What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M.)?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M) is an emerging new field of healthcare that seeks to work as an alternative to or in conjunction with conventional medicine to enhance the healing and well-being of our populace. C.A.M. techniques can supplement existing medical protocols using relaxation, visualization, yoga, or other beneficial processes (often called integrative medicine) or as an alternative to traditional medicine as in the case of hypnosis, acupuncture, bioenergetics, diet or other mind/body spirit approaches. The Federal Government has acknowledged this new field of study by establishing the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as a component of the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Washington, D.C., which seeks to utilize C.A.M. to help optimize the healthcare system of our country, a goal supported by President Obama.
