Complementary health is an often used term which simply refers to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the more common terminology found in the scientific literature. CAM covers a wide variety of health care practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally available in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by health insurance companies. In other words, CAM philosophies and approaches to health and wellness are not commonly used, accepted, or understood by mainstream Western (conventional) medical practitioners.

      Some of the most common CAM practices include the use of nutrition counseling, dietary supplements, herbal medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and osteopathy to promote well-being or treat specific health conditions. People use these various approaches to CAM in different ways. Some are used alone, as an alternative to conventional, mainstream therapies. Others may be used in addition to conventional therapies, in what is referrred to as an integrated or complementary approach.
      Many CAM therapies are considered "holistic," taking into account the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Many therapies are also referred to as "preventive," meaning the health care practitioner focuses on education and treatment as a means of preventing health problems from occurring, instead of just treating the symptoms of already existing conditions. A belief in this preventive health philosophy and the seeking of more holistic approaches to enhance health and wellness are permeating every aspect of our society and driving the growing trend in the use of complementary and alternative medicine.

      Recent research has documented the increasing prevalence and costs of the use of CAM in the United States during the last decade. The now well known report of Dr. David Eisenberg's national survey shows that the number of Americans using an alternative therapy rose from 33.8% in 1990 to 42.1% in 1997. The survey also shows a 47.3% increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners, from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997, thereby exceeding total visits to all U.S. primary care physicians. In addition, Americans spent an estimated $27 billion out-of-pocket on alternative therapies in 1997, far exceeding out-of-pocket spending for all U.S. hospitalizations.

      It is clearly evident that there is a rapidly growing consumer demand for CAM. People facing health challenges are no longer dependent on their physicians as the only source of information and advice on the management of their condition. In this information age, people have unprecedented opportunities to learn about any number of health issues from the vast body of facts and opinions available through sources such as books, journals, newsletters, the Internet, and the like. With expanding information on the role of nutrition, exercise, stress, and other CAM therapies on health and disease, people are demanding more from their health care providers.
      The medical community has taken notice, as is evident in the increasing number of physicians who now recommend alternative therapies to their patients, as well as the increasing number of medical schools which either offer elective courses in CAM or include CAM topics in required courses. Additionally, health insurance companies are continuing the trend to include CAM therapies to meet consumer demand. However, both the health care community and the public need additional scientific information to demonstrate that CAM practices are safe, effective, and lead to positive clinical outcomes. Only then will the health care community focus on what has been validated by sound clinical research rather than what is considered "conventional" or "alternative." This has significant implications on how we deal with current and future health care issues facing our society.