Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices
that are not part of standard medical care.

Standard medical care is medicine that is practiced by health professionals who hold an
M.D. (medical doctor) degree. It is also practiced by other health professionals, such as
physical therapists, physician assistants, psychologists, and registered nurses. Standard
medicine may also be called biomedicine or allopathic or regular medicine. Some standard
medical care practitioners are also practitioners of CAM.
 Complementary medicine is treatments that are used along with standard medical
treatments but are not considered to be standard treatments. One example is using
acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of cancer treatment.
 Alternative medicine is treatments that are used instead of standard medical treatments.
One example is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of anticancer drugs that are
prescribed by an oncologist.
 Integrative medicine is a total approach to medical care that combines standard
medicine with the CAM practices that have been shown to be safe and effective. They treat
the patient's mind, body, and spirit.

Are CAM Approaches Safe?

Some CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be safe and
effective. However there are others that have been found to be ineffective or possibly harmful.
Less is known about many CAM therapies, and research has been slower for a number of
reasons:

 Time and funding issues

 Problems finding institutions
 Regulatory issues

CAM therapies need to be evaluated with the same long and careful research process used to
evaluate standard treatments.

Natural Does Not Mean Safe

CAM therapies include a wide variety of botanicals and nutritional products, such as dietary
supplements, herbal supplements, and vitamins. Many of these "natural" products are considered
to be safe because they are present in, or produced by, nature. However, that is not true in all
cases. Some may affect how well other medicines work in your body. For example, the herb St.
John's wort, some people use for depression, but it may alter efficiency of some cancerous drugs.
may cause certain anticancer drugs not to work as well as they should.

Herbal supplements may be harmful when taken by themselves, with other substances, or in
large doses. For example kava kava, an herb that has been used to help with stress and anxiety
may cause liver damage.

Vitamins can also have unwanted effects in the body. For example, high doses of vitamins, even
vitamin C, may affect on cancerous drugs and radiation work. Too much of any vitamin is not
safe, even in a healthy person.

Tell to doctor if you're taking any dietary supplements, no matter how safe they are. This is very
important. Even though there may be ads or claims that something has been used for years, they
do not prove that it's safe or effective.

Supplements do not have to be approved by the federal government before being sold to the
public. Also, a prescription is not needed to buy them. Therefore, it's up to consumers to decide
what is best for them.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) are currently sponsoring or
cosponsoring various clinical trials that test CAM treatments and therapies in people. Some study
the effects of complementary approaches used in addition to conventional treatments and some
compare alternative therapies with conventional treatments.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves inserting very fine needles in to different parts of body (called acupuncture
points). This is believed to stimulate nerves and muscles which may release natural pain-
relieving chemicals, endorphins.
Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or "life force", flows through the
body in channels called meridians. This life force is known as Qi (pronounced "chee").

Practitioners who use acupuncturist in the traditional way believed that when life force does not
flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. They also believe & acupuncture can restore
the flow of life force, and so restore health.

It's based on the belief that health problems can be caused when energy or life force becomes
'blocked'. Acupuncture aims to unlock energy channels to restore the flow of force.
Acupuncture is mainly used for headaches or chronic pain, but some people feel it helps to
relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
It is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. Fine needles are inserted at certain sites
in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes.

It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles.

This results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins. It's
likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects
experienced with acupuncture.

A course of acupuncture usually creates longer lasting pain relief than when a single treatment is
used.

Uses of acupuncture

Acupuncture practitioners – sometimes called acupuncturists – use acupuncture to treat a wide

range of health conditions. However, the use of acupuncture is not always based on rigorous
scientific evidence.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for the NHS
on the use of treatments and care of patients.

Currently, NICE only recommends considering acupuncture as a treatment option for:

 chronic tension-type headaches

 migraines

Acupuncture is also often used to treat other musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and
muscles) and pain conditions, including:

 chronic pain, such as neck pain

 joint pain

 dental pain

 postoperative pain

However, the evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture compared with other treatments is
unclear.
How acupuncture is performed

An initial acupuncture session usually lasts 20 minutes to 1 hour and involves an assessment of
your general health, medical history and a physical examination, followed by insertion of the
acupuncture needles.

Courses of treatment often involve several separate sessions, but this can vary.

Insertion of the needles

The needles are inserted into specific places on the body, which practitioners call acupuncture
points.

