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Complementary and Alternative Medicine

a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of therapies ranging from the well-known acupuncture, homoeopathy and osteopathy, through herbal medicines to reflexology and prayer. Sometimes they are in addition to medical treatment (complementary), sometimes instead of it (alternative), and sometimes simply as a pleasant experience, such as aromatherapy. These treatments, within the NHS or paid for by the patient, are clearly popular with patients judging by their extensive use. Of the UK population 10% use a CAM treatment each year, while half the population, frequently younger patients, have used CAM therapy at some time. In the USA, patients spend $17 billion on CAM per annum.1,2 Many patients believe strongly that these treatments are beneficial, improving their well-being and lifestyle, but over half of UK doctors feel that they should not be funded by the NHS. Are these positive reports simply chance, as part of the variable natural histories of disease, or are they real?