Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TM/CAM)

Terminology

From the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002–2005, p1:

Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine attract the full spectrum of reactions — from uncritical enthusiasm to uninformed scepticism. Yet use of traditional medicine (TM) remains widespread in developing countries, while use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing rapidly in developed countries.

“Traditional medicine” is a comprehensive term used to refer both to TM systems such as traditional Chinese medicine, Indian ayurveda and Arabic unani medicine, and to various forms of indigenous medicine. TM therapies include medication therapies —if they involve use of herbal medicines , animal parts and/or minerals — and non-medication therapies — if they are carried out primarily without the use of medication, as in the case of acupuncture, manual therapies and spiritual therapies. [Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations thereof.]

In countries where the dominant health care system is based on allopathic medicine, or where TM has not been incorporated into the national health care system, TM is often termed “complementary”, “alternative” or “non-conventional” medicine. Accordingly, “traditional medicine” is used when referring to Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia, and/or the Western Pacific, whereas “complementary and alternative medicine” is used when referring to Europe and/or North America (and Australia). When referring in a general sense to all of these regions, the comprehensive TM/CAM is used.

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  Heather McLeod

Allopathic medicine, ...refers to the broad category of medical practice that is sometimes called Western medicine, biomedicine, scientific medicine, or modern medicine.

Source: WHO