Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) encompasses a range of therapies and approaches used along with standard medical care to improve health outcomes. CAM therapies focus on a holistic approach to care by incorporating an individual’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Although CAM approaches are not part of conventional medicine, certain CAM practices are integrated into mainstream healthcare when they demonstrate safety and effectiveness.
Rooted in ancient traditions, CAM practices have been integral to various cultures, including Chinese, Indian, African, Tibetan, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous American healing systems. Although some CAM approaches may lack extensive research and definitive evidence, they have become increasingly popular for the long-term management of health conditions that otherwise lack satisfactory conventional treatment or management.
This post explains the types and advantages of CAM therapies, including nutritional supplements, that support the management of a wide range of major and minor health conditions. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
Shortcomings of Conventional Therapies
The popularity of complementary and alternative therapies can be attributed to their having fewer side effects than conventional therapies, as well as the common perception that they can address symptoms that conventional therapies have not resolved.
For example, psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed for children experiencing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms. Although such medications do address ASD symptoms such as irritability, they can also cause side effects, such as weight gain and fatigue. So, parents of children with ASD often rely on the advantages of complementary therapies to address the multiple, complex needs of their child.
Types of CAM Practices
Alternative medicine and approaches are commonly categorized with complementary medicine under the umbrella term, “CAM”. Complementary medicine refers to the therapies that complement traditional Western medicine and are used concurrently with standard, conventional medicine. On the other hand, alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.
CAM practices are grouped into the following five major domains:
- Alternative Medicine Systems
- Mind-body Interventions
- Biologically-Based Treatments
- Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
- Energy Therapies
The following sections explain each of these domains in detail.
Alternative Medicine Systems
Alternative medicine refers to the comprehensive systems of theory and practice that evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medicine approach. The following table highlights the standard alternative medicine systems, including naturopathy, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and traditional oriental medicine.
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Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body intervention techniques are based on Eastern healing traditions and aim to self-regulate the mind and body. Notably, only a subset of mind-body interventions is considered CAM. Meditation, relaxation techniques, dance, music, art therapy, imagery, specific uses of hypnosis, mental healing, and prayer are commonly used complementary therapies for mind-body interventions.
In recent years, biofeedback as a mind-body technique has gained wide popularity and acceptance because it helps individuals feel more in control of their health. It uses feedback from several monitoring procedures and equipment to better control certain involuntary body responses, such as breathing patterns, blood pressure, brain activity, heart rate, and muscle tension.
Biologically-Based Treatments
Biologically-based therapies are based on the idea that certain naturally occurring compounds can have therapeutic effects on the body. Such therapies include the use of:
- Nutritional Supplements: Nutritional supplements, such as botanicals, plant-derived extracts, animal-derived extracts, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, proteins, prebiotics, and probiotics are the most commonly used biologically-based therapies for various health conditions.
Gastrointestinal conditions, with symptoms including diarrhea, changes in bowel movements, and abdominal pain, are often associated with poor bacterial diversity in the gut. Nutritional supplements, such as butyric acid, have been found to positively influence the gut microflora.
For neurological conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children, nutritional supplements containing butyric acid are preferred to enhance behavioral outcomes by addressing nutritional imbalances.
- Special Diets: Special diets are recommended for individuals who cannot obtain specific nutritional requirements from the conventional choices available. Plant-based, gluten-free/casein-free, specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), ketogenic, and FODMAP are special diets in biologically-based treatments.
Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
Chiropractic therapies, cupping, reflexology, Gua sha, physical therapy, and massage therapy are examples of manipulative and body-based methods. These practices are based on movement/manipulation of the body. For example, massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body to normalize them. Chiropractors focus on the relationship between the structure and function of the spine and how that relationship influences the restoration of bones, muscles, and joints.
Energy Therapies
Energy therapies focus on biofields (energy fields originating within the body) or those from other electromagnetic fields. Biofield therapies affect the energy fields surrounding and penetrating the body. Reiki, Qi Gong, Prana, and therapeutic touch are forms of energy therapy known to manipulate biofields by applying pressure or manipulating the body by placing the hands in or through these fields. Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies use electromagnetic fields, such as magnetic fields, altering current or direct current fields, and pulsed fields.
Advantages of Complementary Therapies
Conventional medicine rejects most complementary therapies because their efficacy has not been demonstrated through double-blinded, randomized, controlled trials. However, this rejection does not undermine the advantages of complementary therapies. The following table highlights some of the key advantages of complementary therapies.
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Advanced Supplement Formulations As Complementary Therapies
As discussed above, nutritional supplements are integral to biologically based treatments. However, not all supplement formulations are created equal. Formulations that utilize advanced nutrient delivery systems enhance the absorption and bioavailability of nutrients. Nutritional supplements cannot achieve the advantages of complementary therapies without the optimal solubility and bioavailability of active nutrients.
Tesseract Medical Research has developed a wide range of nutritional supplement formulations that promote and benefit various health functions. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables maximum bioavailability of nutrients to achieve their therapeutic benefits. CyLoc® technology envelopes each active nutrient molecule in its smart delivery system to protect its integrity during transit through the stomach. CyLoc technology also masks the unpalatable taste and odor of certain nutrient molecules. The accompanying DexKey® technology releases the nutrient molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract to optimize their absorption.
The unprecedented absorption of active nutrients translates to optimal bioavailability, which leads to micro-dosing of the nutrients in formulations. This means a lesser amount of nutrients is needed than previously required to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome.
Tesseract’s AuRx® is an advanced butyric acid formulation that addresses a specific nutritional requirement of ASD children. The hypoallergenic medical food is a stabilized butyric acid complex that provides nutritional support to counteract the gut-brain nutrient imbalance in affected individuals. AuRx opens up the possibility of alleviating behavioral changes in ASD children.
Tesseract supplements are formulated with trusted nutrients that have high therapeutic potential. The innovative nutrient delivery system enables the absorption and bioavailability of nutrients that are otherwise difficult to absorb or tolerate. With Tesseract’s formulations, the advantages of nutritional supplements can be achieved as complementary therapies.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption, bioavailability and micro-dosing a single or multiple nutrients in a highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can support your neurological health.*
Works Cited
1Tabish SA. Complementary and alternative healthcare: Is it evidence-based? International Journal of Health Sciences vol. 2,1 (2008): V-IX.
