Recent topics of complementary & alternative medicine (CAM) include music/art therapy and hospital art

Abstract

In recent decade, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Integrative Medicine (IM) have been broadly developed in lots of countries and districts. From strict definition point of view, IM involves the both area of CAM and Western Medicine (WM).1 In actual medical practice, however, CAM and IM have been more prevalent and known in European and North American countries.2 On the other hand, Integrative Medicine Japan (IMJ) has been the main association that has developed CAM/IM in Japan.3 Author has managed the activity of IM as the director of Shikoku Island division of IMJ for years.4 Among them, we continued annual congress, publication of year book, academic papers and seminars for various themes of music therapy, depression, hydrotherapy, rehabilitation and so on.5,6 For the current year, we have challenged a new area for art therapy, hospital art and rehabilitation using masking tape.7–9 In this article, two topics concerning CAM will be presented. One is music/ art therapy for cancer patients, and another is hospital art.