CAM (Complimentary & Alternative Medicine): Why A Natural Approach To Healthcare Just Makes Sense
An Alternative Approach To Healthcare
Millions of people every year explore complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to help alleviate a wide range of ailments, usually electing to try some combination of conventional and alternative medicine. In this case the alternative treatment (one which is outside the realm of treatments typically suggested by doctors) would be considered a complimentary treatment.
In the United States, approximately 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children are using some form of CAM. Let’s explore some of the most widely-pursued courses in alternative medicine.
What are CAM Treatments?
A complimentary treatment is a form of non-conventional medicine which is used in tandem with a conventional treatment to help reinforce or assist in healing. Examples of this would include the use of acupuncture in combination with prescription medications to treat chronic pain or the use of aromatherapy and essential oils to lessen discomfort during recovery from surgery.
In contrast, a treatment would be referred to as alternative if it is not used alongside another conventional method (using acupuncture while bypassing conventional treatments entirely would be considered alternative medicine).
Why Do People Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
There are many reasons people turn to CAM, including:
- Failure of conventional medicine to successfully treat their condition.
- A belief that natural cures are safer.
- They prefer the holistic approach of CAM which emphasizes a patient’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Chiropractic Medicine
One of the most mainstream forms of alternative medicine, chiropractic medicine revolves around the proper alignment of the spine. If the spine is not properly aligned, undue pressure can be put on certain nerves. A chiropractor can judge and then make certain adjustments to the spine to ensure that the bones which comprise the spine are properly aligned, thus alleviating temporary pain.
Many people with both acute and chronic back, neck and joint pain see a chiropractor for regular adjustments.
Treatment with Natural Supplements
The use of certain vitamins, minerals, herbs, roots and other substances which occur naturally as medicine has been common in all cultures since antiquity. Many of these substances are still used today in many forms including tablets, powders, tea and other brewed drinks.
Natural substances including clover, ginseng, ginger, kava, soy and various kinds of berries have been suggested as effective treatments for everything from anxiety and stress to chronic pain and nausea. Similarly, many people seek the assistance of vitamins and minerals to treat various ailments. For example, a common CAM practice is supplements for hair loss.
Another common use of natural substances is for weight loss. There are various nutrients that can help with everything from sleeping better to boosting energy – all essential tools in the weight loss battle!
Massage
Massage therapy revolves around the pressing or movement of the body’s soft tissues. The purpose of this is to both relieve soreness and stiffness in these areas as well as alleviate stress and anxiety. Research suggests that massage does work to remove stress and anxiety, as well as serve as an effective treatment for certain conditions including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
About the Author
No, I have never tried any type of CAM, but after going through the proper definition of CAM you discussed above, I would love to gain the experience of CAM treatment and will be back for the comment regarding the same.
I totally believe in complementary and alternative medicine. I think they can help improve blood circulation and prevent heart problems.
natural healing is the way to go. the body heals best this way.
Our bodies are excellent at healing themselves. If we spend a bit more time being aware of what’s going on in our bodies and trying to really listen to what it’s telling us, we’d be far healthier for it.
Major thanks for the great article. I’ll be sharing with friends who don’t understand why CAM healthcare is important!
I am totally agreed with your thoughts that natural supplement is better as compare to the medicines. As we know that there is no side effect of natural supplements. So for that we should take a healthy diet everyday for living healthy.
Well, natural treatments are far better, due to significantly fewer side effects and being easier for your body to recover from.
Natural supplements are best when they work. Good stuff.
Thank you very much for sharing this article with us. I do believe in medicine and medication but I don’t think they are the right way to deal with every problem. Sometimes it’s better to try the so called “alternative medicine” and you can achieve the same or even better results.
Great Article! I am a strong advocate of alternative medicine. As mentioned in the previous comments, our bodies are designed to naturally heal themselves. Unfortunately, there are many lifestyle related factors such as the food we consume and stress that flood our bodies with toxins. Alternative medicine is a great way to rid ourselves of those toxins.
My husband got rid of his back pain by using chiropractic medicine. He was fed up with the pain killers prescribed by our family physician.
My husband got rid of his back pain by using chiropractic medicine. He was fed up with the pain killers prescribed by our family physician.
Nice article. There are many other herbs from the kitchen that can be used for treatment, like honey and cinnamon, black pepper its have many properties and many more.
Did not know the CAM, but once the information with essential oils, massage acupunturara etc. I will try, thank you!
I’ve always been a fan for natural supplements. I’ll have to give the other suggestions a try. Thanks a lot for the advice.
natural or alternative medicine is the way to go and to see that people areaccepting embracing it is very good.
Very popular post and natural healing is definitely worth going for. I have seen this approach to varying ailments increase thanks largely to the expansion of the internet in recent years.
Chiropractic services are very effective in easing those body pains. I am all about natural medicine. Thanks for sharing this article.
Natural’s the only way to go with anything IMO. Is there a big difference between massage and massage therapy?
Your quality of life is largely dictated by one factor: your physical health. And when it comes to building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we all know that eating right and working out are more or less the keys.
I didn’t know about CAM before I read your article. A great informative post. I always believe that natural approach is the best way to go.
You are so dead on! What I find fascinating is that “natural healing” techniques that my famiky have been using for years is just now becoming noticed by the medical community. Hopefully they will begin to actually research these treatment options so we can better understand HOW they work
While it’s a fact that Millions of people every year explore complementary, alternative medicine and home remedies, it’s amazing that a lot say it is a load of rubbish, and yet it has been around longer than the current medicines we use today.
I totally believe in complementary and alternative medicine. I think they can help improve blood circulation and prevent heart problems.
I had my first massage around 5 years ago and it literally changed my life. It helped calm my migraines to a point of almost never having one now. As well as relaxing my mind and body in a way I have never experienced before.
I started looking into massage therapy in more detail, become a certified therapist, and now it’s a huge part of mu life and well-being.
Can’t recommend it enough!
Great article. I agree with you 100%. I can’t stress enough the need for people to find (and use) alternative cures.
The big companies don’t want us to know about them because they can’t make any money that way…you can only sell the cure once.
It’s a vicious circle…Once you start taking one drug, you end up taking several more. All of these so called “wonder drugs” have side effects. Once they catch up to you, you’re caught.
It’s just a matter of time before you have to keep adding more drugs to the one you started taking in the first place.