The needles used are very fine and are usually a few centimetres long. They should be single-
use, pre-sterilised needles that are disposed of immediately after use.

Acupuncture practitioners choose specific points to place the needles based on the patients
condition. Several points may be used during a typical session, depending on the number of
symptoms.

The needles may be inserted just under the skin or deeper so they reach muscle. Once the needles
are in place, they may be left in position for a length of time lasting from a few minutes up to
around 30 minutes.

Patient may feel a tingling or a dull ache when the needles are inserted but should not experience
any significant pain.

When it's done by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is generally very safe. Rarely, some
people experience mild, short-term side effects such as:

 pain where the needles puncture the skin

 bleeding or bruising where the needles puncture the skin

 drowsiness

 feeling sick

 feeling dizzy or faint

 worsening of pre-existing symptoms

If patient have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia, or are taking anticoagulants then avoid
this process, talk to GP before treatment.
Acupuncture is also not usually advised if patient have a metal allergy or an infection in the area
where needles may be inserted.

Homeopathy:

Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who
practice it is use in tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe
these stimulate the healing process.

It was developed in the late 1700s in Germany. It’s common in many European countries, but it’s
not quite as popular in the United States.

The founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843) believed that the process of
succussion activated the "vital energy" of the diluted substance, and that successive dilutions
increased the "potency" of the preparation.

Working principle:

A basic belief behind homeopathy is “like cures like.” In other words, something that brings on
symptoms in a healthy person can -- in a very small dose -- treat an illness with similar
symptoms. This is meant to trigger the body’s natural defenses.

For example, red onion makes the eyes watery. That’s why it’s used in homeopathic remedies
for allergies. Treatments for other ailments are made from poison ivy, white arsenic, crushed
whole bees, and an herb called arnica.

In homeopathy, homeopathic dilution (known by practitioners as "dynamisation" or

"potentisation") is a process in which a substance is diluted with alcohol or distilled water, and
then vigorously shaken in a process called "succussion" They believe this step transfers the
healing essence. Homeopaths also believe that the lower the dose, the more powerful the
medicine. In fact, many of these remedies no longer contain any molecules of the original
substance. They come in a variety of forms, like sugar pellets, liquid drops, creams, gels, and
tablets

Homeopathy Treatment:

It’s used for a wide variety of health issues, including some chronic illnesses:

 Allergies
 Migraines

 Depression

 Chronic fatigue syndrome

  Rheumatoid arthritis

 Irritable bowel syndrome

 Premenstrual syndrome

It can also be used for minor issues like bruises,

scrapes, toothaches, headaches, nausea, coughs, and colds.

 Don’t use homeopathic medicine for life-threatening illnesses, like asthma, cancer,
and heart disease, or in emergencies. Avoid using it in place of vaccines.

Some homeopathic products called “nosodes” are marketed as an alternative for vaccines,
but there’s no research to prove they’re effective.

Side effects:

Consider the case of Zicam, a homeopathic cold remedy pulled from the market in 2009 after
reports of users permanently losing their sense of smell.

Zicam is 2X, making it a 1-percent solution. A dose of Zicam contains more than 100 microliters
of solution, and 1 percent of that is zinc gluconate.

Zinc substances have been known for decades to cause hyposmia, a reduced ability to smell, and
anosmia, a loss of smell. In regards to zinc gluconate, a study published in 2009 in PLoS ONE
summed it up with the damning title "Zicam-Induced Damage to Mouse and Human Nasal
Tissue."
Similarly, in 2010, the Japanese government investigating deaths of babies resulting from
homeopathic treatment instead of real medicine. Deaths included babies born with a vitamin K
deficiency, whose mothers' midwives administered a homeopathic treatment instead of the much-
needed vitamin K injection, well known to prevent hemorrhaging. The infants died from
bleeding in the skull.

Aromatherapy:

Aromatherapy uses essential oils (oils extracted from plants) for healing. The smell (aroma) of
particular oils helps to relax, sleep better, relieve pain and improve low mood. For example,
when used appropriately lavender and camomile essential oils are thought to be relaxing and help
in sleep.
The oils can be used in many different ways, such as in creams, oil burners, massaged in to the
skin or by adding drops to a warm bath.
It is possible to experience allergies or reactions to the oils may occur so first perform allergy
test.
 To do an allergy test:

 Dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil at twice the concentration you plan to use
 Rub the mixture into an area the size of a quarter on the inside of the forearm
If there is no allergic response within 24 to 48 hours, it should be safe to use.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are made from flower, herb, and tree parts, like bark, roots, peels, and petals. The cells
that give a plant its fragrant smell are its "essence." When an essence is extracted from a plant, it
becomes an essential oil.

