Posts Tagged ‘complementary and alternative medicine’

Alternative Medicine: What Is It?

July 20th, 2011

What is alternative medicine? It is a phrase that has been tossed around more and more in the media, the bookstores, and increasingly, the doctor’s office, but how often does anyone say what alternative medicine is?

Theoretically, alternative medicine is any form of medicine that does not fit with in the scientific framework of western medicine. Once a form of medicine has been proven scientifically effective, and a theory has been determined to explain in the language of western medicine why it is effective, it should no longer be considered alternative

Unfortunately, after the theory comes the politics. In reality, in the United States, alternative medicine is any form of medicine that has not been accepted as scientifically valid by the American Medical Association and the United States Government. In other countries different official bodies will determine what is and is not alternative medicine. In the United States, massage is alternative medicine. In Canada massage is conventional medicine, and as such, highly regulated.

Would you believe that according the US government’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vitamins are a complementary or alternative medicine (depending on how they are used) that have not yet been proven to have any greater effect on the human body then a placebo? Personally, I’d like to know if they would like to be treated for scurvy with a placebo. I’ll stick with vitamin C. There are theoretical uses for vitamins that have not yet been fully proven, but that does not make the proven effects any less scientifically valid.

At the same time, just because someone claims what they offer is medicine does not make it true. Herbal supplements are not regulated, and may not fully disclose their ingredients. They certainly will not tell you about any dangerous interaction with your heart medication!

Of course, you can ask an expert, but keep in mind that there are many kinds of alternative medicine, an acupuncturist is not necessarily trained in herbs, and your primary care physician probably won’t be trained in any of them.

If you are interested in using alternative medicine, either for a specific problem, or simply improve your overall health, it’s probably best to first research what kinds of alternative medicine you are interested in, and speak with you doctor about whether or not she will be willing to work with an alternative medicine practitioner. Then find a practitioner who has had training in that specific area of alternative medicine. Most forms of alternative medicine are not licensed in the United States, so ask where they went to school, and how long they have been practicing. Then they can work with your doctor to make sure you get the care you need, without any unexpected side effects.

Some forms of alternative medicine that might be worth looking into are:

Oriental medicine: Oriental medicine is the only form of alternative medicine that is truly comparably to western medicine as a complete system of medicine. Oriental medicine is based on several theories developed thousands of years ago and first elaborated on in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic, between three and five thousand years ago. Oriental medicine includes the practices of massage, acupuncture, herbal therapy, qi gong, and several others. Tradition Chinese Medicine is a variant of oriental medicine specific to China. It is the only variant of oriental medicine the can be found with relative ease in the United States. In many parts of Asia, oriental medicine is still considered the standard of medical care and western medicine is ‘alternative.’

Herbal therapy: Herbal therapy is probably the most common form of alternative medicine found in the United States, and quite possibly one of the riskiest. While most of the conventional medicines doctors prescribe today were derived from herbs, the herbal supplements commonly on sale have no common dosages, mat contain fillers, and will rarely warn of side effects. While herbs can be used to treat everything that medication can, and possibly quite a bit more, make sure you speak with a trained herbalist before taking any. They can tell you what dosage is safe, what suppliers are worth using, and any potential side effects.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy was developed in the 1800′s by two doctors who noticed that quinine, the only medicine capable of treated malaria, caused symptoms of malaria in healthy people who were given it. They theorized that like would cure like, so caffeine which normally causes wakefulness, would be used to help someone who was not sleeping through the night, sleep better. Homeopathy is probably the only alternative medicine that is safe to try without speaking with an expert, because the active substance is so dilute that it is not possible to over dose, or incur side effects on the amounts in the local health food store, never mind the few bottles you would keep in your home. At the same time, it is still best to consult a homeopath to be sure that what your taking will work for what you need.

