Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
We are learning about CAM therapies every day, but there is still more to learn. Consumers may use the terms "natural," "holistic," "home remedy," or "Eastern medicine" to refer to CAM. However, experts use five categories to describe it. These are listed below with a few examples for each.
Mind-Body Medicines
These are based on the belief that your mind is able to affect your body. Some examples are:
- Meditation: Focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind;
- Biofeedback: Using simple machines, the patient learns how to affect certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness (such as heart rate);
- Hypnosis: A state of relaxed and focused attention in which the patient concentrates on a certain feeling, idea, or suggestion to aid in healing;
- Yoga: Systems of stretches and poses, with special attention given to breathing;
- Imagery: Imagining scenes, pictures, or experiences to help the body heal;
- Creative outlets: Such as art, music, or dance.
Biologically Based Practices
This type of CAM uses things found in nature. This includes dietary supplements and herbal products. Some examples are:
- Vitamins
- Herbs
- Foods
- Special diets
A note about nutrition: It's common for people with cancer to have questions about different foods to eat during treatment. Yet it's important to know that there is no one food or special diet that has been proven to control cancer. Too much of any one food is not helpful, and may even be harmful. Because of nutrition needs you may have, it's best to talk with the doctor in charge of your treatment about the foods you should be eating.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
These are based on working with one or more parts of the body. Some examples are:
- Massage: Manipulation of tissues with hands or special tools;
- Chiropractic care (ky-ro-PRAK-tik): A type of manipulation of the joints and skeletal system;
- Reflexology (ree-flex-AH-lo-gee): Using pressure points in the hands or feet to affect other parts of the body.
Energy Medicine
Energy medicine involves the belief that the body has energy fields that can be used for healing and wellness. Therapists use pressure or move the body by placing their hands in or through these fields. Some examples are:
- Tai Chi (ty-CHEE): Involves slow, gentle movements with a focus on the breath and concentration;
- Reiki (RAY-kee): Balancing energy either from a distance or by placing hands on or near the patient;
- Therapeutic touch (thair-a-PYU-tik): Moving hands over energy fields of the body.
Whole Medical Systems
These are healing systems and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Some examples are:
- Ayurvedic medicine (eye-yer-VAY-dik): A system from India emphasizing balance among body, mind, and spirit;
- Chinese medicine: Based on the view that health is a balance in the body of two forces called yin and yang. Acupuncture (AK-yoo-PUNK-cher) is a common practice in Chinese medicine that involves stimulating specific points on the body to promote health, or to lessen disease symptoms and treatment side effects;
- Homeopathy (home-ee-AH-puh-thee): Uses very small doses of substances to trigger the body to heal itself;
- Naturopathic medicine (na-chur-o-PATH-ik): Uses different methods that help the body naturally heal itself
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What questions should I ask my doctor about CAM?
What types of CAM might:
- Help me cope, reduce my stress, and feel better?
- Help me feel less tired?
- Help me deal with cancer symptoms, such as pain, or side effects of treatment, such as nausea?
If I decide to try a CAM therapy:
- Will it interfere with my treatment or medicines?
- Can you help me understand these articles I found about CAM?
- Can you suggest a CAM practitioner for me to talk to?
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Will you work with my CAM practitioner?
A Natural Product Does Not Mean a Safe Product
- Here are some important facts about dietary supplements such as herbs and vitamins:
- They may affect how well other medicines work in your body.
Herbs and some plant-based products may keep medicines from doing what they are supposed to do. These medicines can be ones your doctor prescribes for you, or even ones you buy off the shelf at the store.
For example, the herb St. John's wort, which some people with cancer use for depression, may cause certain anticancer drugs not to work as well as they should.
- Herbal supplements can act like drugs in your body.
They may be harmful when taken by themselves, with other substances, or in large doses. For example, some studies have shown that kava, an herb that has been used to help with stress and anxiety, may cause liver damage.
- Vitamins can also take strong action in your body.
For example, high doses of vitamins, even vitamin C, may affect how chemotherapy and radiation work. Too much of any vitamin is not safe--even in a healthy person.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any dietary supplements, no matter how safe you think they are. This is very important. Even though there are ads or claims that something has been used for years, they do not prove that it is safe or effective. It is still important to be careful.
Supplements do not have to be approved by the Federal Government before being sold to the public. Also, a prescription is not needed to buy them. Therefore, it's up to consumers to decide what is best for them.