CAM Therapies for Wellness
July 31st, 2009
NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) classifies complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies into five categories:
Mind-Body Interventions: Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy). Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music or dance.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices: Manipulative and body-based practices in CAM are based on bodily manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body in an effort to restore health. These body-based practices may be performed as a part of other therapies, including chiropractic medicine, massage and naturopathy.
Biologically Based Therapies: Biologically based therapies in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products and the use of other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies (for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).
Whole Medical Systems: Whole medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the United States. Examples of whole medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Energy Medicine: Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types: Biofield therapies and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies.
Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the human body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in, or through, these fields. Examples include qigong and Reiki.
Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields or alternating-current or direct-current fields.
These five types of CAM can be integrated into conventional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments and conditions and can enhance health.
For information about acupuncture for wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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