Chapter 8 “Alternative” Methods

Chapter 8
“CAM”
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
Donna Gordon
Consumer Health
Alternative Medicine is
not part of standard
(science-based)
medicine in the U.S.
Questions To Use For
Evaluations
• Is it Testable?
• Is it a complete system of diagnosis
& treatments?
• What evidence is there that it helps?
• Are its practitioners adequately
trained?
¾ See Consumer Tip
Various Practices
1. Acupuncture
– Patients screened
– not used for emergency
– often accompanied by local anesthesia
–Theories
• pain impulses blocked to brain and
spinal cord (gates)
Acupuncture points
• Stimulates production of narcotic-like
substances (endorphins)
• placebo effect, hypnosis, conditioning
–One of many ways to produce
analgesia (pain relief)
• electricity, heat, pressure
–Maridians, Chi, Chakras metaphysical theory not
substantiated
¾ See consumer tip
–NIH - 1997
• Sufficient evidence
• expand into conventional medicine
• encourage further studies
• suggested federal government &
insurance companies expand coverage
of acupuncture
(Reflect bias of panelists - proponents
of acupuncture not a consensus of
valid scientific opinion)
2. Reflexology
–Apply pressure to various points on
the hands or feet
–35$ to100$ per treatment
3. Chiropractic
–Daniel David Palmer - 1895
• “misalignments” - “luxations”
• Greek - cheir (hand) + praktikos
(practice)
–Medicare coverage - 1972
–1997 - 6.57 billion
–2002 - 9.39 billion
• (Data from U.S. Dept. of Commerce)
–Licensed in all 50 States
–Straights
• subluxation –Bones out of place
pinched nerves etc.
• primary cause of ill health and
adjustments are the remedy
–Mixers
• germs, hormones, etc. play a role in
disease
• regard mechanical disturbances of
the nervous system as the underlying
cause
–Both medical doctors and
chiropractors use “subluxation”
• medical meaning dislocation found
through x-ray and use manipulative
techniques to restore mobility
– American Chiropractic Association
• ACA Mixers
– International Chiropractors Association
• ICA Straights
– Education requirements
• 3 to 4 years undergrad
• 4 year doctors degree
4. Naturopathy
–Natural medicine
• a system of healing through nature
–Use:
• food
• vitamins
• herbs
• colonic irrigation
• acupuncture
5. Iridology
Areas of the body represent areas of the eye.
Heat, Water, Electricity
6. Homeopathy
–Products derived from minerals,
botanical substances
• diluted until the desired concentration
is reached
–About 400 licensed practitioners
• 50% physician
• 50% dentists, veterinarians, nurses,
chiropractors
–Electrodiagnosis
• diagnoses what homeopathic
remedies are needed
• 1970’s Reinhold Voll, M.D.
• machines register flow of electrical
current
• fancy galvanometers - electrical
resistance of skin
• may lead to inappropriate treatment
7. Psychic Healing
–Referred to as:
• Faith healing
• Shamanistic healing
• Para Normal healing
• Divine healing
• Spiritual healing
• Laying-on-of-hands
–Christian Science - 1879
• Illness is an illusion caused by faulty
beliefs
• Prayer heals
• Do not use medication
• Opposed to immunizations
• Legally practiced in all states
• Medicare & some insurance's cover
care by Christian Science Practitioners
–Therapeutic Touch
• Transfer of energy
–Can have contact or non contact
•Four Steps - 1970’s
–Centering
»meditative process
–Assessment
»detect forces
–Unruffling the field
»sweeping “stagnant energy”
• TT practitioners also use
–aura’s
–kirlian photography
*(trials 44% successful)
8. Occult Practices
–Astrology
–Biorhythms
–Transcendental meditation
–Yoga
–Ayurvedic
9. Other “Alternative” Practices
–Alexander Technique
–Aromatherapy
–Felden Krais Method
–Magnet Therapy
–Reiki
Herbal Medicine
1. Over 50% of the population
use herbal therapy
2. More visits to
unconventional therapist
3. Over $14 billion spent each
year
– no reimbursement
4. Herbs cost more per dose
compared to medications
5. Alternative
–Instead of conventional
treatment
Fad Diagnosis
• Hypoglycimia
• MCS- multiple chemical sensitivity
• CFS- chronic fatigue syndrome
6. Complimentary
–Enhances or compliments
conventional treatment
7. Integrative
–“Drawing from the best of what
exists around the world”
Herbs
1. Echinacea
–Immunostimulant or alters
immune system
• Native American culture
–Colds, flu, and resistance to
infection
–Do not take if you have
arthritis, T.B., or HIV
–5.2 days to 4.8 days to decrease
a cold
2. St. Johns Wort
–Anti depressant
–Interacts with beer, wine, and
chocolate
–206 varieties
–27 active compounds
–Do not take it along with an
anti depressant
3. Valerian Root
–natural sedative
–Can also act as a stimulant
–Toxic to the liver
–Stops bowel movements
–Don’t take it with a sedative or
alcohol
4. Ginseng
–Cardiovascular enhancer
–Lowers cholesterol
–Increase stamina and endurance
–Not an aphrodisiac
–Interacts with aspirin
5. DHEA
–Slows aging
–Boosts energy
–Controls weight
–May increase the risk of breast
and prostate cancer
6. Ginkgo Biloba
–Boosts mental prowess
–Several European studies
• improvements were modest at
best
–can cause gastrointestinal
disturbance and headaches
7. Selenium
–Fights cancer
–Protects heart
–at high doses are linked to hair
loss, nausea, and fatigue
National Institutes of Health
(NIH)
• Office of Alternative Medicine
(OAM) developed
• 1992 Workshop to develop a
research agenda
• 2 years
–42 grants of about $130,000 for
projects
• 1998 changed OAM into National
Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
–more independence and funding
• 2000 Recommendation for further
study