1. Chapter 44 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Medical Assisting
PowerPoint® presentation to accompany:
Medical Assisting
Third Edition
Booth, Whicker, Wyman, Pugh, Thompson

2. Standard 15
Review health topics surrounding complementary and alternative medicine such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and herbal treatments. Develop a public service announcement or academic poster presentation intended to inform consumers or health professionals about the specific topic. Include general information, purported benefits, uses in the United States, side effects and/or risks, relevant research, cost, and links to more information. Cite evidence from print and digital resources such as research journals, the National Institute of Health, the Mayo Clinic, and Medline Plus.

3. Introduction
More than 30% of adults use complementary and alternative therapies
Relieve problems
Promote wellness
No relief from traditional treatments
Some physicians use a combination of CAM and traditional therapies

4. What Is CAM?
A group of practices and products that are not part of conventional medicine
Allopathy – conventional medicine or common and usual practice
Complementary medicine – used with conventional medicine
Alternative medicine – used instead of conventional medicine

5. What Is CAM? (cont.)
Scientific evidence concerning safety and effectiveness
Available for some CAM therapies
Research continues so information changes
Integrative medicine
Evolves as CAM therapies are adopted by conventional medicine
Combination of both

6. Types of CAM Shared similarities Categories
Individualized treatments, good nutrition, and preventative health practices
Holistic
Promote self-care and self-healing
Recognition of one’s spiritual nature
Categories
Alternative medical systems
Mind-body interventions
Biologically-based therapies
Manipulative and body-based methods
Energy therapies

7. Types of CAM: Alternative Medical Systems
Evolved apart from conventional medicine
Homeopathic medicine
Treating syndromes and conditions with remedies that produce similar syndromes and conditions in healthy people
Remedy
Produces the symptoms it is given to treat in order to stimulate the body’s natural defenses to heal itself
Must meet FDA standards

8. Types of CAM: Alternative Medical Systems (cont.)
Homeopathic medicine
Looks at individuals, not diseases
Initial in-depth assessment
Follow-up – how they are responding

9. Types of CAM: Alternative Medical Systems (cont.)
Naturopathic medicine
Relies on the healing power of the body to establish, maintain, and restore health
Primary health care
Nutritional / lifestyle counseling
Dietary supplements / medicinal plants
Exercise
Homeopathy / traditional Chinese medicine

10. Types of CAM: Mind-Body Interventions
Enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms
Support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy now part of traditional medicine
Scientific support
Placebo effect – WW II
35% of therapeutic response is due to belief

11. Types of CAM: Mind-Body Interventions (cont.)
Most commonly used forms of CAM
Types
Prayer
Yoga
Meditation
Hypnosis
Biofeedback

12. Types of CAM: Biologically-Based Therapies
Use substances found in nature
Dietary supplements
Herbal products
Foods

13. Types of CAM: Biologically-Based Therapies (cont.)
Dietary supplements
Manufacturers –> no evidence of effectiveness or safety
No standardization to ensure consistency and quality
Types
Vitamins
Minerals
Herbals – no established recommended daily amount
Recommended daily amount established by the FDA

14. Types of CAM: Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
Based on the manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body
Types
Massage therapy
Chiropractic manipulation
Reflexology
Alexander technique
Bowen technique
Craniosacral therapy
Feldenkrais method
Rolfing
Trager bodywork
Tui Na

15. Types of CAM: Manipulative and Body-Based Methods (cont.)
Massage
Pressure, kneading, stroking, vibration, and tapping to positively affect health
Effects
Relaxation
Counteracts effects of stress
Lowers heart rate and blood pressure
Reduces pain / relaxes muscle spasms
Improves concentration
Promotes restful sleep
Helps the mind relax

16. Types of CAM: Manipulative and Body-Based Methods (cont.)
Swedish massage
Stimulates circulation and lymph flow
5 basic strokes
Neuromuscular massage
Release tension, relieves pain and pressure on nerves, and increases blood flow
Trigger point therapy
Seated massage
Focuses on back and neck

17. Types of CAM: Manipulative and Body-Based Methods (cont.)
Chiropractic medicine
Adjustments
Manual treatments to re-align the vertebra and restore function of spinal nerves
Chiropractor
Performs an exam and takes a history
Tests
X-rays
Muscle testing
Analyzes posture

18. Types of CAM: Energy Therapies
Bioeletromagnetic-based therapies
Balances the electromagnetic fields of the body
No scientific evidence of efficacy
Magnetic therapy
Most common type
Magnets are used to correct disturbances of electromagnetic fields and restore health
FDA – no medical value but relatively harmless
Avoid for patients with pacemaker or defibrillator

19. Types of CAM: Energy Therapies
Biofield therapies
Manipulate energy field surrounding the body
Reiki
Based on qi
Visualization and touch balance energy flow to bring healing energy to organs and glands
Therapeutic touch
“Laying-on of hands”
Hands direct human energies to help or heal
No scientific evidence of efficacy