| State practice laws vary and regularly updated state practice law information can be obtained from several of the main professional associations. The following are the main sites relating to CAM legal, policy, and advocacy issues:
American Association for Health Freedom
This non prorit advocacy organization (formerly the American Preventive Medical Association) is dedicated to pursuing health care freedom by lobbying at the federal level, and by undertaking lawsuits that build the body of case law in support of consumer's rights of access.
American Botanical Council - Legal and Regulatory Issues
ABC provides items on legal and regulatory issues. Many documents require membership for access.
American Herbal Products Association
The American Herbal Products Association mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. They provide regularly updated articles on legal, policy, and regulatory issues.
CAMLAW blog
Michael Cohen, Esq has written extensively on CAM, integrative medicine, and the law. This interactive web site covers numerous aspects of CAM and the law.
Citizens for Health
Citizens for Health is a national, non profit grassroots organization with the mission of protecting health choices and promoting wellness.
Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels
The Commission conducted a study on with recommendations for the regulation of label claims and statements for dietary supplements, including the use of literature in connection with the sale of dietary supplements and procedures for the evaluation of such claims.
Council for Responsible Nutrition
CRN's mission is to improve the policy environment for member companies to market dietary supplements responsibly and safely.
Federal Trade Commission - Alternative Medicine
FTC's mission is to protect American consumers and investigate misleading advertisements for either alternative medicine or conventional treatments.
Food and Drug Administration - Dietary Supplements
The US FDA regulates dietary supplements in accordance with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. This outlines a different set of regulation than those covering "conventional" foods and drug products.
Institute of Medicine - Report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States
The IOM, component of the National Academies, collected information on the scientific and policy implications of the use of complementary and alternative medicine by the American public. The $1 million study was published in January, 2005.
Integrator Blog
A regular newsletter on the business, education, policy, and practice of integrative medicine, compiled by John Weeks.
National Conference of State Legislatures
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the 50 states. The web site provides links to all state legislatures, personnel, committees, and current legal activity on all topics, including CAM.
Office of Dietary Supplements
ODS provides advice to other Federal agencies regarding research results related to dietary supplements.
Policy Institute for Integrative Medicine
The mission of PIIM, based at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, is to educate policymakers, health professionals and consumers at the state and national levels about the role and integration of complementary and alternative medicine.
The following documents are classics in the field of complementary and alternative medicine and reflect the changing views since the early 1990's:
A Fixed Star in Health Care Reform: The Emerging Paradigm of Holistic Healing
This full text article by Michael H. Cohen, Esq. provides historical
perspective by presenting the relevant body of case law and a discussion of avenues for
regulatory reform.
Overview of
Legislative Developments Concerning Alternative Health care in the United States
This full text article by David M. Sale, Esq. provides an overview of a rapidly developing situation. This project was sponsored by the Fetzer Institute.
Page updated June 2007
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