Medicine Introduction Center

Why people use complementary and alternative medicine?
How CAM is different from conventional medicine?

Conventional medicine (also called “allopathic medicine”) is based on scientific knowledge of the body and uses treatments that have proven effective through scientific research. Doctors are trained to have a thorough knowledge of body systems, diseases and treatments.

Complementary and alternative medicine is based on the belief that a health care provider to treat the whole person – body, mind and spirit. The techniques used in complementary and alternative medicine are mostly less invasive than conventional medical practices -. Which means you do not rely on conventional drugs or surgery

Some CAM therapies are supported by scientific evidence. But there are still many questions that need to be addressed through scientific studies. This does not mean these therapies do not work, it just means that experts have not studied enough to know for sure that they do -. And if so, how

Why do people use CAM? People often turn to CAM when they have a

long-term problem that conventional medicine has not completely healed. For example, someone who has seen a doctor for years about persistent headaches might try to use CAM in addition to current therapies to cope with any symptoms or side effects of conventional treatments.

People can also use complementary and alternative medicine when they are sick. Because many people believe that the techniques of complementary and alternative medicine – like yoga – can improve overall well-being, healthy people often use alternative medicine to try to prevent illness or to ensure a healthier life

. What is it?

The term “alternative medicine” is used to describe healing treatments that are not part of conventional medical training – like acupuncture, massage therapy, or herbs. People used to consider practices like these outside the mainstream, why was the name of “choice.”

Eastern countries have a long tradition of teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most Western hospitals did not provide any alternative treatments and Western medical schools do not teach.

Patients

in Western countries are becoming more receptive to trying alternative techniques, and have been asking for them. As a result, many Western medical schools are starting to teach these medicine techniques and theories. Some hospitals and doctors are supplementing their regular medical care with alternative techniques.

Many patients and providers of health care use alternative treatments alongside conventional therapies. This is known as complementary medicine .

Both the complementary and alternative medicine use the same sorts of remedies to treat a medical condition. The difference is that alternative medicine is often used instead of conventional medical techniques. Complementary medicine is used in medicine toconventional addition, not as a replacement. The field of complementary and alternative medicine is known as CAM for small.

Specialties

Just as there are many fields in conventional medicine, CAM covers many different practices. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), groups of practices complementary and alternative medicine in four areas:

biologically based practices means to supplement the normal diet of a person with additional nutrients, herbs, extracts, and certain foods. If you’ve ever taken a vitamin or herbal supplement, which has followed a practice based in biology. Handling and body-based therapies will focus on various body systems and structures. If you’ve ever seen a chiropractor or had a massage, which has been treated with therapy manipulación.intervenciones mind-body use the connection between a person’s mind, body and spirit to improve total welfare. mind-body techniques include meditation, yoga and biofeedback. Energy therapies are meant to restore disturbances in the body’s natural energy. Energy therapies include such practices as Qi gong and Reiki.

addition to these four different practices, CAM includes several sets of general medicine. These alternative medical systems are complete systems of theory and practice, and many date back earlier than conventional medicine we use today in the West. Examples of alternative medical systems include traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine.

Alternative medical systems incorporate many of the different practices listed above into their treatments. For example, the practice of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture can be combined with herbal medicine (a practice based in biology), and Qi Gong (an energy therapy). And Ayurveda includes the mind-body therapies, meditation and yoga, along with the biologically based practice of taking specific herbs for health reasons.

Limitations

Although CAM does have some proven benefits, like everything else, has its limitations.

Experts

have investigated many techniques of complementary and alternative medicine enough to say how effective are the treatments. Some people can not feel it’s worth investing much time or money on treatments that have proven effective. Insurance policies rarely cover CAM treatments, so people have to pay for them from their own pockets, without refund.

For some health problems, alternative approaches to healing on its own is not sufficient to help a person. Even something as seemingly minor as an infection may need treatment with traditional medications, like antibiotics. That is why it is always best to consult your doctor if you have a health problem and talk openly about CAM techniques you might want to try.

Another reason why it should be upfront with your doctor about techniques of complementary and alternative medicine is that, in some cases, the practices of complementary and alternative medicine may really interfere with traditional medical treatments. For example, certain herbal supplements may interact with certain prescription drugs, such as treatments for diabetes or birth control pills.

modern medicine, treatments, complementary and alternative medicine that are effective for a problem will not help you with all the problems. Some treatments are used only for certain problems, so if you want to try an alternative practice for health reasons, be sure to help the specific problem you are looking to right.

Before you try

traditional healers are not only trained, they are licensed. But that’s not always the case with professional complementary and alternative medicine. Some states have licensing requirements for certain specialists, like acupuncturists and massage therapists, and many are expanding their requirements for licensing as CAM practices and alternative growing in popularity.

Finding a excellent professional complementary and alternative medicine is still not as simple as finding someone in a phone book. NCCAM recommends to other health care provider for a referral, gathering information about the physician you are considering (such as training and licensing), and the meeting with the doctor to question about the risks and benefits of treatment – the same kind of thing you would if you were interviewing a new doctor.

may have used a complementary or alternative practice, like yoga or massage, or even thought about it! Trying to practices such as meditation and breathing can not do any harm, but other techniques of complementary and alternative medicine may have consequences for people with certain health conditions.

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