Complementary and alternative medicines

Complementary and alternative medicine therapies, such as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic manipulation, dietary supplements, herbal therapy, and homeopathic preparations, are used by individuals with allergic rhinitis.29,30 Use of bromelain, gingko, ginseng, licorice, quercetin, and Urtica dioica has been reported, but large-scale studies documenting efficacy are lacking.31,32 Caregivers should inquire routinely about patients use of alternative therapies and counsel patients about the lack of validated data to support such practices.12... 

Complementary and alternative medicines A group of practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, including alternative medical systems (e.g., homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine), mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation and mental healing), biologically-based therapies (e.g., dietary supplements, vitamins, herbs, and other natural products), manipulative body-based methods (e.g., acupuncture and massage), and energy therapies (e.g., therapeutic touch and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies). 

Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professionals Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Spring-house, PA Springhouse Corporation, 2001. 

Kiser, AK and Dagnelie, G, 2008. Reported effects of non-traditional treatments and complementary and alternative medicine by retinitis pigmentosa patients. Clin Exp Optom 91, 166-176. 

Goldrosen, M.H. and Straus, S.E., Complementary and alternative medicine Assessing the evidence for immunological benefits, Nat Rev Immunol, 4, 912, 2004. 

Complementary and alternative medicine, which includes a range of practices outside of conventional medicine such as herbs, homeopathy, massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold increasing appeal for Americans. In fact, according to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used alternative therapies. In all age groups, the use of unconventional healthcare practices has steadily increased in the last 30 years, and the trend is likely to continue, although people born before 1945 are the least likely to turn to these therapies. 

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) health information available at httpvynccam.nih.gov/health/... 

Onopa J. (1999). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) a review for the primary care physician. Hawaii Med J. 58(2) 9-19. 

Wetzel MS, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ. (1998). Courses involving complementary and alternative medicine at US medical schools. JAMA. 280(9) 784-87. 

Acknowledgments We thank David Huhman for assistance with mass spectrometry analysis. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (award 1 POl AT004511) and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. 

Cooper EL. (2004) Complementary and alternative medicine, when rigorous, can be science. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 1 1. ... 

In this chapter, we will begin by introducing you to official information sources on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) relating to medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency. At the conclusion of this chapter, we wiU provide additional sources. 

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (http nccam.nih.gov/) has created a hrik to the National Library of Medicine s databases to facilitate research for articles that specifically relate to medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and complementary medicine. To search the database, go to the following Web site http /ywww.nlm.nih.gov/nccan camonpubmed.htinl. Select CAM on PubMed. Enter medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (or synonyms) into the search box. CHck Go. The following references provide information on particular aspects of complementary and alternative medicine that are related to medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency ... 

Complementary and alternative medicine CAM. Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices are not considered standard medical approaches. CAM includes dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH]... 

The interest in all sorts of alternative and complementary interventions is in contrast to evidence-based medicine. These are interventions, often commercially promoted, that do not have a scientific basis for their proposed efficacy, and usually have not been evaluated scientifically for their safety and efficacy. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH (http //nccam.nih.gov) was established in 1999 to bring scientific methods to bear on these interventions. 

Fetrow CW and Avila JR (eds.). Professional s Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Springhouse, PA Springhouse, 1999. 

Cohen RJ, Ek K, Pan CX Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by older adults A comparison of self-report and physician chart documentation. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2002 57 M223-M227. 

AniTUDES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TOWARD COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE... 

Muskin, P.R. (2000) Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Psychiatry. Washington, DC American Psychiatric Press. 

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