Understanding Complementary Alternative Medicine

To really get an in-depth understanding of what complementary alternative medicine is, it is first of all necessary to make a difference between what complementary medicines is and what alternative medicine is. The former helps a person by being used along with conventional medications. Examples of it include Tai Chi as well as massages that can often provide useful benefits to a person taking medications to control their anxiety.

The latter of course is used instead of conventional medications and typically it would involve consulting a homeopath instead of going to see a general physician. The good news however is that today more and more doctors that use conventional means to treat their patients are learning about the benefits of complementary alternative medicine. This newfound interest in complementary alternative medicine is a result of the fact that there are high percentages of people that are already trying out complementary alternative medicine.

There are also certain fundamental principles on which complementary alternative medicine is based. These include prevention being the best way of ensuring good health; your body can adequately heal itself and so alternative medicine is prescribed to facilitate this natural healing. Also, healing and learning are complementary to one another and so a person that practices complementary alternative medicine will see them as both facilitators as well as educators.

Finally, complementary alternative medicine also focuses on providing holistic medical care. So the focus is to treat a person as an entire entity rather than simply concentrating on their ailments – whether they be physical, mental or even spiritual.

Some examples of complementary alternative medicine include the use of traditional style Chinese medicines, Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy as well as certain ancient medicines that have been practiced over the ages in China, Asia, Pacific Islands, Tibet and by Native American Indians.

Besides the above-mentioned healing systems, complementary alternative medicine also includes mind-body techniques such as meditation, yoga, biofeedback, prayer, hypnosis and other relaxation therapies. In addition, complementary alternative medicine also includes taking dietary supplements and herbal remedies. It also utilizes manipulation and touch such as chiropractic, spinal manipulation, massages and other types of therapy.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine is an outstanding medical journal that has been published since the year 1995 out of New York. It provides outstanding reports and analyses on various kinds of treatments that fall outside the purview of traditional and evidence based medicines. Needless to say, this Journal is very popular and many interested people – both professional and otherwise – read it with great interest to find out the latest information on complementary alternative medicine.