special subjects
Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine
Introduction
Integrative medicine and health (IMH) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include a variety of healing approaches and therapies that historically have not been included in conventional Western medicine. Many aspects of CAM are rooted in ancient, indigenous systems of healing, such as those of China, India, Tibet, Africa, and the Americas. Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine are terms often used interchangeably, but their meanings are different. Complementary medicinerefers to non-conventional practices usedtogether withconventional (mainstream) medicine. Alternative medicinerefers to non-conventional practices usedinstead ofconventional medicine. Integrative medicineis health care that uses all appropriate therapeutic approaches—conventional and non-conventional—within a framework that focuses on health, the therapeutic relationship, and the whole person. Although the distinction between conventional medicine and IMH or CAM is not always easy to determine, a basic philosophical difference exists. Conventional medicine tends to base its practices on the best scientific evidence available. In contrast, CAM tends to base its practices on evidence-informed practices—evidence that may not necessarily meet the highest, strictest criteria for efficacy and safety. (However, some CAM practices, including use of some Overview of Dietary Supplements , have been validated by the traditional high, strict scientific criteria.) Conventional medicine generally defines health as the absence of disease or dysfunction. The main causes of disease and dysfunction are usually considered to be identifiable factors, such as bacteria or viruses, biochemical imbalances, and aging, and treatments often involve medications or surgery. In contrast, IMH and CAM practices often define health holistically, that is, as a balance of systems—physical, emotional, and spiritual—involving the whole person. Disharmony among these systems is thought to contribute to illness. Treatment involves strengthening the body’s own defenses and restoring these balances. 