Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is treatment that falls outside of mainstream healthcare.
These treatments range from acupuncture and homeopathy, to aromatherapy, meditation and colonic irrigation.
There's no universally agreed definition of CAM.
Although "complementary and alternative" is often used as a single category, it can be useful to make a distinction between the terms.
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) uses this distinction:
There can be overlap between these categories.
For example, aromatherapy may sometimes be used as a complementary treatment and in other circumstances is used as an alternative treatment.
A number of complementary and alternative treatments are typically used with the intention of treating or curing a health condition.
Examples include:
To understand whether a treatment is safe and effective, we need to check the evidence.
You can learn more about the evidence for particular CAM practices by reading about individual types of treatment.
See our Health A to Z index for a list of all conditions and treatments on the NHS website.
Some CAM treatments are based on principles and an evidence base that are not recognised by the majority of independent scientists.
Others have been proven to work for a limited number of health conditions.
For example, there's evidence that chiropractic is effective for treating lower back pain.
When a person uses any health treatment, including CAM, and experiences an improvement, this may be due to the placebo effect.
The availability of CAM on the NHS is limited, and in most cases the NHS will not offer such treatments.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidance to the NHS on effective treatments that are value for money.
NICE has recommended the use of CAM in a limited number of circumstances.
For example:
If you think you may have a health condition, first see your GP. Do not visit a CAM practitioner instead of seeing your GP.
It's particularly important to talk to your GP before trying CAM if you have a pre-existing health condition or are pregnant.
Some CAM treatments may interact with medicines that you're taking or should not be tried if you're pregnant.
The practice of conventional medicine is regulated by laws that ensure that practitioners are properly qualified and adhere to certain standards or codes of practice. This is called statutory professional regulation.
Chiropractors are regulated in the same way. However, there's no statutory professional regulation of any other CAM practitioners.
Chiropractic is regulated in the same way as conventional medicine.
All chiropractors must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council. You can use the General Chiropractic Council website to find a registered chiropractor near you or check if someone offering chiropractic services is registered.
Apart from chiropractic, there's no professional statutory regulation of complementary and alternative treatments in the UK.
This means:
If you decide to use a CAM practitioner, it's up to you to find one who will carry out the treatment in a way that's acceptable to you. Professional bodies and voluntary registers can help you do this.
Some regulated healthcare professionals, such as GPs, also practise unregulated CAM.
In these instances, the CAM practice is not regulated by the organisation that regulates the healthcare professional (such as the General Medical Council), but these organisations will investigate complaints that relate to the professional conduct of their member.
Many types of CAM have voluntary registers, some of which are accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) or professional associations that practitioners can join if they choose.
Usually, these associations or registers demand that practitioners hold certain qualifications and agree to practise to a certain standard.
Organisations with PSA-accredited voluntary registers include:
This means that these organisations have met the PSA's demanding standards, which are designed to help people make an informed choice when they're looking for a practitioner.
Read about accredited registers on the Professional Standards Authority website
Once you have found a practitioner, it's a good idea to ask them some questions to help you decide if you want to go ahead with treatment.
You could ask:
Page last reviewed: 01 March 2022Next review due: 01 March 2025
Here is the original post:
Complementary and alternative medicine - NHS
- Understanding Menopause and its Symptoms | Menopause Treatment Options - Medriva - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Breast cancer survivor Jayne Pritchard talks alternative therapies over tea - MidlandToday - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- 12 unusual ways Israelis are volunteering during the war - ISRAEL21c - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Alternative Treatment (CAM) for MS: Types, Side Effects & Cost - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Complementary and alternative medicine | History & Facts - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Alternative medicine: Definition, examples, benefits, and risks - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Alternative Medicine: The Science Behind 10 Alternative Therapies - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Detoxification (alternative medicine) - Wikipedia - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Alternative Approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing - Psychiatric Times - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- New practice focuses on dental sleep medicine, providing an alternative for patients who use CPAP machines - PennLive - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Dr. Deepak Chopra Aligns with Plant-Based Therapeutics Company ProVEDA to Highlight Topical Pain Relief Solutions - Yahoo Finance - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- True REST Float Spa Offers Free Floatation Therapy Session to Veterans - AccessWire - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Youve been told you need surgery for degenerative disc disease and stenosis of the spine. Now what? - Sonoran News - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Can you take Paxlovid and heart disease medications at the same time? - Medical News Today - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Kardashian fans think theyve unlocked Kourtneys secret to hiding her pregnancy after spotting key detai... - The US Sun - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Cabinet approves B5bn for 'Andaman International Health Center' - The Phuket News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Eye health and dynamics of the modern world - The Citizen - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Holistic Review on Occurrence, Biology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Cureus - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 10 Deeper Causes of Tinnitus, and How to Treat It - The Epoch Times - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) - GoodTherapy - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- India's alternative medicine industry grows, boosted by COVID-19 pandemic - CNA - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- QC Kinetix (Charlotte) Offers Alternative Treatments for Knee Pain and Sports Injuries - Yahoo Finance - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Plant Extracts Market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 85.09 Billion by 2030, Globally, at 6.33% CAGR: Verified Market Research - Yahoo... - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Neuroplasticity Nonsense Is Full of Red Flags - Science Based Medicine - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Diabetics won't be made to pay for alternative medicines, Pharmac says - Stuff - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Lili Reinhart Becomes A Reiki Master: My Journey Into Reiki Healing Cant Be Simplified - IMDb - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The DRIPBaR is Coming to Clarksville, TN on Oct 16, 2022 - PR Web - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- How Dr. Oz Boosted an Osteopath Who Became a Top Spreader of Covid Misinformation Mother Jones - Mother Jones - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- World Arthritis Day: Arthritis and Women - Times of India - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- What Is Alternative Medicine? - American Cancer Society - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Herbal medicine: Types, uses, and safety - Medical News Today - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- WCI Health LLC, Your Alternative Health and Wellness Hub Will Be a Vendor and Presenter at Wonderland Miami by Microdose - StreetInsider.com - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- The Viral Real - Journal #130 October 2022 - E-Flux - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Pregabalin Market to Grow by USD 153.03 Mn from 2022 to 2026, Driven by Presence of Large Patient Pool Related To Neuropathic Pain - Technavio - Yahoo... - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Woman, 37, dies after herbal supplements led to liver failure: coroner - Insider - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- What Is Vitiligo? All About This Unique Skin Condition That Impacts Skin Pigmentation, and How To Treat It - Parade Magazine - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Herbalist's Resource Guide to Cannabis and Other Plants That Can Prevent Cancer - PR Web - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Tasly Pharmaceuticals to Exhibit at BioJapan 2022 -- Bio-Pharmaceutical Company to Join with Maryland-Bas - Benzinga - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- "Sh*t, I just want to get better. Thats what pushed me to do it, and it worked well" Chauncey Billups and other NBA stars on acupuncture -... - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- People Science and Symbiome Partner to study the microbiome in the real world - Benzinga - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Bob Newhart Proves 93 Is the New 39 - Eat This, Not That - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Medical cannabis could be better alternative to opioids in managing pain - The Tribune India - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Woman killed by herbal remedies she took to treat arthritis - Evening Standard - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Get To Know The Best Natural Adderall Alternatives - Over The Counter and Non Prescription - Outlook India - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- King Charles III Has a History of Promoting 'Quackery' Alternative Medicine - Newsweek - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Remedy Place: The Fashionable Social Wellness Club Where You Can Bring All Your Friends - Vogue - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Thailand heightens its healthcare hub ambition with integrative medicine - PR Newswire UK - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- How bogus cancer treatments prey on the most vulnerable - Coda Story - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Management of Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents | PHMT - Dove Medical Press - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Mouth Taping: Is It Safe? - Health Essentials - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Queen Elizabeth: Seven things you need to know about the Queens passing - Toronto Star - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Building an Alternative Medical Economy in Response to 'Tyranny': Telehealth CEO - The Epoch Times - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Sesame oil: Nutrition, benefits, and more - Medical News Today - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Regenerative Medicine: An alternative to surgery and pills | Loop Cayman Islands - Loop News Cayman - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Find Euphoria: the luxury Greek spa retreat to visit now - Tatler - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- What Is Synthetic Urine & How Does It Help To Pass A Drug Test? - The Island Now - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- The science behind the healthtech startup must be understood well - Express Healthcare - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Best-in-class second-line HIV treatment rolls out in Zambia and Nigeria - Clinton Health Access Initiative - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Therapeutic effect of HFNC and NIV in patients with AECOPD | COPD - Dove Medical Press - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Five years after Kymriah: Ensuring the next cell and gene therapies reach patients - STAT - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Meet these renowned healthcare professionals who assist us in leading healthier lives - Oneindia - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Diet and Vitiligo: The Story So Far - Cureus - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Fatphobia Sucks, Especially If You're Trying to Have a Baby - VICE - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Orthomolecular Medicine, A Predictive Tool - Nation World News - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- COVID-19 vaccines and the Nuremberg Code - Science Based Medicine - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Bolstering the Blood-CNS Barrier Could Lead to New Treatment Approach for Multiple Sclerosis - University of Utah Health Care - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Lockdowns Postponed the Inevitable. Is That a Bad Thing? - Science Based Medicine - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- The Impact of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Insomnia: A Systematic Review - Cureus - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Ayurveda As Alternative Medicine: Research And Development To Be Taken Ahead By Heal In India - Entrepreneur - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- French Doctolib platform accused of 'promoting alternative medicine' - The Connexion - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Best Ways for Treating This Condition - Healthline - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Ellen White reveals "traumatic" incident that played huge role in her retirement - GIVEMESPORT - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Curcumin and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Does It Help? - Healthline - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- In Denial: When Patients Don't Want to Believe They Have Cancer - Medscape - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Piotr Szyhalski depicts living through COVID-19 and other extreme historical phenomena - MinnPost - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Researchers identify chemo alternative for targeted treatment of leukemia patients - Devdiscourse - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- India Can Show The World The Right Path For Medical Pluralism - News18 - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Complementary and Integrative Medicine - Reeve Foundation - Christopher Reeve Foundation - August 23rd, 2022 [August 23rd, 2022]
- Back pain: Exploring alternative treatments - Health - Life & Style - Ahram Online - August 23rd, 2022 [August 23rd, 2022]
- Battle Ground Natural Healing provides CBD products as alternative to traditional medicine - The Reflector - August 23rd, 2022 [August 23rd, 2022]