A Review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine with a Concentration on Ayurveda Acupuncture and Chiropractic

Abstract

This paper investigates the phenomenon of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and how various practices within it have continued to flourish despite the preeminence of the Western biomedical tradition. Through a critical analysis of three intentionally chosen CAM systems (ayurveda, acupuncture, and chiropractic) an improved understanding of how they can function as supplemental treatments that encourage a biopsychosocial orientation toward healthcare can be gained.