Massage: Massage is the use of hands or tools to manipulate the muscles and tendons. The two most common uses of massage are to ease aches and pains, and for stress relief. While there are many conditions that massage will obviously not help with (diabetes, for instance), there are many that it is surprisingly effective on, such as eating disorders, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, almost any muscular injury can be treated with massage to prevent scar build up, speed healing, and increase a restricted range of motion. There are many different forms of massage therapy, including Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Pre-Natal Massage, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, Medical Massage, Chair Massage, Aromatherapy Massage and Hot Stone Massage. If you go to a massage therapist for a medical condition, make sure they are trained in Medical Massage. Some states have licensing programs for massage therapists now, as do most European countries. If you live in an area that has licensing, make sure the therapist you go to is licensed.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Alternative Treatments for Menopause – Nutrients and Supplements That May Help

July 11th, 2011

Alternative treatments for menopause are becoming increasingly popular. Natural menopause treatments and products should pose none of the health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy.

Herbs, wild plants and other botanicals were our first medicines. Many of today’s prescription drugs are synthetic versions of active components of these plants. However, synthetically created medicines often have side effects that are not associated with use of the natural counterpart.

The safest and most effective alternative treatments for menopause are botanicals that have been used historically by native peoples.

In some cases, hundreds and possibly thousands of years of use by healers support the long term safety of natural menopause treatments. There are plants that have a “dark side”, so to speak, but when dosages are calculated for homeopathic or herbal remedies by experienced professionals, even mildly poisonous plants can sometimes be used safely for specific conditions.

By comparison, use of hormone replacement therapy or HRT is relatively new. Some studies related to long term use are still ongoing. Others were stopped early due to a “number of adverse events”.

The Women’s Health Initiative followed a group of women using HRT for over five years. They had intended to continue the study for 10 years, but stopped early because a number of the women in the group developed breast cancer, heart disease, stroke or pulmonary embolism. Researchers concluded that the health risks of HRT outweighed the benefits.

In 2003, the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine expressed concern that none of the alternative treatments for menopause that showed promise had been evaluated for long term use. Since then, numerous studies have supported the safety and effectiveness of Black Cohosh, particularly for the relief of hot flashes.

Black Cohosh is one of the most popular natural menopause treatments. The plant grows wild throughout much of North America. Traditional Native American healers use the dried root to make a medicinal tea and have done so for hundreds of years. The tea is prescribed to correct hormonal imbalances, to relieve anxiety and high blood pressure, and for pain relief.

Current scientific studies support its use as one of the most effective alternative treatments for menopause. In 2006, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health in Chicago reported that Black Cohosh appears to be one of the most effective botanicals for the relief of vasomotor symptoms, the medical term for hot flashes or night sweats.

The symptoms of menopause vary from woman to woman. Some experience no symptoms at all. Others experience a wide variety of symptoms, believed to be related to falling levels of estrogen or other hormones. Some natural menopause treatments contain plant components that have an estrogen like effect. These components are called “phytoestrogens”.

Many researchers are concerned that taking phytoestrogens may be just as dangerous as HRT and some research has focused on the effects of active plant components on estrogen sensitive cancer cell lines. Studies relating to alternative treatments for menopause have shown that Black Cohosh has no effect on breast cancer cells or other estrogen sensitive cancer cells.

The most recent studies have concluded that the effectiveness of Black Cohosh is not caused by phytoestrogens. It is not believed that the plant contains phytoestrogens. Instead, it seems to improve serotonin activity. Serotonin, in the human body, regulates moods, body temperature, sleep, sexuality and appetite. Prescription anti-depressants are designed to improve serotonin activity.

Other studies have shown that black cohosh has antioxidant activity, scavenging free radicals. Free radicals can damage the DNA of normal cells, leading to the formation of cancerous tumors.

Another of the natural menopause treatments that may be recommended by some herbalists is Pasque Flower. It was used by Pliny, an ancient scholar, for pain relief. As a homeopathic remedy, it is used to treat headaches, migraine, insomnia, depression, anxiety, nervousness and general moodiness. It is only safe for use as an essence or homeopathic remedy. The plant itself is poisonous, causing skin irritation and contact dermatitis.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Alternative Medicine Schools – Making the Grade

July 1st, 2011

Some in the conventional medical community may argue that alternative medicine is pseudoscience; but in all actuality, alternative medicine schools are beginning to enlighten society not only with their comprehensive curriculums, but also with their own scientific research that proves otherwise.

