CAM

1.The medicinal use of substances found in nature is under which CAM domain? 2. What are the four types of substances considered in this domain? 3. What types of adverse effects may occur with CAMs? 4. Approximately what percentage of pharmaceuticals are derived from plant sources?

1. Biologically based 2. Herbs Foods Vitamins Dietary supplements 3. Directly increase or decrease conventional medications' therapeutic &/or adverse effects Prolongued dosing mayProduce toxic effects of tissues & organs (e.g., liver damage) Allergic reactions GI disturbances, etc. 4. at least 25% of all pharmaceuticals still come from plant sources

What is the significance of each of the five unique aspects of CAM?

Very little evidence-based literature available either to support or refute efficacy Misconceptions regarding CAM safety Failure to report CAM use Lack of standards for quality & purity of CAMs Delayed use of conventional medications

What is the difference between complementary medicine & alternative medicine? What is the definition of "integrative medicine"? What is NCCAM & of which federal agency is it a component? What does NCCAM do?

1. Complementary medicine is the use of some type of treatment not normally considered as part of "conventional" medicine, together with something that is considered conventional treatment & for which there is evidence of reasonable safety & efficacy Alternative medicine is something used as a treatment instead of or in place of what is considered conventional treatment. 2.The term "integrative medicine" combines treatments from conventional medicine & CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety & efficacy. 3. The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)). 4. NCCAM groups CAM practices into four domains, recognizing there can be some overlap.Built upon complete systems of theory & practice May have evolved apart from & earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the U.S.