Complementary And Alternative Therapies That Heal
Conventional medical approach, although widely followed is often found wanting and hence many whole medical systems have evolved through trial and error methods. The Western Approaches found successful and adopted are homeopathy and naturopathy. In the Eastern Approaches the traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Ayurveda are therapies that have sustained over centuries and found immense following. These systems are developed and based upon complete systems of theory and practices. Many other such systems exist in various cultures, which are yet to find a near universal application as those mentioned above. Home Remedies are one such system that are peculiar to each culture and are limited in their application either to be used as first aid or to treat minor ailments.
The term CAM encompasses various alternative medical and health care therapies, practices, and medicines outside the purview of conventional medical systems. Whether any of these therapies are safe and work for the purpose for which they are used are key questions that remain unanswered to some CAM systems. CAM stands for complementary and alternative medicine systems - those therapies used along with conventional medicines are complementary where those therapies used instead of conventional medicines are known as alternative therapies. Integrative medicine combines treatments from CAM and conventional medicine that have been tried, tested, and found safe and effective.
Amazing instances where sheer will power worked to help patients recover miraculously in cases where death or lasting injury or disability seemed imminent has paved the way for using mind-body medicines. A variety of techniques or practices have evolved to augment the mind's capacity to influence physical functions and symptoms. Some of these techniques like patient support groups (alcoholics anonymous) and cognitive behavioral therapy are accepted as mainstream medical systems now. Others such as meditation (transcendental), prayer groups, mental healing, and creative pursuits used to heal though the medium of art, music, dance etc are considered as CAM.
Practices based on using biological substances in their natural state like herbs, foods and vitamins as treatments are lacking in scientific evidence. Dietary supplements, herbal products, organic foods etc have a limited following.Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage of one or more parts of the body in CAM are yet to be widely accepted.
Better known though are the energy therapies in CAM involving the use of auras or energy fields. Bio field therapies work to influence the energy fields/ auras that surround and penetrate the human body. These involve manipulation of bio fields through application of pressure or manipulation of the body by placing the hands in or through these bio fields. Common examples are Reiki, Qi gong and therapeutic touch. The bio electromagnetic-based approach is unconventional involving magnetic therapies or the use of pulsed fields or AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) fields.
The Federal Government has empowered NCCAM - a leading agency to carry out scientific research on complementary and alternative therapies and providing training to CAM researchers. Its objective is to publish reliable scientific evidence on CAM to lend authority to professionals and educating the public in general.