The twenty first century has brought several challenges to the medical field. Today, the world suffers several terminal diseases that have attracted the idea of applying other approaches to these conditions. These new methods of treatment tend to deviate from conventional medicine. All these methods have been grouped into a broad category commonly referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The American government recognizes the existence of these methods and has developed the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). This paper reviews all the tenets associated with complementary medicine
Definition of Concepts
The term alternative medicine is defined by NCCAM as a form of medicine that seeks to replace conventional medicine. In this form of medicine, treatment is based on traditional medicine, spiritual beliefs and other methods such as folk knowledge. Thus methods of treatment are based on traditional, cultures and religious beliefs and totally deviate from conventional medicine. In this sense convention medicine refers to kind of medicine practice by professional who hold M.D degrees and D.O certification. Faass (2001) argues that in a study performed in about 13 countries, nearly a third of cancer patients were using alternative medicine such as herbs.
A second tem used in this concept is complementary medicine. The term complementary medicine refers to a new a kind of medicine that uses alternative medicine in conjunction with conventional medicine . A very good example of complementary medicine is using acupuncture together with conventional care to lessen the pain. According to Nelms, Long, & Suche (2007) complementary medicine has been found to the most common kind of CAM.
The final concept used here in integrative medicine. Integrative medicine is a term used to refer combination of conventional and alternative medicine where there is evidence of increased effectiveness. In addition to effectiveness, the treatment must exhibit a high degree of safety.
Thus alternative medicine seeks to replace conventional medicine in its entirety. On the other hand, complementary medicine is using both conventional and alternative medicine. Finally, integrative medicine is still a combination of alternative and conventional medicine, however, there must exist high quality evidence of effectiveness for it pass. Thus conventional medicine seems to provide the basic point at which these three terms differ.
Philosophy behind CAM
The idea behind CAM are based and focused on treating the body as a whole. According to practitioners of CAM, treating the body as whole will go along with ensuring the body is healthy both physically and spiritually. In addition to this, CAM practitioners assert that considering self-care, spiritual nature and self healing of an individual is the key concept for treatment. An additional philosophy that drives CAM is the perceived open form of relationship that exists between the provider and the patient. Most critics of conventional medicine have argued that patients lack a direct relationship with their care givers.
Domains of CAM therapy
There are different kinds of medical treatment that can be offered under CAM. While there may not be formal definitions of these methods, they can be broadly classified.
Natural products
This kind of medical treatment makes use of natural products such as herbal medicines, minerals, vitamins and other natural products. In general, the use of natural products, commonly referred to as botanical, requires that treatment process uses non processed products.
Natural products domain lies well within the alternative medicine bracket. A good example in this kind CAM is the use of fish oil/omega 3s that has been popular in the United States. It has been found that about 38% percent of adult Americans would trust the product as dietary supplement.
Mind and Body CAM treatments
This is different concept, where the treatment method focuses on the interaction between the body, mind and character. This concept directs on the idea that treating the mind is the beginning of treating the body. Some of the methods used under this domain are meditation, yoga and acupuncture.
This domain could very well in the region of complementary medicine. Acupuncture is a method that stimulates specific methods of the body and is sometimes used along with conventional medicine. Acupuncture is usually used along other conventional medicine in performing physiotherapy.
Manipulative CAM domain (Body-Based)
As the name suggests, these are methods that focus on body based health that ensures that bones, tissues, lymphatic systems and the circulatory system works in order. One of the methods used in body-CAM practices id spinal manipulation employed by chiropractors.
This kind of therapy best lies in the precepts of integrative medicine. Here conventional medicine agrees that the use of chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and good way of healing muscular or tissue strains.
Other modes of CAM
A forth kind of therapy used by CAM is a method that seeks to stimulate the movement or motion of the individual. This kind of therapy seeks to promote emotional, mental and spiritual health of the individual. Some common examples are Feldenkrais method and Trager psychophysical integration.
The final kind therapy used under CAM is energy field therapy. Simulating such fields commonly defined as putative energy fields may help simulate some parts of the body.
Conclusion
The complementary and alternative medicine has been used at an increasing scale in medicine. These concepts should now be studied in deep analysis so as to analyze the effectiveness of these concepts. Conventional medicine should also adopt some of these concepts in order to increase effectiveness in medicine.
Resources:
Cohen, M. H., Ruggie, M., & Micozzi, M. S. (2006). The Practice of Integrative Medicine: A Legal and Operational Guide. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Faass, N. (2001). Integrating Complementary Medicine Into Health Systems. New Jersey: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Medifocus. (2011). Medifocus Guidebook On: Complementary Cancer Therapies. Atlanta: Medifocus_com Inc,.
NCCAM. (2007). What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine? Retrieved May 9, 2012, from www.nccam.nih.gov: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam
Nelms, M. N., Long, S., & Suche, K. (2007). Nutrition Therapy And Pathophysiology. New York: Cengage Learning.
