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There is a long explanation below about the difference between "alternative therapies" and "complementary therapies." Most people don't know the difference. We think it's interesting, but you don't have to read it... there is no quiz later. If you want to start learning about these therapies, we suggest you begin with ... When you become interested in any therapy, you can find websites that focus on it in ... If you decide you would like a book on the subject, find suggestions in ...
In addition to Information about CHTs, you might find something valuable in our site's other areas:
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| ALTERNATIVE/COMPLEMENTARY INTERVENTIONS Alternative therapies are medically-related interventions that are neither taught widely in the United States' medical schools nor generally available in U.S. hospitals. Facilitated by the globalization of information and resources, increasing numbers of patients are using complementary and alternative approaches to assist in their personal health needs. These approaches are usually defined as "health care practices that are not an integral part of conventional medicine." The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) was established in 1998 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to stimulate, develop, and support research into complementary and alternative medicine for the benefit of the public. NCCAM’s website (http://nccam.nih.gov/) defines these two approaches as follows: * Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery. * Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor. In 2000, NCCAM’s Office of Science Policy and Operations published a report stating, “in 1997, approximately 42 percent of U.S. healthcare consumers spent $27 billion on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. As CAM use by the American people has steadily increased, many have asked whether reports of success with these treatments are valid. A number of practices once considered unorthodox have proven safe and effective, and have been assimilated into current medical practice. Acupuncture is commonly applied to manage chronic pain and nausea associated with chemotherapy. Meditation and support groups are now accepted as important allies in our fight against disease and disability. While many CAM approaches rely on plant products, it is important to recall that some of our most effective drugs, such as digitalis for heart disease, and vincristine and taxol for cancer, are of botanical origin. Additional CAM practices have the potential to prevent and treat disease, to improve understanding of how healing works, and to be integrated into the routine practice of medicine." nccam.nih.gov/about/offices/ospo/directortestimony/071100.htm The U.S. government has recognized “that a growing number of Americans are using alternative approaches to health promotion and medical treatment. People are looking to health care providers to treat the whole person, not only illness. Because of public interest in and use of unconventional health care, the President established the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. Executive Order 13147 authorizing the Commission was issued on March 7, 2000.” (www.whccamp.hhs.gov/). As abundant and diverse as the peoples of the world, these practices encompass healing arts such as the use of herbals and essential oils, acupuncture, chiropractic, to fields of mind-body medicine, and many more. Due to American’s increased use of alternative interventions, there is a growing interest in the topic among physicians, residents, and medical students, who feel an increased need to have proper instruction about alternative therapies. Medical schools and residency programs are starting to realize that to provide better care and foster an improved patient/doctor relationship, physicians should become informed consultants. It is our hope that more and more physicians will be able to provide educated advice about alternative interventions to their patients and help them integrate any alternative interventions shown to be safe and effective into their health care. Due to American's increased use of alternative/complementary interventions, there is a growing interest in the topic among physicians, residents, and medical students, who feel the need to have proper instruction about alternative therapies. Medical schools and residency programs are starting to realize that physicians should become informed consultants, so they can provide better care and foster an improved patient/doctor relationship. It is our hope that more and more physicians will be able to provide educated advice about complementary interventions to their patients, and that they integrate safe, effective complementary interventions into their practice of health care. Back to Top of Page |
| COMPLEMENTARY HOLISTIC THERAPIES (CHTs) While there are many approaches to alternative/complementary health interventions, the Cj Foundation focuses on alternative interventions found to benefit patients and families experiencing loss, either the threatened loss of life through illness or the recent death of a loved one. We focus on alternative therapies that are the least invasive and can be learned fairly quickly by patients and families to use along with their present conventional medical program. We call these approaches “Complementary Holistic Therapies (CHTs).” There is strong anecdotal evidence that CHTs assist the process of healing and recovery when used in conjunction with traditional medicine. While we intend to provide you with the most reliable and timely information we can find about CHTs, our information and links are for informational purposes only. We recommend you seek advice or counseling regarding your loved one's illness from a licensed health care practitioner or health care organization. The CJ Foundation advocates that CHTs only be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatment. Back to Top of Page |