Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Paper Summary:

The paper defines the alternative and complimentary medical systems and relates that these systems have contributed to improving the quality of care delivery. The paper discusses several problems, however, with alternative and complimentary medicine and concludes that a judicious approach is necessary for developing integrated medical practices that optimise medical care.

Outline:
Introduction
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"As the name suggests, alternative therapies are implied to be alternatives for conventional medical therapy; for example special dietary therapy for curing cancer as an alternative to radiation and surgical intervention. Complimentary therapy on the other hand is used alongside allopathic treatment. [NIH] From a health administrator's perspective, a thorough understanding of these complementary and alternative medical practices is necessary as integrated medicine is proving to be more effective in the treatment and management of many disease conditions. In 1998, the US government founded the NCCAM, for a scientific study and integration of successful alternative medical systems into the mainstream medical practice. [Edwin L.Cooper] "

Sample of Sources Used:

• NIH, 'CAM Basics', Accessed 6th May 2007, Available online at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/
• Catherine Zollman, Andrew Vickers, "ABC of complementary medicine", BMJ, 1999; 319:693-696, Accessed 6th May 2007, Available online at, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/319/7211/693
• Edwin L. Cooper, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Challenge to eCAM", eCAM 2006 3(1):1-2,
• NIH, "More Than One-Third of U.S. Adults Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine, According to New Government Survey", Accessed 6th May 2007, Available online at, http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2004/nccam-27.htm
• Lucinda Porter, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine", HCSP Factsheet 2005, Accessed May 6th 2007, Available online at, http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/CAM.pdf

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