NCCAM

NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States. It is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals.

History[edit | edit source]

The NCCAM was established in October 1991, as the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM). The name was changed to NCCAM in October 1998. The center was established to facilitate research and evaluation of complementary and alternative practices, and to disseminate the results of this research to the public.

Mission[edit | edit source]

The mission of NCCAM is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and alternative medicine interventions and their roles in improving health and health care.

Research[edit | edit source]

NCCAM sponsors and conducts research using scientific methods and advanced technologies to study complementary and alternative interventions. Research priorities of NCCAM include studying the use of dietary supplements and their effects on health and wellness, and exploring the potential benefits of mind-body practices.

Criticism[edit | edit source]

NCCAM has been criticized for funding studies of low methodological quality and for favoring research on popular modalities. The former director of the National Institutes of Health, Elias Zerhouni, criticized NCCAM for "using the tools of science to look at nonscientific issues."

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Official website

NCCAM Resources
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