HerbalEGram: Volume 11, Issue 6, June 2014

Established in October 1998, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is one of the 27 institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health within the US Department of Health and Human Services. Originally established as the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) in 1992, with enhanced funding and program requirements, OAM was elevated to center status with the new name in 1999.¹

NCCAM has funded more than 3,800 research projects that explore the safety and efficacy of treatments and practices that fall outside the boundaries of mainstream conventional medicine such as natural dietary supplements, massage, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, and mind and body wellness practices (e.g., meditation and yoga).^2,3 With a mission to improve healthcare, advance research on integrative health strategies, and raise awareness of complementary medicine,⁴ NCCAM has responded to the shift in the US market for natural remedies and is soliciting public feedback on a proposed name change to the National Center for Research on Complementary and Integrative Health (NCRCI).

“We … recognize that our current name is not explicit about our research mission, and that it may be misconstrued as advocacy or promotion of unproven practices,” wrote Director Josephine Briggs, MD, in the Center’s invitation for comments. “We see the growth of integrative health care within communities across the US, including hospitals, hospices, and military health facilities. With these changes in the research and practice landscape, we believe that our current name no longer accurately reflects our Congressional mandate.”²

Evolving attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have resulted in a growing market for natural remedies, notably among the millennial generation: adults age 18-36.⁵ However, the non-scientific and religious connotations of the word “alternative” may have prompted NCCAM to move away from the term. Since many CAM practices were derived from or still include spiritual and religious elements, they often are approached with caution by those who do not identify with the associated belief systems. The addition of the word “research” in NCCAM’s proposed name likewise emphasizes their commitment to scientific research, proven efficacy, and preventative medicine.

An example of the growth mentioned in Dr. Briggs’ invitation includes the Center for Integrative Medicine — founded by the late Tanya Edwards, MD, and part of the Cleveland Clinic — which was granted research funding by NCCAM.⁶ Operating since 2004, the Center added a Chinese Herbal Therapy program this year.

The open comment period on the proposed name change ended June 6, 2014.


References

1. NIH Almanac: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. National Institutes of Health website. Available here. Accessed June 4, 2014.
   
   
2. Invitation for Comments Regarding Name Change Transcript. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website. Available here. Accessed May 27, 2014.
   
   
3. FY 2013 New and Competing Awards. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website. Available here. Accessed May 27, 2014.
   
   
4. NCCAM Facts-at-a-Glance and Mission. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website. Available here. Accessed May 27, 2014.
   
   
5. Millennials more open to idea of alternative medicine: study. May 17, 2014. CTV News website. Available here. Accessed June 3, 2014.
   
   
6. About Center of Integrative Medicine: Research. Cleveland Clinic website. Available here. Accessed May 27, 2014.