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Abstract
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been defined as a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given time. (1) Complementary and alternative medicine includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illnesses or promoting health and well-being. (2, 3) These disciplines were mainly provided as an alternative to conventional health care and hence became known collectively as ”alternative medicine.” The name ”complementary medicine” developed as the two systems began to be used alongside (to ”complement”) each other. Over the years, ”complementary” has changed from describing this relation between unconventional healthcare disciplines and conventional care to defining the group of disciplines itself. Some authorities use the term ”unconventional medicine” synonymously. (1)
The National Institute of Health Office of Alternative Medicine uses the following criteria to define alternative products:
1) Sufficient documentation for safety and effectiveness against specific diseases are lacking;
2) Medical schools do not include them in the curriculum;
3) Insurance providers do not typically