It takes a lot of plant product to make essential oils. More than 200 pounds of lavender flowers are
used to make just 1 pound of lavender essential oil.

Not all products made with plant essence are essential oils. True essential oils aren't blended with
other chemicals or fragrances. They're made using a specific process that doesn't change the
chemistry of the plant.

Lemon, chamomile, lavender, cedarwood, and bergamot are a few of the essential oils used
regularly in aromatherapy

How Aromatherapy Works

Experts think aromatherapy activates areas in nose called smell receptors, which send messages
through nervous system (brain.)

The oils may activate certain areas of brain, like limbic system, which plays a role in emotions.
They could also have an impact on hypothalamus, which may respond to the oil by creating feel-
good brain chemicals like serotonin.

Some experts think that when use essential oils on the skin, they cause a response in skin and
other parts of your body, like your joints.

Uses of Aromatherapy

Don’t use aromatherapy instead of regular medical treatment. But for some conditions, research
shows that aromatherapy can have health benefits. It may:

 Ease stress, anxiety, and depression

 Boost feelings of relaxation
 Improve sleep
 Help improve quality of life for people with long-term health problems like dementia
 Ease certain types of pain, including pain from kidney stones and osteoarthritis of the knee
 Fight bacteria when put them on skin
 Ease some of the side effects of cancer treatment, like nausea and pain

Is It Safe?

Aromatherapy is generally safe. Essential oils can cause side effects, though. Some can irritate eyes,
skin, or mucous membranes in your. They can also cause mild allergic reactions.

If drink some essential oils they can hurt kidneys or liver. It's rare that people take essential oils
by mouth, and shouldn't do it unless doctor says it's OK.

Essential oils are never applied directly to the skin. They must always be diluted with a
carrier oil. Usually, a few drops of essential oil to an ounce of carrier oil is the
concentration. Most common carrier oils are sweet almond oil or olive oil.

Some people report developing allergies to essential oils after using them many times before. If a
new allergic response appears, the individual should stop using it immediately and avoid its
smell.

To achieve a 0.5 to 1 percent dilution, use 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier. For a
5 percent dilution, add 30 drops to one ounce of carrier.

A maximum concentration of 5 percent is generally considered safe for adults.

Ingesting, or swallowing, essential oils is not recommended. Taken by mouth, the oils can
damage the liver or kidneys.

They can also lead to interactions with other drugs, and they can undergo unexpected changes
while in the gut.

Risk:

A person with high blood pressure, for example, should avoid stimulants, such as rosemary.
Some compounds, such as fennel, aniseed, and sage act similarly to estrogen, so a person with an
estrogen-dependent breast or ovarian tumor should avoid these.

Acupressure:

Used for thousands of years in China, acupressure applies the same principles as acupuncture to
promote relaxation and wellness and to treat disease. Sometimes called pressure acupuncture,
Acupressure is often thought of as simply acupuncture without the needles. But what exactly is
acupressure and how does it work?
Theory Behind Acupressure:

Acupressure is just one of a number of Asian bodywork therapies (ABT) with roots in traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM). Examples of other Asian bodywork therapies are medical qigong and
Tuina. Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure.

Traditional Chinese medical theory describes special acupoints, or acupressure points, that lie along
meridians, or channels, in body. These are the same energy meridians and acupoints as those
targeted with acupuncture. It is believed that through these invisible channels flows vital energy --
or a life force called qi (ch'i). It is also believed that these 12 major meridians connect specific
organs or networks of organs, organizing a system of communication throughout the body. The
meridians begin at fingertips, connect to brain, and then connect to an organ associated with a
certain meridian.

According to this theory, when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance, illness can
occur. Acupressure and acupuncture are among the types of TCM that are thought to help restore
balance.

Acupressure working principle:

Acupressure practitioners use their fingers, palms, elbows or feet, or special devices to apply
pressure to acupoints on the body's meridians. Sometimes, acupressure also involves stretching or
acupressure massage, as well as other methods.

During an acupressure session, practitioner gently presses on acupressure points on the body. A
session typically lasts about one hour.

