by Brittany Warrick and Sarah M. Lawrence
SDN Staff Writers

As health care providers, we are certain to encounter a patient who uses some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), 36% of adults have used some form of CAM in the past 12 months. Most patients who use CAM do so as an adjunct to conventional medicine. The very real potential for interactions between pharmaceuticals, herbs, and nutritional supplements highlights the need for regular communication between doctors, pharmacists and patients about CAM. Understanding the appeal of CAM is the first step in facilitating such conversations. Read the full story