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Americans
are increasingly using treatments outside traditional Western medical
care to address medical and emotional conditions. Generally, these treatments
are referred to as complementary medicine when used in addition to more
standard treatment and as alternative medicine when used instead of traditional
medical care. Collectively, they are referred to as complementary and
alternative medicine, or CAM. Many individuals with life-threatening conditions
use one or more CAM therapies to help manage the discomfort of their illness,
the side effects of therapy, or feelings of depression, anxiety, and grief.
Types
of CAM
The
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) identifies
five major domains of CAM: |
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Alternative
medical systems are frequently traditional systems of medicine practiced
by other cultures. One common therapy today is acupuncture, part of
traditional Eastern medicine. |
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Mind-body
interventions are techniques based on the mind's capacity to affect
the physical body. These interventions include meditation, prayer,
music, dance, and art therapy. |
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Biologically
based treatments include herbal medicine, special dietary regimens,
and individual biological therapies. |
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Manipulative
and body-based methods include chiropractic care and massage therapy. |
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Energy
therapies are techniques based on theories regarding energy fields
from internal or external sources. |
Additional
information can be found on the NCCAM website (see Resources, below).
Questions
to Ask When Considering Use of CAM
While
research on CAM has increased in recent years, most of these therapies
have not yet had rigorous clinical studies of their safety and effectiveness.
If you are considering using a CAM therapy, you should investigate
the proposed treatment carefully. Some questions to ask are: |
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Is
there research on its safety and effectiveness, especially as it relates
to your specific medical condition? Are there potential side effects
or interactions with other medications or treatments? |
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Is there any regulation or other oversight of the therapy's practices,
products, and/or providers, such as approval by the federal Food and
Drug Administration or state provider licensure? |
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How
much will it cost and are these costs covered by health insurance?
Most CAM therapies are not, although there are some exceptions. |
It is important
to talk with your physician and other members of your health care team
if you are considering using any CAM therapy.
If you are interested in reviewing research reports for yourself, please visit the website for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is an institute of the National Institute of Health. The NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices through rigorous scientific research, training of complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. The web address is provided below with other pertinent resources.
Oversight
of CAM in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the Board of Registration in Medicine oversees the training,
licensure, and practice of acupuncturists. The Board of Registration of
Chiropractors regulates chiropractic care, including licensing chiropractors.
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other information and resources: |
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National
Center on Complementary and Alternative Therapies
National Institutes of Health
NCCAM Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 7923
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Phone: 888-644-6226
TTY:
866-464-3615
Fax: 866-464-3616
website: http://nccam.nih.gov/ |
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Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Medicine
Acupuncture Unit
560 Harrison Avenue , Suite G-4
Boston, Massachusetts
02118
Phone:
617-654-9800
FAX: 617-451-9568
website: www.massmedboard.org/acupuncture.htm |
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Massachusetts
Board of Registration of Chiropractors
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-727-3093
Fax: 617-727-2669
website: www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/ch/index.htm |
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American
Massage Therapy Association
website: www.amtamassage.org |
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American
Music Therapy Association, Inc.
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000
Silver Springs, Maryland 20910
Phone: 301-589-3300
Fax: 301-589-5175
E-mail: info@musictherapy.org
website: www.musictherapy.org |
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Office
of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
Suite 3801 – MSC 7517
6100 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2086
Phone: 301-435-2920
Fax: 301-480-1845
email: ods@nih.gov
website: http://ods.od.nih.gov/links/links_consumer.html |
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The
Longwood Herbal Task Force
Center For Integrative Therapies in Pharmaceutical Care
Mass College of Pharmacy
179 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-355-2576
Fax: 617-355-4924
email:
PaulaGardiner2000@yahoo.com
website: www.mcphs.edu/herbal |
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