Complementary Medicine. What Is Its Place?

What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Many Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in pursuit of health and well-being. The 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, showed that approximately 38 percent of adults use CAM. This fact sheet presents an overview of CAM, types of CAM, summary information on safety and regulation, the mission of the Nat...

What is complementary and alternative medicine

What is complementary and alternative medicine?

Complementary medicine has no place in cardiovascular medicine.

1. Miettinen TA, Railo M, Lepäntalo M, Gylling H. Plant sterols in serum and in atherosclerosis plaques of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45:1749–801. 2. Miettinen TA, Gylling H. Effect of statins on noncholesterol sterol levels: implications for use of plant stanols and sterols. Am J Cardiol 2005;96:40D–6D. 3. De Jongh S, Lilien MR, op’t Roodt J, Stroes ES, ...

Complementary and alternative medicine: what is it all about?

A number of health-related interventions--from widespread therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and yoga, to less well-known modalities such as Feldenkrais, iridology, reflexology and reiki--have increasingly come under the general heading of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A few, such as biofeedback, chiropractic and physical therapy, are considered conventio...