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Pros And Cons Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine

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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products considered not part of conventional medicine (Department of Veterans Affair, 2007,pg.197). In recent years, patients suffering from chronic rheumatic arthritis have been adopting complementary/alternative medicine to aid managing their painful condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues. The attack is most common in the joints of the hands and feet and causes redness, pain, swelling and heat in the joint area. Traditional medicine and non-drug treatments are used to relieve pain and swelling. Over the past decade CAM modalities began being used more widely …show more content…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 62 percent of adults used some form of complementary and alternative medicine during the past year. Evidence shows that CAM modalities such as acupuncture, diets, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage and supplements show promise in effectiveness. The toxicity and limited efficacy of current treatment medicine for rheumatoid arthritis has caused patients to turn to CAM in hopes of improving their symptoms. Acupuncture shows to be effective in treating many painful conditions including chronic knee and neck pain. Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into the skin and underlying tissue at certain points for therapeutic purposes (Tam, 2007). These points can be stimulated with lasers, heat, electricity or pressure. Acupuncture is perceived to prevent or adjust the perception of pain while altering physiological functions including pain control for the treatment of certain diseases in the …show more content…

This trial shows no significant difference between acupuncture and the sham acupuncture treatments in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. So far there has been no beneficial double-blind controlled study proving acupuncture to be effective for this type of chronic pain. One of the problems in the formulation of trials for acupuncture in rheumatoid arthritis is the various definitions of real and fake acupuncture, randomization and selection of sample population. Elimination of bias is important because neither patient nor physician is supposed to know the treatment given. These patients had no history of acupuncture treatment and not familiar with this treatment. In the last assessment patients were asked if they could differentiate between real and fake acupuncture treatments and 48% said yes. Two of the seven studies assessed found no statistical difference between real and fake acupuncture in rheumatoid patients. Lee et al. found that less than 50% of patients reported at least a 75% reduction in pain after four treatments. Four weeks after treatment only 20% continued to have this level of pain. Neither treatment seemed to be beneficial for RA nor a further review showed that acupuncture was not recommended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, lupus erythematous and scleroderma. It is surprising to know that acupuncture is effective in treating osteoarthritis,

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His doctor recommended the applicant to have acupuncture and physical therapy. He said that there has not been any discussion of surgeries or injections. He takes Naprosyn three times a week. He claims that he began having radiating pain into his knee since he started treating at Southland Spine. He claims this pain occurs three times per month.

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I agree that the procedure does works. When she does acupuncture on me she uses thin needles, she lightly puts them in the areas that I suffer pain from, and it helps with the pain. Eastern medicine has been practiced for centuries and to this day is still being practiced. Acupuncture is another method that is used for people who are drug users, in their treatment plan. I would recommend this type of medicine before taking another painkiller or pain medicine that is

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Some health care professionals such as the physiotherapy has many of its professionals trained in acupuncture and the GPs are making referrals for their patients to some form of CAM therapy treatments, for stress relief and relaxation purposes. The acceptance of CAM therapies is affected by the strength of the barrier caused by the traditional biomedical professionals who occupy the top positions and the powerful drug companies who are suppressing CAM remedies a Marxist theorist would say. Some researchers would indicate that because the traditional medical is responsible for finding the effectiveness of the CAM therapies, so it is up to them to promote

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A variety of major healthcare systems are working to become more inclusive and develop a stronger collaborative care model. One of the most well known ones is the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where they employ Naturopathic Physicians to focus on reducing the risks associated with cancer treatments (www.cancercenter.com). Naturopathic Physicians, Oncologists, and other medical professionals work side-by-side to ensure that the patient has the best chance at defeating the cancer that is killing them. Conventional medicine and complementary medicine work together to ensure that the patient’s treatment helps them get better. This integration is an example of the integration that should be spread throughout the medical profession.

