This is a course outline and handout for a suggested course on CAM therapies

1. Unit 5 Project
Introduction to CAM Therapies
General Course Outline Handout
 Lesson One:
History of CAM
o What Is CAM?
o How Did These Therapies Come to America?
o Why Consider CAM Therapies?
 Different Types of CAM Therapies (Overview)
o Massage Therapy
o Mind/Body Therapies
o Energy Therapies
 Lesson Two
Dispelling the Myth of Meditation
o How Does Meditation Benefit the Average Person?
o Types of Meditation:
 Guided Meditation
 Visualization
o Examples of Meditation (Demonstration)
 Lesson Three
o The Personal Space Rule of Thumb
o Chakra Points and the Connection to the Body Functions
o The Body’s Energy Field
o Reiki and Acupuncture

2. In order to enhance your own personal learning, I recommend the following books
and websites to further investigate the therapies available and for locating a
reputable practitioner in your area.
1) Goldberg, Burton. (1997) Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide.
Publisher: Alternativemedicine.com books.
This is reference book on the different types of CAM therapies. It includes
physician recommendations as well as patient stories on how the therapies
affected their healing.
2) Eden, Donna; Feinstein, David; and Myss, Caroline. (2008) Energy
Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and
Vitality, Updated and Expanded. Published by Tarcher.
This is a reference guide to taking responsibility for your own health and
recognizing your body as an energy system.
3) The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
(NCCAM)- A Division of the National Institutes of Health. -
http://nccam.nih.gov/
This website is an excellent source of information on the types of CAM
therapies available as well as the latest research updates. It also has links to
certified CAM therapists throughout the country.
4) The Mayo Clinic - http://www.mayoclinic.org
This site is an excellent source for all things medical, not just CAM. It gives
an overview of how CAM therapies are being integrated into western
medical practices.