NCCAM is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on CAM. NCCAM does not provide CAM therapies or referrals to practitioners.
How Can I Determine Whether Statements Made About The Effectiveness Of A CAM Therapy Are True?
Statements that manufacturers and providers of CAM therapies may make about the effectiveness of a therapy and its other benefits can sound reasonable and promising. However, they may or may not be backed up by scientific evidence. Before you begin using a CAM...
I Am Interested In A CAM Therapy That Involves Treatment From A Practitioner. How Do I Go About Selecting A Practitioner?
Here are a few things to consider when selecting a practitioner. If you need more information, see the fact sheet "Selecting a CAM Practitioner." Ask your physician, other health professionals, or someone you believe to be knowledgeable regarding CAM whether they have...
Can I Participate In CAM Research Through A Clinical Trial?
NCCAM supports clinical trials (research studies in people) on CAM therapies. Clinical trials on CAM are taking place in many locations worldwide, and study participants are needed. To find out more about clinical trials in CAM, see the NCCAM fact sheet "Clinical...
Are CAM Therapies Tested To See If They Work?
While some scientific evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies-questions such as whether the therapies are safe, how they work, and whether...
Are There Any Risks To Using CAM Treatments?
Yes, there can be risks, as with any medical therapy. These risks depend upon the specific CAM treatment. The following are general suggestions to help you learn about or minimize the risks. Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative...
How Can I Get Reliable Information About A CAM Therapy?
It is important to learn what scientific studies have discovered about the therapy in which you are interested. It is not a good idea to use a CAM therapy simply because of something you have seen in an advertisement or on a Web site or because someone has told you...
What Is CAM?
CAM stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor)...
Are CAM Therapies Safe?
Each treatment needs to be considered on its own. However, here are some issues to think about when considering a CAM therapy. Many consumers believe that "natural" means the same thing as "safe." This is not necessarily true. For example, think of mushrooms that grow...