Complimentary Medicine Flashcards

1
Q

What does CAM stand for?

A

Complimentary and alternative medicine

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2
Q

What is CAM?

A

CAM = alternative medicine, broad set of health care practices that are not part of the countries own tradition and not integrated into the dominant health care system

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3
Q

What % of UK population use CAM?

A

80%

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4
Q

What are some issues with CAM?

A
  • Lack of scientific valid safety and efficacy data
  • Reporting of ADRs
  • Evidence of harm
  • Questionable cost-effectiveness
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5
Q

What are some examples of CAM?

A
  • Herbal medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Chinese medicines
  • Vitamins and minerals
  • Acupuncture
  • Hypnosis
  • Meditation
  • Osteopathy
  • Yoga
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6
Q

Why do people use CAM?

A
  • Desire to control own health
  • Dissatisfied with conventional treatment
  • Perception that conventional medicine lacks/disregards holistic approach
  • Concerns about side effects of conventional medicine
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7
Q

What is the most popular CAM in the UK?

A

Herbal medicine

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8
Q

What does herbal medicine contain?

A

Contains active ingredients parts of plants or other plant materials

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9
Q

What are some concerns for herbal medicine?

A
  • No safety or efficacy data
  • In pregnant woman
    • Teratogenesis
    • Fetogenesis
  • Drug-herb interactions
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10
Q

What is homeopathy?

A

Toxin diluted and ingested, remedies being produced by repeated dilution and succession of the substance:

  • Potency increases with number of dilutions and successions
  • Typical homeopathic dilution is 30X, where X represents 10
    • One part toxin mixed with 10 part water or alcohol, repeated 30x
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11
Q

What evidence supports homeopathy?

A

There is no evidence this works

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12
Q

What is acupuncture?

A

Based on traditional Chinese medicine:

  • Vital force called “Qi” which circulates along channels called meridians
  • Balance of yin and yang
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13
Q

What happens during an acupuncture session?

A
  • 4-10 needles inserted in session
  • Left in place for 10-30 minutes
  • Needles can be stimulated by twirling of electric current
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14
Q

Explain the efficacy and safety of acupuncture?

A

Efficacy:

  • Could work due to release of natural endorphins
  • Stimulates pain fibres entering dorsal horn of spinal cord, causing inhibition of pain impulses

Safety:

  • Incidence of adverse effects is thought to be 10%
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15
Q

What is amotherapy?

A

Uses concentrated essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers and other plants to treat disease:

  • Commonly administered into skin
  • Or inhalation
  • Or in diffuser
  • Hot or cold compresses
  • Soaking baths
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16
Q

What are possible side effects of amotherapy?

A
  • Skin irritation
  • Photosensitivity
  • Headache and fatigues
  • Bronchospasm
17
Q

Is there any evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy?

A
  • Massage is pleasant but no evidence of clinical indication of prescription, no lasting benefit
18
Q

Describe the UK regulation of CAM?

A
  • Homeopathy
    • Registered under National Rules Scheme 2006
    • If you want to claim efficacy need evidence
  • Herbals
    • Regulated by European Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD)
19
Q

Summarise what doctors need to know about CAM?

A
  • Be aware of what’s available via complementary practitioners, on-line and OTC
  • Ask patients about CAM use
  • Be aware of potential for harm with CAM use
  • How to evaluate evidence of safety and efficacy
  • Appropriate use in NHS
20
Q

What are some reasons that people believe in CAM?

A
  • Magic believers
    • Works in a way science cannot explain
  • Pseudoscience believers
    • Can be explained by untested theories
  • Anecdotal believers
    • Experienced its positive effects
    • “Seeing is believing”