Complimentary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Flashcards
Complimentary & Alternative Medicine
When did CAM grow in popularity? Why?
Before 1970s, use of CAM was virtually zero
in 1970s when the federal government introduced cutbacks to medicare
- conventional medicine met patients needs less, waitlists grew, standards declined - more people turning to CAM
Usage of CAM today
3/4 of Canadians have tried CAM
1 in 5 use some form of CAM regularly
When do people turn to CAM?
after conventional medicine has failed them
- growing use does not imply rejection of conventional medicine
Due to cutbacks, more people are finding conventional medicine isnt working
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3 types of CAM that are widely used in Canada (because they work)
1) Herbalism
2) Midwifery
3) Chiropractic Massage
Other types of CAM that dont work (3)
1) **Pyramidology - **theory that pyramid in room makes you healthy
2) **Negative Ionizers - **spews negative ions
3) **Psychic Surgery - **surgery can take place without surgical instruments
Herbalism - History & Popularity
Homeopathy & Naturopathy = modern versions of ancient technique
- goes back 1000s of years
- only fell out of favor in early 20th C → **Chemotherapy Rev. (20s) **where chemical wonder drugs replaced herbal drugs
- rendered herbal meds **obselete **
When and how did the public’s attitude change towards CAM?
After the **Chemotherapy Revolution (1920s) **→ rendered herbal drugs obselete
- despite their greater benefits they also have terrible side effects
**- **major incident in 1950s → **Thalidomide **
- showed how these chemical drugs can also be dangerous
- herbal meds may be slower to act but they are **safer **
**- **once again thought more favorably of herbal meds
Thalidomide - 1950s
theory that placental wall would prevent drugs given to pregnant mothers from going to fetus
- developed to deal with morning sickness, nausea & headaches
- chldren born had horrible birth defects → born with flippers, half brain missing
Naturopathic College - Canada’s 1st
**1978 **→ Opened in Toronto
When did the use of Herbal Medicine rise? Why?
fueled by cutbakcs
- rose after **1950s → **continued to rise throughout 80s & 90s
Echinacea
St. John’s Wort
**Echinacea - **popular in 90s for treating colds
**St. Johns Wort - **mild anti-depressent (upper)
By 2000 - Naturopathy & Herbalism
almost 500 licensed Naturopaths in Canada
- Herbal medicine had become **multi-billion $$ industry **
The problem with Modern Herbalism
- not as herbal as it used to be *
- drug market is already defined by pharmacuetical industry
so people are trained to expect to buy meds in form of pills/tablets → herbal meds now also come in this form
- the **connection to nature/ underlying philosophy **which was emphasized in early herbalism has been lost in modern world
(Holistic approach - emphasizes balance)
Traditional vs. Modern Herbal Medicine
Traditional - alternative to conventional medicine **(balance) **
Modern - **complementary **(pushing pills) **
- compliments pharm. industry (just another part)
- commodified along with most of modern medicine
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Midwifery - History & Popularity
ancient tradition - much older than any form of male medicine
**before 20th Century → **most children birthed by midwifes
**late 19th Century → **Canadian government tried to pass laws making midwifery **illegal **- hard to enforce especially in rural areas
- most people preferred to go to midwifes bc they didnt trust doctors (did more harm than good)
- changed with Chemotherapy Revolution (1920s) followed by building of modern hospitals (20s - 50s) - more women went to hospitals
by **1960s - **Midwifery had almost vanished in Canada
- cutbacks in the **70s **led to standards of hospitals declining & MW made a comeback →cheaper alternative to doctors
(3) different kinds of Midwives
1) Oldest type -Women taught by other women
2) **Conventional RN’s specialized **by taking Midwifery certificate
3) Licensed midwifes
1) Women taught by other owmen how to assist with birth
- oldest type
- no **formal qualifications **
**- **most controversial/least accepted
- **community/neighbour/granny/lay midwives **
even though since 19th Century → against the law/illegal, still continues b/c gov attempts to prosecute always fail (satisfied clients refuse to testify against them)
2) **Conventional Registered Nurses **with **Midwifery Certificate **
least controversial/most accepted bc HC authorities still in charge
- part of regular HC service
- report regularly to doctors who supervise their work
3) **Licensed Midwives **
- most interesting
- have formal qualifications but work independently (not nurses)
- grown the most in #s in recent years
History of Licensed Midwives
**- **legalization & numbers
Ontario → 1st to legalize this type of MW in 1991
**1993 - **1st 4-year college MW degree offered
since then, every province has legalized
SK → legalized in **1999, **granted coverage in Medicare in 2008
**2010 → 850 **licensed MW in Canada (still attending less than 5% of CDN births)
(400 in Ontario, 7 in SK)
Work of Midwives vs. OBGYNs
avg licensed MW works **40 pregnancies a year **- much less than OBGYNs
- spend more time than doctors do → before & after birth
- want to eliminate use of forceps, C-sections & drugs except in extreme emergencies
OBGYNS → want to control birthing process
- use drugs & technology - forceps & C-sections
How Midwives view their work vs. OBGYNS
**MWs **- object to increasing control of docs over birthing process
- want to eliminate use of forceps, C-sections & drugs except in emergencies
**if complications arise, **able to help or take to hospital
**- **argue that pregnancy is **natural part of women’s life **→ not a disease so should not be treated as one
- mother should be in charge of birthing process & MWs are there to assist (not take over)
**OBGYNs → **reduce mother to status of **drugged-up observer **@ birthing process
- want to control birth process
C-sections - Usage
**1960s **→ less than 5% of births by C-sections
**Today → **over 25% of births done by C-sections
Birth Complications & MWs
complications can arise but MWs have **scientific training & **can either **help with problem or take to hospital **
**- **complications rarely asrise bc MWs spend more time with pregnant women before birth so they can normally see complications coming well in advance
