title: Integrating complementary/alternative medicine into primary care: evaluating the evidence and appropriate implementation.
abstract: The frequency with which patients utilize treatments encompassed by the term complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is well documented. A number of these therapies are beginning to be integrated into contemporary medical practice. This article examines three of them: osteopathic manipulation, yoga, and acupuncture, with a focus on their physiological effects, efficacy in treating medical conditions commonly encountered by practitioners, precautions or contraindications, and ways in which they can be incorporated into clinical practice. Physicians should routinely obtain information about use of CAM as part of their patient history and should consider their role based on physiological effects and clinical research results.
authors.affiliation: The Arthur S Abramson Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Stanley F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wainapel
authors.affiliation: The Arthur S Abramson Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Loren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.affiliation: The Arthur S Abramson Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halstead-Kenny
keywords: acupuncture therapy; integrative medicine; osteopathic manipulation; yoga