Integrative Medicine Flashcards
What is complementary/ alternative medicine?
medical and health care systems, practices, and products that aren’t part of conventional/allopathic medicine OR have historic origins outside of mainstream medicine
Often abbreviated as “CAM”
Complementary - used together with conventional therapies
Alternative - used in place of conventional therapies
What is integrative medicine?
Evidence-based and patient-centered
Chooses safest therapies first
Emphasizes relationship with patient
Patient goals help guide treatment
What does integrative medicine focus on?
Strong emphasis on foundational health
Goal to prevent disease, not just treat it
Utilizes a holistic approach
Incorporates CAM when clinically indicated, in a way that is safe and synergistic with conventional therapies
Why choose CAM or integrative?
Limits of Modern Medicine:
Recognition that allopathic (conventional) medicine cannot solve many symptoms of acute and chronic illness
Relationship with Patient: CAM providers may show…
More optimism
Greater personal attention
Patient Goals:
CAM approaches reflect a “self-help” approach to wellness
CAM satisfies a search for “natural”/less invasive alternatives
Who is most likely to use CAM?
Middle age
almost a 50/50 chance they are using alternative therapy
What is the MC complementary health adults use?
Natural products (herbals)
What are the 10 MC complementary health proportions?
Natural products
Chiropractics
What are the main reasons that patients use CAM?
Prevent illness
Help reduce pain
Treat specific health conditions
Supplement conventional medicine
MC medical conditions to use CAM
MSK
What is the typical CAM patient?
Female
Middle-age
Higher educational level
Multiple medical conditions
What is the education level for CAM use?
Herbals are MC
Highschool or less = less CAM
What is the mind-body medicine?
- the health of one part influences the other
Behavioral, psychological, social and spiritual approaches to medicine not commonly used.
What are common forms of mind-body spirit medicine?
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
Meditation
Relaxation techniques
Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong
Is mind-body medicine evidence-based?
Yes
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer
HIV infection
Nervous system
Endocrine system
Immune system
Brain function and even structure
What is osteopathic medicine? Are they required to have licensing?
For DOs
Manipulation of soft tissue and bone
Treatment of wide range of diseases
Primarily musculoskeletal
Training nearly identical to MDs
Required to have licensure, credentialing, ongoing certification similar to MDs
Generally low risk
Controversial efficacy
What does chiropractic medicine focus on?
MSK
sometimes they step over boundaries
If they stick to their scope though, it can be useful
What is the training of a chiropractic medicine?
5 yrs of training; board exams
Often postgrad training as well
Most states require CME
Is chiropractics safe?
For the most part
Neck manipulations and infant chiropractics are the highest risk
What is naturopathy?
Belief the body has powerful means of self-healing
4 yrs ed in basic & clinical sciences
Conventional & unconventional diagnostic tests and medications
Emphasis on relatively low doses of drugs, herbal medications, special diets, exercises
Is naturopathy safe?
Natural does not always equal safe!
May conflict with western medicine or lead patients to eschew western medicine
Why is it difficult to know whether or not naturopathy is useful?
Efficacy varies because there are so many forms