What are the five different approaches to care in integrative health care as organized by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)?

The five different approaches to care in integrative health care, as organized by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), are whole medical systems, manipulative and body-based practices, mind–body medicine, biologically based practices, and energy medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) categorizes integrative health care into five distinct approaches. Whole medical systems refer to comprehensive systems of theory and practice that have evolved independently from or parallel to conventional medicine, such as homeopathy. Manipulative and body-based practices focus on the structures and systems of the body, including bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems. Mind–body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Biologically based practices involve the use of substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Lastly, energy medicine involves the use of energy fields, such as biofields that are believed to surround and penetrate the human body.