'''Complementary and alternative medicine''' (CAM) consists of medical treatments and therapies outside of what is traditionally taught in medical school or recognized for reimbursement by government health programs. Unlike conventional medical interventions and remedies, CAM treatments are not always proven through clinical trials.
The 21st century is seeing an explosion in the popularity and profitability of alternative medicine and complementary medicine.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/altmed/etc/viewers.html The Alternative Fix], PBS</ref>
In the [[United States]], 36% of adults are using some form of CAM and spent $36 billion to $47 billion on CAM therapies in 1997.<ref>[http://nccam.nih.gov/news/camsurvey_fs1.htm "The Use of CAM in the United States", National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine]</ref> The numbers of uninsured Americans increases by about 1 million persons per year, and the amount spent on CAM is likely much higher today. If CAM is defined to include megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons, 62% of Americans use CAM.{{fact}}