Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)Lesson 1 Lecture

Lesson Summary: This lesson focuses on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to enhance health. We will be discussing what complementary and alternative medicine entails, as well as what its major types are. In addition, we will be discussing six things to be aware of when choosing a CAM practitioner. During the lesson, if any of you have any experiences with CAM therapies, you are welcome to share them with the rest of us. The last 30 minutes will be a question and answer period for you to bring up anything you didn’t understand or have concerns about. Thanks for coming out tonight and for your interest in CAM therapies.

Lesson Content: What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine? Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are health and wellness therapies that are not usually used in conventional Western medicine. Complementary therapies are treatments that “complement” or are used alongside of conventional medicine. Alternative therapies are treatments that are used instead of, or in place of, conventional medicine (Mayo Clinic, 2014). CAM concentrates on the entire person, including the areas of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. The majority of CAM studies in the United States indicate that not many people turn away from conventional medicine completely (Mayo Clinic, 2014). At this point, it appears that "integrative medicine" is gradually becoming the preferred term when discussing the working relationship between complementary and conventional medicine. Integrative medicine is a great way to bring together (integrate) the finest conventional medical care with the finest evidence-based CAM (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

What are the Major Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine? The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classifies CAM therapies into four areas, with the understanding that there could be overlapping in some of them. Let’s take a look at these four:

1. Mind-Body Medicine In mind-body medicine, various methods are used that were intended to improve the capacity of the mind affecting the body’s functions and symptoms. Patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy are mind-body methods that used to come under the CAM umbrella, but they have now become mainstream therapies. Meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use art, music, or dance are still mind-body methods that come

under the CAM umbrella (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007).

2. Biologically Based Practices Biologically based therapies in CAM utilize natural ingredients (found in nature), for instance, herbs, foods, and vitamins. Dietary supplements, herbal products, and other “supposed” natural, but not scientifically proven therapies, such as treating cancer with shark cartilage are examples of biologically based therapies that come under the CAM umbrella (NCCAM, 2007).

3. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices Manipulative and body-based practices in CAM employ manipulation and/or movement of at least one part of the body. Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage are good examples of this particular CAM therapy (NCCAM, 2007).

4. Energy Medicine Energy therapies use two kinds of energy fields known as biofield and bioelectromagnetic-based fields. Biofield therapies are meant to affect energy fields that supposedly encircle and enter the human body. As of yet, these fields have not been proven scientifically (NCCAM, 2007). Various procedures using energy therapy manipulate biofields by exerting pressure and/or manipulating the body by insertion of the hands in, or through, these fields. Qi gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch are good examples of biofield therapies (NCCAM, 2007). Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies include the unusual employment of electromagnetic fields, for example, pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields. Both of these energy therapies come under the CAM umbrella (NCCAM, 2007). In addition, NCCAM studies CAM whole medical systems, which permeate all areas.

Whole Medical Systems Whole medical systems are constructed using complete systems of theory and practice. Frequently, these systems have developed apart from and before the conventional medical methods that are used in the United States. Some examples of whole medical systems that sprouted up in Western cultures are homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Some examples of systems that sprouted up in non-Western cultures are traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (NCCAM, 2007).

Choosing a CAM Practitioner The NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(NCCAM) lists six things to be aware of when choosing a complementary health practitioner. Keep in mind that while you are searching for a complementary health practitioner to assist you in the treatment of a medical situation, you need to be just as careful and thorough in your search as you would be when searching for conventional care practitioners (NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), 2013). These are the six things to be aware of in your search:

1. You may be able to get some names of practitioners in your area by checking with your physician or additional health care providers. A hospital, medical school, professional organizations, state regulatory agencies or licensing boards, or health insurance providers that are nearby might be able to assist you. Remember that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is not able to refer you to any practitioners (NCCAM, 2013).

2. You should learn all that is possible about any potential practitioner, such as what kind of education, training, licensing, and certifications they have acquired. The type of credentials that are necessary for complementary health practitioners differ quite a bit from state to state and also from discipline to discipline (NCCAM, 2013).

After you have located a potential practitioner, some things you should think about when determining whether they are the right one for you to use:

3. Determine if the practitioner is willing to collaborate with your conventional health care providers. In order for your care to be safe and coordinated, it is crucial for all providers that are participating in your healthcare to communicate and cooperate with each other (NCCAM, 2013).

4. Discuss all health conditions you have with the practitioner, and see what type of training and experience they have working with people who have the same health issues. Select a practitioner who knows how to work with people having similar issues, even though overall well-being might be your goal. In addition, keep in mind that health conditions may affect the safety of complementary approaches; for instance, someone who has glaucoma might have trouble with some yoga poses, which may not be safe for them (NCCAM, 2013).

5. You cannot make the assumption that your health insurance will cover the services of the practitioner.  You would have to contact your health insurance provider and ask them if those services would be covered. Insurance policies vary greatly in the types of complementary health approaches they cover, and at times they may cover a certain approach, but there may be restrictions applied to it.

(NCCAM, 2013).  

6. Let all of your healthcare providers know about all complementary therapies you use and let them know about all of the practitioners who are treating you. Doing this will keep your health care providers completely informed, while at the same time enabling you to remain in control and successfully manage your health (NCCAM, 2013).

Credentialing, Licensing, and Certifying Government agencies grant and monitor licenses while professional organizations certify practitioners. Certification can either be a requirement for getting licensed or sometimes it can be an alternative. In order for practitioners to get certified or licensed, they are required to meet specific education, training, or practice standards. One thing to remember is that just because a practitioner is licensed or certified does not guarantee they are qualified (NCCAM, 2014).

States use the methods below to credential practitioners: Mandatory licensure: This ensures that practitioners fulfill the requirement of

having a license so they can provide a service. Title licensure: This ensures that practitioners fulfill the requirement of having

credentials prior to using a professional title. Registration: This ensures that practitioners fulfill the requirement of providing

information regarding their training and experience to a state consumer protection agency (NCCAM, 2014).

The States have various requirements for granting a license. Below are some of the things that may be required for those looking to get a license:

Graduate from a certified program. Meet certification requirements of a national organization. Complete a specified amount of training. Pass a written exam (sometimes a practical exam is also required). Participate in continuing education (NCCAM, 2014).

In addition, states have considerably different services they let complementary health practitioners recommend to patients. An example of this is that certain states allow acupuncturists to recommend dietary supplements to their patients, whereas other states explicitly prohibit it (NCCAM, 2014).

This is the end of our lesson for tonight on CAM. If you have any questions or concerns, we have 30 minutes to discuss them and I will be providing you with handouts

that cover the information we went over in class. Also, I will provide you with a handout that discusses the credentialing of CAM practitioners. Thanks again for coming out tonight and I hope to see you next Monday night for Lesson 2 which covers yoga for health.

References:Mayo Clinic. (2014). Complementary and alternative medicine: Definition. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative medicine/basics/definition/prc-20021745National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2007). CAM basics: What is CAM? Retrieved from: http://img.thebody.com/nccam/whatis.pdfNIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2014). CAM basics: Credentialing: Understanding the education, training, regulation, and licensing of complementary health practitioners. Retrieved from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/credentialing.htmNIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2013). Time to talk tips: 6 things to know when selecting a complementary health practitioner. Retrieved from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/tips/selecting

References for the CAM handouts:National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2007). CAM basics: What is CAM? Retrieved from: http://img.thebody.com/nccam/whatis.pdfNIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2014). CAM basics: Credentialing: Understanding the education, training, regulation, and licensing of complementary health practitioners. Retrieved from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/credentialing.htm