**Preface to "Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Healthcare"**

We have often seen words such as "alternative," "complementary," and "integrative," but it is important to decipher these terminologies in the context of the preventive medicine. In the evolving landscape of the medicine, "alternative," and "complementary" are not interchangeable terms; in fact, these are two different concepts. A complementary approach is used in conjunction with the conventional medicine, whereas "alternative" medicine replaces the conventional medicine. Integrative medicine, on the other hand, is a "functional" medicine that combines traditional practices with European health care approaches. The sole aim of the integrative medicine is focused on whole person health with interconnected domains of biological, behavioral, social, and environmental aspects. The potential of complementary and alternative medicine is yet to be understood. Its effects are more felt than being measured, and it may be challenging to convince patients about the science behind the complementary and alternative modalities. This underscores the need of promoting physicians' education about the complementary and alternative medicine to convince their patients. The research evidence plays a critical role in improving the uptake of these modalities in the preventive medicine, which may offer more personal autonomy and control over the healthcare decisions.

This collection of ten studies starts with a narrative review related to neuroprotective effects of vitamin E in preventing the progression of dementia among older adults with the Alzheimer disease. Following chapter provides a robust evidence from Taiwan, which reports the positive effects of moxibustion therapy (acupuncture type intervention) on correcting the breech presentation among Asian population groups. Another study from Korea performed a network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of Western and Eastern manual therapies for respiratory diseases, including the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. This study underscores the need of performing high-quality randomized controlled trials. Simple integrative approaches such as wearing sunscreen to prevent skin cancer can offer a cost-effective solution, which was highlighted by a Florida-based study grounded in a fourth-generation behavioral theory. Next, a Spain-based study described the effect of "Doll Therapy" in treating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. The "Doll Therapy" offers an integrated solution based on the Attachment Theory, the Transitional Object Theory, and the Person-centered Theory. One study from South Africa explained an interesting yet new approach called as "HeartMath," which can serve as a global healthcare meditation model, particularly in the current COVID-19 era. Next, labor pain control remedies (using aromatherapies) were studied among an Italian sample of pregnant women. Following a chapter about a study, which was performed in Korea, that provided level 1 evidence related to the effects of acupuncture on mobility among patients with the Parkinson' s disease. Another Korean study assessed the parental perception of the use of Traditional Korean Medicine among their children through a survey-based study. Last chapter of this collection attempts to provide and validate the information related to the Korean medicine clinical practice guidelines for Lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc in adults. To summarize, this compendium contains a plethora of information related to the evidence-based interventions in the realm of preventive medicine.

> **Kavita Batra, Manoj Sharma** *Editors*
