Alternative medicines Flashcards
List alternative medicine disciplines
- Homeopathy
- Herbal medicine
- Nutriceuticals/ Nutritional therapy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic therapy/Osteopathy
- Bowen therapy
- Flower Essences
- Aromatherapy
- Crystal Therapy
- Healing
What is western herbal medicine?
European and American plant medicine
What is chinese herbal medicine?
A complex combination of medicinal plants and other natural products
What is ayurvedic medicine?
Traditional holistic healing system of India
What are poultices and compresses?
A common and ancient way of applying herbs topically. Remember the animal will lick any medicine applied to the skin. The dried or fresh herb is boiled for about 5 minutes then drained and excess liquid squeezed out and the herb allowed to cool. The herb is applied to the skin and wrapped with cotton gauze to hold in place
What is garlic used to treat?
- Sensitive bacteria include Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Brucella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Escherichia, Salmonella,
- Reduces serum cholesterol and blood lipid levels
- Effective against roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms and hookworms
- Antifungal properties
- Small doses improve the tone of smooth muscle in the intestine, increasing peristaltic activity. Large doses reverse the effect
- May be effective in the treatment of diabetes by increasing the amount of free insulin, resulting in a decrease of blood sugar
What is Gingko used for?
- Proved to be an excellent tonic for geriatric patients
- positive effect on cerebrovascular system
- reduces impact of ageing on nervous system
- stimulates variety o NTs
- positive effect on dementia
What is hawthorn used for?
- A popular long-term heart remedy
- Improves coronary circulation (opens vessels, relaxes smooth muscles)
- Used in the treatment of certain cardiac dysrhythmias- extrastoles and paroxysmal tachycardia
- Peripheral vasodilation
- Mild dilation of coronary vessels
- Increased enzyme metabolism in the heart muscle
- Improved oxygen use by the heart
- General tonic for the aging heart
What is echinacea used for?
- Demonstrated to be a non-specific immuno-stimulant
- Particularly effective on colds, influenza and other infectious processes
- The effect is achieved by the activation of phagocytosis and stimulation of fibroblasts
- Used topically to reduce inflammation and stimulate wound healing
What is milk thistle good for?
Protective of and restorative to the liver
What is slippery elm good for?
soothes the MM of the GIT
What is marigold good for?
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, fungicide, and non tannin astringent
Mild antispasmodic and antipyretic
Used on wounds and skin inflammations
What is aloe vera used for topically and internally?
Topically for abrasions, burns, skin infections, sores, sunburn, wounds
Internally as a laxative and anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
What are neutriceuticals?
Substances produced in a purified or extracted form that are administered orally to provide or stimulate production of raw materials required for normal bodily functions
Basically dietary supplements used to combat or prevent disease
Examples - neutriceuticals
- Multivitamins/minerals
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Antioxidants
- Chondroitin sulphate, - Glucosamine
- Co Enzyme Q10
- Vitamin C
What is omega 3 good for?
Allergies Arthritis Cancer Cardiovascular Eyesight Mental decline Skin problems Viral illness
What is omega 6 good for?
Anaemia Cardiovascular Fatigue Fertility Hair loss Liver damage Pyoderma Osteoarthritis
What are antioxidants good for?
Allergies Arthritis Asthma Cancer Blood vessels Cardiovascular Diabetes Eczema
What is Co enzyme Q10 good for?
Cardiovascular disorders
Cardiomyopathy
Myocardial ischaemia
Periodontal disease
Immune dysfunction
Increases the energy and exercise tolerance in older animalsWhat is vitamin C good for?
Allergies (food and environmental) Stress Atherosclerosis Cancer Infections (bacterial and viral) Cardiovascular disease Periodontal disease Osteoarthritis Wound healing
What is ‘Qi’?
‘Life essence’, ‘life force’
Transported along channels = ‘meridians’
Permeates and irrigates inner organs
Interference with flow of Qi causes imbalance (excess or deficiency) in vital energy and thus disease
Flow can be influenced at acupuncture points
What are meridians?
