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Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter, England, argues that the term "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" ("CAM") is an almost nonsensical umbrella term, and that distinctions between its modalities must be made. All treatments, whether "mainstream" or "alternative", ought to be held to standards of the scientific method. The evidence-based medicine is an ideal state which has not yet been achieved by either current mainstream or alternative medicine. Ernst characterizes the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative, but states that some evidence exists for about 20 treatments, particularly certain herbs and acupuncture – although this evidence does not mean these treatments are mainstream, especially not worldwide.<ref>[http://www.cosmolearning.com/topics/alternative-medicine/ Cosmo Learning: Alternative medicine], accessed June, 4 2011</ref><ref name="GWUP2">[http://www.scienceblogs.de/astrodicticum-simplex/2011/06/gwuptagung-in-wien-zweiter-tag-homoopathie-und-der-mozarteffekt.php GWUP-Tagung in Wien, zweiter Tag: Homöopathie und der Mozart-Effekt], Florian Freistetter, ScienceBlogs, accessed June, 4 2011</ref>

Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter, England, argues that the term "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" ("CAM") is an almost nonsensical umbrella term, and that distinctions between its modalities must be made. All treatments, whether "mainstream" or "alternative", ought to be held to standards of the scientific method. The evidence-based medicine is an ideal state which has not yet been achieved by either current mainstream or alternative medicine. Ernst characterizes the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative, but states that some evidence exists for about 20 treatments, particularly certain herbs and acupuncture – although this evidence does not mean these treatments are mainstream, especially not worldwide.<ref>[http://www.cosmolearning.com/topics/alternative-medicine/ Cosmo Learning: Alternative medicine], accessed June, 4 2011</ref><ref name="GWUP2">[http://www.scienceblogs.de/astrodicticum-simplex/2011/06/gwuptagung-in-wien-zweiter-tag-homoopathie-und-der-mozarteffekt.php GWUP-Tagung in Wien, zweiter Tag: Homöopathie und der Mozart-Effekt], Florian Freistetter, ScienceBlogs, accessed June, 4 2011</ref>

A ''National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM'' in USA defines complementary and alternative therapies as treatments which are used in place ("alternative") or together ("complementary") with conventional, established therapy.<ref>[http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/ What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?], National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM, accessed June 03, 2011</ref> A treatment is considered established, when it's clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in prospective, randomized trials or a biological rationale establishes the treatment as reasonable. An Anglo-Australian group of researchers demonstrated with a computional model in 2009 that for some odd reason the methods which have little or no effect at all show a tendency to spread quickly.<ref>Tanaka MM, Kendal JR, Laland KN (2009) From Traditional Medicine to Witchcraft: Why Medical Treatments Are Not Always Efficacious. PLoS ONE 4(4): e5192. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005192 [http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005192&representation=PDF]</ref><ref>http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17064-quack-remedies-spread-by-virtue-of-being-useless.html</ref>

A ''National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM'' in USA defines complementary and alternative therapies as treatments which are used in place ("alternative") or together ("complementary") with conventional, established therapy.<ref>[http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/ What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?], National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NCCAM, accessed June 03, 2011</ref> A treatment is considered established, when it's clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in prospective, randomized trials or a biological rationale establishes the treatment as reasonable. An Anglo-Australian group of researchers demonstrated with a computional model in 2009 that for some odd reason the methods which have little or no effect at all show a tendency to spread quickly.<ref>Tanaka MM, Kendal JR, Laland KN (2009) [http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005192&representation=PDF From Traditional Medicine to Witchcraft: Why Medical Treatments Are Not Always Efficacious]. PLoS ONE 4(4): e5192. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005192</ref><ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17064-quack-remedies-spread-by-virtue-of-being-useless.html Quack remedies spread by virtue of being useless], New Scientist, May 01, 2009

The terms ''alternative medicine'' and ''complementary medicine'' are therefore euphemisms, as they do not offer a real alternative and are just ineffective or less effective pseudomedical methods. This also applies to the "experience based medicine" which tries to invoke anecdotal cures instead of solid proof as a positive quality.<ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/compmed.html complementary medicine] in the Skeptic Dictionary, accessed June, 4 2011</ref> Almost all alternative treatments belong into the realm of [[pseudomedicine]].

The terms ''alternative medicine'' and ''complementary medicine'' are therefore euphemisms, as they do not offer a real alternative and are just ineffective or less effective pseudomedical methods. This also applies to the "experience based medicine" which tries to invoke anecdotal cures instead of solid proof as a positive quality.<ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/compmed.html complementary medicine] in the Skeptic Dictionary, accessed June, 4 2011</ref> Almost all alternative treatments belong into the realm of [[pseudomedicine]].

