What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

herbs Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used to encompass a wide variety of diverse treatment and diagnostic techniques that are currently outside of the mainstream of medicine in this country. The treatments may be used in conjunction with conventional medicine (complementary) or they may be complete (alternative) systems in their own right, such as traditional Chinese medicine. Many of these systems have deep historical and intellectual roots in the cultures of other countries and have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. In fact, for over 70 percent of the world’s population they are not "alternative" but in fact the primary source of health care. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has defined CAM as: "those healthcare and medical practices that are currently not part of conventional medicine." Classification of a practice as CAM may change, depending upon changing attitudes, ...