Alternative medicine schools have come of age in the past half century as more consumers are migrating toward non-invasive, natural medicine. Even traditional medical doctors are beginning to integrate alternative and complementary therapies into their patient services, such as massage, acupuncture, and chiropractics, to name a few.

It’s not a matter of alternative medicine being better than conventional medicine; it’s just that in some cases, alternative medicine schools (through research) have discovered that treating patients as a “whole” and not just the disease, may sometimes be more conducive for healing to occur. While many peoples may have the same disease, ultimately, there are multiple natural medicines that can be applied to meet the independent needs of each one of those individuals. More specifically, the belief that one conventional medicine therapy can treat and/or cure ALL disease is not an absolute truth.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (a division of the National Institutes for Health), in cooperation with a number of alternative medicine schools and complementary medicine schools, has performed extensive clinical trials and research in a variety of alternative therapies and treatments.

Just recently, it was discovered that the integration of complementary or alternative medicine in nursing (with therapies such as acupuncture, herbal supplements and other natural remedies), allowed patients to achieve a higher quality of life.

Furthermore, alternative medicine schools and other interdisciplinary studies have demonstrated, through clinical experiments, that “…evidence now support the idea that deficiencies or imbalance in certain highly unsaturated fatty acids may contribute to a range of common developmental disorders including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” This particular study demonstrated that the addition of ALA-rich nutritional supplementation (flax oil) provides “a significant improvement in the symptoms of ADHD was reflected by reduction in total hyperactivity scores of ADHD children.”

As a major contributor to health care, alternative medicine schools also play an integral role in the scientific community, as do most traditional medical colleges, by striving to find curative agents and treatments for common illness, diseases and other disorders.

Aside from lowered health care cost to patients, alternative medicine is also gaining headway with some health insurance providers that offer CAM coverage in certain areas such as chiropractic and acupuncture. Additionally, because quality alternative medicine schools are accredited and provide in-depth curriculums, as well as standard coursework, the professional medical community has taken note of advancements that are being made every day in the natural healing industry.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Alternative Medicine in Today’s Modern World

June 24th, 2011

We live in a busy world, when almost everyone loves to take things within their reach. We live in a world where fast food, remote control, TV, automobiles, gasoline, and electricity are a prerequisite. Modernization has its own conveniences, but it has its own downfalls. It makes us become busy all the time with all the details, so that we don’t have the time to study new things. Take, for instance, the practice of medicine nowadays. A patient comes in, and, after examination and history-taking he is being bombarded with a handful of pills to take with illegible prescription handwriting. The same thing happens to the second patient, then the third patient, and so on. Modern medicine is so monotonous that doctors appear too busy to research on alternative ways on how to promote good health and well-being.

Few of us medical practitioners realize the importance of alternative medicine, and how it opens venues for future research and for the formulation of custom protocols for the individual patient. We think of alternative medicine as “quack” treatments, but do we ever pause to study and examine it in detail so that we can learn from it and apply it to our practice?

Alternative medicine has been defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as a form of healing practice which is “used in place of conventional medicine, such as using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor.” It is different from complementary medicine, which is a healing practice being used together with standard medical care, e.g. using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment; or, integrative medicine, which “is a total approach to care that involves the patient’s mind, body, and spirit and combines standard medical treatments with CAM practices that have shown the most promise”. These three concepts are grouped together as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Do Americans use complementary and alternative medicine in their daily lives? Absolutely. The NCCAM has reported in 2007 that in the United States alone, 38 percent of adults (about 1 in 9) and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using complementary and alternative medicine. It has also been found out that CAM use is greater among women and those with higher levels of education and higher incomes.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is further divided into four major categories: biologically based practices, energy medicine, manipulative and body-based practices. In addition, complementary and alternative medicine involves whole medical systems, in the form of homeopathic medicine, which seeks to stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself; traditional Chinese Medicine which uses herbs, meditation, and massage to obtain balance in the body; Ayurveda which originated in India; and Naturopathic Medicine, which supports the body’s ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and lifestyle changes together with herbs, massage and joint manipulation.

