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CAM: WHAT IS IT AND WHO USES IT?
If you\'re thinking that CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) is something of a fad, reserved for those people who live on the fringes of society, you are in for a surprise. Today, Americans and people from most other cultures of the world are much more likely to try therapies once considered exotic and strange. This is particularly true as America becomes a composite of people from different regions and cultures of the world. Many of these cultures are contributing their unique customs and beliefs about remedies to restore health and treat afflictions. Referred to as CAM (integrative, unconventional, or alternative therapies), defined as \"neither being taught widely in U.S. medical schools nor generally available in U.S. hospitals during the previous year,\" and used singly, additively, or exclusively, these alternatives seem to vary widely in terms of nature of treatment, extent of therapy, and types of problems for which Americans seek help. Typically, CAM therapies are compared with the more traditional, allopathic treatments offered by individuals who graduate from U.S.-sanctioned schools of medicine or are licensed medical practitioners recognized by the American Medical Association and its governing board.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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