Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

There is much to be done to understand the safety and efficacy of the myriad of CAM therapies used by Americans each year. The NCCAM Director is the leader of the Nation’s primary organization for exploring complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating information to the public and professionals. The incumbent will have the opportunity to build upon a foundation of research that encompasses basic to clinical studies; to attract leading researchers from academic medicine to bring state of the art approaches to studying CAM; and to build a research infrastructure within the CAM community. The incumbent will chart a course for the future of CAM research that will, ultimately, facilitate the integration of proven CAM approaches with conventional health care.

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This position is located in the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation (OPPE), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary and alternative medicine researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. OPPE is responsible for the science policy, programmatic analyses, program planning, and legislative liaison activities of the Center.

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Feature stories:

Survey: Older Americans’ Discussion of CAM with Doctors
Findings from a new survey, conducted by AARP in collaboration with NCCAM, on older Americans’ use of CAM and their discussions of CAM with their physicians.

Thinking About CAM Therapies for Young People
Can CAM therapies be helpful to children? Are they safe? Here are some general points to consider in addressing these questions.

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This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb yohimbe—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. The yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to western Africa. The bark of the tree contains a chemical called yohimbine. The amount of yohimbine in dietary supplements may vary; some yohimbe products have been found to contain very little yohimbine. However, a standardized form of yohimbine—yohimbine hydrochloride—is available as a prescription medicine that has been studied and used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

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NCCAM is involved in research related to heart health…

Clinical Trials

Chelation Therapy Study — A large national study of an alternative treatment— chelation therapy and vitamin therapy—for people with heart disease

Examples of Recently Published Studies:

Transcendental meditation and quality of life of African Americans with congestive heart failure
Tea consumption and risk of ventricular arrhythmias among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction

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