Objective: An increasing number of patients with asthma are
attracted by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Method:We searched the electronic databases Medline, Embase and the Cochrane
Library for controlled trials and systematic reviews to evaluate the evidence
of the most popular alternative therapies, i.e. acupuncture, homeopathy,
breathing techniques, herbal and nutritional therapies.
In 1991 Kleijnen et al. published a systematic review of 13 controlled
clinical trials (1963--1989) on acupuncture in asthma [11].
Data from the United Kingdom demonstrated that only 41% of patients with
asthma had never tried CAM, and that 67% are considering its use for their
asthma in the future [10] Patients obtained information about CAM primarily
from friends and the media, and not from doctors.
32 Hirsch D, Leupold W. Plazebo-kontrollierte Doppelblindstudie zur Wirkung
der Laserakupunktur beim kindlichen Asthma bronchiale. asthma, treatment.
TheStraitsTimes_20040731
The International Congress on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (Iccam) is to be the forum for discussions leading to raised
standards in herbal medicine, and for scientific exchange between practitioners
and researchers.
Cures, Modern Science, it will accept papers reporting the results of
scientific research into complementary and alternative medicine.
Development, and the medicine and science faculties at the National University
of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Hospital.
The active compound known as qing hao su, or artemisinin in scientific
terminology, was reportedly extracted by Chinese scientists around 1972.
Hygiene, reported that treatment with traditional Artemisia annua preparations
caused a rapid clearing of malaria symptoms. medicine, Western Medicine.
WarAgainstMedicine
For example, in 1990 Americans made an estimated 435 million
visits to alternative practitioners, compared with 388 million visits
to primary care physicians.
The paper was published in the most distinguished periodical for innovative
medicine, the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients.
This war is also directed at medical innovations which threaten established
treatments (Eke Syracuse physician Dr. Charles Gant's successful treatment
of hyperactive children without using Ritalin, which has drawn international
praise); and at treatments which are more costly than standard protocols
(like Long Island expert Dr. Joseph Burrascano's treatment of Lyme Disease).
This forces the accused physicians to go through years of arduous, expensive
legal battles, which bankrupt them, destroy or damage their health and
reputations, and permanently injure the physicians personally and professionally.
medicine, destroy.
HealthAffairs
Medicine in America by James C. Whorton (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2002), 368 pp., $30 Alternative medicine is often seen as alien
by the world of mainstream medicine.
Whorton is a profes sor of medical history at the University of Washington
in Seattle and has taught a course on alternative medicine to health professions
students there since 1986 to alert them to the persistent prominence of
alternative medicine in the U.S. health care environment.
(B.J. Palmer, the son of the founder of chiropractic, was to later answer
a judge that his education was based on "com mon sense, horse reasoning
and good judg -ment---that is enough.") medicine, government.
decisions
has developed this fact sheet to assist you in your decisionmaking
about CAM.
If you use a CAM therapy provided by a practitioner, such as acupuncture,
choose the practitioner with care.
Legitimate scientists want to share their knowledge so that their peers
can review their data.
The ODS, whose mission is to explore the potential role of dietary supplements
to improve health care, promotes the scientific study of dietary supplements
through conducting and coordinating scientific research and compiling
and disseminating research results.
These citations are a subset of NLM's PubMed system that contains over
12 million journal citations from the MEDLINE database and additional
life science journals important to health researchers, practitioners,
and consumers. CAM, medications.
Alt Therapies Fact Sheet
Alternative medicine includes a group of diverse healing and
preventative practices that are not part of traditional or conventional
medicine.
The boundaries of alternative medicine are constantly changing as different
types of care gather more evidence, become more accepted by physicians
and other health care providers, and are more often requested by patients.
What Is the Evidence for the Effectiveness of Alternative Intervention?
Conventional medicine emphasizes evidence-based practice, which is the
use of the best available knowledge and research to guide decision-making.
Search for the alternative intervention in "Hooked on Evidence"
(www.apta.org), the evidence-based review of topics by the American Physical
Therapy Association.
Remember that vitamins and herbs can be potent chemicals and may interact
with current medications. intervention, professional organizations.
434_compTherapies
Public interest in complementary therapies is growing at a
significant rate, easily outpacing the research conducted into their safety
and effectiveness.
People are often attracted to the 'natural' and safe image of these therapies,
particularly in treating chronic medical conditions, for which conventional
treatments are often less than completely effective.
What is the potential for CAM to treat dementia?
Acupuncture originates in China and views health disorders as resulting
from imbalances in the flow of energy ('chi' or 'qi', pronounced 'chee')
around the body.
One further small study investigated the treatment of associated mental
problems (anxiety and depression) in dementia. dementia, massage.
almerewb
In 1997 Americans made 627 million visits to practitioners
of alternative medicine and spent $27 bilion of their own money to pay
for alternative therapies.
While there is little doubt that allopathic medicine works well in the
case of trauma and emergency (you don't call your herbalist if you get
hit by a car), it is much less effective when it comes to prevention,
chronic disease, and in addressing the mental, emotional, and spiritual
needs of an individual.
Conventional medicine is preferred in the treatment of trauma and emergencies
while alternative medicine excels in the treatment of chronic disease,
although homeopathy can also be very effective as a first-aid. medicine,
physicians.
cam-icm2-2004
There will be 8 sessions devoted to the topic of alternative/complementary
medicine and its significance for the practice of medicine.
The assortment of practices considered as alternative/complementary medicine
will be described, along with the extent of their use and a profile of
those using them.
The significance of alternative/complementary medicine for the practicing
allopathic physician will be considered, and the safety and efficacy of
several alternative/complementary practices assessed.
Goal: Better understanding of alternative/complementary medicine to improve
communication between allopathic physicians, patients, and alternative/complementary
medicine providers.
Understand the demographics of individuals using alternative/ complementary
medicine and some of the reasons for their use.
Recognize common interactions between herbal products and prescription
drugs and make recommendations regarding their management. medicine, herbal
remedies.
compmed
Please note the following correction to Part IIT Efficacy and
Safety of CAM Therapies Parr D. Conclusion of the Minnesota Department
of Health's Complementary Medicine Report.
Because of the short time frame and the complexity of the issues involved
there remains a significant amount of work to be done.
The term, "complementary" is different from "alternative"
because it implies the use of modalities together with, or as a complement
to, the offerings of allopathic medicine.
The Report to the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Alternative Medical
Systems and Practices in the United States, called "Alternative Medicine:
Expanding Medical Horizons," arranges the CAM therapies into seven
fields, based on the nature and scope of the therapy. practitioners, treatments.
1472-6882-2-8
Background: This study sought to describe the pattern of complementary/alternative
medicine (CAM) use among a group of patients with advanced breast cancer,
to examine the main reasons for their CAM use, to identify patient's information
sources and their communication pattern with their physicians.
The most commonly cited primary reason for CAM use was to boost the immune
system, the second, to treat cancer; however these reasons varied depending
on specific CAM therapy.
First, we found that the vast majority (73%) of our patients use CAM,
a finding in line with previous estimates [7,8].
Unlike previous studies [10--12], we found that most patients using ingested
CAM products (herbs, special diets, supplements, and folk remedies) discussed
this use with their medical providers. CAM, herbal medicine.
v1n2
The physical therapy department at Claxton-Hepburn Medical
Center offers aquatics-based programs both for those recuperating from
a major injury or procedure and those who just want to get back into shape.
Carla Wentworth, RN, and Jim Akins, RN, certified exercise specialists
through the American College of Sports Medicine, facilitate the program
and staff the cardiac rehabilitation program at Claxton-Hepburn Medical
Center.
"Exercise can help avoid further progression of health problems such
as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease,"
says Akins.
This free, one-day course provides basic instructions on how to locate
electronic health information.
A special health fair will be held for Claxton-Hepburn Plus members. health,
avoid.
learnmore1
How do alternative (or integrative) medicine practitioners
view health and healing?
Healthcare practitioners have a responsibility to patients and themselves
to be aware of all modalities available for prevention and healing.
When our behaviors are aligned with our authentic inner motivations, we
have integrity.
Some alternative therapies MAY enhance or interfere with medical therapies
prescribed by a physician, making this lack of communication a real threat
to a patient's health.
Additionally, many patients rightfully assume that their physicians will
negatively respond to the use of other modalities, keeping them from seeking
advice on selecting safe, trained professionals who practice alternative
methods. medicine, alternative therapies.
summer2003
Stress: We all live with it, whether we are aware of it or
not.
The costs of health care for U.S. workers with high levels of job stress
are nearly 50 percent higher than those for other workers.
In short, stress is a significant public health problem.
One CAM area being used for stress is that of mind-body interventions---that
is, techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily
function and symptoms.
Mind-Body Research Initiative: In January 2003, NCCAM joined 15 other
NIH entities in releasing a mind-body research initiative.
While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for
most there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well-designed
scientific studies---such as whether they are safe and whether they work
for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used. NCCAM,
pain.
