| A | B |
|---|
| complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) | Therapies/practices not part of conventional health care/medical practice as taught in most U.S. medical schools |
| conventional medicine | A system of medicine based on the application of the scientific method |
| traditional medicine | Medical systems that have developed in many non-Western cultures; complementary and alternative medicine |
| holism | The principle that all aspects of a person are interrelated and form an integrated system |
| pharmaceuticals | Medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter |
| medical doctor | An independent practitioner who holds a doctor of medicine degree from an accredited medical school |
| doctor of osteopathic medicine | A medical practitioner who has graduated from an osteopathic medical school |
| podiatrist | Specializes in the medical and surgical care of the feet |
| optometrist | Trained to examine the eyes, detect eye diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses |
| dentist | Specializes in the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the teeth, mouth and jaws |
| allied health care providers | Health care professionals who typically provide services under the supervision or control of independent practioners |
| traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) | Medical system which views illness as the result of a disturbance in the flow of qi, the life force |
| acupuncture | Insertion of long, thin needles into the skin at points along meridians, pathways through which qi is believed to flow |
| homeopathy | Alternative medical system of Western origin - illnesses treated with very small doses of drugs |
| hypnosis | The process by which a practitioner induces a state of deep relaxation in which an individual is more suggestible |
| biological-based therapies | CAM therapies that include natural and biologically based practices, interventions, and products |
| pharmacopoeia | A collection of drugs and medicinal preparations |
| chiropractic | A system of manual healing most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal problems |
| energy therapies | Forms of CAM treatment that use energy fields originating either within the body or from outside sources to promote healing |
| gigong | A component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of breathing |
| therapeutic touch | A CAM practice based on the premise that healers can identify/correct energy imbal. by passing their hands over the body |
| Reiki | A CAM practice intended to correct disturbances in the flow of life energy and enhance the body's healing powers |
| bioelectromagnetic-based therapies | CAM therapies based on the notion that electromagnetic fields can be used to promote healing and manage pain |
