Understanding Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAM)

Complementary and alternative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies--questions such as whether they are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used.

The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches to health care emerge.

Some Helpful Complementary Approaches

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Art Therapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic Care
Dance Therapy
Guided Imagery
Herbal Therapies
Hypnosis
Massage Therapy
Meditation
Music Therapy
Naturopathic Medicine
Prayer and Spiritual Practices
Reiki
T'ai Chi
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yoga Therapy

• What is CAM? • Overview • Convergence • Evolution • Recent History • Consumer Use • Cancer • Chronic Pain • HIV Infection • Reasons • Conventional • Effectiveness • Differences • Major Types • NCCAM's Role • Definitions • Helpful Links
		Understanding Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAM) Complementary and alternative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies--questions such as whether they are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used. The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches to health care emerge. Some Helpful Complementary Approaches Acupuncture Aromatherapy Art Therapy Biofeedback Chiropractic Care Dance Therapy Guided Imagery Herbal Therapies Hypnosis Massage Therapy Meditation Music Therapy Naturopathic Medicine Prayer and Spiritual Practices Reiki T'ai Chi Traditional Chinese Medicine Yoga Therapy