Alternative, Complementary and Integrative Medicine – Flashcards

The use of any form of unconventional (unortho-dox) medical and health care practice or product used as an alternative to, in place of, or as a substitute for conventional therapy. Treats a cause rather than a symptom (preventive approach). For example, the use of shark cartilage in place of radiation or chemotherapy to treat cancer.

The use of any form of unconventional (unorthodox) medical and health system or product in addition to or together with conventional therapy. For example, the use of biofeedback in addition to an ACE inhibitor to treat hypertension.

Broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western (conventional) medicine does not commonly use, accept, study, understand, or make available".

A form of holistic (whole-person approach) medicine that combines (integrates) elements of conventional medicine with alternative treatments of proven effectiveness and safety (e.g., herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, yoga and stress reduction techniques) and aimed at biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of health and disease.

Views a disease or disorder as a state of imbalance (or disharmony) of the body as a whole. - Aims at improving the total wellness of the individual, including social, psychological, mental/emotional and spiritual aspects = body, mind, spirit -> holistic approach (repair process or healing to regain one's homeostasis).

Chiropractic, acupuncture, biofeedback, massage therapy, naturopathy.

In 1992, Congress established the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) as part of NIH with annual budget of $2 million. In 1998, OAM was promoted to a full NIH center and renamed NCCAM. In 2006, budget for NCCAM was ~$122,700 million; in 2014. it was $209,000 million Currently ~70% of budget (or ~$78,437 million) is allocated for research (245 projects) Mission of NCCAM is to support research and training in CAM and to disseminate evidence-based information to both public and professional worlds. Recommends that conventional and CAM treatments be held to similar standards of safety and efficacy.

Manipulative and body-based therapies Holistic therapies Mind-body connection therapies Biologically-base therapies Energy-based therapies Movement-based therapies Other therapies

Acupuncture - Needles on acupoints and along meridians. Acupressure (pressure point therapy) - Pressure with fingers and thumbs on and manipulation of specific acupoints. Aromatherapy - Massage with essential oils. Chiropractic - Manipulation of the spine, joints and muscles. Movement and exercise therapy - Body movement, rhythm and posture + meditation and breathing exercises. Osteopathy - Manipulation of neck, back and joints (musculoskeletal problems). Reflexology - Application of pressure, massage, pushing or squeezing on "reflex zones of foot and, sometimes, of hand and ears. Reiki - Laying on of hands (non-touching), patient lying down. Rolfing - Hands-on form of vigorous manipulation (deep tissue massage). Shiatsu - Correcting pressure with fingers and palms on acupoints . Therapeutic massage - Stroking, kneading, friction, pressure or pushing movements. Therapeutic (healing) touch (TT) - Laying on of hands with slow hand motions over body ("nontouching" approach). Similar to reiki but unattuned to patient. Yoga - Physical poses, postures and movements plus or minus breathing exercises and meditation.

Place equal emphasis on the body, mind and spirit. Take into account physical, nutritional, environmental, social, spiritual, psychological, mental/emotional and life-style aspects. Goals: To mitigate and prevent disease or to improve and maintain overall health by bringing the body back into harmony (balance) and wellness (a repair or healing process). Eastern systems Traditional Chinese medicine Ayurvedic medicine (or ayurveda) Reiki Western systems Homeopathy Naturopathy Osteopathy

Focused on the interactions between mind and body. Looks at the ways how social, psychological, emotional, spiritual and behavioral factors affect health. Attempt to enhance each person's capacity for self-knowledge and self-care with the help of techniques that are based on this approach. Uses techniques such as aromatherapy, biofeedback, guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, yoga, breathing and movement (tai chi, qi gong) exercise, group support, placebo response, spirituality, etc. to relieve an emotional stress associated with chronic or recurrent disease.

Includes, but not limited to, the use of nutraceuticals supplements (e.g., botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, prebiotics, probiotics), whole diets, and functional foods. Products are available as extracts, concentrates, dosage forms (tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps), liquids, gels or powders. Used by all forms of holistic medicine.

