More Americans are looking beyond Western medicine to help relieve their back, neck, and spinal joint pain, including osteoarthritis of the backbone. In this specific article, we discuss Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which is also called Complementary and Integrative Medicine.

Interchangeable Terms

When an option (not mainstream) practice is combined with standard (mainstream) medicine, it’s called “complemental” or “integrative” health care. It’s called “alternative.” when it’s used in place of traditional medicine Nevertheless, these terms are frequently used interchangeably.

Complementary Alternative/Integrative Treatments

Although treatments might be combined you will find five general types of CAM therapies.

1. Alternative Medical Systems

Naturopathic or naturopathy medical care may include water therapy, massage, and herbal drugs.

2. Head-Body Techniques

Head-body techniques may help a patient with back or neck pain to utilize their head to change or restrain their symptoms in a way that is positive, therefore reducing pain.

3. Biologically-Based Therapies

Biologically-based treatments feature nature-based substances such as botanicals and dietary supplements to ease pain. Natural substances contain ginseng, ginkgo, fish oil, or Echinacea and could be obtainable in different kinds, including a tea, aromatherapy oils, syrup, powder, pill, or capsule.

4. Body-Based Practices

Body-established practices include different types of massage, body alignment techniques, osteopathic manipulation and chiropractic.

5. Energy Therapies

Energy therapies unblock energy fields or may help shift. Qi gong (eg, breathing techniques), Reiki (eg, stress reduction/relaxation), and magnets are treatments based on transferring energy.

Is Alternative, Complementary Or Integrative Therapy Right For You?

To assist you decide, look at the next points.

• If insurance coverage is essential to you, be sure to consult your health insurance provider before you select a CAM treatment to make certain the professional is insured.
• Learn as much as you can about the alternate treatment you’re enthusiastic about.
• Take into account that although a complementary alternative treatment may be popular, that doesn’t make it correct for you personally.
• Unlike mainstream medical care and procedures, some (if not most) alternative therapies are not scientifically validated by clinical trials and/or research studies. The amount of human players is frequently little, while there may be studies supporting a particular practice.
• Simply because a material is natural doesn’t mean it can’t damage you, cause illness or allergic reaction, or a serious interaction with a drug. For instance, blood pressure can be raised by ginseng.
• Always tell your treating physician about all of the herbs, vitamins and nutritional supplements (in any kind) that you take, particularly if you’re scheduled to get a neck or back process (eg, spinal injection, operation).
• Select your alternative therapy professional with all precisely the same attention and concern you would for pain management specialist or a back surgery.

Sources:

Rosenzweig S. Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Merck Manual. Consumer Version.  http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-cam/overview-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? March 2015. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health.