News from NCCAM

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is one of the National Institutes of Health’s 27 institutes and centers. NCCAM’s exploration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes: research into CAM therapies, including massage and other types of hands-on and energy therapies; and educational outreach.

The latest news from NCCAM includes these items:

• Funding announcement: biology of manual therapies. NCCAM encourages researchers to submit “high-quality studies of the basic science and mechanisms of action underlying the biomechanical, immunological, endocrinological, and/or neurophysiological consequences of manual therapies, such as spinal manipulation, mobilization, and massage therapy.” For more information, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-312.html.

• A new fact sheet on reiki energy healing has been uploaded to NCCAM’s Web site. The 13 chapters include: “An Introduction to Reiki”: “Effects of Reiki”; “Training, Licensing and Certification” and “NCCAM-Funded Research.” Also included is a section on additional educational sources. For more information, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/.

• Two new chapters in its Online Continuing Education series, both covering spirituality and integrative medicine, are now available from NCCAM. This education series is a free resource for both the public and health-care professionals. Every chapter includes a video lecture and transcript, an online test that can be taken for CEU credits, and links to additional educational resources. For more information, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/videolectures.