Naturopathic medicine trusts in the healing power of nature, such that it avoids synthetics drugs, radiation and major surgery. It stresses the importance of preventive medicine, that is, prevention of illnesses through a healthy, stress free lifestyle.

In this world of pollution, garbage, junk food, bacterial and viral gene mutations, the practice of naturopathic medicine among health practitioners is essential. Synthetic drugs are but a part of the traditional medical system which sees patients as a group, not as an individual. Have you ever wondered why, as practicing health care practitioners, some patients seem to get better than the others? This fact has nothing to do with compliance and risk stratification, as many compliant patients and many young, healthy patients die. This only proves the fact that each of us has a unique genetic make-up. Each patient is unique, thus patient care should be individualized and not commercialized for mass consumption. Thus, we should pave the way for revolutionary medicine-medicine which changes as the world changes; medicine which is not stagnant but is adaptable to change, dynamic and patient-oriented.

The latest breakthrough in naturopathic medicine is plant stem cells therapy. Plant stem cells is a form of therapy which used extracts from buds, young shoots and young roots. These plant parts were chosen to be made into extracts because they were believed to be the center of a plant’s energy and thus, they are the main source of therapeutic effects. These parts, made into plant stem cells, also differ from the adult plant parts because they are less exposed to toxins and pollution.

Plant stem cells contain biologic energy and the genetic information for future plants. Plant stem cells also have an abundance of precious substances such as growth hormones, including auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, abscisic acid, cytokinins, nucleic acids, minerals, oligoelements, flavonoids, vitamins and enzymes. Plant stem cells contain auxins, which are plant hormones which were discovered by Charles Darwin in 1880. These plant stem cells stimulate cell growth and strengthen the immune system. These plant stem cells also contain Indoleacetic acud which helps regenerate tissues and lessens inflammation.

Plant stem cells also contain gibberellins, which stimulate RNA and protein synthesis. The cytokinins found in plant stem cells protect cells as they go into the process of cell division, thus they show promise in cancer therapy. Abscisic acid, also found in plant stem cells create resistance to stress. Thus it is not surprising that plant stem cells are now being used for athletes, growth problems in children, replacement therapy for aging, adjunct to would healing. Plant stem cell therapy increases exercise endurance, facilitates healing after illnesses and hospitalizations. Plant stem cells reverses skin and body aging, firms muscles, reduces weight and body fat, enhances memory, improves vision, makes skin soft, smooth and firm, reverses osteoporosis due to its osteoblastic action, and improves sleep.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Can Complementary Medical Treatment Help With Cancer Treatment Side Effects?

June 22nd, 2011

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as interventions that are neither taught widely in medical schools, nor traditionally available in US Hospitals. CAM can be broken down into two broad categories I) those that are ingested or injected such as chelation therapy, Nosodes or Homeopathy and II) those that require a practitioner or therapist. Herbals, vitamins, organics, chemicals and diet are examples of the first group and meditation, massage (body work), chiropractic, acupuncture, body-mind therapy, and prayer are examples of the second.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become the norm for many cancer patients, the majority of whom use it along with conventional therapy. Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 280(18):1569-75) from a 1997 United States survey of alternative medicine use demonstrated that 42% of the general population uses some form of CAM. More recent surveys of cancer patients demonstrate approximately two-thirds are engaged in a least one form of CAM therapy.

As a group, physicians remain somewhat in the dark to their patients’ use of CAM therapies. In multiple surveys, only about one-half of patients using CAM have indicated that their doctors are aware. The primary reason patients cite for not informing their practitioner is that the physician never asked. Studies also indicate that the great majority of patients using CAM do so in conjunction with standard cancer therapies, and not to the exclusion of oncologic treatments that is physician-endorsed.

Herbal formulas, raw foods, organic diets and homeopathy are additional forms of CAM modalities utilized in for many types of cancer treatments and especially for reducing the potential side effects of chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine or Meridian therapy may also support the oncologist team in properly managing the side effects from cancer treatment. Patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy found that electro acupuncture treatments combined with anti-nausea medication were more effective than medication alone in controlling their chemo-related vomiting, according to a study reported in the Dec. 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. According to cancer experts, the study adds to the evidence that non-traditional therapies can be helpful to patients suffering from side effects of chemotherapy.

