CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine? First, we need to define the term “Conventional”: Medicine that is practiced by those that hold a M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of osteopathic medicine). It also includes other allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.

What is the difference? Complementary Refers to using a non- mainstream approach in addition to Conventional medicine. Alternative Refers to using a non- mainstream approach instead of Conventional medicine.

Integrative Health Care Non-mainstream healthcare approaches that include Complementary and Alternative medicine.  For example: a cancer treatment facility may incorporate acupuncture and meditation as part of the treatment plan.

Subgroups of Integrative Health Care Natural Products  Herbs/Botanicals  Such as Echinacea ts/wiseuse.htm ts/wiseuse.htm  Vitamins and Minerals  For example fish oil/Omega 3’s basics/vitamins/ basics/vitamins/  Probiotics  Helpful bacteria introduction.htm introduction.htm Mind and Body Practices  Biofeedback  Acupuncture  Massage therapy  Meditation  Relaxation techniques  Spinal Manipulation  Tai Chi and qi gong  Yoga

An Introduction to mind/body practices Biofeedback ▪ Uses electrical impulses from the body to improve health ▪ Used to manage physical and mental health issues ▪ Anxiety, Chronic pain, Constipation, IBS, High Blood Pressure, etc. ▪ It’s noninvasive, reduces need for medications, teaches stress management, etc.

Acupuncture LatinLatin, 'acus' (needle) + 'punctura' (to puncture) ▪ The stimulation of specific acupuncture points along the skin of the body using thin needles.acupuncture points ▪ Stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians.qimeridians ▪ Beneficial for treatment of pain, migraine, nausea, obesity, stroke, Tinnitus, etc. For more information: procedures/acupuncture/basics/definition/prc procedures/acupuncture/basics/definition/prc

Massage Therapy ▪ Technique used for thousands of years ▪ Over 80 different massage therapy styles ▪ Numerous health benefits ▪ Heal injuries ▪ Relief from symptoms ▪ Help with certain health conditions For more information go to: ge-therapy-styles-and-health- benefits#1 ge-therapy-styles-and-health- benefits#1

References: ▪ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Nutrition for Everyone: Vitamins and Minerals. Retrieved September 29, 2014 from ▪ NCCAM (2014). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved September 27, 2014 from