Living
CAM
Conventional or alternative?
Exploring “borderzone” therapies
by Allen C. Bowling, MD, PhD
Unconventional therapies, also
known as complementary and
alternative medicine (or CAM),
are usually defined as those
that are not typically taught in
medical schools or generally
available in hospitals. But
over the past decade there has
been more research on CAMs
and some CAM therapies are
transitioning over to the world
of conventional medicine. I’m
calling these “borderzone”
therapies and my focus is on
those that, used appropriately,
pose little or no risk.
Meditation
There are many different forms
of meditation. One that has
undergone extensive study
is “mindfulness training.” In
this approach, one aims to be
aware and accepting, without
judgment, of the present
moment. Over the past few
decades, many studies in the
general population and in
people with specific medical
conditions have demonstrated
that mindfulness produces
multiple benefits, including
stress reduction and improved
well-being. Recently, mindful-
ness training was rigorously
studied in people with MS.
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The investigators found that
mindfulness improved fatigue,
anxiety, depression and overall
quality of life. In response to
the research evidence, mindful-
ness meditation is now taught
to conventional medical
providers and offered in some
conventional medical settings.
Yoga
Yoga was developed in India
thousands of years ago. Over the
past 20 years in the U.S., yoga
