Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Ma. Rejina A. Palacpac

Abstract:
This paper discusses what is Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The
paper describes the different types, effectiveness and side effects of using
Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It provides information of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine benefits to the patients. Finally, this paper describes some
negative aspects to using Complementary and Alternative Medicine in treating the
patients.

Table of Contents:
1.) Introduction
2.) Description of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
3.) Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
4.) Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
5.) Side effects Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6.) Conclusion
7.) References

Introduction:

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of healing that dates back to 200

B.C. in written form. China, Korea, Japan, India and Vietnam have all developed their

own unique versions of traditional medicine. Alternative medicine is commonly

categorized together with complementary medicine under the umbrella term

“complementary and alternative medicine”. Complementary medicine refers to therapies

that complement traditional western (or allopathic) medicine and is used together with

conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional

medicine. Alternative medicine refers to therapeutic approaches taken in place of

traditional medicine and used to treat or ameliorate disease. Integrative medicine refers to

combining complementary treatments with conventional care. The basic philosophy of

a human being as a whole person.

Examples of complementary and alternative medicine healing systems include

Ayurveda, which originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, emphasizes a unique

cure per individual circumstances. It incorporates treatments including yoga, meditation,

massage, diet and herbs; Homeopathy uses minute doses of a substance that causes

symptoms to stimulate the body’s self-healing response. Naturopathy focuses on non-

invasive treatments to help your body do its own healing. Ancient medicines

(complementary and alternative medicine treatments) include Chinese, Asian, Pacific

Islander, American, Indian and Tibetan practices.

Description of 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. Complementary and alternative

healthcare and medical practices (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care

systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of

conventional medicine. The list of practices that are considered as CAM changes

continually as CAM practices and therapies that are proven safe and effective become

accepted as the “mainstream” healthcare practices. Today, CAM practices may be

grouped within five major domains: mind-body therapies, biologically based practices,

manipulative and body-based practices, energy healing, and traditional alternative

medicine. Patients of all ailments and ages can benefit mentally and physically from

using Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

People may use the term "natural," "holistic," "home remedy," or "Eastern

Medicine" to refer to CAM. However, experts often use five categories to describe it.

These are listed below with examples for each. 

The first category is Mind-body therapies. These combine mental focus,

breathing, and body movements to help relax the body and mind. Some examples are

meditation, it is focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind and

lessen stressful thoughts and feelings. Biofeedback, is using special machines, the patient

learns how to control certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness

(such as heart rate and blood pressure). Hypnosis, is a trance-like state in which a person

becomes more aware and focused on certain feelings, thoughts, images, sensations or

behaviors. A person may feel calmer and open to suggestion in order to aid in healing.

Yoga, is an ancient system of practices used to balance the mind and body through

stretches and poses, meditation, and controlled breathing. Tai chi, is a form of gentle

exercise and meditation that uses slow sets of body movements and controlled breathing.

Imagery, is focusing on positive images in the mind, such as imagining scenes, pictures,

or experiences to help the body heal. Creative outlets, are interests such as art, music, or

dance

The second category is Biologically based practices. This type of CAM uses

things found in nature. Some examples are vitamins, are nutrients the body needs in small

amounts to function and stay healthy. Dietary supplements, are products added to the diet

that may contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and herbs. Botanicals, are plants
or parts of plants. One type is cannabis. Herbs and spices such as turmeric or cinnamon.

Special foods or diets.

The third category is Manipulative and body-based practices. These are based on

working with one or more parts of the body. Some examples are massage therapy, is a

therapy where the soft tissues of the body are kneaded, rubbed, tapped, and stroked.

Chiropractic therapy, is a type of manipulation of the spine, joints, and skeletal system.

Reflexology, is a type of massage in which pressure is applied to specific points on the

feet or hands, which are believed to match up with certain parts of the body.

The fourth category is Energy healing. Energy healing is based on the belief that a

vital energy flows through the body. The goal is to balance the energy flow in the patient.

There's not enough evidence to support the existence of energy fields. However, there are

no harmful effects in using these approaches. Some examples are reiki, placing hands

lightly on or just above the person with the goal of guiding energy to help a person's own

healing response. Therapeutic touch, is moving hands over energy fields of the body or

gently touching a person's body.

The last category is Traditional Alternative Medicine. These are healing systems

and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Some

examples are Ayurvedic medicine, is a system from India in which the goal is to cleanse

the body and restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines,

exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods. Another example is

Traditional Chinese medicine, it is based on the belief that qi (the body’s vital energy)

flows along meridians or channels in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional,

mental, and physical health in balance. It aims to restore the body’s balance between two
forces called yin and yang. Acupuncture is a common practice in Chinese medicine that

involves stimulating certain points on the body to promote health, or to lessen disease

symptoms and treatment side effects. Naturopathic medicine, is a system that avoids

drugs and surgery. It is based on the use of natural agents such as air, water, light, heat

and massage to help the body heal itself. It may also use herbal products, nutrition,

acupuncture, and aromatherapy.

Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

Research shows that some complementary therapies are safe and effective when

used with standard cancer treatment. Complementary therapies can help people cope with

the side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Some

CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be generally

safe and effective. These include acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to name a few.

However, there are others that do not work, may be harmful, or could

interact negatively with your medicines.

Alternative therapies are often promoted as options to use for cancer instead of

the standard medical treatments. For example, instead of chemotherapy, some people

promote taking a particular herb or supplement or avoiding specific foods. Advocates of

alternative medicine hold that the various alternative treatment methods are effective in

treating a wide range of major and minor medical conditions, and contend that recently

published research (Michalsen, 2003; Gonsalkorale, 2003; Berga, 2003) proves the

effectiveness of specific alternative treatments.

Although many people in the United States self-medicate with dietary

supplements, many others seek care from practitioners of traditional systems of medicine,
including Ayurveda (from India), Kampo (from Japan), traditional Chinese medicine,

Native American medicine, and more recently developed systems such as naturopathy

and chiropractic. Despite the diverse cultures, geographical locations, and beliefs from

which these systems developed, they share several common characteristics such as the

use of complex interventions often including botanical medications; individualized

diagnosis and treatment of patients; an emphasis on maximizing the body's inherent

healing ability; and treatment of the “whole” patient by addressing their physical, mental,

and spiritual attributes rather than focusing on a specific pathogenic process as

emphasized in western biomedicine.

Side effects of Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

People often use complementary therapies to help them feel better and cope with

having cancer and treatment. How you feel plays a part in how you cope. Many

complementary therapies concentrate on relaxation and reducing stress. They might help

to calm your emotions, relieve anxiety, and increase your general sense of health and

well-being. Many doctors, cancer nurses and researchers are interested in the idea that

positive emotions can improve your health.

There is growing evidence that certain complementary therapies can help to

control some symptoms of cancer and treatment side effects. For example, acupuncture

can help to relieve sickness caused by some chemotherapy drugs or it can help relieve a

sore mouth after having treatment for head and neck cancer. Acupuncture can also help to

relieve pain after surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck.

Regarding the risk of CAM therapies themselves, some are clearly safe and even

safer than conventional medicine practices. One key example is using meditation,
acupuncture, and manual manipulation for pain management before or instead of opioid

drugs. Other examples of safe practices include acupuncture to treat nausea, yoga to

improve balance, or ginger tea to aid digestion.

CAM therapies include a wide variety of botanicals and nutritional products, such

as herbal and dietary supplements, and vitamins. These products do not have to be

approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being sold to the public.

Also, a prescription isn't needed to buy them. Herbal supplements may be harmful when

taken by themselves, with other substances, or in large doses. For example, some studies

have shown that kava kava, an herb that has been used to help with stress and anxiety

may cause liver damage. Another is St. John wort, which some people use for depression,

may cause certain cancer drugs to not work as well as they should. Some substances in

CAM preparations may interact dangerously with each other or with prescription drugs.

Harm can be done by CAM therapies that involve manipulation of the body or other

nonchemical interventions for example, manipulation that injures vulnerable parts of the

body.

Conclusion:

Although Contemporary and Alternative Medicine may seem safe for treating

patients because it is labeled as “natural”, some techniques and therapy has still not been

approved and it could be harmful or even interfere with the patient’s treatment. Many

patients like the idea that complementary therapies seem natural and non-toxic. Some

complementary therapies can help with specific symptoms or side effects. But we don't

know much about how they might interact with conventional treatments like cancer drugs

or radiotherapy. Some types of complementary or alternative medicine might make

believe that using specific alternative therapies instead of conventional cancer treatment

might help control or cure their cancer. There are also people who promote

alternative therapies in this way. Using alternative therapy can become more important to

people with advanced cancer if their conventional treatment is no longer helping to

control it. It is understandable that they hope that alternative therapies might work. But,

there is no scientific evidence to prove that any type of alternative therapy can help to

control or cure cancer. Some alternative therapies might be unsafe and can cause harmful

side effects.
References:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). (2022, March 21). Retrieved from

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam

Tabish S. A. (2008). Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Is it Evidence-

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Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Therapies. (2019, December 11). Retrieved

from

https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/integrative-

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%20chemotherapy%2C%20and%20other%20treatments.

Why people use complementary or alternative therapies | Cancer Research UK. (n.d.).

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general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/about/why-used

Millstine, D. (2022, March 30). Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and

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https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/integrative-complementary-

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