Alternative and complementary therapies.

Abstract

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.