L12 + L13 Complementary medicine

Question 1

What does complementary Medicine means

Answer 1

complementary medicine is another term used for “alongside western medicine”

Question 2

What does alternative medicine mean

Answer 2

alternative med is another term used for orthodox medicine

Question 3

How does CAM tend to treat Patients

Answer 3

CAM treats patients holitically. They examine different aspects of life too. CAM is less regulated than orthodox medicine in the UK, however there is less guarantee of skill, training and accountability.

Question 4

State the different types of CAM

Answer 4

Phytotherapy
Tradiitional Chinese Medicine
Ayurvedic Medicine
Siddha
Unani/Tibbi medicine
Aromatherapy
Homeopathy
Anthroposphical medicine

Question 5

What is phytotherapy

Answer 5

Phytotherapy is North American / Europoean tradition using scientific knowledge. They also sell many products from China, India, and South America as OTC products

Question 6

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine

Answer 6

Chinense Medicine is obtained from herbs and other medicinal subsances especially animal parts. Tradiional chinese medicine also includes:

• acupuncture
• exercise
• diet

Question 7

What is Ayurvedic Medicine

Answer 7

Ayurvedic Medicine consisting of herbs (often in mixtures), minerals, diet and meditation. This involves the balance of the three basic humours:

• Vata
• Pitta
• Kapha

Question 8

What is Siddha?

Answer 8

Siddha medicine is similar to ayurvedic medicine, but its connected with yoga. Followers of Siddha medicine follow a disciplined lifestyle. Alochol and Tobacco substance consumption is not followed. Precious stones and minerals are often used in preparations.

Question 9

What is Unani medicine?

Answer 9

Unani Tends to use to herbs, minerals and some animals. Sometimes the preparations are used and the ashes are used.

Question 10

What is Aromatherapy

Answer 10

Aromatheraphy uses oils in massage and inhalation. followers of aromatherapy can self medicate or can recieve treatment from trained aromatherapists.

Question 11

What is Homeotherapy

Answer 11

Homeopathy uses plant/animal and mineral attracs in extremely small doses. The drugs are chosen to mimic the symptoms of disease. The more dilute the drug, the more potent the preparation.

Question 12

what reasons are there to why CAM is used over Orthodox medicine?

Answer 12

There is a lack of success with orthodox medicines for some chronic conditions.
Patients may experience adverse effects on toxic effects.
Others may use CAM substances as a desparate attempt for their disease state
The media have also published CAM substances as an alternative industry. CAM also spreads the message of being treated like a human being and the idea that if it is natural it is better.

Question 13

Any product making a medicinal claim must have..this includes..

Answer 13

Any product making a medicinal claim must have an MHRA licence. This includes plant materials sold as food supplements, which should also not make therapeutic claims

Question 14

Explain the THR Scheme

Answer 14

manufacturers must submit a dossier of information to the MHRA. The product must have been in the UK for at least 30 years or elsewhere in the world for at least 15 years. After this is approved it is given a THR logo

Question 15

what is the contents of the dossier?

Answer 15

• evidence of safety
• analytical methods of quality
• side effects and contraindications.

Question 16

How do herbal products differ from single chemical entity drugs?

Answer 16

Herbal products can consist of a complex mixture of chemical substances. Usually one or more of these chemicals has pharmacological activit.

Question 17

examples of herbal drugs with some degree of activity include:

Answer 17

Feverfew - can be used to prevent migrane attacks

Ginseng can be used as an antifagiue

Valerian root aids with sleep. (acts on GABA receptors and prevents GABA breakdown)

Question 18

what measures are needed to be taken with CAM

Answer 18

plants used in CAM need o be checked to ensure that the quality, safety and efficacy are acknowledged.

Question 19

What does safety refer to in terms of CAM?

Answer 19

toxicity can occur intrinsically, due to aspects of the plant, e.g overdose.

Toxicity can also occur extrinsically. Which arives from using the wrong plant which may be toxic, or contamination.

Question 20

What interation issues may there be with the CAM

Answer 20

There is a possibility that the medication can interact with other medication. This could be due to the patients or doctors not realising herbal prducts as drugs.

This may result in the unhibition of orthodox medication. There may even be a biopharmaceutical effect where absoption from the GI is hindered or excretion is increased.