Description of an evidence-based elective in complementary and alternative medicine

This paper describes a new elective course in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for second or third year Doctor of Pharmacy students. Prior to this elective, students received approximately 10 contact hours of lecture primarily focusing on herbal products. This CAM course included different types of CAM therapies including Oriental medicine, acupuncture, massage, homeopathy and naturopathy, energy therapies, mind-body, and biological products. A session on research techniques and the difficulties of doing research in CAM topics was held early in the course. All material provided was evidence-based. Students were required to make an oral presentation and write a short referenced paper on a CAM topic of their choice. The hands on demonstration and practice of massage techniques and the acupuncture demonstration were the best received sessions.