Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Flashcards
What is complementary alternative medicine?
“ a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine”–National Centre for CAM (NCCAM).
What is Complementary or Integrative Medicine?
Refers to use of CAM together with conventional medicine
What is Alternative Medicine?
Refers to use of CAM in place of conventional medicine
What are Alternative medical systems?
eg. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic Medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, indigenous healing systems.
What are Mind-body interventions?
eg. meditation, yoga, deep-breathing exercises, qi gong, tai chi, guided imagery, biofeedback, dream therapy.
What are Biologically based therapies
eg. herbal medicine, Bach flower remedies, bee venom therapy, chelation therapy, vegetable juice therapy
What are Manipulative and body-based methods?
eg. osteopathy, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, Alexander technique, acupuncture, Rolfing, kinesiology
What are Energy therapies?
e.g.. therapeutic touch, healing touch, reiki, magnet therapy, light therapy, crystal therapy, qi gong
What are the five NCCAM categories?
- Alternative medical systems
- Mind-body interventions
- Biologically based therapies
- Manipulative and body-based methods
- Energy therapies
Describe the principle of Similars in homeopathy.
Preparations must undergo potentisation:
– Serial dilutions of a mother tincture
– Succussion
What are the direct harms of homeopathy?
No risk of interactions with ‘high potency’ medicines
What are the indirect harms of homeopathy?
- Delay in receiving appropriate treatment
- Attitudes of practitioner
• Immunisation (75/77 against – Ernst & Schmidt 2002)
• Malaria (10/10 – Singh & Tuff 2006)
Describe the regulation of homeopaths in the UK.
No legal regulation of homeopaths in the UK
– Society of Homeopaths
– Faculty of Homeopathy
– British Homeopathic Association
Homeopathic products regulated by EU directive
What are the drug interactions of St John’s Wort (Hypericum)?
– Hormonal contraceptives – Anti-depressives – Anti-coagulants – Anti-epilepsy agents – Heart medications – Anti-cancer agents – Anti-virals for HIV – ... all this and more!
What are the direct harms of herbal medicine?
– Adverse drug reactions
– Drug interactions
– Quality control
What are the indirect harms of herbal medicine?
– Delay in receiving appropriate treatment
Describe the regulation of herbal medicine.
MHRA regulates herbal medicines in the UK market
- Safety, quality, efficacy as per any regular medicine (Marketing Authorisation (MA))
- Safety & quality (not efficacy) based on traditional usage (Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration (THR))
- The “herbalist exemption”
(Regulation 3 of The Human Medicines Regulations 2012)
What are the direct harms of chiropractic and osteopathy?
– 50% of chiropractic patients suffer an adverse reaction
– Tearing of artery wall leading to stroke
– Injury to the spinal cord
– Chiropractic X rays
What are the indirect harms of chiropractic and osteopathy?
– Delay in receiving appropriate treatment
– Attitudes of practitioner
• Anti-vaccination
Describe the regulation of chiropractic and osteopathy.
Only two CAM modalities under statutory regulation
– General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
– General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
Hoe does acupuncture describe Ch’i as a ‘vital energy’?
Ch’i (Qi, “ch-ee”) as a ‘vital energy’
– Flows through ‘meridians’
– Meridians associated with major organs – Illness due to disrupted flow of Ch’i
What is acupuncture?
Insertion of needles along meridians
– Restores flow of Ch’i
– 1 – 10cm in depth, with/without rotation
– Left in place for seconds to hours
What are the direct harms of acupuncture?
– Infections
– Pneumothorax
What are the indirect harms of acupuncture?
– Delay in receiving appropriate treatment
– Attitudes of practitioner
Describe the regulation of acupuncture.
Premises and practitioners must be licensed
– Via local authority (same as tattooing/body piercing)
Voluntary regulation
– Several organisations, e.g. British Acupuncture Council
