By contrast herbal remedies, herbal medicine, massage, spiritual healing, and other forms of CAM experienced substantial increases. Of particular interest is that in 1997 chiropractic’s share of the market (11%) remained largely stagnant compared to an earlier 1990 survey (10.1%). While chiropractic was noted as the largest CAM supplier many other CAM groups had shown substantial increases in usage. In a 1998 JAMA study Eisenberg noted the increased popularity of CAM in general in the U.S. Does it benefit chiropractic’s claim to legitimacy to be identified with this crowd? Is association with the CAM movement really in the best interests of chiropractic?ĭavid M Eisenberg, MD of the Harvard Medical School has extensively researched the CAM phenomenon in a number of published articles. All it takes to be a homeopath, a naturopath, a psychic healer, or an aroma therapist requires nothing more than a sign in the window. In most areas anyone can simply hang out a shingle and claim to be CAM provider. This schizophrenic approach to a chiropractic identity serves no one. We have in effect attempted to have the best of both worlds with one foot in CAM and one toe dabbling in health science. This is not to say CAM might not have effective uses, but how is one to know? In addition, CAM practitioners are often loath to consider placebo effects or the natural course of disease in their claims, or to admit possible adverse side effects of their treatments. If there is one description that can be applied to CAM practitioners in general it is that they are often poorly credentialed, poorly educated, their methodologies poorly researched, their claims riddled with observer bias, and they have a poor understanding of scientific methodology in general. This leads to the candid observation that despite recent attempts to better research CAM the results to date are at best equivocal and narrowly applicable. The only real commonality these groups are apt to share is an “Us vs. Each camp, however, has their enthusiastic devotees proclaiming the superiority of their particular approach. These marked differences in CAM philosophical and treatment approaches are rarely given consideration. Most of these CAM approaches are incompatible with each other, have conflicting notions of the causes of disease, and differ radically on how to treat a patient. The ready willingness of many chiropractors to identify with CAM adds to this perception. To much of the outside world there is little perceived difference between naturopaths, homeopaths, aroma therapists, herbalists, energy healers, crystal channelers, and chiropractors. Many in chiropractic have reveled in the CAM identity despite the fact most CAM approaches conflict with chiropractic “philosophy”. Many outside observers: social scientists, epidemiologists, researchers, authors, editors, etc., lump chiropractic in with the rest of the CAM alphabet soup. The proven effectiveness of these treatments is, however, decidedly controversial. In other words there is really no human ailment that is not treatable in one form or another by some form of CAM. Today CAM includes, but is not limited to, treatments as diverse as aromatherapy, prayer, crystal healing, feng shui, homeopathy, radionics, and by some the practice of chiropractic.ĬAM popularity is worldwide and growing, and is used for a wide range of human ailments including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), 2 pediatric care, 3 inflammatory eye disease, 4 haematological malignancies, 5 herbs for rheumatology, 6 nausea in pregnancy, 7 etc. The origins of CAM are lost in antiquity, being passed down to us from ancient shamans, spiritual healers, witch doctors, and hakeems in the form of rituals, rites, potions, lotions, and ceremonies.
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