Complementary medicine and Alternative medicine are two different entities. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example would be the use of aromatherapy to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of this would be using a special diet to treat cancer, instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor. There is also Intergrative medicine, which combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies to treat a certain health condition. Note that there is usually high-quality scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the CAM therapy when it is used intergratively with conventional medicine.

There are five major categories of CAM and they are listed and defined below:

-Alternative Medical Systems

These are systems that are built on complete systems of theory and practice. The systems have usually evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the U.S. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in the Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.

-Mind/Body Interventions

Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream (i.e., patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy). Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that are a creative outlet such as art, music, and dance.

-Biologically Based Therapies

These are therapies in CAM that use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products, and the use of other so-called natural but scientifically unproven therapies (for example, the use of shark cartilage to treat certain cancers).

-Manipulative and Body Based Methods

These methods, used in CAM, are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, and massage.

-Energy Therapies

Energy therapy involves the use of energy fields, and there are two types:

Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that surround and penetrate the body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in or through these fields. Examples include Qi Gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch.

Bioelectromagnetic therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields.

Complementary and Alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies-questions such as whether these therapies are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used. The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care.

Christine Watson has been teaching health, wellness, and nutrition since 1992. She is a nutritionist, registered dietitian, and complementary/alternative health expert. As the owner of The Alternative Weigh, Christine