Complementary and Alternative Medicine Three Part Series Emily Bernhardt Wellness Coach

General Information on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Part I General Information on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

CAM What does CAM stand for? What is CAM? CAM stands for Complementary Alternative Medicine. Give the individuals in the class a chance to answer and list some of the responses. Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) “modalities generally address the cause rather than the symptoms of the disease” (Micozzi, 2011). “Wellness in the context of complementary medicine is more than the prevention of disease. It is a focus on engaging the inner resources of each individual as an active and conscious participant in the maintenance of his or her own health” (Micozzi, 2011). Ask the class at this point: What do these statements mean to you?

CAM Have you had any dealings with CAM? What are some forms of CAM you have experienced? The individuals in the class will start to list them off as I place them on the board.

CAM “By definition “complementary” refers to the use of CAM together with conventional medicine, and “alternative” refers to the use of CAM in place of conventional medicine” (Koslo, 2011).

CAM Complementary Health approaches can be looked at in two subgroups: • Natural Products • Mind and Body Practices Natural Products “This group includes a variety of products, such as herbs (known as botanicals), vitamins and minerals, and probiotics. They are widely marketed, readily available to consumers, and often sold as dietary supplements” (NCCAM, 2013). “Mind and body practices include a large and diverse group of procedures or techniques administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher” (NCCAM, 2013).

CAM There are five major categories of alternative medicine: • Alternative medical systems • Mind-body interventions • Biologically based therapies • Manipulative and body-based therapies • Energy therapies “Alternative medicine use and expenditures that increased substantially in the U.S.A. are attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies, rather than increased visits per patient” (Hopton & MacPherson, 2010).