The concepts of alternative and complementary medicine are usually based on an axiom(a self-evident truth that requires no proof).<ref>http://www.uni-marburg.de/ivv/download/praesentationen/adhs081217trott page 10</ref><ref>axiom. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/axiom (accessed: June 03, 2011).</ref>

The concepts of alternative and complementary medicine are usually based on an axiom(a self-evident truth that requires no proof).<ref>http://www.uni-marburg.de/ivv/download/praesentationen/adhs081217trott page 10</ref><ref>axiom. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/axiom (accessed: June 03, 2011).</ref>

CAM has turned into a big business, the worldwide turnover is estimated at more than 60&nbsp;billion U.S. dollar.<ref>Tanaka MM, Kendal JR, Laland KN (2009) From Traditional Medicine to Witchcraft: Why Medical Treatments Are Not Always Efficacious. PLoS ONE 4(4): e5192. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005192 [http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005192&representation=PDF]</ref>

CAM has turned into a big business, the worldwide turnover is estimated at more than 60&nbsp;billion U.S. dollar.<ref name="Tanaka" />

 

==The typical patient==

==The typical patient==

* female

* female

* a [[holistic]] orientation to health

* a [[holistic]] orientation to health

* suffers from anxiety, back problems, chronic pain, urinary tract problems

* suffers from anxiety, back problems, chronic pain or urinary tract problems

 

==Appeal==

==Appeal==

People seeking alternative treatments were found to have had had a transformational experience that changed the person's worldview and showed often commitment to environmentalism, commitment to feminism, and interest in spirituality and personal growth psychology. One study found that dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict use of alternative medicine. Only 4.4% of those surveyed reported relying primarily on alternative therapies. It concluded, that people find these health care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life.<ref name="Astin" /> Still, arguments like "[[healing practitioners]] commit more time to patients than doctors" are frequently heard.  

People seeking alternative treatments were found to have had had a transformational experience that changed the person's worldview and showed often commitment to environmentalism, commitment to feminism, and interest in spirituality and personal growth psychology. One study found that dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict use of alternative medicine. Only 4.4% of those surveyed reported relying primarily on alternative therapies. It concluded, that people find these health care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life.<ref name="Astin" /> Still, arguments like "[[healing practitioners]] commit more time to patients than doctors" are frequently heard.  

Disappointments and distrust for conventional therapies plays a role. Many patients and customers find pleasure in the more or less explicit criticism of [[mainstream medicine]]" or  "the pharmaceutical industry" which is not uncommon in alternative medicine circles. Often, anti-scientific attitude is meshed with [[New Age]] mysticism.  Vigorous marketing and extravagant claims create false hope. When people become sick, any promise of a cure is beguiling.<ref>Beyerstein BL (March 2001). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2F00001888-200103000-00009 "Alternative medicine and common errors of reasoning"]. Academic Medicine 76 (3): 230–7.</ref>

Other studies found that disappointments and distrust for conventional therapies play a role. Many patients and customers find pleasure in the more or less explicit criticism of [[mainstream medicine]]" or  "the pharmaceutical industry" which is not uncommon in alternative medicine circles. Often, anti-scientific attitude is meshed with [[New Age]] mysticism.  Vigorous marketing and extravagant claims create false hope. When people become sick, any promise of a cure is beguiling.<ref>Beyerstein BL (March 2001). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2F00001888-200103000-00009 "Alternative medicine and common errors of reasoning"]. Academic Medicine 76 (3): 230–7.</ref>

An appeal may also result from the [[Pseudomedicine#Typical_Features|typical features of pseudomedical treatments]], such as simple, clear explanations for the alleged therapeutic effect or lack of side effects. Edzard Ernst showed in a study that this notion is wrong and side effects may indeed occur.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v381/n6581/pdf/381361a0.pdf Complimentary Medicine], N. C. Abbot, A. R. White & E. Ernst, Nature 381, 361 (30 May 1996), doi:10.1038/381361a0</ref>

An appeal may also result from the [[Pseudomedicine#Typical_Features|typical features of pseudomedical treatments]], such as simple, clear explanations for the alleged therapeutic effect or lack of side effects. Edzard Ernst showed in a study that this notion is wrong and side effects may indeed occur.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v381/n6581/pdf/381361a0.pdf Complimentary Medicine], N. C. Abbot, A. R. White & E. Ernst, Nature 381, 361 (30 May 1996), doi:10.1038/381361a0</ref>

Wallace Sampson, an editor of Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and a Stanford University professor of medicine write that CAM is the "propagation of the absurd" based on the example that alternative and complementary have been substituted for quackery, dubious and implausible and concerns that CAM tolerates contradiction without through reason and experiment.

Wallace Sampson, an editor of Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and a Stanford University professor of medicine write that CAM is the "propagation of the absurd" based on the example that alternative and complementary have been substituted for quackery, dubious and implausible and concerns that CAM tolerates contradiction without through reason and experiment.

Currently (2010), the "National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (NCCAM) and the "Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (OCCAM) spend together 240 million U.S. dollar of taxpayers money from the NIH (National Institute of Health).<ref>Salzberg S. Save taxpayer $$$: Eliminate alternative medicine research. Forbes.com, 18. Juni 2010 [http://blogs.forbes.com/sciencebiz/2010/06/save-taxpayer-eliminate-alternative-medicine-research/]</ref>

Currently (2010), the "National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (NCCAM) and the "Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (OCCAM) spend together 240 million U.S. dollar of taxpayers money from the NIH (National Institute of Health).<ref>Salzberg S. Save taxpayer $$$: Eliminate alternative medicine research. Forbes.com, 18. Juni 2010 [http://blogs.forbes.com/sciencebiz/2010/06/save-taxpayer-eliminate-alternative-medicine-research/]</ref>