Evidence Based Complementary Medicine

Lee, Sung Jae

Abstract

The increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Korea as well as in U.S.A. and Europe seems to lead to a growing integration of CAM with conventional medicine. By using conventional mainstream medicine with CAM (integrative medicine) proved in efficacy and safety, integrative medicine seeks to treat the whole person, to assist the innate healing properties of each person and to promote health and wellness as well as the prevention of diseases. Also in pediatric diseases, especially for cancer patients, integrative medicine serves as an interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and children-centered care which results in more effective care by synergistically combining therapies. But the research to prove the efficacy and safety of CAM and the education for CAM in the medical school should proceed before applying them to patients.