Complimentary & Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Question 1

Complimentary & Alternative Medicine

When did CAM grow in popularity? Why?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Usage of CAM today

Answer 2

3/4 of Canadians have tried CAM

1 in 5 use some form of CAM regularly

Question 3

When do people turn to CAM?

Answer 3

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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Question 4

3 types of CAM that are widely used in Canada (because they work)

Answer 4

1) Herbalism
2) Midwifery
3) Chiropractic Massage

Question 5

Other types of CAM that dont work (3)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Herbalism - History & Popularity

Answer 6

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 **

Question 7

When and how did the public’s attitude change towards CAM?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Thalidomide - 1950s

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Naturopathic College - Canada’s 1st

Answer 9

**1978 **→ Opened in Toronto

Question 10

When did the use of Herbal Medicine rise? Why?

Answer 10

fueled by cutbakcs

• rose after **1950s → **continued to rise throughout 80s & 90s

Question 11

Echinacea

St. John’s Wort

Answer 11

**Echinacea - **popular in 90s for treating colds

**St. Johns Wort - **mild anti-depressent (upper)

Question 12

By 2000 - Naturopathy & Herbalism

Answer 12

almost 500 licensed Naturopaths in Canada

• Herbal medicine had become **multi-billion $$ industry **

Question 13

The problem with Modern Herbalism

Answer 13

• • 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)

Question 14

Traditional vs. Modern Herbal Medicine

Answer 14

Traditional - alternative to conventional medicine **(balance) **

Modern - **complementary **(pushing pills) **

• compliments pharm. industry (just another part)
• commodified along with most of modern medicine

-

Question 15

Midwifery - History & Popularity

Answer 15

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

Question 16

(3) different kinds of Midwives

Answer 16

1) Oldest type -Women taught by other women
2) **Conventional RN’s specialized **by taking Midwifery certificate
3) Licensed midwifes

Question 17

1) Women taught by other owmen how to assist with birth

Answer 17

• 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)

Question 18

2) **Conventional Registered Nurses **with **Midwifery Certificate **

Answer 18

least controversial/most accepted bc HC authorities still in charge

• part of regular HC service
• report regularly to doctors who supervise their work

Question 19

3) **Licensed Midwives **

Answer 19

• most interesting
• have formal qualifications but work independently (not nurses)
• grown the most in #s in recent years

Question 20

History of Licensed Midwives

**- **legalization & numbers

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

Work of Midwives vs. OBGYNs

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How Midwives view their work vs. OBGYNS

Answer 22

**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

Question 23

C-sections - Usage

Answer 23

**1960s **→ less than 5% of births by C-sections

**Today → **over 25% of births done by C-sections

Question 24

Birth Complications & MWs

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Why has the growth of Midwives been **limited **despite their good health record?

Answer 25

opposition from doctors who see MWs as a threat to their job

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Question 26

Advantages of Midwifery to

a) HC system
b) Mothers

Answer 26

a) alot cheaper than OBGYNs
b) offer different approach to pregnancy & childbirth

cheaper & patient-friendly

Question 27

Chiropractic/Massage - History, Origin & Evolution

Answer 27

• most widely used form of CAM
• just over **10% of CDNS **use to relieve back pain
• involves physical manipulation of body - especially spine

→ evolved from **massage **

→ related to several oriental techniques: **acupuncture, acupressure & shiatsu **

modern form invented in **late 19th Century - USA **

Question 28

Chiropractic - education, numbers & coverage

Answer 28

1945 → 1st Chiropractic College in Canada - offered 4 year degree

**Today → **over 7,000 licensed CPs in Canada (1/2 in Ontario)

since 1970s → all provinces gradually granted coverage under Medicare

Question 29

all (3) forms of CAM

history & popularity

Answer 29

**early 20th Century → **all 3 died out with rise of modern meds/drugs/hospitals

**late 20th Century → **made comeback with cutbacks of **1970s **

1970s → justified cutbacks by insisting individual take more responsbility over health

• turn to CAM b/c it is much cheaper
• no longer real alternatives but rather **compliments/supplements to under-funded HC system **

Question 30

Why will CAM use continue to grow?

Answer 30

as long as politicians like Stephen Harper continue to cut federal funding & **underfund conventional medicine **

• people will continue to use CAM - cheaper alternative