Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Health Professionals

Integrative health care is the approach to health and wellness that combines the benefits of conventional and complementary health practices in a holistic and patient-focused manner. Alternative medicine approaches include mind and body practices along with the use of natural products. Yoga, meditation, and chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation are some of the popular mind and body practices. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, tai chi, qi gong, Trager psychophysical integration, etc. are other such practices. Natural products include a variety of products, such as probiotics, herbs, vitamins and minerals. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) uses conventional medical treatment with alternative medicinal practices for improved results. Integrative medicine can help people by reducing pain, fatigue and anxiety. Some of the clinical conditions treated under integrative medicine include musculoskeletal and joint pain, gastrointestinal conditions, cancer, women’s health issues, stress management, etc. This book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts revolving around complementary and alternative medicine. It aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of integrative health care and the recent researches in this field. It will help new researchers by foregrounding their knowledge in this field.