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Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Kelley V. Lawrence, IBCLC, MD, Alexandra Kamieniecki, MD and Lauren A Griffin, D.O. Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently considered as part of conventional medicine and are u...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Impact of medical condition(s) on patient’s life

  • Patient’s beliefs and goals

  • Patient’s attitudes about and experiences with conventional medical treatments, as well as with CAM

  • All drugs...

TREATMENT

Variable evidence supports the safety and efficacy of: 
  • Back pain: chiropractic therapy (2), OMT (3), massage therapy (4)

  • Nausea, including that associated with chemotherapy: ginger (2)

  • Migra...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Maintain contact between primary care provider and CAM providers; make sure records are shared between both providers. 

Patient Monitoring

Dietary supplements are t...

REFERENCES

1
 Urits I, Schwartz RH, Orhurhu V, et al. A comprehensive review of alternative therapies for the management of chronic pain patients: acupuncture, tai chi, osteopathic manipulative medicin...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

American Osteopathic Association. Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine. https://osteopathic.org/about/leadership/aoa-governance-documents/tenets-of-osteopathic-medicine. ...

CODES

ICD10

Z76.89 Persons encountering health services in other specified circumstances 

SNOMED

  • 225423004 Complementary therapy

  • 182548004 Chiropraxy (regime/therapy)

  • 440644000 Holistic massage therapy (re...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • CAM allows clinicians to take a holistic approach to health, by focusing on treating the patient, and not just the disease.

  • Outcomes of CAM are best measured in terms of the patient’s s...

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