Defining Complementary and Alternative Treatments

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Defining

Co m p l e ment ar y and Al t er n at ive T r eat m ent s

Dr Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopath. She has authored and co-authored over 35 books


Defining Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Dr. Carolyn Dean Complementary and alternative medicines, often abbreviated to as CAMs, refers to any medicine or medical treatment that falls outside the mainstream. There is no universal definition, but generally any type of therapy that does not involve medication, surgery, radiation or other forms of traditional Western treatment can be classified as CAMs.

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C o m p l e m e n ta ry V s. A lte rnat i ve

E ffi cacy

Many treatments that fall under the

The success of some CAMs treatments

CAMs umbrella can be either comple-

is evidence-based, but not under con-

mentary or alternative, depending on

trolled circumstances recognized by

whether they are used in conjunction

the

with traditional therapies (comple-

some have proven effective in the treat-

mentary) or instead of traditional treat-

ment of certain health conditions, such

ments (alternative). Common CAMs

as chiropractic and osteopathic treat-

practices include homeopathy, aroma-

ments.

medical

community.

However,

therapy, acupuncture, colonic irrigation and meditation.

The success of some CAMs treatments is evidencebased, but not under controlled circumstances recognized by the medical community.

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Dr Carolyn Dean

You can learn more about one of Dr. Dean’s publications, the Everything Alzheimer’s Book, by visiting her blog.


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