This research can be approached in two ways:
• By focusing on specific illness areas and investigating which CAM therapies are effective in these areas.
• By focusing on specific CAM therapies and investigating the effectiveness for various illnesses.

The Institute utilizes the second approach for two reasons:

Firstly, in the CAM model, illness is understood as the end result of a breakdown of normal body functions due to the accumulation of toxins or energy blockages in certain body systems. Compromised body systems can play a role in various illnesses.

Thus CAM therapies are not specific to the diagnosed illness, but rather to the identified problem in the compromised body system. CAM research focuses on treatments and the effectiveness of these therapies rather than on the specific illness.

Secondly, there is limited knowledge on how rigorous research methodology can be applied when investigating CAM therapies.

By focusing on individual CAM therapies, CINIM will establish the standards through which these therapies will be investigated. As well, researchers will develop suitable methodologies that accommodate the nature of the therapy without compromising research standards.

“Which CAM therapies should be investigated?”

Natural health practices, according to some estimates, include as many as 300 different therapies in this growing and diverse field.

Generally, these may be grouped into:

• Mind-body therapies (meditation and/or visualization)
• Body energy and life force therapies (acupuncture and/or homeopathy)
• Herbal/botanical therapies
• Nutritional therapies (special foods, diets and supplements)
• Physical therapies (chiropractic)
• Chemical and biological treatments (chelation therapies).

For high quality studies to take place in this large field of CAM, researches must have the opportunity to focus their work on a few specific CAM therapies. For a therapy to be selected there needs to be preliminary evidence for its effectiveness in a prevalent illness. Chosen therapies should also match the existing expertise and interest of a research team, thus ensuring dedication, long-term commitment and good research productivity.

CINIM's Research Focus

Currently, CINIM focuses its research work on the first two above listed areas; mind-body therapies and body energy/life force therapies.

Mind-Body Therapies

Within the area of mind-body therapies, the Institute concentrates on spirituality and the impact on mental and physical health. A growing body of preliminary research suggests that spirituality plays a vital role both in prevention and recovery from illness. Several epidemiological investigations have found that spirituality or religious involvement can positively influence morbidity and mortality rates for diseases such as heart disease, cancer, hypertension and gastrointestinal disease. These investigations were largely based on comparisons between religious and non-religious groups. A consistent trend towards better health in the religious study groups was demonstrated.

Does spirituality have a role as a treatment option in an integrative health care approach? If a spiritually-oriented lifestyle can be taught, how would spiritual education impact existing illnesses and future health? These questions have not been studied.

Developing and researching educational programmes in spirituality is an innovative approach that moves beyond current epidemiological investigations. This unique research approach and Dr. Badri Rickhi's well-known authority on spirituality, put CINIM in an excellent position to achieve leadership in this area of research.

Body/Energy Therapies

In the area of body/energy therapies, the Institute is focusing on acupuncture and homeopathy as well as related German biological therapies. These areas were selected because the therapies are widely used, and there is an urgent need for more research evidence on their effectiveness and safety. As well, sufficient preliminary evidence exists to support the notion that both acupuncture and homeopathy could be effective therapies for major illnesses.

Available studies have tended to use substandard research methodology, therefore study findings are not reliable. CINIM researchers have either formal training or an in-depth knowledge of these therapies. They can access current evidence from the countries where the therapies originated as a result of the team’s language abilities and contacts.

CINIM's goal is to build its research scope to cover more therapies by gradually adding research teams dedicated to new areas. These teams will establish a research track in their specific field and work towards building an international reputation. Research teams, led by research scientists, will be recruited on the basis of their excellent research skills and their interest and commitment to the chosen new research area.

CINIM plans to expand its research work to all the above listed six CAM areas, with the exception of chiropractic and nutritional supplements. These already have the benefit of dedicated research centres in the United States – one centre for chiropractic and three centres for nutritional supplements.