Homoeopathic treatment involves giving extremely small doses of a substance (called a ‘remedy’) that, if given to a healthy person in larger doses, will cause the same or similar symptoms. A recent survey (Molassiotis, Fernadez-Ortega et al. 2005) has shown that homoeopathy is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for cancer. As a complementary treatment, homoeopathy is used mainly to strengthen the body, improve well-being and to relieve symptoms caused by the disease or the treatment. (Milazzo, Russell et al. 2006).

Most oncologists are comfortable with their patients’ use of CAM. Overall there is little clinical evidence to suggest that complementary therapies cause harm or interact unfavorably with regular medications. However, physicians are concerned that ingested or injected CAM might pose risks to some patients. Some might biochemically interfere with the effect of the chemotherapy or radiation therapy either negating or intensifying its action. In addition, although often taken to decrease the side effects and toxicity of conventional therapy, CAM may sometimes have unwarranted side effects of their own. For example, they may worsen other medical conditions a patient has such as high blood pressure. Many forms of prescription medication contain an herb as a base and therefore using herbs with CAM their may be a drug interaction potential with the existing formulary within the prescription medication being used by the oncologist or other medical team participants.
The medical community recognizes the growing use of CAM and the need to investigate these medicines and their side effects. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is presently putting forth a research initiative through the NCCAM to study complementary and alternative therapies.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Health Sites Are A Great Source Of Information

May 7th, 2011

From dysentery to psoriasis, alternative medicine seems to have a cure for anything. With the plethora of today’s holistic therapies that are now available to us, it is very important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments that take place in this specific medical field. This is exactly the purpose of NCCAM, or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Part of the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM is engaged in training and research on health topics, especially on the relevant facts that people are or should be most concerned about. The official site, nccam.nih.gov, is one of the most reputable health sites on the internet, where you can find an exhaustive collection of information on various issues such as research funding opportunities, clinical trials or educational series. Many health professional find this information immensely useful, but even simple people who do not know much about alternative medicine can take some time to study some of the information here, as it is definitely worth of a look.

Among the most popular alternative health sites, AlternativeMedicine.com stands out from many of its kind, providing the visitors with a rich selection of information concerning the most common health conditions, holistic health care issues, natural remedies and foods that have certain healing properties. Moreover, here you can find practical strategies and solutions tat are aimed at promoting self care and prevention for a better health condition. The information on this website is simple to apply in your everyday life, and yet extremely effective. For instance, the SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder is generally caused by less exposure to sunlight in the short winter days. This condition can be dealt by undergoing light therapy or tanning for ten or fifteen minutes every morning and by having a diet that is rich in omega-3 and protein. Outdoor exercise can also help for recovering, as it will boost the serotonin levels that are normally gotten from natural sunlight. In the most severe cases however, the patient may be required to relocate to a place that gets plenty of sunlight.

There are numerous online health sites that prove to be quite beneficial when it comes to providing people with update information on various topics such as aromatherapy, Ayurvedic, essential oils, homeopathic, herbs and flower remedies, and even other types of alternative therapies and treatments. Such sites also include resources on topics such as medical practices, products and medicine that are not considered to be a part of the medical conventional system yet, but were proven to be equally effective and with no discovered risks.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

The Splendidly Natural Wonders of Alternative Meds

April 30th, 2011

Have you ever taken Tylenol, Bayer, or Motrin IB, and found out that neither drug improves you? Is the skyrocketing cost of filling prescription medications putting a hefty strain on your wallet? Do you think that just the thought of having major invasive surgery is too grotesque to begin with?

If you’d answered “yes” to these provocative health care questions, you might want to check out the non-invasive powers of naturopathic medicine. It dates as far back as ancient China and Greece.

And speaking of ancient China, their civilzation was primarily responsible for the “modern” development of acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture involves skin penetration with the use of thin, metallic needles manipulated by hand, whereas acupressure stimulates specific energy points on the body through a physician’s fingertips or bare knuckles.

