| The medical world is experiencing a shift in the way it | | | | of CAM therapies that they believe are useful or |
| treats health and disease. While alternative therapies | | | | effective. In 1997, Harvard Medical School reported |
| were quickly dismissed by physicians as worthless or | | | | that more than one third of the U.S. population was |
| dangerous just a decade ago, alternative medicines | | | | currently using some type of CAM therapy. But, that |
| are now beginning to earn mainstream attention. | | | | was nine years ago. In 2001, The National Center for |
| Physicians are beginning to realize that there is a | | | | Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported |
| relationship between a person's emotional, spiritual | | | | that almost 70% of the population has at least tried |
| and mental state of mind and their physical health. | | | | some sort of CAM therapy along with conventional |
| Many conventional doctors are beginning to integrate | | | | medicine. That trend is on the rise and will continue to |
| a holistic approach to their practice by addressing | | | | affect future healthcare delivery, making an even |
| environmental, psychological and spiritual aspects of | | | | greater demand for CAM therapies. This means that |
| the patient. Biomedical, or modern-day medicine relies | | | | conventional doctors must be educated in the use of |
| heavily upon curing disease through the use of | | | | these modalities in order to know what their patient's |
| chemically compounded pharmaceuticals. | | | | are talking about. Why do people seek alternative |
| Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) uses | | | | and complementary medical care? It is believed that |
| a more natural approach that includes herbal | | | | CAM would improve health when used in combination |
| supplements, vitamins, acupuncture, chiropractic, | | | | with conventional medical treatments. |
| nutrition, guided imagery, homeopathic treatment, | | | | Many people try CAM when conventional medical |
| prayer, chelation therapy, massage, biofeedback, | | | | treatments have not helped or are too expensive. |
| music therapy, exercise and fitness, hypnosis and | | | | Some people are just plain curious, and others try |
| other mind-body techniques and energy modalities | | | | CAM because a conventional medical professional |
| that work with the body's natural ability to heal itself. | | | | suggested it. Some health insurance policies now |
| Years ago if a person was using CAM therapies, he | | | | cover chiropractic and massage as part of patient |
| or she might have been reluctant to tell their medical | | | | care, and CAM courses are appearing in the |
| doctor about it for fear of being shamed or lectured | | | | curriculum as part of academic medical education. |
| about the dangers. | | | | Hospitals such as St. Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee |
| Additionally, physicians had little knowledge then | | | | are affiliating with alternative health and fitness |
| about the alternative therapies and supplements their | | | | facilities such as the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to |
| patients were using. Fortunately things have changed | | | | integrate the two practices. The change is occurring |
| and a number of doctors are referring patients to | | | | but not without opposition. |
| some of the more prominent and well-known forms | | | | |