Margie R. Collins
SOC/201 Survey of Alternative Medicine
November17, 2014
Kay Ach
CAM Therapeutic Modalities
In the pursuit of health and well-being, many Americans along with the world, have used Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) over the past decade. In July 30, 2009, National Health Statistic Reports demonstrated on a test conducted in 2007 “that about 38.3% of adults (83 million persons) and 11.8% of children (8.5 million children under the age of 18 years) have used Complementary and alternative medicine” (NHSR, 2009). In this paper, I will define the terms alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and integrative medicine and clarify how these terms differ. I will also describe how conventional medicine plays a role in these three terms. After, I will review the philosophy of CAM and how it relates to or is different from conventional Western medicine. Followed by describing one CAM treatment modality within one of the five NCCAM domains and give an example of how such a therapy could be used as an alternative therapy, a complementary therapy, and an integrative therapy for a specific medical condition. Then, I will explain how each example meets the definition of alternative, complementary, or integrative therapy and support the rationale for each section. Lastly, I will conclude with the results of scientific studies, if available, that show a clinical benefit from the examples selected.
Compare and contrast conventional current regulations and oversights that exist in the United States with that of nonconventional medicine.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine combines conventional and CAM treatments for
References: Nahin, R.L., Barnes, P.M., Stussman, B.J., & Bloom, B. (2009). Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs National Institute of Health. (2008). National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. Retrieved from: http://nccam.nih.gov