Complementary and Alternative Medicine
DESCRIPTION
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Therapies are termed as complementary when used in addition to conventional treatments and as alternative when used instead of conventional treatment.
Since 1990 the use of CAM by the American public has increased from 34% to over 42%. Out-of-pocket expenditures within the US are estimated to exceed $27 billion annually. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies. Many CAM products are available on the market as dietary supplements and may be contaminated or vary tremendously in content, quality and safety. Garlic, for example, has been promoted for many years as a cholesterol-lowering agent, but garlic may not produce this effect if processed in certain ways. Thus, if a single product is proven safe and effective, other similar products on the market may have quite different effects that preclude consistent dosing. Also, when used as an adjunct to conventional drugs, herbal remedies can cause significant herb-drug interactions. There remain several major concerns in relation to complementary and alternative medicine; these concerns include quality of care, quality of the product and quality of the science.
POLICY
Complementary and alternative medicine including, but not limited to, those listed below for the prevention or treatment of diseases and health related conditions are considered investigational. (*See Additional Information below for definition/description.)
Aromatherapy
Chinese herbal medicines (e.g., Dang Shen, Fang Feng, Tian Xian, Yin Chen, Pao Jiang)
Colon therapy (i.e., colonic hydrotherapy, high colonic, detoxification therapy, coffee enemas)
Herbs (e.g., Black cohosh, Chaparral, Echinacea, FeverFew, Ginkgo biloba, Goldenseal, Green tea, St. John's Wort, Valerian)
Magnet therapy
Therapeutic touch
See also:
Allergy Immunotherapy - Provocative and Neutralization Therapy for Food Allergies
Light Box Therapy (Phototherapy) for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
General definitions/descriptions of terms:
Ayurveda - Ayurveda traces its roots to the Vedic period in ancient India. The Ayurvedic medicine program utilizes foods, spices, herbal medicines, colors, metals, gems and sound to allegedly overcome illness and strengthen an individual.
Balneotherapy - This therapy utilizes natural elements, such as hot springs, climatic factors, chronobiological and circadian rhythmic phases and peat substances. The term balneology refers to the study of the art and science of bathing. Balneotherapy is the use of balneology in the treatment of disease.
Di Bella Cancer Therapy - Di Bella therapy consist of a mixture of the drugs somatostatin, bromocriptine, as well as vitamins, melatonin, and sometimes other substances combined in varying amounts depending on the individual under treatment. Proponents claim the drug mixture stimulates the body's self-healing properties and can shrink tumors and even cure cancer.
Gerson Therapy - The practitioners of Gerson therapy allege that the treatment is effective for a wide variety of ailments because it restores the body's ability to heal itself. Practitioners do not claim that this therapy will cure everything or everyone. A number of components are considered important to this therapy. These components include: juicing (as many as 13 glasses of fresh, organic vegetable/fruit juice are recommended per day), diet (three full vegetarian meals from organic sources), detoxification of tissues and blood (accomplished foremost via coffee enemas), and medications (e.g., Lugol's solution, vitamin B-12, injectable crude liver extract, pancreatic enzymes, enemas of coffee and/or chamomile). Certain complementary therapies may also be recommended, such as: polarizing treatment (GKI), ozone therapy by rectal insufflation, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture.
Greek Cancer Cure - This treatment consist of a blood test reportedly used to diagnose cancer, and a secret intravenous therapy believed to consist of, among other things, brown sugar, niacin, vitamin C, and alanine (an amino acid). The blood test is alleged to determine the nature, location and seriousness of an individual's tumor.
Homeopathy - As reported by MayoClinic.com, homeopathy utilizes highly diluted preparations of natural substances, typically plants and minerals to treat symptoms of illness. Homeopathic medicine is based on two beliefs: 1) The law of similars - Sometimes called "like cures like". When given to a healthy person in large quantities, some plant, animal and mineral substances produce symptoms of disease. But when given to a sick person, much smaller doses of the same substances can (theoretically) relieve the same symptoms. 2) The law of infinitesimals - Literally, infinitesimal means too small to be measured. According to this belief, substances treat disease most effectively when they are highly diluted, often in distilled water or alcohol.
Kelly's Nutritional-Metabolic Therapy - William D. Kelley, a dentist, developed this therapy. Dr. Kelley held that the root cause of cancer is an individual's inability to properly metabolize protein. He linked this faulty metabolism to a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes. The three primary elements of Kelly's Nutritional-Metabolic Therapy program are nutrition, detoxification (utilizing coffee enemas) and supplements of pancreatic enzymes.
Livingston-Wheeler Therapy - This therapy includes vaccines, antibiotics, vitamin and mineral supplements, digestive enzymes, cleansing enemas, and a vegetarian diet. Livingston-Wheeler therapy is promoted primarily for use in the treatment of cancer but it is also used to treat lupus, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
Moxibustion - Reportedly treats and prevents disease by applying heat to points or certain locations on the human body. The material/instrument used to apply the heat is primarily moxa-wool in the shape of a cone or stick. Some proponents suggest that when a disease fails to respond to medication and/or acupuncture, moxibustion should be applied.
Naturopathy - As reported by MayoClinic.com, naturopathic care is one of the least organized of the CAM treatment approaches. Naturopaths emphasize lifestyle - including fresh air, clean water and exercise - as the foundation of health. Naturopaths draw on many of the CAM practices, such as acupuncture, manipulative therapies and herbal medicines, with modern diagnostic sciences and standards of care. Practitioners of naturopathy typically counsel individuals to avoid prescription drugs and surgery.
Qigong - The Qigong Association of America defines Qigong as the skill of attracting vital energy. Qigong is alleged to be a self-healing art that combines movement, meditation and visualizations to enhance the mind/body connection and assist healing. The association claims that the regular practice of qigong can prevent and treat illness.
Reiki - According to the International Center for Reiki Training, Reiki is defined as spiritually guided life force energy. Reiki is allegedly a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that allows an individual to tap into an unlimited supply of life force energy for the purpose of improving health and enhancing the quality of life.
Complementary and alternative medicine including, but not limited to, those listed above, do not meet the following Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) criteria:
The scientific evidence must permit conclusions concerning the effect of the technology on health outcomes.
The technology must improve the net health outcome.
The technology must be as beneficial as any established alternatives.
SOURCES
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EFFECTIVE DATE |
5/25/2006 |
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