The difference is science based medicine learns from it's mistakes. If a treatment doesn't work in a particular case, it's analyzed and process improved to prevent that from happening again. Also, the treatment is studied and subjected to controlled trials before being broadly used. The mechanisms of the treatment (chemical, biological, physiological, etc) are understood as well.

CAM does none of that. It's energy, or god, or whatever. The parents who try to cure their daughter's diabetis by praying over her, and thus killing her, do not learn. They have other kids, and would do the same again.

It is not harmless, and it's important for people to realize that. They need to demand evidence and rational for their treatment. Science works, whether people like it or not.

All medicine is a risk/reward equation. We perform surgery, or take drugs with the knowledge that there is risk involved. But the risk is understood, and the reward outwieghs that risk. For CAM, there is no reward, only risk.

Look, skeptics aren't just trying to gun this stuff down. I'd love it if I could cure my grandpa in law of ALS by laying on hands. Or cure my dad's diabetis by with magnets, or whatever. It would be great if this stuff worked, but there is 0 evidence in favor and until there is, it cannot be taken seriously. All we have is evidence it does nothing, or worse it hurts people. If that is the case, it must be stood up and fought against. Reason and science have got us where we are, and will take us to the next step. Most CAM is looking for the dark ages.

food for thought:

What's the harm? http://whatstheharm.net/

what the world looked by before vaccines: <link>