What's the difference between complementary and alternative medicine?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of health care practices that are outside the scope of traditional medical treatment. It includes various forms of medical practice, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture and herbal medicine.

The primary difference between complementary and alternative medicine lies in their purpose. Complementary medicine is often used alongside traditional medical treatments to help support the patient’s overall wellbeing. For example, using herbal supplements to help reduce side effects from chemotherapy or taking acupuncture sessions during radiation therapy sessions as part of a comprehensive cancer treatment plan.

Alternative medicine on the other hand is used instead of conventional treatments with the intention being to replace it completely or only use it as part of a treatement regimen when regular therapy fails to produce desired results. This type of approach isn’t necessarily discounted by many healthcare professionals but much more research needs to be done before its fully accepted into mainstream practice due its lack in scientific evidence for many cases where CAM has been fervently recommended.

All in all there can still be major differences between both approaches based upon personal circumstances which may affect how people view each type accordingly so its important for any individual considering either form Cam or Traditional methods do thorough research on both sides before making up your mind on what type works best for you!