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The Difference between Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Tess Thompson

The medical and health systems that fall outside the range of therapies as practiced by doctors of conventional medicine are listed under Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). This classification is done by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). The commonly asked question however is whether there is a difference between alternative and complementary medicine.

The NCCAM defines complementary medicine as a therapy that is used along with conventional medicine. Therefore, any therapy that attempts to alleviate discomfort caused by conventional therapy is a complementary therapy. For example, Aroma Therapy, a therapy in which the scent of essential flowers, herbs and trees is used to lessen discomfort after surgery is considered to be complementary therapy.

Alternative medicine, on the other hand, includes therapies that are used in place of conventional medicine. Herbal medicine or a special diet to treat cancer that is prescribed without accompanying conventional treatment modalities like radiation or chemotherapy falls under the category of alternative medicine.

With time, there are many new approaches to health care that evolve. Therefore, the list of complementary and alternate therapies changes continually. As and when these therapies get accredited as safe and effective, they are accepted as mainstream.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, a part of what is commonly known as ‘talk therapy’ was once a part of CAM. Later it was accredited and has now become a part of mainstream therapies. On the other hand, there are other mind and body techniques like meditation that are still considered CAM. Notwithstanding high quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness, natural remedies like Yoga that are often recommended by conventional doctors are still not given the accreditation that they deserves.

Even Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which are based on complete systems of theory and practice, are considered as alternative therapies. This is despite the fact that nearly 80% of pharmaceutical medicines in the market are based on major active ingredients that are derived from herbs. Almost all conventional medicines extract a single compound that is considered to be the active curing agent from the herbs. Herbal remedies, on the other hand, are based on the belief that herbs should be used in their original form or produced by processes like dilution or steeping. In as far as accreditation is concerned; alternative medicine has never been provided a level playing field. If similar funding and governmental support is provided, some of these have the wherewithal to become mainstream therapies.