Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in disease therapy dates back to prehistoric man, and has increased exponentially over time. Before the advent of modern science, early humans employed the use of alternative remedies as therapy for disease. Archeological records indicate that during the Stone Age, treatment of biologic disorders involved certain practices. The methods utilized involved a broad spectrum of approaches that is termed CAM by scientists today. Early civilizations embraced these practices as is evidenced in Persian, Greek, Egyptian and Chinese cultures amongst others. CAM continues to grow with concomitant recognition by scientific researchers and healthcare professionals around the globe. The motives for using CAM are variant and may include: to fight disease, to increase the body’s ability to fight disease, to improve physical and emotional well-being, to counteract ill effect from disease, and as advised by healthcare professionals (Molassiotis, 2005). CAM, as the name connotes, is comprised of diverse medicinal and health care systems, practices, and products that are not typically considered to be a part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine whereas alternative medicine is utilized in place of conventional medicine; CAM encapsulates traditional (conventional), alternative and integrative remedies. Treatment may be considered 'complementary' when non-orthodox methods are utilized simultaneously with conventional medicine. When non-orthodox methods are used in place of conventional medicine, it is considered 'alternative.' Approaches that utilize the systematic use of conventional and alternative treatment are termed 'integrative.' The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classifies CAM into four distinct categories:
Whole medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice which evolved earlier than and apart from the conventional medical approach used by western cultures. Mind-body medicine employs a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect body function and symptoms. Techniques such as meditation, prayer, mental healing and therapies that involve art, music and dance are usually applied by CAM practitioners. Biologically- based practices use substances found in nature such as herbs, foods and vitamin. Manipulative and body based practices involve the manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body and includes chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation and massage therapy (NCCIH, 2015; Eshiet, 2010; Eshiet et al., 2014a, 2014b). This chapter focuses on biological-based practices as is demonstrated in the herbal benefits of tea (herbalism).