cam therapies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the colon. IBS is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

IBS is challenging to study because its symptoms vary and may disappear for long periods, and because people with IBS tend to respond well to placebos.

Hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by a virus, is usually chronic (long-lasting), with symptoms ranging from mild (or even none) to severe.

Conventional medical treatments are available for hepatitis C; however, some people also try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, especially herbal supplements.

This issue summarizes the scientific research on the effectiveness and safety of selected supplements.

People with cancer want to do everything they can to combat the disease, manage its symptoms, and cope with the side effects of treatment.

Many turn to complementary and alternative medicine—for example, botanical (herbal) and other dietary supplements, acupuncture, massage, and yoga.

People try many different CAM therapies in their efforts to fight colds. According to estimates based on the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), colds ranked eighth among adults and third among children as a medical condition prompting CAM use.

People who have trouble sleeping may try dietary supplements, relaxation therapies, or other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in an effort to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and improve the overall quality of their sleep.

Research on CAM and insomnia has produced promising results for some CAM therapies. However, evidence of effectiveness is still limited for most therapies, and additional research is needed.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a health condition that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints.

Conventional medical treatments are available for RA; however, some people also try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.

This fact sheet provides basic information on RA, summarizes scientific research on the effectiveness and safety of selected mind-body therapies, dietary supplements, and other CAM therapies that have been studied for RA, and suggests sources for additional information.

Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for chronic pain, scientific evidence on efficacy and mechanisms—whether the therapies help the conditions for which they are used and, if so, how—is, for the most part, limited.

However, the evidence base is growing, especially for therapies that many people use for common kinds of pain.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living.

Among older people, AD is the most common cause of dementia (a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life and activities).

However, AD is not a normal part of aging. Although treatment can slow the progression of AD and help manage its symptoms in some people, currently there is no cure for this devastating disease.

Low-Back Pain and CAM
Four out of five American adults will experience low-back pain (LBP). Many will try CAM therapies to manage their pain.

Given the many choices, how can one approach making decisions about CAM use for LBP?

Also Featuring: Moving the Economyand Biomedical DiscoveryAhead; Interview: Low-Back Pain and Evidence-Based Care; First Straus Lecture: Acupuncture and Medical Paradigms; and other stories

Neck pain is a common health problem in the United States. People suffering from neck pain often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.

Although therapeutic massage is one of the most popular CAM therapies for neck pain, little is known about its effectiveness for this condition.