The Role of Alternative Medicine in Rhinology

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) describes a broad category of practices and treatments for the prevention or treatment of disease outside of the realm of conventional medicine. CAM includes many types of interventions, from medications and supplements to physical therapies and procedures, and encompasses traditional Chinese medicine (herbal treatments and acupuncture therapy), homeopathy, naturopathy, herbal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, mind-body medicine, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulations, and massage. There is growing interest in and use of CAM, with CAM therapies for atopic conditions second only to treatments for back pain, creating