A part of AM that deals with two forms of energy: (a) Veritable - Can be measured (b) Putative - Has yet to be measured

(a) Mechanical vibration - Sound, music (b) Electromagnetic forces - Visible light, UV light, laser beam, magnetism, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiation therapy

Referred to as qi (Chinese), ki (Japanese), doshas (Ayurveda), prana (Sanskrit). Acupuncture Qi gong Tai chi Acupressure Reiki Healing touch Reflexology

Dance movement therapy (DMT) Kinesitherapy (kinesiatrics) = movement therapy (combines hydrotherapy, sauna, breathing exercises, massage, cardiovascular training, nutritional program and gymnastic program) Pilates Qi gon (Qi gong, Qigong) Tai chi Yoga

Chelation therapy Homeopathy Naturopathy Orthomolecular medicine Osteopathic medicine Prolotherapy

Massage (16%) Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (21.9%) Yoga (9.5%) Other forms include acupuncture, herbal products and homeopathy

The inhalation or smelling of the oil may affect the amygdala and hippocampus (linked to memory and emotions) to alter brain-wave patterns and induce relaxation, calmness and a sense of well being. Also it can alter mental and emotional behavior, and clear the sinuses and alveoli. Specific scents can cause specific effects on brain (lavender is calming; rosemary is stimulating). Smelling lemon oil can calm an agitated person in people with dementia and decrease nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Rosemary oil may increase blood pressure; lavander and tea tree oil have estrogen action (avoid in persons at risk of breast cancer) some oils may irritate the skin, cause rash, headache or trigger asthma attack.

(a) Inhalation methods (spray, steam tent, nose cone); (b) External application (bath, massage, hot and cold compresses, floral water sprays)- diluted (20%) form; (c) Internal application (capsule, lozenge, mouthwash, suppository).

Treat microbial bacterial, viral and fungal infections (skin, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, herpes simplex), skin disorders (bites, stings, burns, bruises, acne), relieve pain (ear, arthritis), relieve muscle spasms (diarrheas), stimulate immune system, treat imbalance of the ANS (anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, depression, dizziness, headache, hot flashes, migraines, and lack of appetite).

Highly personalized form of holistic medical system that attempts to: (a) maintain health and prevent or treat disease by restoring or maintaining harmony between the body, mind, and spirit; (b) to find the cause of the problem. A person is viewed as composed of 5 elements: ether (space), air, fire, water and earth, assigned to 3 doshas (or humors). In heatlh, the 3 doshas are in balance.

Cleansing, palliation, rejuvenation, mental hygiene.

Arthritis and joint pains, asthma, back pain, body ache, common cold, coughs, cramps, diabetes, diarrhea, ear ache, heart disease, herpes, low back pain, nose bleeding, falling of hair, hiccup, indigestion, insomnia, itching, liver disease, menopause, obesity, skin disease (acne, psoriasis), smoking, stress, sunstroke, thyroid disease, toothache, urticaria, vomiting of pregnancy, etc..

System of medicine based on three principles: (a) Like cures like (e.g., if symptoms of a cold are similar to poisoning by mercury, then mercury is the remedy for the cold); (b) Minimal dose (the remedy is taken in an extremely dilute form, normally 1 part in ~ 1 x 106 -10200 parts of water or alcohol; (c ) Single remedy (or "similium", no matter how many symptoms are experienced, only one remedy is taken vs. all the symptoms).

(a) effective when correct one used; (b) completely safe, devoid of side effects and can be used along with other medications; (c) normally based on natural ingredients (herbs, minerals, animals, microbes); (d) non addictive; (e) does not suppress the immune system; (e) inexpensive.

A safe and effective way of drawing toxins, toxic metals (lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum) and metabolic wastes from the bloodstream. Improves blood circulation and to relieve some of the symptoms associated with atherosclerosis (removes excess calcium from arterial wall).

(a) I.v. chelation - BAL, EDTA, DMSA, DMPS; (b) Oral chelation - D-Penicillamine, DMSA, L-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, EDTA. Individualized according to age, sex, weight and kidney function. I.v. chelation should be done slowly over 3 or more hours.

Treat occlusive peripheral vascular disease of the legs, cerebro-vascular disease associated with arterial occlusion, normalize cardiac arrhythmias, treat atherosclerotic heart disease, improve cerebral blood flow, memory and concentration, prevent iron and lead poisoning, detoxify snake and spider venom, improve brain and kidney function, etc..

dimercaptosuccinic acid

dimercaptopropanesulfonate, as sodium salt

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

British anti-lewisite (dimercaprol)

Based on 6 principles: (a) let nature heal, (b) identify and treat the cause rather than the effect, (c) do no harm, (d) treat the person as a whole, (e) educate the patient, (f) prevention is the best cure. Personalized approach. Purpose is to cure disease, prevent disease and restore health based on the body's innate ability to ward off and combat disease. Based on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Signs and symptoms of disease treated as if they are attempts of the body to heal itself. For example, inflammation is seen as a way of the body to deal with an imbalance. Aims is to understand the cause (root) of the problem rather than to remove the symptoms.

