Defining complementary and alternative medicine : Revisiting the Debate and Plea for a Strategy Based on Plausible...

Area of Science:

• Medical Terminology
• Health Services Research
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• The discourse surrounding Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is often contentious, particularly regarding terminology.
• Precise understanding and usage of the term 'CAM' are crucial for meaningful discussions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To contribute to a more terminologically refined debate on CAM.
• To critically analyze common definitions of CAM and identify conceptual needs.
• To propose an evidence-based definition of CAM.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of the term 'CAM'.
• Critical evaluation of existing CAM definitions based on argumentative plausibility.
• Development of an evidence definition centered on probable specific effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Conventional definitions of CAM often rely on positive attributes or unconventionality, presenting logical and applicability challenges.
• An evidence definition, focusing on probable specific effectiveness, offers a strategy to address flaws in current CAM discourse.
• The proposed definition helps clarify why certain practices fall outside conventional treatment, using Imatinib as an example.

Conclusions:

• Defining CAM based on evidence properties, specifically probable effectiveness, can enhance the clarity and rigor of discussions.
• Future articles and guidelines on CAM should explicitly address the implications of their terminological choices.
• Further development of an evidence-based definition for CAM is warranted.