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869 Words | 4 Pages

Different cultures and religions believe in different types of healing practices, there are a lot of Americans that use herbal remedies to cure all sorts of illnesses. If these remedies don’t work, it is the responsibility of the individual and family members to seek out proper medical treatment for the

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127 Words | 1 Pages

Picture in your mind a rheumatoid arthritis patient:Let me guess : elderly women, hair gray or graying, right? Eight and a half years ago, I would have had the exact same image in my own mind, but my life took a course that prooces that there are rheumatoid arthritis patients who do not fall in the typical category During third grade, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). I distinctly remember the day things changed. Ibe day I es having the time of my chikdhoif life playing volleyball with friends at recess and the next I was bedridden, unable to move without feelling excruciating pain.

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Eighty-one percent of respondents indicated that they would be interested in learning more about traditional Native healing.” (Zubek 1925). Of course, one might argue that this survey was made in 1994 and that our culture and the scientific world is

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Alternative medicine, also known as Herbal medicine, is the use of plants, herbs and different techniques to cure patients who suffer from different illnesses. Alternative medicine’s history goes back to early 1700s. Although herbal treatment is being around for millenniums, it’s not considered as Alternative medicine until early 1700s. Alternative medicine can’t replace the traditional medicine, but it can support it by bringing new kind of treatments to the table which effects can be seen in the treatment of diabetes, immune functions in the older men and women, older cancer patients and pregnant women. Complementary medicine becoming more and more popular in the last two decade, therefore it’s bringing along careless usage with it.

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Doctors were able to tell which nerves affected the different areas in the body through the deep and detailed studies of the human body. Through the method of acupuncture, balance was thought to be restored and pain was thought to be relieved with the needles (slide2). The earliest needles used in practicing acupuncture were made of stone or pottery. (slide 3).

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Today, the medical world recognizes two tips of medicine, the conventional medicine known as Western and the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Although, they are by logic completely opposites in practice the have some similarities. The first one, is accepted in most of the advance countries. Though, the second one is having a lot of attention not just from de common people but from the biomedical system as part of their usual treatments. That is why the differences and similarities between Chiropractic as part of the CAM world and the Biomedical Model are getting smaller and closer together.

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As I suffer from arthritis I decided to make myself a schedule to help me stay active at least 30 minutes a day, I have also been trying to understand and know how my body personally is being effected by arthritis as every person is different and is effected by Arthritis in different ways. The article also helped me grasp that there are organizations that I can join that will help me get through the hardships I face due to arthritis and help me know how to be active safely as well as how to manage my arthritis. The article also helped me recognize that the way to beat arthritis is to make sure I maintain a healthy diet in order for my joints not to have the extra strain from weight gain; I also realized that I need to talk to my doctor about my arthritis and ask more questions about the type of arthritis I have. The article got me to think about how I can help my community by trying to join an organization and donating my time to the various non profit organizations as well as bringing all the information I learned about Arthritis to my community and other organizations that are not well established and need people who are capable of donating their

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Review of Literature COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM) Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) consider all forms of therapies outside the field of medical practice. CAM is attracting more attention within the context of health care provision and health sector reform. Use of CAM remains common in developing countries and is increasing knowledge and concern in developed countries. Cultural beliefs and practices often lead self-care, home remedies or consultation with traditional healers particularly in far as in rural and Bedouin communities.

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1071 Words | 5 Pages

This therapy involves the application of a suction cup to a localized area of the skin; this area is termed acupoint [1, 3]. Although its exact mechanism of efficacy remains obscure, cupping is mainly prescribed as a treatment for chronic pain. It is also indicated for an array of respiratory, neurological, gastro-enterological and gynecological disorders [1]. From the last decade, there is great interest in traditional cupping, as scientific studies in a number of studies has emerged it as good healer for vast number of diseases.

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potential benefits of hydrotherapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis are to improve and/or maintain functional ability and quality of life. It has a positive role in reducing pain and improving the health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the short term.(Good win et al, 2013) OBJECTIVES OF THE

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632 Words | 3 Pages

Complementary and alternative medicine encompass a wide scope of practice, including therapies such as music, massage, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and yoga. Complementary therapy involves integrating alternative health concepts with mainstream medical approaches. There is a need for increased pain management, physiological stability, and sense of well-being for the seriously ill. Research for complementary therapy is limited, reducing its potential to positively influence practice.

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