Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, with up to 65% of the population reporting that they have used this form of medicine. The main reasons given for using CAM are its holistic approach, effectiveness and orientation towards promoting health rather than controlling symptoms.
CAM doctors and practitioners, each in their own field, recommend an individualised package of care, including one or more specified CAM treatments, and advise on changes of lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress-reduction techniques, etc. CAM therapies commonly approach health and illness by working to induce and support the innate self-healing process of the individual. They are used to promote and maintain health and can be used as a first option in a wide range of health problems, particularly where conventional therapies do not exist or are ineffective, but also as a complement to conventional treatment.
Therapies practised include acupuncture, anthroposophic medicine, ayurvedic medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine, shiatsu, yoga, among many others.
EUROCAM, the alliance of patients, doctors and practitioners in the field of CAM, is committed to raising public awareness of the public-health benefits of CAM, especially in terms of prevention and health promotion, patient safety, patient-centred health services, mental health, palliative care, health economics and healthy ageing.
Responding to increasing use of CAM by the European public, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has funded CAMbrella, a project to develop a roadmap for future European research in CAM that is appropriate for Europe's health care needs.
