Funding announced for comprehensive EU alternative and complementary medicine network

The EU is going to give $2.25 million for an umbrella research network that will begin formulating a comprehensive view of alternative and complementary medicine, according to Medical News Today. CAMbrella, an ‘umbrella’ of research groups and projects to examine, utilize, and synchronize the practice of alternative and complimentary medicine throughout Europe, is a new project, although the idea was put forth back in 2008.
The point of CAMbrella is to connect different research organizations throughout the EU , to share and coordinate data, and set precedents for alternative and complementary medicine. The network will focus on the needs of patients, legal conditions for the use of alternative and complementary medicine, a decided role in European health care, and a synching of terminology and methodology. A huge agenda, but a start. Historically, there has been negligible funding at best for the research of alternative and complementary medicine, both in Europe and the United States, leaving alternative healing methods such as homeopathy and metaphysical healing in question. Without the evidence of clinical trials and the official backing of respected medical groups and governments, people are more comfortable trusting their health care needs to conventional, well-researched medicine.
CAMbrella will consist of sixteen different scientific partners from twelve different European nations. The project will officially start in January, 2010.