Dr. Christina Arvograsp, clinical director of the University of Bridgeport Naturopathic Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT, is well known for treating her patients with acupuncture and natural childbirth.

As far as her childbirth methodolgies are concerned, she knows just how important it is for expectant women to know what’s best for their newborns. She said her pregnant patients spend less time in labor and have fewer complications from intensive pre- and post-natal care as a result.

“My family always tole me to manitain a strong, natural sense of well-being during your pregnancy so that you won’t have to deal with postpartum depression after the fact,” she points out.

Other popular modalities in this field are aromatherapy, physiotherapy, and orificial surgery, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Aromatherapy allows patients to bathe in essential oils made from flowers, herbs, and trees. Physiotherapy, on the other hand, involves the massaging of the most painful muscles and bone densities. Orificial, or minor, surgery repairs warts, cysts, and larger superficial wounds with both local and general anesthesia.

Not all natural therapies benefit those who go for such treatment. However, you don’t have to make an appointment with your primary naturopathic phyisican to reach your goals for optimal health.

A college friend of mine once had kidney failure a few years back and has since bought Vitamins B, C, and E from a natural foods store to treat his disease. He admitted that his overall approach to natural medicine does work, despite feeling some skeptism at first.

“[Natural] medicine has a different effect on everyone,” he says. “So, going by others, I had to test a variety of different supplements to see if my diseased kidneys could tolerate such unconventional substances. Luckily, it turned out to be a success.”

However, you might still choose to take your daily health regimens in a rather old-fashioned direction. Instead of taking organic substances or making an appointment with a naturopathic health care provider, you may just decide to go on a regular diet.

Eating fruits and vegetables daily may not entirely destroy any illnesses you may have. But a 2004 study conducted by the National Institutes of Health proves that eating foods low in saturated fat and calorie content can greatly minimize the symptoms of a chronic medical condition that can further develop over time.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Rapid Rise in “Complementary” Medical Services

April 26th, 2011

Have you been to a practitioner besides your family physician? Whether chiropractic care, acupuncture, yoga or homeopathy, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly common in the United States, and 72% of adults use some form of CAM therapies according to the US National Centers for Disease Control and US National Center for Health Statistics.

A recent cover story in The New York Times Magazine highlighted how chronic pain tends to be under treated because doctors worry about over prescribing medications, and being liable for malpractice or even criminal penalties. Many doctors fear entering the field of pain management at all. Many patients are also concerned about becoming dependant on medication or about the invasiveness and dangers of surgery and anesthesia. CAM therapies, which are able to treat pain and help manage diseases without medication or surgery, are rapidly growing services as people search out better, safer approaches.

So how effective are Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies?
One recent study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics tracked data from a unique organization, the Independent Physicians Association (IPA) where chiropractors serve as first-contact, primary care physicians.

This study found patients treated by these practitioners reported lower costs and higher satisfaction rates than those treated by conventional medical doctors. One of the co-authors of the study James Winterstein DC, said that they found that, “patients visiting CAM-orientated primary care physicians (PCP) – primarily chiropractors – experienced fewer hospitalizations, underwent fewer surgeries and used considerably fewer pharmaceuticals than HMO patients who received traditional medical care.”

A large national survey of all studies on treatments for back pain, the most common cause of disability in working Americans, lead by William Meeker, DC, PhD, and Marc Micozzi, MD, PhD, found that chiropractic was more effective at reducing pain and restoring function, and was less costly and dangerous than medical and surgical management.

Another study, in the Journal of Rehabilitation, Research & Development examined the effectiveness of a wide range of complementary and alternative medicines in the treatment of chronic pain. This encompassing study examined clinical trials and previous studies done on the therapies.

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chemotherapy related pain, dental pain, low back pain, and probably premenstrual syndrome pain. They found massage therapy effective for lower back pain and shoulder pain, but found less evidence for its treating fibromyalgia, neck pain, headache, and carpel tunnel syndrome. Yoga in turn has been found to very effective for carpal tunnel syndrome and many forms of arthritis. For some therapies like reiki, homeopathy, and therapeutic touch (“laying on hands”), there are few clinical trials done, making it difficult to prove effectiveness.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine – Have They Helped You Heal?

