Final answer:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to healthcare practices and systems supplemental to allopathic medicine. CAM includes traditional systems like Chinese medicine and practices such as yoga, and it often operates within medical pluralism alongside biomedicine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the practices and systems of health care which are supplemental to allopathic medicine is referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM covers a wide range of healing approaches and therapies that exist outside the realm of conventional Western medicine (often called biomedicine or allopathic medicine). These include traditional systems like Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and homeopathy, as well as practices ike yoga, chiropractic, and the use of essential oils. The role of CAM varies worldwide but can be prominent in medical pluralism, where it either complements or competes with biomedicine.
In many societies, ethnomedical systems coexist with and often incorporate biomedicine. An ethnomedical approach to medicine focuses on cultural beliefs and practices, and can include an array of natural and ritualistic healing methods. These traditions often emphasize the balance and holistic health of the individual. Medical pluralism recognizes the coexistence of multiple medical systems within a society, allowing people the autonomy to choose between or combine different medical philosophies and treatments for their healthcare.