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Detailed information on different forms of complementary and alternative therapy, including information on safety and risks.

Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine Skip Navigation Skip Navigation Johns Hopkins Medicine Menu About Johns Hopkins Medicine Home Patient Care Health Research School of Medicine MyChart Schedule an Appointment Find a Doctor Pay Your Bill Employment Close Covid-19 COVID-19 Updates Review our resources for guidelines about COVID-19. Vaccines Masking Guidelines Visitor Guidelines  Close Search Search Johns Hopkins Medicine Search Close Health Health Close Main Menu Health Main Menu Health Conditions and Diseases Treatments, Tests and Therapies Wellness and Prevention Caregiving Health Wellness and Prevention Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest Share via Email Print this Page Integrative Medicine What are the different types of CAM? Many different areas make up the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In addition, many parts of one field may overlap with the parts of another field. For example, acupuncture is also used in conventional medicine. In the U.S., CAM is used by about 38% of adults and 12% of children. Examples of CAM include: Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Oriental practices. These therapies have been practiced for centuries worldwide. Traditional alternative medicine may include: Acupuncture Ayurveda Homeopathy Naturopathy Chinese or Oriental medicine Body. Touch has been used in medicine since the early days of medical care. Healing by touch is based on the idea that illness or injury in one area of the body can affect all parts of the body. If, with manual manipulation, the other parts can be brought back to optimum health, the body can fully focus on healing at the site of injury or illness. Body techniques are often combined with those of the mind. Examples of body therapies include: Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine Massage Body movement therapies Tai chi Yoga Diet and herbs. Over the centuries, man has gone from a simple diet consisting of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to a diet that often consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. Nutritional excess and deficiency have become problems in today's society, both leading to certain chronic diseases. Many dietary and herbal approaches attempt to balance the body's nutritional well-being. Dietary and herbal approaches may include: Dietary supplements Herbal medicine Nutrition/diet External energy. Some people believe external energies from objects or other sources directly affect a person's health. An example of external energy therapy is: Electromagnetic therapy Reiki Qigong Mind. Even standard or conventional medicine recognizes the power of the connection between mind and body. Studies have found that people heal better if they have good emotional and mental health. Therapies using the mind may include: Meditation Biofeedback Hypnosis Senses. Some people believe the senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can affect overall health. Examples of therapies incorporating the senses include: Art, dance, and music Visualization and guided imagery Find a Doctor Specializing In: Behavioral Medicine Mindfulness Mind-Body Medicine Alternative Medicine Acupuncture Holistic Medicine Integrative Medicine Osteopathy See More At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital: Howard County Medical Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Find a Treatment Center Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic Find Additional Treatment Centers at: Howard County Medical Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Related Biofeedback Chinese Medicine Ayurveda Acupuncture Request an Appointment Find a Doctor 410-955-5000 Maryland 855-695-4872 Outside of Maryland +1-410-502-7683 International Find a Doctor See More Find a Doctor Specializing In: Behavioral Medicine Mindfulness Mind-Body Medicine Alternative Medicine Acupuncture Holistic Medicine Integrative Medicine Osteopathy See More At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital: Howard County Medical Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Find a Treatment Center Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic Find Additional Treatment Centers at: Howard County Medical Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Related Complementary Medicine Biofeedback Integrative Medicine Chinese Medicine Complementary Medicine Ayurveda Related Topics Integrative Medicine Health Conditions and Diseases Treatments, Tests and Therapies Wellness and Prevention Caregiving Johns Hopkins Medicine logo Language Assistance Available: Español አማርኛ 繁體中文 Français Tagalog Русский Português Italiano Tiếng Việt Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù-po-nyɔ̀ Igbo asusu èdè Yorùbá বাংলা 日本語 한국어 Kreyòl Ayisyen العربية Deutsch Polski Ελληνικά ગુજરાતી ภาษาไทย اُردُو فارسی हिंदी Deitsch ខ្មែរ Contact & Privacy Information Contact Us | Patient Care Locations Notice of Privacy Practices | Privacy Statement Terms & Conditions of Use | Non-Discrimination Notice  Follow on FacebookFollow on TwitterFollow on LinkedinFollow on InstagramFollow on YouTubeFollow on Weibo Copyright © 2023 The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. 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