by Bonnie Moss

Created on: November 26, 2008

Welcome to the world of complementary and alternative medicine.This term refers to medical approach outside the realm of conventional medical system. CAM (complementary and alternative medicine ) is a component of the National Institute of Health in the United States of America.
CAM is a diverse medical and health care system used alongside conventional medicine such as doctors, nurses, physical therapist, dentist etc.

Today, there are practitioners of conventional medicine who also practice complementary medicine. Scientific studies and research are being conducted to lend more credibility to complementary medicine. However, this only touches the surface of research. Realistically, the funding for this type of research is limited, since there is more emphasis on the importance of research for conventional medicine. Take the research of cancer drugs- it is an on-going study, research and funding in the field of conventional medicine.

Is complementary therapy safe? This is a question anyone who is inclined to take this route for healing should ask. Does complementary medicine work for medical conditions or diseases for which they are used? Are these therapies based on scientific
based research?

It is necessary to know the distinction between Complementary and Alternative therapy because they are different.

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE:

This is used along with conventional medicine. There are times that aromatherapy is administered to a patient. Some scents from essential oils provide a calming effect when inhaled, this helps to lessen a patient's discomfort from pain due to a surgical procedure.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

It is used instead of conventional medicine, it is substituted for conventional medicine. Example is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy as recommended by a conventional doctor.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Some techniques are acupuncture, aromatherapy massage and others. The
practice of holistic medicine typically addresses the effect of disease on the whole person that includes the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects.

Emotions, positive or negative affects the immune system's ability to ward off disease. People who live with high stress levels and tend to have negative attitude have weaker response to ward off cold virus because their immune system is weakened. People who have a more positive attitude and adopt a healthier lifestyle through diet, exercise, meditation

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