Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Basics
Description
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are systems, practices, and products that are used in conjunction with or in place of conventional medicine.
- Integrative medicine is the coordinated combination of complementary medicine with conventional medicine.
- Examples:
- Meditation, mindfulness, relaxation
- Yoga
- Specialized diets
- Herbal supplements
- Massage
- Osteopathic manipulative therapy
- Chiropractic therapy
- Ayurveda
- Qigong
- Tai chi
- Common reasons patients choose CAM
- Additive therapy to address issues not covered by conventional medical treatment
- Conventional medicine has been unsuccessful in fully addressing the ailment.
- Preventative health care and/or a desire for a more holistic/natural/noninvasive approach to well-being
- Concern about medication side effects
- Cultural or familial belief systems
Epidemiology
- The most common use is among 30- to 69-year-old females (1).
- CAM is most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal issues; 59–90% of patients claim that the use of alternative therapy helped their chronic pain (1).
Prevalence
Estimated 70% of North Americans have tried at least one form of CAM.
Commonly Associated Conditions
Acute/chronic pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, insomnia, fatigue, cancer-related symptoms and treatment side effects, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depression/anxiety, low libido, weight loss, asthma, eczema, tinnitus, autoimmune disease
There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816261/0.3/images/cati/i24/373.png.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816261/0.3/images/cati/i24/373.png. Accessed October 31, 2024.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816261/0.3/images/cati/i24/373.png
Complementary and Alternative Medicine [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 31]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816261/0.3/images/cati/i24/373.png.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Complementary and Alternative Medicine
ID - 816261
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816261/0.3/images/cati/i24/373.png
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -