Is alternative medicine right for me
Alternative medicine is the term for medical treatments, products and practices that are not part of main stream medical care. main stream medical care is dispenced throught medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of main stream ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturoapathic medicine, osteopathy, siddha medicine and herbal medicines.
Is alternative medicine widly used.
The term main stream really has nothing to do with the utilization of alternative medicine, as we will see that over 62%, a vast majority of American used a form of alternative medicine in the last 12 months. A survey released in May 2004 by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, found that 62.1% of Americans used some form of alternative medicine in the last 12 months. 25% of people who use alternative medicine, do so because medical professional suggested it. Which has lead to a new title for alternative medicine which is commonly categorised together with complementary medicine under the umbrella term 'complementary and alternative medicine' for short). CAM includes:
- Ayurveda
- Chiropractic
- Herbalism
- Homeopathy
- Naturopathic medicine
- Osteopathy
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Siddha Medicine
- Unani alternative medicine
Is alternative medicine regulated
There is some much utilzation of alternative medicine that a governmet agency was formed to oversee it. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We are 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is where some of the very best infromation on alternative medicine and medicinal herbs can be founnd.