http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/
Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being. to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery.

Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor.

What are the major types of complementary and alternative medicine?

NCCAM groups CAM practices into four domains, recognizing there can be some overlap. In addition, NCCAM studies CAM whole medical systems, which cut across all domains.

Whole Medical Systems

Whole medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the United States. Examples of whole medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicineA whole medical system that originated in Europe. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like"). and naturopathic medicineA whole medical system that originated in Europe. Naturopathy aims to support the body's ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and lifestyle changes together with CAM therapies such as herbs, massage, and joint manipulation.. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional traditional Chinese medicineA whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi. and AyurvedaA whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga..

Mind-Body Medicine

Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy). Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditationA conscious mental process using certain techniques -- such as focusing attention or maintaining a specific posture -- to suspend the stream of thoughts and relax the body and mind., prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance.

Biologically Based Practices

Biologically based practices in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products, and the use of other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies (for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

Manipulative and body-based practices in CAM are based on manipulationThe application of controlled force to a joint, moving it beyond the normal range of motion in an effort to aid in restoring health. Manipulation may be performed as a part of other therapies or whole medical systems, including chiropractic medicine, massage, and naturopathy. and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulationA type of manipulation practiced by osteopathic physicians. It is combined with physical therapy and instruction in proper posture., and massagePressing, rubbing, and moving muscles and other soft tissues of the body, primarily by using the hands and fingers. The aim is to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the massaged area..

Energy Medicine

Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types:

* Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the human body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in, or through, these fields. Examples include qi gongA component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and controlled breathing. The intent is to improve blood flow and the flow of qi., ReikiA therapy in which practitioners seek to transmit a universal energy to a person, either from a distance or by placing their hands on or near that person. The intent is to heal the spirit and thus the body., and Therapeutic TouchA therapy in which practitioners pass their hands over another person's body with the intent to use their own perceived healing energy to identify energy imbalances and promote health..

* Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://nccam.nih.gov/
Confessions of a Quackbuster - http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/03/alternative-universe-by-wallace.html

According to NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine):
1. Alternative Medical Systems
2. Mind-Body Intervention
3. Biologically Based Therapy
4. Manipulative Methods
5. Energy Therapy

1. Alternative Medical Systems
Ayurveda
Chiropractic
Herbalism
Homeopathy
Naturopathic medicine
Osteopathy
Traditional Chinese medicine
- Acupuncture
- Baguazhang
- Plants used in Traditional Chinese medicine
- T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Manual lymphatic drainage
2. Mind-Body Intervention
Aromatherapy
- Essential oils
Hypnosis
- Meditation
- Baguazhang
- Buddhist meditation
- Falun Gong
- Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment
- Spiritual retreats
- T'ai Chi Ch'uan
- Tibetan meditation
- Transcendental Meditation
Yoga
- Chakras
- Kriyas
- Mantras
- Meditation
- Mudras
- Pranayama
- Sahaja Yoga
- Yoga schools
- Tantra
- Yogis
* Adams Approach
* Alexander Technique
* Aromatherapy
* Atavistic regression
* Autogenic training
* Autosuggestion

* Bach flower remedies
* Biofeedback
* Boabom

* Cancer support group
* Cancercare

* Dance therapy

* Eutony

* Feldenkrais Method
* Five Wisdoms
* Fourth Way

* Great Invocation

* Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
* Hippotherapy

* Horstmann technique
* Hypnotherapy

* Sandra Ingerman

* Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation

* Mabel Todd
* Massage
* Ainslie Meares
* Meditation
* Meditation therapy
* Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria
* Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
* Metamorphic Technique
* Emmett E. Miller
* Mindstream
* Mitzvah Technique
* Movement Shiatsu
* Myomassology

* NLP and science
* Nancy School
* Neuro-linguistic programming
* Neuro-linguistic programming bibliography

* Psychoneuroimmunology
* Neuroimmunology
* Nocebo

* Ken Page (writer)
* Placebo
* Psychogenic disease
* Psychosomatic medicine

* Rolfing

* Self-help groups for mental health
* Somatic Experiencing
* Structural Integration
* Support group

* Tension myositis syndrome
* Therapeutic horseback riding
* Therapeutic use of Neuro-linguistic programming
* Topdog vs. Underdog
* Trager Approach
* Trance

* Waking the Tiger

* Yoga
* Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine

3. Biologically Based Therapy
Biologically based therapies, is the precise name of a NCCAM classification, for alternative treatments that use substances found in nature, such as:
* botanicals
* animal-derived extracts
* vitamins
* minerals
* fatty acids
* amino acids
* proteins
* prebiotics and probiotics
* whole diets
* functional foods.

Bush medicine
Dietary supplements
- Bodybuilding supplements
- Energy drinks
- Energy food products
Medicinal herbs and fungi
- Essential oils
- Herbal and fungal hallucinogens
- Herbal and fungal stimulants
- Medicinal fungi
- Medicinal plants
Medicinal use of cannabis
Orthomolecular medicine
Chinese food therapy
Curcumin
Dr Myko San - Health from Mushrooms
Fasting
Flax
Gemmotherapy
Herbalism
Macrobiotic lifestyle
Natural health
Nutritional healing
Oily fish
Omega-3 fatty acid
Parthenolide
Phytotherapy
Plant hormone
Prostaderm
Salvia hispanica
Urine therapy

4. Manipulative Methods
Alternative therapy that is based upon manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the human body.
Chiropractic
Massage
Osteopathy
Acupoint therapy
Acupressure
Acupuncture
Adams Approach
Authentic Movement
Body treatment
Bowen Technique
Cervical manipulation
Chiropractic
Counterstrain
Effleurage
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Holistic veterinary medicine
Horstmann technique
Ionithermie
Joint manipulation
Joint mobilization
Katsugen undō
Kinetic Awareness
Manipulation under anesthesia
Massage
Medical acupuncture
Meridian Shiatsu
Metamorphic Technique
Muscle Energy Technique
Myofascial Release
Myotherapy
Naprapathic medicine
Naprapathy
Nishi Shiki
Orgasmatron (massage device)
Osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathic medicine in the United States
Osteopathy
Petrissage
Physical therapy
Psychotherapeutic Postural Integration
Pushing hands
Reflexology path
Rolfing
Seitai
Shiatsu
Skinner releasing technique
Soft Tissue Technique
Soft tissue therapy
Somatic dysfunction
Spinal adjustment
Spinal manipulation
Spinal mobilization
Stone massage
Structural Integration
Tapotement
Thai massage
Tsubo Shiatsu
Tui na
Waterdance
Watsu
Zen Shiatsu

5. Energy Therapy
Radionics
Reiki
Reiki Initiation
Reiki Jin Kei Do
Seichim
Seitai
Sonopuncture
Tapas Acupressure Technique
Therapeutic touch
Vibrational Medicine