Alternative Medicine

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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's Featured Content

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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. As with adults, a wide range of CAM therapies are used in children, including herbs and dietary supplements, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, naturopathy, and homeopathy. This fact sheet includes issues to consider and resources for more information when making decisions about CAM use and children.

Native to China, astragalus has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. In the United States, the herb gained popularity in the 1980s. This fact sheet provides basic information about the herbs common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

NCCAMs Centers of Excellence: Focusing on the Big--and (Very) Small--Picture

What do Chinese herbal formulas, mindfulness meditation, electromagnetic beams, and the supplements alpha-lipoic acid and gamma tocopherol have in common? They are among CAM treatments being studied in depth at eight NCCAM-supported research centers.

In Memoriam: Stephen E. Straus, M.D.

Stephen E. Straus, M.D., founding Director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), died of brain cancer on May 14, 2007. He was 60.

Stephen E. Straus, M.D., 60, the first director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), died of brain cancer May 14, 2007, at his home in Potomac, Maryland.
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"As NCCAMs first Director, Dr. Straus articulated an uncompromising and compelling agenda for scientific research and research training that engendered broad interest and collaboration," noted Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health. "His success stemmed from the fact that he understood that the commitment to help patients had to be constantly evolving in order to meet their needs. The NIH has lost a great leader and an outstanding scientist. Most of all, we have lost a dear friend."

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has established an Integrative Medicine Consult Service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, the worlds largest hospital devoted to research. This service will provide physicians, nurses, and other members of the Clinical Center health care team the ability to discuss complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies with knowledgeable medical staff from the consult service and learn how various CAM practices might complement or interact with a patients care as a research participant at the Clinical Center.

Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure, or hypertension. If it is not found and treated, the condition can cause major health problems such as stroke, heart disease, eye problems, or kidney failure. Your doctor can tell you how to prevent and control high blood pressure. NCCAM is studying complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for this condition -such as mindfulness based stress reduction. Be sure to tell your doctor about any CAM therapies you are considering, including herbal or dietary supplements. Ask your health care providers about its safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions with medications (both prescription and nonprescription).

Naturopathy, also called naturopathic medicine, is a whole medical system--one of the systems of healing and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Naturopathy is rooted in health care approaches that were popular in Europe, especially in Germany, in the 19th century, but it also includes therapies (both ancient and modern) from other traditions. In naturopathy, the emphasis is on supporting health rather than combating disease.

This fact sheet provides basic information about grape seed extract--uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. The grape seeds used to produce this extract are generally obtained from wine manufacturers.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb lavender--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region. It was used in ancient Egypt as part of the process for mummifying bodies. Lavenders use as a bath additive originated in Persia, Greece, and Rome. The herbs name comes from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash."

The very low carbohydrate diet known as the Atkins diet may contribute to greater weight loss than higher carbohydrate plans without negative effects such as increased cholesterol. Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., and colleagues at Stanford University conducted an NCCAM-funded study of 311 pre-menopausal women, all of whom were overweight or obese. Each woman was randomly assigned to one of four diets.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb turmeric--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Turmeric, a shrub related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Known for its warm, bitter taste and golden color, turmeric is commonly used in fabric dyes and foods such as curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It should not be confused with Javanese turmeric.

This fact sheet provides basic information about peppermint oil--uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. The herb peppermint, a cross between two types of mint (water mint and spearmint), grows throughout Europe and North America. Peppermint is often used to flavor foods, and the leaves can be used fresh or dried in teas.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb fenugreek--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. The first recorded use of fenugreek is described on an ancient Egyptian papyrus dated to 1500 B.C. Fenugreek seed is commonly used in cooking.

This position is located in the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation (OPPE), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary and alternative medicine researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. OPPE is responsible for the science policy, programmatic analyses, program planning, and legislative liaison activities of the Center.

There is much to be done to understand the safety and efficacy of the myriad of CAM therapies used by Americans each year. The NCCAM Director is the leader of the Nations primary organization for exploring complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating information to the public and professionals. The incumbent will have the opportunity to build upon a foundation of research that encompasses basic to clinical studies; to attract leading researchers from academic medicine to bring state of the art approaches to studying CAM; and to build a research infrastructure within the CAM community. The incumbent will chart a course for the future of CAM research that will, ultimately, facilitate the integration of proven CAM approaches with conventional health care.

Feature stories:

Survey: Older Americans Discussion of CAM with Doctors
Findings from a new survey, conducted by AARP in collaboration with NCCAM, on older Americans use of CAM and their discussions of CAM with their physicians.

Thinking About CAM Therapies for Young People
Can CAM therapies be helpful to children? Are they safe? Here are some general points to consider in addressing these questions.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb yohimbe--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. The yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to western Africa. The bark of the tree contains a chemical called yohimbine. The amount of yohimbine in dietary supplements may vary; some yohimbe products have been found to contain very little yohimbine. However, a standardized form of yohimbine--yohimbine hydrochloride--is available as a prescription medicine that has been studied and used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Do Americans age 50 and older discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with their physicians? In spring 2006, AARP and NCCAM partnered on a survey to help answer this question. The consumer survey found that among the 1,559 adults surveyed age 50+ nearly two out of three reported using some form of CAM, yet only one in three of those who have used CAM said they have discussed it with their physicians.

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods. They can be used as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

An NCCAM-funded trial found that women who used self-hypnosis during a type of core needle breast biopsy experienced anxiety relief and reduced pain when compared with standard care.

A large core needle breast biopsy is usually an outpatient procedure that limits the use of anesthetic. Women having this procedure often experience anxiety because of the possibility of a cancer diagnosis in addition to the anxiety that patients typically experience during a medical procedure.