What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
We offer a vast spectrum of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): Acupuncture, Reflexology, Reiki, Crystal Healing, Hot Stone Massage, Holistic Massage, and Meditation & Relaxation [1-2]. They are supportive therapies and can co-exist with medical treatments. They are not miracle cures, but help to naturally prevent pain and reduce illness by promoting physical and psychological health and well-being [3-4].
Complementary treatments are simple and safe, generally non-invasive and non-toxic, and are suitable for patients of all ages, whether frail, delicate or physically athletic [5]. Easily accessible to fit into patients’ lifestyles, they promote confidence, self-value and empower patients to take an active role in their own health, amplifying and accelerating the self-healing processes [6-7].
Our treatments present alternative solutions to problems and encourage adherence to healthy lifestyles. They stimulate motivation to regularly maintain fitness, through a balanced diet and exercise programmes to help resolve deconditioning and promote optimum fitness, with balanced rest and relaxation that brings equilibrium and holistic health [8-9]. Returning to wholeness, as ‘Complementary’ means ‘to complete’.
World Health Organisation definition of Health (1948) [10]
‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and British Medical Association recognise the need to support patient choice. As health care professionals, we advocate best clinical practice and so we scrutinise and evaluate research and anecdotal evidence of CAM for public health and safety. Our treatment services are all regulated by governing bodies and practices, fully insured and performed to the highest standards [11-12]. We are, therefore, able to offer a complete holistic health service that benefits your physical and mental health [13-14].
‘WHO and its Member States co-operate to promote the use of traditional medicine for health care.
The collaboration aims to:
Support and integrate traditional medicine into national health systems in combination with national policy and regulation for products, practices and providers to ensure safety and quality.’
https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine#tab=tab_1
Definition of complementary medicine adopted by Cochrane Collaboration“Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed.”
“Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed.”
Complementary Therapies can help with both physical and mental health problems. Call us today to see how we can help you.
1 British Medical Journal (1999) What is complementary medicine?https://www.bmj.com/content/319/7211/693
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/
2 Charman RA (2000) Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapists (Eds). Butterworth Heinemann: Somerset.
https://patient.info/doctor/complementary-and-alternative-medicine
3 Cochrane Complementary Medicine (2020):Evidence https://cam.cochrane.org/evidence
4 Sim J (2004) Fundamentals of Moral Decision-Making. In: French S and Sim J (Ed) Physiotherapy: A Psychosocial Approach (3rd Edition). Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann Publishers.
5 Deutsch JE (2008) CAM Use in Illness and Wellness. In: Deutsch JE and Anderson EZ (Eds). Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy: A Clinical Decision-Making Approach. United States: Elsevier.
6 Kolt GS and Brewer BW (2007) Psychology in Injury and Rehabilitation. In: Kolt GS and Synder-Mackler L (Eds) Physical Therapies in Sport and Exercise (2nd Edition). China: Churchill Livingstone.
7 Unruh AM and Harman K (2007) Alternative and Complementary Therapies In: Strong J, Unruh A, Wright A, and Baxter GD (Ed). Pain a Textbook for Therapists. China: Churchill Livingstone.
8 Lorenc A, Peace B, Vaghela C, and Robinson N (2010) The integration of healing into conventional cancer care in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice; 16:222–228.
10 World Health Organisation (2012) Definition of Health (1948)https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions
11 https://www.csp.org.uk/professional-clinical/professional-guidance/professionalism
12 https://www.csp.org.uk/publications/code-members-professional-values-behaviour
14 https://www.csp.org.uk/documents/mental-and-physical-health-wellbeing