The goal of acupressure or other types of Asian bodywork is to restore health and balance to the
body's channels of energy and to regulate opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang
(positive energy). Some proponents claim acupressure not only treats the energy fields and body but
also the mind, emotions, and spirit. Some even believe that therapists can transmit the vital energy
(external qi) to another person.

Not all Western practitioners believe that this is possible or even that these meridians exist. Instead,
they attribute any results to other factors, such as reduced muscle tension, improved circulation, or
stimulation of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers.

Common Acupuncture Points:

There are literally hundreds of acupuncture points on the body -- too many to name. Here are
three that are commonly used by acupuncturists and acupressure practitioners:

 Large intestine 4 (LI 4): This is in the soft, fleshy web between your thumb and
forefinger.
  Liver 3 (LR-3): Located on the top of foot up from the space between big toe and next
toe.

 Spleen 6 (SP-6): This is about three finger widths above inner anklebone.

Health Problems Benefit From Acupressure:

Research into the health benefits of acupressure is in its infancy. Many patient reports support its use
for a number of health concerns. More well-designed research is needed, though. Here are a few
health problems that appear to improve with acupressure:

Nausea . Several studies support the use of wrist acupressure to prevent and treat nausea and
vomiting:

 After surgery
 During spinal anesthesia

 After chemotherapy

 From motion sickness

 Related to pregnancy

The PC 6 acupressure point is located in the groove between the two large tendons on the inside of
the wrist that start at the base of the palm. There are special wristbands that are sold over the
counter. These press on similar pressure points and work for some people.

Cancer . In addition to relieving nausea right after chemotherapy, there are individual reports that
acupressure also helps reduce stress, improve energy levels, relieve pain, and lessen other
symptoms of cancer or its treatments. More research is needed to confirm these reports.

Pain. Some preliminary evidence suggests that acupressure may help with low back pain,
postoperative pain, or headache. Pain from other conditions may benefit, as well. To
relieve headache, the LI 4 pressure point is sometimes tried.

Arthritis . Some studies suggest that acupressure releases endorphins and promotes anti-
inflammatory effects, helping with certain types of arthritis.

Depression and anxiety. More than one study suggests that fatigue and mood may improve
from the use of acupressure. Better designed trials are needed to be sure.
Precautions With Acupressure:

In general, acupressure is very safe. If patient is suffering with cancer, arthritis, heart disease, or
a chronic condition, be sure to have a discussion with doctor before trying any therapy that
involves moving joints and muscles, such as acupressure. Deep tissue work such as acupressure
may need to be avoided if any of the following conditions apply:

 The treatment is in the area of a cancerous tumor or if the cancer has spread to bones
 rheumatoid arthritis, a spinal injury, or a bone disease that could be made worse by
physical manipulation

 In varicose veins

 In pregnancy (because certain points may induce contractions)

Reflexology (zone therapy) is a type of therapy that uses gentle pressure on specific points
along your feet (and possibly on hands or ears as well) to help to feel better. The theory is that
this eases stress, and that helps the to body work better.

The way reflexology connects spots on the outside of body to the inside is a bit
like acupuncture and acupressure. But those therapies use points all over body, not just on feet,
hands, and ears. And while reflexologists do use their hands, it isn’t a form of massage.

Like those other therapies, though, reflexology is complementary to medical treatments. It can be
done alongside traditional care, but it’s not an alternative to it, and reflexologists don’t diagnose
or treat illnesses.

Reflexology may help to feel less stressed, more relaxed, and more energized. But the benefits
might go deeper if you have certain health issues.

Some people with medical conditions find that they feel less pain and discomfort if they have
less stress, and reflexology may help with that. Researchers reviewed 17 studies of the
psychological benefits of the therapy and found that it boosted feelings of well-being and made it
easier for people to manage their conditions.

More research is needed to see if reflexology can have a direct effect on specific conditions, but
based on what research show so far, it may ease:

 Anxiety among people who've had heart surgery

 Pain during labor

 Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, like fatigue and uncomfortable skin sensations

 Emotional and physical pain caused by cancer

Precaution of Reflexology:

Most people, even those in the hospital, can benefit from reflexology. A study on women
with advanced breast cancer found it was safe even for people who are very ill.

But shouldn’t have reflexology if patient recovering from an injured foot or have gout. Because it
may affect blood flow, it’s not for people with blood clots or women who are pregnant.

With chronic condition, a disease that affects feet or legs, or arthritis in feet or ankles, ask from
doctor first. If feet are off-limits, patient still be able to have reflexology on your hands or ears.