We’ve all seen the ads: Take this supplement and improve your health. Drink this juice and prevent cancer. But, can we believe everything we read or hear? In the United States, dietary supplements are regulated differently than drugs and medications. The Federal Government regulates dietary supplements through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A

People with cancer want to do everything they can to combat the disease, manage its symptoms, and cope with the side effects of treatment. Many turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices. Some studies suggest that CAM treatments can help for management of symptoms for chemotherapy-related nausea, fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. If you

Massage is used for many health purposes, but little is known about how it works on a biological level. A recent study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine examined the effects of one session of Swedish massage therapy—a form of massage using long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration, and tapping—on the

Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for chronic pain, scientific evidence on efficacy and mechanisms—whether the therapies help the conditions for which they are used and, if so, how—is, for the most part, limited. However, the evidence base is growing, especially for therapies that many people use for common kinds

Over the past year, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has carefully assessed how developments in science, medicine, and health care should shape the Center’s strategic approaches to addressing our congressional mandate. The process has included scientific workshops, symposia, think tanks, and extensive consultation with our highly diverse stakeholder community. The current

Pain is the most common reason for seeking medical care. Because chronic (long-term) pain can be resistant to many medical treatments and can cause serious problems, people who suffer from chronic pain often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for relief. This fact sheet provides basic information on chronic pain and "what the science

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for a number of functions in the body. They are found in foods such as fatty fish and vegetable oils and are also available as dietary supplements. People take omega-3 supplements to improve their health and prevent various diseases. This fact sheet

Massage therapy has a long history in cultures around the world. Today, people use many different types of massage therapy for a variety of health-related purposes. In the United States, massage therapy is often considered part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), although it does have some conventional uses. This fact sheet provides a general