Complementary and Alternative Medicine Flashcards
What medicines are considered to be CAM (Complementary and alternative medicines)?
Herbal remedies Homeopathic remedies Acupuncture Aromatherapy Reiki Shiatsu Yoga Chiropractor Hypnosis Reflexology Meditation
Who uses CAM most?
Females > Males
Which Dogmas regarding CAM are true?
There is no evidence to support them
The treatments are holistic.
What is teratogenesis?
The process where malformations are caused in a foetus/embryo.
How many patients in the UK use CAM?
80% of population
60% of cancer patients
60% of pregnant women
1% of children <1
How many GPs prescribe CAM?
60%
How many midwives recommend CAM?
30%
What are herbal medicines?
Herbal medicines are those with active ingredients made from plant parts, such as leaves, roots or flowers.
What does St Johns wort do?
Enzyme inducer - enhances the metabolism of a wide range of drugs.
This reduce the effectiveness of medicines/
Which drugs does St Johns Wort reduce the effectiveness of?
HIV medicine
Immunosuppressants for organ donation
What is Sibutramine?
An anti obesity drug which is now banned as it causes an increased risk in cardiovascular events and stroke.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a “treatment” based on the use of highly diluted substances, which practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture 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.
What is aromatherapy?
The use of concentrated oils extracted from herbs, flowers and other plants to treat diseases.
Usually massaged into the skin, in baths, compresses, diffusion, inhalation.
