National cancer institute has released a paper on the role of Complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) in treatment of Cancer. In this article they give
a briefed and useful description for CAM. Their definition for CAM is as follow:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical
products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. The terms
such as “natural,” “holistic,” “home remedy,” or “Eastern Medicine” may be
used to refer to CAM.
However, scientists often subdivided The CAM into five categories to describe it
including:
• Mind-body therapies: (Meditation , Yoga, Biofeedback, etc.)
• Biologically based practices:((Herbal and natural drugs,
vitamins, dietary supplement) ,
• Manipulative and body-based practices:
• Massage therapy, Chiropractic therapy and Reflexology
• Whole medical systems:
• Traditional Chinese medicine: such as Acupuncture
• Ayurvedic medicine: a system from India
• Naturopathic medicine
• Energy therapy:
• Therapeutic touch and Reiki
