Links

Below are links to a number of websites that offer general information on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The websites below were assessed by NZGG staff (using an adaption of the DISCERN criteria) as providing up-to-date, accurate, and objective information on CAM. It is not our intention to display all available websites, but simply point you in the direction of some more accurate sites. The list provided is by no means exhaustive. The majority of sites are free to use. Sites marked with an asterisk (*) may require a payment to view full text.

General
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States of America
Canada

General

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal
Publishes original research articles in complementary and alternative healthcare interventions, with a specific emphasis on those that elucidate biological mechanisms of action.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmccomplementalternmed/

World Health Organization (WHO) documents and publications on traditional medicine
The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. This page provides links to descriptions of activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programmes and offices working on this topic.
http://www.who.int/topics/traditional_medicine/en/

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New Zealand

Ngä Tipu Whakaoranga: information on traditional uses of New Zealand native plants
This is a valuable resource which is now made available on the Web to anyone with an interest in New Zealand native plants and wanting to know more about their cultural uses.
http://www.lawsite.co.nz/landcare/index.cfm?option=searchtemplate

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United Kingdom

CAMEOL - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Evidence Online database
The NHS priorities project is a 3 year project that is being conducted by The Research Council for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) in collaboration with the School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, London, UK. The main outcome of the project is the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Evidence Online (CAMEOL) database, which provides reviews of research evidence of effectiveness of a number of CAM therapies within areas of NHS priority, including: cancer, mental health, coronary heart disease and stroke and chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
www.rccm.org.uk
Bandolier Library of Complementary and Alternative Therapies
This site is intended to gather the best evidence available about complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for sufferers and professionals.
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/booths/altmed.html

Electronic quality information for patients
Welcome to this gateway to quality health and social care information for UK patients, their families and carers. The site contains information on:
- about risks, symptoms and treatment options
- where to seek support and advice (in UK)
- information for the West Midlands
http://www.equip.nhs.uk
UK-Bandolier - Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Site sponsored by the private health insurance company, BUPA, containing quality evaluated, primarily evidence-based information on alternative and complementary therapies.
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/Bandolier/booth/booths/altmed.html
Hom-Inform
A database of literature references to homoeopathy, with key terms and some abstracts. Free Access online.
http://www.hom-inform.org/
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM) is an international, peer-reviewed journal that seeks to understand the sources and to encourage rigorous research in this new, yet ancient world of complementary and alternative medicine.
http://www.ecam.oupjournals.org/
Internet Health Library
The Internet Health Library is the UK's largest alternative medicine, complementary therapy and natural healthcare resource.
http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/index.htm

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United States of America

The Alternative Medicine Home page: links to CAM resources
This site is a jumpstation for sources of information on unconventional, unorthodox, unproven, or alternative, complementary, innovative, integrative therapies
http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/altm.html

Alternative Medicine Foundation: with link to HerbMed database
The Alternative Medicine Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, founded in March 1998 to provide responsible and reliable information about alternative medicine to the public and health professionals.
http://www.amfoundation.org

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 (CAM) researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals.
http://nccam.nih.gov

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Complementary / Integrative Medicine Education Resources
The CIMER Web site is a cooperative effort of the Integrative Medicine Program and the Office of Academic Affairs at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The CIMER staff create, develop and maintain the information contained on the site. Additional expertise is provided by an Operational Committee, an Internal Advisory Committee and an External Advisory Committee of nationally recognized experts.
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer
Directory of Databases
Compilation of the major databases containing significant alternative medicine resources. The categorized listings are hyperlinked to existing Web sites where available, or to brief information on the resource, such as: how to obtain further details; type of literature covered; size of the holding; and mode of access.
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal/Databases.html

CAM on PubMed

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html

National Cancer Institute
I invite you to explore our Web site for valuable cancer-related health information and to find out more about the exciting work being conducted by NCI-supported scientists throughout the country. For the general public and health professionals, we offer consumer-oriented information on a wide range of topics as well as comprehensive descriptions of our research programs. Scientists will find detailed information on specific areas of research and funding opportunities.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/thinking-about-CAM

Natural Standard
Validated rating scales are used to evaluate the quality of available evidence. Information is incorporated into comprehensive monographs which are designed to facilitate clinical decision making.
http://www.naturalstandard.com/
R & H Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
A comprehensive and authoritative listing, from Columbia University, NYC, of complementary and alternative medicine resources.
http://www.rosenthal.hs.columbia.edu/
ACUBRIEFS
Acubriefs was established and is supported by a grant from the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF). Its purpose is to make available online the most comprehensive database of references on acupuncture in the English language? Access to the database is free.
http://www.acubriefs.com/
ARCAM and CAMPAIN
The Center for Integrative Medicine has developed, and regularly updates, two bibliographic databases: The Arthritis and Complementary Medicine Database (ARCAM) and the Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Pain Database (CAMPAIN). These databases are compiled from regular, comprehensive electronic and hand searches of scientific literature sources world-wide" Access to these databases is free.
http://www.compmed.umm.edu./Databases.html
CAIRSS
Bibliographic database of music therapy literature from 18 specialist journals. Access is free.
http://imr.utsa.edu/CAIRSS.htm
Cochrane Collaboration CM Field
Information on Cochrane CAM reviews and protocols as well as newsletter archive.
http://www.compmed.umm.edu/cochrane/index.html
IBIDS
The International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) database provides access to bibliographic citations and abstracts from published, international, scientific literature on dietary supplements. The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health produces this database to help consumers, health care providers, educators, and researchers find credible, scientific information on a variety of dietary supplements including vitamins, minerals and botanicals.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/showpage.aspx?pageid=48
MANTIS
Subscription only CAM database, specialising in chiropractic, osteopathic and manual medicine.
http://www.chiroaccess.com/MANTISAbout.html
HerbMed
HerbMed is an interactive, electronic herbal database provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers, and general public. On-line access is free.
http://www.herbmed.org/

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Canada

Alternative Medicine
The Alternative Medicine section of Health Care Information Resources offers access to a collection of web-based general resources on alternative medicine.
http://hsl.mcmaster.ca/tomflem/altmed.html
CAMline
CAMline is an evidence-based website on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for healthcare professionals and the public.
http://www.camline.org

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