LibGuides: Consumer Health Resources: Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a broad category of medical treatments that are not part of mainstream medicine. When considering CAM treatments it is important to be an informed consumer and discuss options with your healthcare provider.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has a number of helpful resources to Be an Informed Consumer, including fact sheets and guides on issues to consider and questions to ask.

CAM Resources

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
AAMA is a physician-only professional acupuncture society. Provides general information on acupuncture as well as analysis of clinical evidence and research and a provider directory.
American Chiropractic Association
The largest chiropractic professional organization, the ACA website includes an overview of the field, information on finding a chiropractor, and health and wellness tips.
American Holistic Medical Association
Founded in 1978, the AHMA serves as the leading advocate for the use of holistic and integrative medicine by all licensed healthcare providers.
Consumer Reports Guide to Natural Cures
An A-to-Z guide from Consumer Reports on what alternative treatments are worth trying and what you should stay away from. Also includes tips on the safe and smart use of alternative medicine, a primer on vitamins and dietary supplements, and the sources used for each entry on the guide.
MedlinePlus: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
MedlinePlus has a collection of resources on complementary and alternative medicine, as well as topic-specific pages for popular CAM therapies such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Herbal Medicine.
National Cancer Center CAM for Patients
Evidence-based information summaries for integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies from the National Cancer Center.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Reliable, evidence-based information about non-mainstream approaches to health including procedures and medicines. Includes resources for finding a practitioner.
Native American Ethnobotany
A database of foods, drugs, dyes, and fibers of Native American Peoples, derived from plants.
Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM)
Information on CAM issues related to cancer, research, and clinical trials.