The use of complementary and alternative medicine is complex and nuanced. Patterns of use of complementary and alternative medicine differ among racially and ethnically different groups. Multivariate models of utilization indicate that ethnicity plays an independent role in the implementation of these modalities, in seeking practitioners and in health problems for which assistance is required. ...

BACKGROUND To ensure the safety and effectiveness of cancer management, it is important for physicians treating cancer patients to know whether their patients are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and if so, why. OBJECTIVE Here, we discuss the ethical and legal obligations of physicians to discuss cam use in an oncology setting, and we provide practical advice on how patient-...

oVerView Research into body work based complementary and alternative therapies, such as osteopathy and chiropractic has highlighted barriers and benefits of professionalization for these professions. There has been no examination of the road massage therapy has taken towards legitimation and professionalization. This review article examines the drive by massage therapists for legitimation as he...

OBJECTIVES Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a diverse collection of approaches used to prevent or treat diseases. The goal of this study was to examine relationships between dental patient characteristics and current usage of CAM therapies. METHODS The CAM definition encompassed 24 therapies excluding prayer. Associations and trends in usage were assessed for gender, income, ed...

Late-life mood disorders and cognitive aging are the most common reasons for using complementary and alternative therapies. The amount of rigorous scientific data to support the efficacy of complementary therapies in the treatment of depression or cognitive impairment is extremely limited. The areas with the most evidence for beneficial effects are exercise, herbal therapy (Hypericum perforatum...

Complementary and alternative therapies are popular among the general public and cancer patients, in particular breast cancer patients. This report, which is based on the review of the literature, aims to investigate the biomedical and social contexts of complementary and alternative medicine use among women with breast cancer and how they seek, integrate and use complementary therapies. Resear...

Postpartum depression is a debilitating disorder that requires greater awareness and treatment. Depending on severity of symptoms, standard treatment calls for individual psychotherapy and medication. Although postpartum depression can lead to negative health outcomes for women and their offspring, numerous barriers prevent women from receiving appropriate care. A review of the literature shows...

Acupuncture is one of the most widely used and broadly researched of the complementary and alternative therapies, but high-quality trials generally show no benefit over sham acupuncture. Many would view this result as evidence of ineffectiveness for this intervention. This discussion article focuses on the report of a large multicenter randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for chronic low-...

Many oncology patients are empowering themselves to self-treat with herbs, nutritional supplements, and mind–body techniques. Other practitioners, such as acupuncturists, are becoming involved in the supportive care of cancer patients. Government research agencies are supporting studies that evaluate complementary therapies. This educational article provides an overview of the challenges in des...

Although some alternative therapies like botanical and herbal therapies have shown promise for relieving menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, more research is needed. Eighty-five percent of the women in the United States experience hot flashes of some kind as they approach menopause and for the first year or two after their periods stop. Between 20 and 50% of women continue to have them for ...