Category on Alternative Medicine

Definitions

Alternative medicine is a broad term for any diagnostic method, method of treatment or therapy, and products whose theoretical bases and techniques diverge from generally accepted medical methods.

• NCCAM states: "Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine." ^{(Added quotation from NCCAM)}

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM ) is about alternative positions on health, healing, and illness. Complementary and alternative medicine covers a very broad range of areas from self-help to professional care and from the sensible and worth while to the ridiculous.

• Alternative medicine is generally considered to be the most dangerous form of CAM by the scientific community because it is used in place of conventional medicine. (See criticisms of alternative medicine for details.)
• Complementary medicine comprises alternative treatments that are used uses alternative methods and practices together with conventional medicine [NCCAM], especially as palliative care. ^{(Added NCCAM reference)}
• Integrative medicine, as defined by NCCAM, combines conventional medical treatments and CAM alternative treatments for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of their safety and effectiveness.

The Top Ten CAM therapies

The 10 most commonly used CAM therapies in the United States during 2002 ([1] table 1 on page 8) when use of prayer is excluded.

1. Herbalism (18.9%)
2. Breathing Meditation (11.6%)
3. Meditation (7.6%)
4. Chiropractic medicine (7.5%)
5. Yoga (5.1%)
6. Body work (5.0%)
7. Diet-based therapy (3.5%)
8. Progressive relaxation (3.0%)
9. Mega-vitamin therapy (2.8%)
10. Visualization (2.1%)

NCCAM classification of CAM categories, grouped by popularity (table 4 on page 9 and table 1 on page 8) when the use of prayer is excluded.

1. Biologically Based Therapy (20.6%)
2. Mind-Body Interventions (16.9%)
   1. Herbal therapy (18.9%)
   2. Diet-based therapy (3.5%)
   3. Exercise-based therapy
3. Manipulative therapy (10.9%)
4. Alternative Medical Systems (2.7%)
5. Energy Therapy (0.5%)

Contemporary use of Alternative Medicine

The popularity of CAM therapies is extensive. A survey released in May 2004 by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine focused on who used complementary and alternative medicine, what was used, and why it was used in the United States during 2002.

• According to this new survey, 36 percent of U.S. adults age 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). When prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of adults using some form of CAM in 2002 rose to 62 percent ([2], abstract on page 1).
• Consistent with previous studies the present study found that the majority of individuals (i.e., 54.9%) used CAM in conjunction with conventional medicine ( page 6).
• "The data confirm most earlier observations that most people use CAM to treat and/or prevent musculoskeletal conditions or other conditions associated with chronic or recurring pain" (page 5).
• "The fact that only 14.8% of adults sought care from a licensed or certified CAM practitioner suggests that most individuals who use CAM self-prescribe and/or self-medicate" (page 6).
• "Women were more likely than men to use CAM. The largest sex differential is seen in the use of mind-body therapies including prayer specifically for health reasons" (page 4).
• "Except for the groups of therapies that included prayer specifically for health reasons, use of CAM increased as education levels increased" (page 4).

Dictionary of Alternative Medicine
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