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| Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Complementary and alternative medicine is the combination of various medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not defined as the kind of conventional medicine. There is a difference between complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary medicine can be combined with conventional medicine. For example, it is possible to apply aromatherapy to reduce a patient's discomfort after surgery. Alternative medicine is applied instead of conventional medicine. For example, it is possible to apply a special diet for the treatment of cancer replacing undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy adviced by a specialist in conventional medicine.
There is such definition as Integrative medicine that includes main medical therapies and conventional and alternative medicine therapies that have proved their safety and effectiveness. Integrative medicine is the combination of traditional western (or allopathic) and complementary approaches and supplements, but it cannot be applied instead of conventional therapy. Among its purposes there are activities applied to manage symptoms, the increase quality of life, well-being and make treatment more effective.
Among the main principles of integrative medicine one can name:
• The healing process is more effective when there is a partnership begween patient and practitioner.
• Conventional and alternative methods should be applied appropriately to provide the body's inner ability to healing.
• One should take in mind all factors that influence health, well-being and illness; mind, mood, community and body are considered.
• It is a system between conventional medicine and alternative medicine.
• It is a system based on good knowledge and the readiness to obtain new dogmas. .
• It is the applying of natural, less invasive interventions.
• It is applied for the maintainance of health, prevention and cure of various illnesses.
• Practitioners should not stop further self-exploration and self-development.
Conventional and alternative medicine has five main categories or types:
1. Alternative Medical Systems
Alternative medical systems are based on the combined use of theory and practice. Among the kinds of alternative medical systems applied in the cultures of the West there are homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Among the kinds of systems that are not used in the west, there are traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
2. Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body medicine applies different techniques those purpose is to raise the mind's ability to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques used as conventional and alternative medicine are applied nowadays separately as patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Among other mind-body techniques one can call meditation, prayer, mental healing, and creative therapies such as art, music, or dance.
3. Biologically Based Therapies
Biologically based therapies in complementary and alternative medicine apply substances available in nature, such as various herbs, food and vitamins. Dietary supplements, herbal products and the natural therapies can also be applied
4. Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
Manipulative and body-based methods in complementary and alternative medicine are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Among the kinds of manipulative and body-based methods, there are chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage
5. Energy Therapies
Energy therapies are based on the apply of energy fields. There are two kinds of energy therapies:
• Biofield therapies those purpose is to influence energy fields that are around the human body. There are some hesitations if such fieldstruly exist. Energy therapy is based on the manipulation of biofields while applying of pressure and/or manipulation of the body by putting the hands in, or through, such energy fields. Among the examples of biofield therapies one can name qi gong, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch.
• Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies are based on the unconventional apply of such electromagnetic fields as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating current or direct current fields.
The Federal Government's lead agency responsible for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine is NCCAM. Its purpose is to study complementary and alternative healing practices, to teach how to apply them properly and to provide the public and health professionals with information concerning the results of CAM research studies.
Conventional medicine can be practiced with medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. This kind of medicine is known as allopathy; Western, mainstream, orthodox, regular medicine and biomedicine. There are many other names of complementary and alternative medicine: unconventional, non-conventional, unproven, and irregular medicine or health care.
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