Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Mainstream Acceptance

Complementary medicine, simply put, is the use of alternative or non-traditional treatment of disease in conjunction with conventional Western medical treatment whereas alternative medicine is healing practices that do not fall within the realm of conventional medicine. This sounds confusing and it is. Even health care professionals that incorporate complementary techniques in their practice refer to complementary medicine as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Let's look at each field.

Complementary Medicine

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institute of Health, defines complementary medicine as a group of health care practices, systems and products that are not presently considered to be a part of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is medicine as practice by M.D.s (Medical Doctors) or D.O.s (Doctor of Osteopathy) and their allied health professionals. Some of these health care professionals integrate alternative therapy into their practice, complementing Western medicine with the disciplines such as herbal, acupuncture, aromatherapy and other alternative treatments.

Principles of Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine, along with alternative medicine works around a few principles. These principals include:

· Prevention of disease. The key to keeping yourself healthy is to take the steps that will ensure good health.

· Treatment to encourage healing. Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine believe that the body has the ability to heal itself, that their therapies facilitate the self healing process.

· Holistic care is the keystone in both complementary and alternative medical practices. The person is a whole, body, mind and spirit. All of these systems must be addressed for good health and healing.

· Education is essential for the healing process. Practitioners of complementary and alternative therapies see themselves as a teacher to the patient, not only to facilitate healthy living, but also to teach the patient about the healing process.

The Mind-Body Connection

Both complementary medicine and alternative medicine place great emphasis on the body-mind connection. The practitioners of both these disciplines believe that the connection between body and mind must be in harmony to promote both wellness and healing. Various techniques are used to strengthen the body- mind connection. Some of these techniques include:

· Prayer

· Meditation

· Yoga

· Biofeedback

· Hypnosis

· Relaxation Therapies

Biological Based Therapy

Practitioners can use a variety of biological based therapies including herbs and dietary supplements. Some herbs include ginseng, ginkgo and Echinacea. Herbs are used in different ways from tinctures, capsules, pills and in whole form. One warning about use of herbals some has adverse reactions with conventional medications. If you are taking conventional medication always consult your physician before starting on any herbal regime.

Other Therapies

Both alternative and complementary medicine uses a variety of other therapies. This can include:

· Massage

· Energy Therapies

· Reiki

· Magnetic Therapy

Alternative Medicine

While there is an overlap of therapies used in both alternative and complementary medical practice, the main difference between the two is that alternative medicine stands alone and complementary medicine is used as an adjunct to conventional western medical practices.

Whichever you choose, do your homework. Ask friends and family for their recommendations. Many physicians, if they don't incorporate complementary medicine in their own practice will give you a referral to practitioners. Many major hospitals including the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins are including complementary and alternative medical practices into their health care options.