NWHRC: Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Women

Who's Who in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Who's Who in Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Practitioner	Training	Licensure required	Services provided
Integrative medicine specialist	Typically an MD or DO* (doctor of osteopathy). Completed conventional medical training including four years of medical school followed by internship and residency (usually in family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN, or pediatrics). May have completed a fellowship in integrative medicine.	Medical license from the state. Should be board certified in their specialty (internal medicine, OB/GYN, family practice, etc.).	A combination of conventional and alternative medicine.
Naturopathic doctor (ND)	Traditional four-year undergraduate school followed by training at one of the five naturopathic schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education: Bastyr University; Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine; the National College of Naturopathic Medicine; the Southwest College of Naturopathic Physicians; and the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. Additionally, Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in British Columbia has candidacy status.	Fewer than 20 states license naturopaths. Still, look for an ND who passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination, or NPLEX, the standard examination used by all licensing jurisdictions for naturopathic physicians in North America.	Naturopaths are trained in a variety of areas, including homeopathy, herbal therapy, bodywork, chiropractic, aromatherapy and acupuncture. They bring a holistic approach to health. A naturopath's practice is limited by "scope of practice" rules in states that license them. Some, like Oregon, allow NDs to prescribe certain drugs and give immunizations; others restrict their prescribing ability.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)	Traditional four-year college, then another three years of intensive training at an accredited TCM program. Look for practitioners certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and/or Oriental bodywork therapy, which ensures they have met strict training and testing criteria.	Most states require a license to practice acupuncture, but training requirements are generally minimal. While some states have separate boards of acupuncture or Oriental medicine, others oversee these specialties via the board of medical examiners or even commerce or health departments.	Herbal therapies, acupuncture and Oriental bodywork (tai chi, etc.).
Chiropractor	Traditional four-year undergraduate and then trained at one of 14 U.S. chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.	Must be licensed in all states and territories and take and pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners' standard national certification examination.	Provides spinal manipulation for musculoskeletal injuries.
Massage therapist	Should have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or from a school that is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association.	Most states license massage therapists, requiring at least 500 hours of in-class, supervised training. Massage therapists must also pass the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork certification exam; maintain continuing education credits; and hold malpractice insurance.	Various types of massage and reflexology. Some massage therapists also specialize in aromatherapy.
Homeopathic physician	Training varies significantly. Look for an MD or DO who is also board-certified through the American Board of Homeotherapeutics or for an ND.	Just a handful of states license homeopaths.	Mixes and prescribes homeopathic remedies, most of which are considered over-thecounter drugs. Homeopathy is based on the theory that "like treats like," so homeopathic remedies contain minute amounts—often just a molecule or two—of a compound related to the medical condition itself.
Biofeedback specialist	Varies. Look for those certified by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America in their specialty area.	Some states require practitioners to be licensed psychologists, nurses or other medical professionals. If practitioners are treating medical or mental conditions, they must be licensed as health care providers.	Teach methods of learning to consciously control unconscious physical processes such as slowing brain waves, blood pressure, etc.
Hypnotherapist	Varies. Find one licensed through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.	Many physicians are trained in hypnosis. If hypnotherapists are treating a medical or mental condition, they must be licensed as health care providers.	Train you in the use of hypnosis to help manage pain, anxiety and other medical conditions.

*An osteopath receives the same training as an MD. The main difference is that osteopaths attend a college of osteopathic medicine and receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles and bones) so they can better understand how an injury or illness in one part of the body affects other parts. They also receive variable amounts of training in the manual manipulation of the musculoskeletal system.

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