Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases

Introduction. This special issue focuses on the role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The role of CAM in healthcare specifically in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been a contentious issue for centuries. With demographic shifts, urbanization, and changing lifestyles, disease burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has increased dramatically and can further increase in the future. Despite the growing popularity of CAM therapies, limited information is available regarding patterns of use of CAM therapies in cardiovascular diseases. The definition of CAM has continued to evolve. As defined by the National Center of complementary and alternative medicine (NCCAM), " it is a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. " The 5 domains of CAM as classified by the NCCAM are whole medical systems (e. Over the last several decades, the use of CAM has become increasingly popular in both developed and the developing countries. A high proportion of patients using CAM believe CAM has remedial benefits and are safe compared to their prescribed treatments; this serves as a strong motivational factor for both present and future use of CAM. In addition,