Is there a difference between "holistic medicine" and "complementary and alternative medicine" ?

Not really: Many different terms are used for herbal or non-westernized medicine. The current most popular term is "complementary or alternative" medicine. Other terms used may be holistic, naturopathic or homeopathic. Each one of these may include or exclude different treatments, but are very similar.

"wholistic" medicine: Many terms are used to describe physicians who employ healing modalities outside of conventional allopathic medicine. A "holistic" practitioner considers "the whole patient" not just his or her "disease state". Complementary physicians employ healing modalities that are alternative to allopathic medicine, like homeopathy or acupuncture. Many of us practice using a combination of both.

Yes and No.: These terms may be used interchangeably to distinguish them from conventional or orthodox medicine. Technically, "holistic medicine" refers to using a approach where the body is encouraged to do its own healing. In contrast, "complementary medicine" refers to a practice of medicine that works with conventional medicine and "alternative medicine" refers to using natural means other than drugs.

Not really: Holistic comes from an ancient word meaning "a hill" because they gathered herbs from the side of the hill. Therefore, strictly speaming it deals wirh the use of herbs. Complementary alternative medicine deals with nutritrion, supplements, acupuncture, massotherapy and chelation (which has just been announced as successful from a national study.

Alternative medicine: They overlap! holistic means treating the whole person, body mind and spirit. Complementary medicine supports other options and modern medicine together. Alternative medicine is using other methods than taught in medical school.