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Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) . . . |
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CAIM is a group of many different health care systems, practices and products that are not yet a part of mainstream medicine (generally not used in hospitals and not taught widely in medical schools). As more scientific research validates practices currently considered complementary, alternative and integrative, they could become mainstream in the future. It is interesting that most of what we consider to be "complementary" or "alternative" practices have been the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle over the centuries and throughout the world. Our greatest philosophers, scientists, teachers and thinkers all glorified the mind,body and their oneness. Hippocrates stressed the natural causes of disease as well as the role of environment in the spread of disease and he understood the roles of climate, soil, water, way of life and nutrition as aspects of disease prevention. He stated that only when one's mind and body are in harmony can a state of health exist (Ellis & Hartley in Butler, 1994). It is this harmony that is embraced by CAIM. Traditional Chinese Medicine would be considered CAIM by many, even though it is rooted deep in China's ancient past and has developed entwined with one of the world's oldest and most profound philosophies. As Balch and Stengler (2004) summarize, few branches of alternative health care offer the wealth of experience associated with Chinese medicine. More than four thousand years ago, the healers in Chinese society began to experiment with various herbs to see which could cure phyusical and mental complaints. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov Complimentary, Alternative, Integrative Medicine Resources in the Boise Area:
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