What does Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) focus on?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) primarily focuses on managing conditions or maintaining health by incorporating a variety of approaches that are not always part of conventional medicine. This can include practices like acupuncture, herbal treatments, mind-body interventions, and other non-mainstream treatments designed to promote overall wellness and support the body’s natural healing processes.

The essence of CAM lies in its holistic approach, which emphasizes the importance of treating the whole person rather than just addressing symptoms. This method often involves considering physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health in managing health and disease.

The other choices imply limitations or specific orientations that are not aligned with the broad scope of CAM practices. Traditional medical therapies and allopathic treatments focus primarily on Western medicine's diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, which contrasts with CAM’s integrative approach. Similarly, consultative care is more about the interaction between patients and healthcare providers rather than the wider range of alternative treatments that CAM encompasses.