Complementary / alternative medicine

What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?   It is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.

Are complementary medicine and alternative medicine different from each other?

Yes, they are different

  Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy to help lessen a patient ’ s discomfort following surgery.   Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor.

What are the major types of complementary and alternative medicine?

Classify CAM therapies into five categories, or domains Classify CAM therapies into five categories, or domains

1. 1. Alternative Medical Systems. e.g. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda Mind-Body Interventions. e.g. prayer, meditation, art, music, or dance Biologically Based Therapies. e.g. dietary supplements & herbal products Manipulative and Body-Based Methods. e.g. chiropractic manipulation & massage Energy Therapies. I. I.Biofield therapies. e.g. qi gong II. II.Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies.

Medical Herbalism

  Medical herbalism is the use of plant remedies in the prevention and treatment of illness.   Today, medical herbalism, practiced by medical herbalists, draws on traditional knowledge, but increasingly this is interpreted and applied in a modern context.

Aspects of medical herbalism 1. Herbalism takes an holistic approach. 2. Herbalists select herbs on an individual basis for each patient. 3. Herbalists aim to identify the underlying cause (e.g. stress) of a patient ’ s illness and to consider this in the treatment plan. 4. Herbs are used to stimulate the body ’ s healing capacity, to ‘ strengthen ’ bodily systems and to ‘ correct ’ disturbed body functions rather than to treat presenting symptoms directly. 5. Herbs may be used to provide long-term relief from the particular condition.

 One of the tenets of herbalism is that the different constituents of a herb act together in some way that has beneficial effects. These could be: Additive effect: The combined effect of two drugs is equal to the sum of their individual actions Synergistic effect: The combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of the individual effects.

Conditions treated . e.g.  Medical herbalists treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. e.g. 1. Irritable bowel syndrome 2. Premenstrual syndrome 3. Menopausal symptoms 4. Eczema 5. Types of arthritis 6. Depression 7. Acne and other skin conditions 8. Cystitis ( Inflammation of the urinary bladder ) 9. Migraine 10. Chronic fatigue syndrome

Herbalist’s prescriptions   Generally, a combination of several different herbs (usually 4-6) is used in the treatment of a particular patient.   sometimes, a single herb may be given, e.g. chasteberry ( vitex agnus castus ) for premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea.   Each patient ’ s treatment is reviewed regularly and is likely to be changed depending on whether or not there has been a response.

Aromatherapy

  Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic substances extracted from plants.   The most important group of these substances is the essential oils.   How essential oils are obtained ? Distillation Enfleurage Solvent extraction Expression

Aspects of aromatherapy Aromatherapists believe that essential oils can be used not only for the treatment and prevention of disease, but also for their effects on mood and emotion Aromatherapy is claimed to be an holistic therapy Aromatherapists believe that the constituents of essential oils work synergistically Essential oils are described not only with reference to reputed pharmacological properties (e.g. antibacterial), but also by terms that are not recognized in conventional medicine (e.g. balancing, energizing).

How Essential Oils Work  Essential oils are believed to act both by exerting pharmacological effects following: 1. Absorption into the circulation. 2. The effects of their odor on the olfactory system.

Conditions treated   Aromatherapy is widely used as an approach to relieving stress, and many essential oils are claimed to be ‘ relaxing ’.   Many aromatherapists also claim that essential oils can be used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions. For example: digestive problems, eczema, headaches, insomnia.   Aromatherapy is also used in a variety of conventional healthcare settings, such as mental health units and in specialized units caring for patients with HIV/AIDS, physical disabilities and severe learning disabilities.

Ways of Using Essential Oils 1. Inhaling through vaporization 2. Bathing 3. Compress 4. Massage

Special considerations   Some oils should be avoided by people with certain conditions, such as: High blood pressure Epilepsy pregnancy