2. 2
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(CAM)
1. Define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM),
and describe CAM therapies currently in use.
2. Recognize the most common herbal products used in the
United States and recognize conditions they are used to
treat.
3. Understand potential risks, such as side effects and
drug-herbal interactions, that can occur with herbal
product use.
4. Write the common and scientific names for the herbal
products discussed in this chapter.
5. Recognize other CAM practices, including those
pertaining to mind and body medicine and manipulative
practices.
Lesson 28.1
3. What Is Alternative Medicine?
Traditional medicine (allopathic medicine):
Prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) medications,
doctor visits, x-rays, laboratory tests, follow-up and
regular visits
Alternative medicine: Visits to chiropractor,
homeopathic doctor, or other practitioner, followed by
specific treatments
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4. Alternative Medicine
Many types of alternative medicine are based on the
belief in life forces or energies that have been disrupted
in some way.
Many accepted traditional practices were once
considered complementary and alternative therapies,
such as physical and occupational therapy, group
psychotherapy, and midwifery.
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5. Types of CAM
Natural products
Manipulative practices
Mind and body medicine
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6. Organization Related to CAM
National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM)
Three goals: Do research, train individuals, and provide
consumer with information
Applies Western scientific methods to prove or disprove
the safety and effectiveness of various complementary and
alternative treatments.
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7. Natural Products
Include: Herbals, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics
Herbal is most common form
18% of adults take a nonvitamin of some kind
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8. Herbal Facts
Pharmacognosy= study of medicinal compounds derived
from natural products, especially plants.
Researchers often work to identify the biochemical
mechanism responsible for the therapeutic effects of an
herbal preparation.
For example, there are many current studies on known
antioxidants, such as green tea.
FDA does not regulate herbs and herbal supplements in
the same way as drugs; herbs are considered dietary
supplements.
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9. Herbal Products
Growing field: Increasing age of population, and increasing
costs
Herbal medicine is experiencing a resurgence in the United
States
Harmful interactions: Important to distinguish between
legend drugs, OTC drugs, and herbal remedies
Many drugs used in traditional medicine derived from
herbs; however, extensive testing and documentation has
preceded their use
Specific herbal chemicals have been synthetically made in
laboratories
Most American medicines discovered from plants do not use
the whole plant
There are many different names for the same plant.
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10. Garlic and Echinacea
Stress relief, anticancer, decreases blood pressure,
colds, flu, and overall wellness
Overmedication: Heartburn, gastrointestinal (GI)
burning
Do not take if diabetic
Colds and infections; general immune booster
Interaction: Immunosuppressants, and diabetics
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11. Saw Palmetto
Treats benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Mild diuretic
Antiseptic
Antiinflammatory agent
Saw palmetto should not be used during pregnancy.
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12. Ginkgo Biloba and Soy
Living fossil
Poor circulation, asthma, blood pressure (BP), liver
function, increasing memory, and heart disease
Interactions: Anticoagulants, BP medications, epilepsy,
and infertility
Leaf: Medicinal agent
Soy: Milk substitute
Infant use for lactose intolerance is common.
Can be used for up to 16 weeks safely
Doses up to 60 g per day
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14. Black Cohosh and Milk Thistle
Used for hormone replacement, rheumatism, cough,
and insect repellent
Blue or white cohosh are different; not used for same
things and may have different reactions
Milk thistle treats liver conditions
No major contraindications
Used intravenously for mushroom poisoning
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15. Herbal Preparations
Know the family name of herb
Know species of herb (they vary)
Safe dosages: Hard to determine; variety in batches
Strength varies according to time harvested, parts of
plant used, concentrations, and method of preparation
Brewed for teas: More potent than capsule form
Tea preparation: Infusion, brew, decoctions, and cold
infusions
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16. Herbal References
One book used to reference herbal treatments is the
multilingual Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica,
which details 530 of the most common herbs in the
traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopoeia.
In addition to properties and dosage information for
each herb, it includes sections on herb identification
and preparation.
European monographs are also important reference
tools.
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17. Mind and Body Medicine
Fast growing and is a significant part of CAM.
This is based on interaction among body, mind, and
behavior.
Meditation
Yoga
Acupuncture
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18. Meditation and Yoga
Meditation originated in religious/spiritual traditions
Focus attention to achieve calmness
Yoga
Maintain physical health and flexibility
Hatha yoga is most common
The 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
identified yoga as one of the top 10 complementary health
practices used by adults in the United States;
approximately 6% of respondents reported using yoga for
health purposes in the previous 12 months.
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19. Acupuncture and Acupressure
Used for conditions such as chronic pain, depression,
and addiction
Based on Chinese belief that body is made of energy
channels
Needles are applied to specific points of body to
unblock channels
Acupressure
Closely related to acupuncture
Uses specific energy points across the body
Pressure applied by hand to specific points to unblock
channels
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20. Spinal Manipulation and
Massage Therapy
Changes in skeletal structure interfere with nervous
system and others
Treatment by chiropractor is called manipulation
Hands-on adjustments of spine/joints
Massage and beat therapy
Massage: Use of hands, fingers, elbows, and forearms to
manipulate muscles and soft tissues
Variety of health-related uses
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21. Spinal Manipulation and
Massage Therapy Con’t
Research has proved that some forms of manipulation
can be helpful, specifically manipulation of the lower
back.
Practitioners must attend an accredited school to attain
the degree Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).
It is used for a variety of health-related purposes, such
as to relieve pain, rehabilitate physical injuries, induce
relaxation, and reduce anxiety and stress.
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22. Ayurveda
Ancient Indian approach to medicine
Takes both behavior/personality and physical body type
into account
Based on person knowing spiritual self
Each person is a combination of the three mind/body
types, or dosha.
Positive effect and negative effect on body
Colors, sounds, clothing, environmental stimuli, food
types, and herbs
Treatment based on type of personality
Alter food and/or lifestyle to cure and prevent illness
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23. Biofeedback
Connects mind to body
Used for anxiety, back pain, neuromuscular dysfunction,
and tension headaches
Key component to its symptom relief is teaching the
patient how to relax.
Body divided into two movements: Voluntary and
involuntary
Voluntary: Musculoskeletal, and purposeful actions
Involuntary: Heartbeat, breathing, and digestion
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