Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), ranging from herbal products to chiropractic and acupuncture, continues to grow in popularity. Nearly 40 percent of American adults use alternative therapies, spending some $34 billion annually. Nevertheless, critics cite thousands of studies that question the effectiveness of many of these treatments. In addition, they argue that the safety and quality of herbal products and other supplements can be ensured only if they are subjected to the same rigorous regulation as prescription drugs. But proponents counter that many studies have shown promising practices, especially meditation and other mind-body interventions that reduce stress. Integrating such approaches into conventional medicine, they say, is the best way to provide patient-centered care. Proponents also say the rise of alternative medicine in medical school curricula, hospitals and health care systems suggests that what was once called "unconventional" is here to stay.

Beth Baker is an award-winning freelance journalist in Takoma Park, Md., whose articles appear in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, AARP Bulletin, Ms., and BioScience, the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. She has received two National Mature Media Awards for her reporting on aging and media fellowships to study aging and cancer issues from, respectively, Case Western University and the National Press Foundation. Her books include Old Age in a New Age -- The Promise of Transformative Nursing Homes (Vanderbilt University Press, 2007). She is a former hospice volunteer.