heal itself by using herbs, physical manipulation, the spirit, and the mind. Some examples of CAM that can be used during pregnancy include: acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, chiropractic medicine, massage, hydrotherapy, and hypnosis.
"Those treatments and healthcare practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies." (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2001 [ http://nccam.nih.gov/htdig/search.html
