The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    American Academy of Pediatrics’ position on CAM

    The Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine has published a review of everything a pediatrician ever wanted to know about CAM.

    Here are just a few of the highlights.

    Some background on kids and CAM

    • Most pediatric patients receiving CAM also receive conventional care.
    • Children using CAM are more likely to be seeing their pediatrician for an illness, take medication on a regular basis, and have ongoing medical problems.
    • Many users of CAM find these healthcare alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life.

    Expectations of pediatricians

    • Pediatricians have the responsibility to advise and counsel patients and families about relevant, safe, effective, and age-appropriate health services and therapies — mainstream and CAM.
    • Pediatricians can best do this if they regularly inquire about all the therapies the family is using to help the child.
    • Pediatricians should update their knowledge about therapeutic options available to their patients — mainstream and CAM.
    • Pediatricians can (with the permission of the patient and family) include the CAM provider in overall care-coordination activities.

    The bottom line?
    The article is well references should be the first resource for information about children and CAM.

    12/1/08 22:38 JR

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