Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Anne Rice, DVM

How many people use Complementary/Alternative medicine? In 2007, 38% of people used CAM (CDC Nat’l Health Stat Reports) In 2006, 1 in 4 human hospitals offered C/A services In 2006, of 254 owners, 65% reported CAVM use in dogs and cats with cancer (JAAHA) In 2007 study, children whose parents used CAM were 5 times as likely to use CAM (CDC Nat’l Health Stat Report)

Modalities Used by AHVMA Members Acupuncture Chinese herbs Western herbs Clinical nutrition Bach flower remedies Chiropractic Homeopathy Homotoxicology

Integration with Conventional Medicine There are times when holistic medicine works better and times when traditional medicine works better Conventional medicine has many useful diagnostic techniques unknown to ancient practitioners Surgery can be life-saving In emergency situations, conventional medicine works quickly and saves lives Holistic medicine works well for chronic disease

Integration with Conventional Medicine Holistic methods are ideal for whole-body support, especially when multiple systems are involved (e.g., heart, kidney, liver) Holistic medicine gives you more answers when there is nothing else left to do (e.g., antibiotic resistance) Holistic medicine can protect against side effects of conventional medicine Holistic medicine can give a diagnosis and treatment for a problem when all lab tests are normal.

Regulated Alternative Therapies (RATS) Acupuncture Acupressure Chiropractic Imaging Physiotherapy Massage Therapy

Non-Regulated Alternative Therapies (NRATS) Meditation Magnetic Therapy MegaVitamin Therapy Naturopathy Relaxation Therapy Reiki Shiatsu Shamanism Somapractic Sclerology Therapeutic Touch Therapeutic Fasting Vibrational Medicine Orgonomy Prayer Ayurveda Aromatherapy Biokinesthology Colloidal Silver Colonics Chelation Therapy Energy Healing Exercise Homeopathy Herbal Medicine Hypnosis Hydropathy Imaging Iridology Juree Therapy