preview

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ( Cam )

Decent Essays

In the past few decades, the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has moved from a fringe movement to highly popular and widely used therapies in Western society that are being integrated into conventional treatment (Cherry & Jacob, 2011). Although various forms of CAM have been reported for centuries, its use is increasing in the United States. CAM is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health, as health care with use or origins outside of mainstream medicine (Kramlich, 2014). CAM comprises a large and diverse set of therapies and healing systems that have certain common characteristics: A focus on treating the individual and consideration of the health …show more content…

According to Kramlich (2014), more than 1800 CAM therapies have been identified that offer both benefits and risks to users, with nearly 40% of adults and 12% of children using them. Consumers have turned to CAM for a wide variety of reasons, with factors such as dissatisfaction or unmet needs with conventional medicine influencing their decision, a sense of empowerment, aggressive marketing, growing evidence of CAM’s effectiveness, cultural influence, or access to medical care that is restricted, delayed or based on discrimination. Forms of CAM most widely used are non-vitamin/non-mineral products (17.7%), and deep breathing exercises (12.7%), with usage the highest among American Indian and Alaska Natives (50.3%), white adults (43.1%), Asian adults (39.9%), and lowest among black adults (25.5%) (Lehne, 2013).

Biologically based therapies are substances typically found in nature, such as herbs and essential oils. An herb is a botanical without any woody tissue such as stems or bark. Eastern and Western medicine has recorded thousands of herbs and botanicals that have reputed therapeutic value. One of the more popular herbs historically used in the United States with demonstrated efficacy in promoting relaxation and sleep and reducing anxiety is Kava. Kava (Piper methysticum), also known as Kava-kava or awa, is an herb used to promote sleep, relieve anxiety and stress, or relax muscles (Lehne, 2013). Kava can also be used to treat epilepsy, depression,

Get Access