Connect points with similar characteristics
Named after organs
Energy in each meridian ebbs and flows e.g. LI peaks at 6 a.m. and is minimal at 6 p.m.
What is chiropractic therapy?
A manipulative therapy used to treat muscular and joint disorders, especially of the spine
Focuses on the interactions between neurological mechanisms and the biomechanics of the spine
What is Bowen therapy?
Developed from the human technique
Equine Muscle Release Therapy developed by Alison Goward
A gentle manipulative therapy that works on muscles and fascia at specific neuro-muscular trigger points on the body
The aim is to restore structural balance and alignment
Thus alleviates a wide range of symptoms
What is aromatherapy?
The therapeutic use of volatile essential oils to affect a psychologic or physiologic response going back 8000 years
Administered by diffusion/nebulisation, massage, or topical application, and rarely, orally.
Similar to herbal medicine in that natural plant substances used medicinally
Unlike herbal medicine the volatile oils are used because of their ready absorption through nasal mucosa or skin
Main properties of aromatherapy?
Antiseptic
Detoxifying
Revitalising
How can aromatherapy oils be administered?
- diffusion
- massage
- internally in food or water
Properties - lavender
Antidepressant, tranquilizer, stress related conditions Pain relief Inflammatory skin disease and lesions Fungicidal Burns Insecticide May have anticonvulsant activity
Uses - tea tree
Dermatophytosis
Bacterial skin lesions
Insecticidal
Uses - eucalyptus
- Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis
- URT infections
- UTI
Uses - peppermmint
- Gastroenteritis
- Colic
- IBD
- Bronchitis
- Asthma
- Headaches in humans
Name 4 controversies over complementary medicine
- Clear pharmacologic effects are difficult to document
- Possibly because therapeutic blood concentrations of essential oil components are difficult to attain
- Saturation of ambient air is difficult
- Remember the cat’s unique sensitivity to chemicals of the phenol class
List some examples of flower essences
- Bach- Edward Bach
- Australian Bush
Flower- Ian White
-Alaskan
-Green Man Tree Essences
-Pacific Sea Essences
-Orchid Essences
What is the proposed mode of action for flower essences?
The proposed mode of action does not use pharmacologic means but influences the patient by manipulating “energy” affecting the mental, emotional and physical balance of the individual
How are flower essences prepared?
Selected flowers are floated in good quality purified, spring or mineral water in a clear glass bowl.They are left exposed to sunlight until they wilt. The flowers are then removed and the newly charged water is added to an equal quantity of brandy
This is the Mother Tincture. 7 drops of Mother Tincture are added to a 15-30ml bottle containing 2 parts brandy to 1 part purified good quality water. This is the Stock Strength.
7 drops of Stock Strength are added to a 15-30ml bottle filled with a mix of 1 part brandy to 3 parts water, this is the Dose Strength
How are crystals and gems thought to work?
- All crystals and gems (and humans and animals) vibrate at their own frequency
- The interaction between the energy field of the patient and that of the crystal allows a stabilising and healing action to occur
- All crystals and gems have different healing properties
Properties - rose quartz
Heart- physical and emotional
Properties - amethyst
Clearing and stabilising, brings peace
Properties - clear quartz
The master healer, stimulates the immune system, brings the body into balance
Outline healing (including reiki)
- Involves no diagnosis, drugs, needles or equipment of any kind
- Therefore it is the only treatment that does not need to be performed or overseen by a vet
- Hands on healing is recognised in all societies and cultures
- All healers seem to feel that they act as a channel for energy rather than doing the healing themselves
What is the national federation of spiritual healers?
- operates ethically and professionally
- has its own code of conduct
- drawn up with the RCVS
- can be effective in any illness or problem (including mental and behavioural)
Why use alternative medicine techniques?
- Complimentary
- Supportive- often to the owner as well as the animal!
- Many modalities deal with the mental aspects of disease
- Fewer side effects
- They work!
When not to use complementary medicines?
- Surgical indications- fractures, RB, intussusception, caesarean etc
- The animal is not responding
- Without veterinary support