Treats acute conditions: pains, fevers, minor infections, skin disorders (e.g., acne, dermatitis). Also acute stroke, breast and prostatic cancer. Not for severe trauma or orthopedic problems requiring corrective surgery.

Based on the concept that diet alone may not be sufficient to supply all the nutrients necessary for overall good health. Nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals) are recommended to maintain optimal physical and psychological health and to promote longevity and prevent chronic disease.

Those derived from food that cannot be made by the body but are absolutely needed for human life. Include 8 amino acids (Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Trp, Val), all the vitamins, and 2 fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic).

Work along with the essential nutrients to convert foods into energy and to support body physical and mental functions. E.g.: choline, inositol, PABA, bioflavonoids, amino acids (Ala, Cys, Gln, Tyr, carnitine, taurine), CoQ, digestive enzymes, and "friendly" bacteria (probiotics).

Approach to medicine based on the use of natural substances normally present within the human body (vitamins, minerals, amino acids) to attain optimum nutritional content and balance. Ortho = correct or normal

Two types of tests are used to determine what molecules are needed to correct a body imbalance (excess or deficiency). Such tests are those found in a doctor's office or in conventional hospitals. (a) Tests that can potentially save life (ESR, LDL, fibrinogen, homocys-teine, blood chemistry panel, complete blood cell count, free T4, free T3, hemoglobin, etc.). (b) Tests that can improve health (vitamin panel, mineral panel, organic acids in urine, amino acids in blood, essential fatty acids in RBCs, allergy tests, and thorough stool analysis).

Diseases caused by a nutritional imbalance : niacin vs. schizophrenia; niacin vs. hyperlipidemias; β-carotene vs. cancer; folic acid vs. neural tube defect; folic acid vs. cervical dysplasia; i.v. Mg++ sulfate to speed up recovery from heart attack; vitamin C, Mg++ sulfate, Zn++ sulfate and vitamin B6 vs. high blood pressure during surgery and complication of post-surgery; Cr++ to regulate body response to sugar and insulin in diabetics and hypoglycemics; Cr++ to lower blood cholestero; i.v. MgCl2, Ca++ glycerophosphate, vitamins (B complex) vs. muscle pain, spasm and fatigue; combination of vitamins, essential fatty acids and Cys and Arg vs. ischemia or low blood flow.

Proliferative Therapy Nonsurgical medical treatment to facilitate the repair of injured tendon, ligament or joint by stimulating production of connective tissue (collagen). To strengthen and repair weak or damaged joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilages, and muscles. As a result, the patient feels less pain and greater mechanical strength and endurance. Other benefits are greater mobility and range of motion. To alleviate chronic pains.

Irritating "proliferating solutions" are injected into the affected area (e.g., 10% dextrose or saline, sylnasol, dextrose + phenol; zinc + phenol; dextrose + glycerin + phenol) to induce local inflammation, promote flow of blood and nutrients, and stimulate tissue growth. Sometimes, local anesthetic may be required to control pain (rarely). Number of injections varies from 2-3 to several (average 4-6, up to 10) depending on type of patient and problem. Not a symptomatic treatment.

Treat degenerative arthritis, back, elbow, jaw, knee, neck and shoulder pains, swollen knee, torn ligament and cartilage, degenerated discs, bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendon tear and heal spurs, tennis elbow, rotator cuff strain or tear, herniated discs, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, hip degeneration, knee injuries, sciatica, spinal defects and whiplash. Also for joint problems requiring a brace, joints that pop, snap and grind, or joints that cannot maintain alignment, and ankle sprains. Osteoarthritis.

NSAIDS, corticosteroids, alcohol and caffeine can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Combines the use of medicinal herbs, acupuncture, proper diet, massage, and therapeutic exercise. Recognizes the role of wellness in mind, body and spirit as a way to restore health. Treats the cause rather than the symptoms (preventive in nature).

Based on the principle of the yin and yang (or opposing forces) that must coexist as complementary of each other) and the qi (a vital body force or energy). The yin refers to tissues and organs and the yang to the activity at these tissues and organs. Thus, a yin problem at the thyroid leads to a yang deficiency such as hypothyroidism. The qi flows through pathways known as meridians located surfaces and within organs. Disease occurs when the meridians are blocked. Hence, TCM attempts to keep the qi flowing.