CAM Part 2 Flashcards
What are the uses of peppermint?
- Good evidence: IBS
* Some evidence: ANTISPASMODIC, breastfeeding pain, dyspepsia, MIGRAINE & TENSION HEADACHES, NAUSEA
What is the dosing of peppermint?
- 0.2 to 0.6 mL of peppermint oil TID
- 2 to 10 mg in lozenge form
- 10% peppermint oil in menthol applied topically for headache TID to QID
- 3 to 4 drops of oil added to 150mL of hot water TID for inhalation
What are the side effects of peppermint?
- Topical: rash, hives, contact dermatitis
* Oral: dizziness, HEARTBURN, anal burning
What are the counseling points for peppermint?
- avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- separate from antacids for 2 hours
- overall, considered safe for adults and children over 8
What are the uses for aloe vera?
- Some evidence: CONSTIPATION, herpes, psoriasis
* Unclear evidence: SUNBURNS, WOUND HEALING
What is the dose for aloe vera?
*topical use TID to QID (safe in children, but too much oral consumption by anyone is not recommended)
What are the counseling points for aloe vera?
- reports of liver dysfunction
- MAY DECREASE GLUCOSE
- MAY CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS (caution in patients allergic to the Liliaceae family–garlic, onions, tulips)
- TOPICAL USE MAY CAUSE DRY SKIN
- ORAL USE MAY CAUSE CRAMPING AND DIARRHEA
- SAFETY CONCERNS RELATED TO ORAL ALOE LATEX USE (avoid in children, pregnancy, and lactation)
- DO NOT TAKE WITH DIGOXIN
What type of product is oscillococcinum? What is its other name?
- also called oscillo
- homeopathic product
- marketed for flu–nature’s #1 flu medicine
What is Oscillo derived from?
From wild duck heart and liver (anas barbariae hepatitis et cordis extractum)
What are the uses for Oscillo?
Insufficient evidence for the treatment and prevention of the flu.
What is the dose of Oscillo?
1 gram or 1 tube up to TID
What are the counseling points for Oscillo?
- the product is so dilute it likely does not contain any duck heart or liver
- NO KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS DUE TO LACK OF ACTIVE INGREDIENT
- NO PROVEN EFFICACY
What is the definition of homeopathy?
System of medical practices that treat a disease by the administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in a healthy persons produce symptoms similar to those of the disease.
What law do homeopathic medications follow?
The Law of Similars (like cures like)
Who regulates homeopathics?
FDA–but the approval process is different than that of conventional medicines
Who is the official compendium of homeopathics?
The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS)
- standards for homeopathic medicine
- must have data on safety and efficacy
- products must be made according to standards in the HPUS
What is the efficacy of homeopathics dependent on?
On the strength and the mixing. The more you shake it, the better it works. The more diluted it is, the better it works.
Describe how homeopathics are described with each dilution.
After each step, the substance is given a higher number with the letter designation dependent on the dilution factor. The number refers to how many times it has been diluted and successed. The letter refers to the size of each dilution (X is 1:10 and C is 1:100).
Example: A substance claims 3X of a homeopathic. How was it made?
- 1 part med with 9 parts of solvent, success 10 times (1X)
- Take 1 part of 1X and add to 9 parts solvent (2X)
- Take 1 part of 2X and add to 9 parts solvent to get 3X
What is the other name of echinacea?
Purple coneflower
What part of echinacea is used?
*roots
*leaves
*flowers
(all used)
What are the three species of echinacea? Which has the best evidence?
- E. angustifoia
- E. pallida
- E. purpurea (best evidence)
What are the uses of echinacea?
- Some evidence: COMMON COLD, yeast infections
* Insufficient evidence: various viral infections
What is the dose of echinacea?
- ranges from 300mg TID
* varies depending on indication and species of echinacea
What are the counseling points of echinacea?
- AVOID USE IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIES TO RAGWEE, CHRYSANTHEMUMS, MARIGOLDS, DAISIES
- INCREASE RISK OF RASH IN CHILDREN
- MAY CAUSE NAUSEA AND VOMITING, fever, heartburn, dizziness, dry mouth, and insomnia
- AVOID USE IN PATIENTS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND PATIENTS PRONE TO ALLERGIES
- POSSIBLE LIVER DYSFUNCTION
- may be safe in pregnancy, but evidence still lacking
- inhibits CYP1A2–watch for increase in CYP1A2 substrates
- caution with immune suppression
- can be use in animals
What is the latin name for milk thistle?
Silybum marianum
What is milk thistle made of?
Silymarin which has antioxidant, antifibrotic, and anti inflammatory activities
What part of the milk thistle has the most amount of silymarin?
The seeds