These days there is more and more health information available on the internet. Specifically, there is growing interest in using ‘natural’ treatments for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of health complaints. We are also witnessing the beginning of more global connectedness especially through social networking websites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
What is ‘CAM’?
You may have read or heard the term ‘CAM’ as part of your searches on-line or through seminars. ‘CAM’ stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It basically refers to any system of medicine or treatment that stands outside the conventional system of medicine also known as Western or Allopathic medicine. The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) goes on to further define ‘CAM’ as;
"Complementary medicine refers to use of ‘CAM’ together with conventional medicine, such as using acupuncture in addition to usual care to help lessen pain. Most use of ‘CAM’ by Americans is complementary. "Alternative medicine" refers to use of ‘CAM’ in place of conventional medicine. "Integrative medicine" (also called integrated medicine) refers to a practice that combines both conventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.
It is important to remember that there is often not such a clear division between ‘CAM’ and conventional medicine. It is becoming more common for even conventional Physicians to recommend techniques like meditation and yoga to help in stress management of a wide variety of diseases ranging from anxiety disorders to cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, there is a growing number of Medical Doctors (MDs) who practice a modality or system of medicine that fits under the ‘CAM’ category. Forexample, many MDs in France, England and Germany also practice Homeopathic medicine.
Homeopathic Medicine and ‘CAM’
While there are many types of modalities/systems of medicine that fit under the ‘CAM’ umbrella, Homeopathy is the most ideal complementary medicine. Here’s why:
Safe,Gentle, Effective: homeopathic medicines are made using a specific process of dilution and vigorous shaking (succussion). This means that unlike conventional medications and even some herbal medicines which use crude substances, homeopathic remedies are safe for everyone, even pregnant women, and newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
No Side Effects:homeopathic remedies contain very few molecules of the original crude substance. Therefore, patients will not experience side effects that often occur with pharmaceutical medications. Some sensitive patients also experience side effects from herbs. Patients under the care of a qualified Homeopath will be able to avoid such negative effects.
No Contraindications with Pharmaceutical Medications: there is no scientific evidence that homeopathic remedies interact with pharmaceutical medications. In addition, there can be an issue of interaction between herbal medicines and pharmaceutical medications. This is not even an issue with homeopathy. In fact, in many cases, you can work with your Medical Doctor to wean yourself off medications once your symptoms have consistently improved. It is important to remember that this is not possible with certain medications including insulin for Type I Diabetes, some asthma medications, HIV medications and in some cases, hypothyroid medications.
Stimulates the Body to Heal Itself: homeopathy has a vastly different philosophy of health and healing than conventional medicine. Conventional medicine uses large doses of crude substances in an attempt to eliminate or suppress symptoms. Homeopathy, on the other hand, uses an approach that views symptoms as the part of the body’s attempt to communicate with us. Symptoms essentially are the body’s attempt to tell us something isn’t in balance. Instead of using large, crude doses, Homeopathy uses remedies to stimulate the body to begin to heal itself.
To find more about ‘CAM’ please visit the NCCAM website at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/or the Canadian Interdisciplinarian Network for CAM Research (IN-CAM) at www.incamresearch.ca
For more information about an exciting career in Homeopathic Medicine, visit our website at www.homeopathycanada.com
From Jennifer S., Hopkinton, MA I have difficulty writing about myself. Self-promotion is not my strong suit. My husband told me to write as though
I am delighted to bring to you the first installment of a new series for our blog called, A Day in the Life of a Homeopath.
Homeopathy has been successfully used for over 200 years as a holistic approach as it takes into account a patient’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.
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