CAM, the acronym for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is quickly coming to the forefront of the health and wellness platform. Studies have reported that approximately 38 % of Americans use or have used some form of CAM. Complementary medicine generally refers to therapies that are used in conjunction with traditional or Western medicine. As an example, acupuncture, a widely accepted practice with origins in the east, has emerged as both a complementary and alternative practice for many.
 
CAM philosophy generally recognizes that Western medicine has been slow to promote and teach preventative measures and modification of lifestyle as key components to total health. With the exception of chiropractic and acupuncture therapists, most CAM practitioners are not compensated by health care plans for the work they do.
 
Arguments against the use of CAM have centered on safety concerns and lack of evidence -based studies that support its use. Indeed, there are several organizations that provide legitimate information for those who seek to pursue CAM as part of a whole health program. NCCAM, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is a division of the National Institute for Health that provides legitimate, although somewhat conservative resources for exploring CAM.
 
CAM need not be extreme, nor should it be accessible to only those with time and resources to investigate and pursue its practices. Instead, think of CAM as a broadening of our health perspective, an opportunity to enlist us, the patients, as active participants in determining our health care needs. Indeed, it enlists us to take more responsibility for our health and wellness while also empowering us to fully participate in our own care.