April 16th, 2011

Have you ever tried some form of complementary and/or alternative medicine to assist your own healing process?

It seems that 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children in the U.S. have used some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a 2007 government study, the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This is a study repeated every year. Thousands of Americans are surveyed about their health and illness experiences and the use of 36 different types of CAM therapies, 10 types that require a provider and 29 types of self-provided therapies, e.g., herbs and aromatherapy.

Definitions of CAM
· Complementary Medicine is any methods and procedures used with together with conventional or traditional medicine
· Alternative Medicine is any methods or procedures used in place of conventional or traditional medicine
· Integrative Medicine combines conventional and CAM methods and procedures, if there is evidence of safety and effectiveness The study reveals that since so many Americans are actually using some form of CAM, it is important to perform adequate research to determine the safety and true value of these methods.

Do they work or are they just placebo, something that helps because we believe it can help or because someone else has told us it can help. It is important for medical professionals and other healthcare providers to discuss the particular CAM methods being used by patients. Especially since some of these products are not FDA approved, the exact dosage may not be accurately listed – and – combining herbal or other products with prescription medications can sometimes cause negative and even deadly interactions.

Who Uses CAM The 2007 survey, as well as an earlier survey in 2002, indicates the following CAM usage:
· Women (42.8%) compared to men (33.5%)
· Men and women aged 30-69
· Those with higher education
· Those who are not poor
· People living in the west coast of the U.S.
· Non-smokers or previous smokers who quit
· Children whose parents also use CAM

If you are currently using some from of CAM, don’t just take it blindly. Read the current research provided by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the NIH and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Some of these methods have proven to enhance the healing process while others have not revealed much promising healing potential. For your own health and wellness, isn’t it worth doing a bit of personal research to determine the effectiveness of a CAM treatment for your particular health concern? Would you try an experimental type of gas in your car or would you do some research first? which is more important to you, your car or your body?

Dr. Erica Goodstone is a fellow for the American Association of Integrative Medicine. She has helped thousands of men, women, couples, and groups to develop greater awareness of the issues in their health and their lives, to overcome and alleviate stressors and discords, and revitalize their relationships and their own mind-body-spirit connection. Dr. Goodstone is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage Therapist and Board Certified Sex Therapist. Former professor of health and physical education for over two decades, Dr. Goodstone taught courses in health education and alternative approaches, stress management, yoga (including relaxation, breathing, meditation, guided imagery, chanting, hatha yoga postures, and yogic nutrition), as well as many different physical activity and dance courses. In addition, she has trained in various body therapy methods and somatic body psychotherapy.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags:

The Future is Now! Electronic Medical Records in the Alternative Practice Setting

April 8th, 2011

In 2007, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention teamed up to conduct a study to determine how many Americans are using complementary and alternative medicine. The results showed that almost 40% of American adults are availing themselves of these types of therapies, which is a 2% increase over 2003 usage. And, while many forms of alternative medicine have been in existence for thousands of years, the practice of these therapies has not necessarily evolved at the same pace as conventional medicine when it comes to the use of technology, particularly as it applies to the electronic medical record.

Although the electronic medical record (EMR) was a theory first offered in the 1960s, its use was not widespread until at least 2003, and there are still many practices that have not yet adopted the EMR. Some resistance to doing so can be directly attributed to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which places a great deal of responsibility on providers to safeguard and protect the health information of their patients, going so far as to impose fines for instances of disclosure of that information. Many practice managers worry that the EMR will open the door to inadvertent disclosures.

The fact is, however, that we, as a country, are moving closer and closer to the time when the EMR will be the standard, and paper charts will be archival material. This can be evidenced by the introduction of the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). HITECH is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and was developed in an effort to bring us firmly into the realm of electronic storage and sharing of health information. While HITECH is primarily targeted toward hospitals, academic medical centers, and the conventional medical practice, the statistics related to alternative therapies show a need for these practices to jump aboard the technology bus, as well.

Comments Off »

Posted in Uncategorized

Tags: