Key takeaways

1. There are five types of complementary and alternative medicine, as identified by the National Cancer Institute. 
2. The complementary and alternative medicine types include mind-body therapies, biologically-based systems, manipulative-body-based systems, energy healing, and whole medical systems. 

Introduction

Alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) refers to medical treatments and products not considered part of conventional medicine. Most people who use CAM use it in addition to, rather than instead of, conventional treatment. Over-the-counter vitamins and other dietary supplements are popular among Americans of all ages; these can be taken with medications prescribed by a doctor and often help them work more effectively.

Types of complementary and alternative medicine 

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are five main types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which we explain below:

• Mind-Body Therapies: Mind-body therapies use different practices to help the mind, body, and spirit work together in harmony. They often include mindfulness practices such as meditation, which makes people focus attentively on their thoughts and feelings from one moment to the next; or activities which combine gentle movements with relaxation techniques like yoga or tai chi. Regularly doing these things can make individuals more aware of their thoughts and emotions — what’s known as “mind-body awareness.” This kind of awareness has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress levels, and even boost emotional resilience, coping better with life’s ups and downs.

Some examples include

• Meditation: This involves concentrating on breathing patterns or repeating phrases silently to banish distractions from the mind, making it easier to relax deeply.
• Biofeedback: Special equipment shows users how various body functions work in real time; by watching these displays, they can learn ways to control such functions as heart rate or blood pressure that normally happen involuntarily.
• Hypnosis: Put simply (though don’t try this at home!), by reaching a state of deep relaxation where they’re fully awake but open to suggestion, people may be able to tap into inner resources for healing.
• Yoga: An ancient Indian system focused on movement postures, stretches, and controlled breathing designed to increase strength, flexibility, balance, and overall well-being (the link between mind and body).
• Tai chi: Chinese form of meditation meets exercise; very slow movements combined with mental focus. There are five different styles, all based on the same ancient principles.
• Imagery: Here, users concentrate on positive mental images, scenes, and experiences from nature art. Anything beautiful that makes them feel good helps along their natural healing processes.
• Creative outlets: Painting, sculpture, dancing, drumming, singing, composing, music, knitting, sewing, gardening, cooking, acting — any activity brought into being out of nothing apart from what already exists, whether meaningful fun, rewarding its own sake, therapeutic effects apparent afterward maybe even years down the line very beneficial regular basis lots people worldwide agree!

2. Biologically-based practices

Biologically based practices harness the therapeutic effects of natural substances such as herbs, minerals, vitamins, and botanicals. The goal is to help the body heal itself and stay well. These approaches use ingredients found in nature. For example:

• Vitamins: These are vital for good health and can be taken in small amounts as supplements if needed, along with herbs or minerals.
• Dietary supplements: Besides foods, things like herbs or minerals may also be added to your daily routine.
• Botanicals: Therapeutic substances made from plants or plant materials – including cannabis products; culinary spices such as turmeric powder (made from an Asian root) or ground cinnamon (from tree bark).

3. Manipulative and body-based practices

Therapeutic interventions that involve physical contact and manipulation take different forms but have one goal: keeping you feeling good as you move through the world. Whether rubbing, pressing, or moving your muscles and joints with their hands, practitioners believe these therapies help restore the balance between your musculoskeletal (muscles/bones) system and nervous system. Examples include

• Massage therapy: This uses touch, such as rubbing, kneading, tapping, or stroking, to manipulate soft body tissue.
• Chiropractic therapy: Professionals use their hands to adjust your spine or other joints.
• Reflexology: Therapists apply pressure to points on feet and hands, which is thought to correspond with other parts of the body!

4. Energy healing 

Energy healing is based on the idea that an essential life force flows through the body, which keeps us healthy and well. Practitioners believe they can help this energy flow better around your body. Although there isn’t much scientific proof that these treatments work, they are safe, as far as we know. Some examples include:

• Reiki: here, you might be asked to lie down, sit, or stand while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or near your body. There’s no massage or manipulation.
• Therapeutic touch: Similar to above, the practitioner’s hands may feel your energy fields moving over your body without touching you.

5. Whole Medical systems

Entire medical systems with extensive healing philosophies and regimes have developed over centuries in different cultures around the globe. These provide holistic approaches to staying healthy or overcoming illnesses. They are based on ancient wisdom and cultural traditions and include a wide range of practices like herbal remedies, lifestyle changes, dietary improvements, and spiritual methods of getting rid of problems. Some examples are:

• Ayurvedic medicine: A type of medicine from India that believes good health comes from a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit – which can be upset by bad feelings or too much junk food. As well as using exercise or meditation, it also has its own system of cleaning the body by eating or drinking special things.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM is based on the idea that everybody has a special energy called Qi (pronounced chee) flowing through it. This energy travels around the body using channels or pathways called meridians. Practitioners think people get ill if their Qi becomes blocked. To stop this from happening, they might use lots of different ways to unblock things, including acupuncture (where tiny needles are put into carefully chosen points) or herbs made from animal parts or minerals. TCM also encourages individuals to live according to specific principles, such as being warm rather than cold.
• Naturopathic medicine: Being healthy means relying on your body’s powers to heal itself – not drugs or surgery, say naturopaths. They help these processes with natural therapies, such as light or heat treatments, massage, water therapy (drinking more or less, bathing differently), and fresh air. Remedies may also include advice about diet, foods, vitamins, and minerals – often plant extracts.

Sources 

1. Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam.