Alternative and complementary therapies.
The field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is broad and diverse, comprising numerous therapeutic modalities. CAM therapies are viewed as either an adjunct or a complement to conventional treatment. As of 1997, 64% of United States medical schools included elective or required CAM courses. The number of CAM practitioners in the United States is projected to increase by 88% between 1994 and 2010, and the number of conventional physicians who incorporate CAM into their practices will increase by 16%. Patients and their parents can make various health care choices; doctors need to understand and respect these options, and to support them, if safe and effective.
Breuner
Cora Collette
CC
Adolescent Medicine Section, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. cora.breuner@seattlechildrens.org
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D026443:Spiritual Therapies