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Complementary Medicine (complementary + medicine)
Selected AbstractsComplementary Medicine , GeneralFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2010Article first published online: 14 JUN 2010 [source] Complementary Medicine , GeneralFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2008Article first published online: 3 JUN 2010 [source] Complementary Medicine , GeneralFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 3 2006Article first published online: 14 JUN 2010 [source] The Laing Chair in Complementary Medicine at Exeter, 1993,2003FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2003Edzard Ernst MD, FRCP (Edin) [source] Complementary Medicine , GeneralFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2001Article first published online: 14 JUN 2010 [source] Metastatic spinal cord compression: a review of practice and careJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 13-14 2010Lynn Kilbride Aim and objectives., The aim of this review was to address: (1) How is spinal stability assessed? (2) What is the role of bracing/should braces be used? (3) When is it safe to mobilise the patient? (4) What position should the patient be nursed in? Background., Controversy surrounds the care for patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). There is some evidence to indicate that care for patients with MSCC is based on individual clinician preference rather than evidence-based guidelines which has been shown to cause delays and discrepancies in patient treatment. Design., A structured literature review to synthesise the available evidence about the management of MSCC. Methods., The following databases were searched: Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Systematic Reviews Database, SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network), NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) and BNI (British Nursing Index). Publications were selected from the past 10 years. The search yielded a total of 1057 hits, 755 abstracts were screened, and 73 articles were retrieved and examined. Thirty-five articles were included. Results., The findings identified a gap and evidence relating to spinal stability, bracing, patient mobilisation, and positioning is limited and may be inconclusive. It is important for patients with a poor prognosis that their preferences and quality of life are considered. Conclusion., Currently, the evidence base to underpin care is limited, and further research in this area is necessary for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Relevance to clinical practice., Patients who suffer from MSCC suffer numerous physical, psychological and social issues. Because of lack of consensus, the current guidelines to inform clinical decision-making of professional staff are of limited benefit. [source] The Emergence of Integrative Medicine in Australia: The Growing Interest of Biomedicine and Nursing in Complementary Medicine in a Southern Developed SocietyMEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2008Hans Baer In this article, I examine the process by which some biomedical physicians and nurses in Australia have come to adopt various alternative therapies in their regimens of practice, largely in response to (1) the growing interest on the part of many Australians in what is generally called "complementary medicine", and (2) a recognition that biomedicine is not particularly effective in treating an array of chronic ailments. Some Australian biomedical physicians and nurses have come to embrace "integrative medicine," which purports to blend the best of biomedicine and complementary medicine, and have even created an Australasian Integrative Medical Association and established integrative medical training programs and centers. I argue that the adoption of alternative therapies and the development of integrative medicine on the part of Australian biomedical physicians and nurses constitute another national manifestation of the co-option of complementary and alternative medicine. [source] Culture, Anthropology, and the Return of "Complementary Medicine"MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2002Marc S. Micozzi First page of article [source] Does complementary medicine work?DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003Lawrence Charles Parish ABSTRACT: ,Complementary medicine is anecdotally-based medicine, not supported by scientific fact. Furthermore in many instances the safety of its agents has not been ascertained [source] Complementary medicine for asthmaFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2000Alyson L Huntley [source] Complementary therapy for psoriasisDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003Giovanni Luigi Capella ABSTRACT: The authors provide some specifications regarding the correct terminology to be applied in the field of complementary medicine, and review and comment on several complementary treatments for psoriasis. Putative psychotherapeutic equivalents are kept distinct from treatments based on the surreptitious administration of physical or pharmacologic agents. Limits on the application of psychotherapeutic techniques are discussed. Risks inherent to complementary treatments (psychological derangements, moral subjugation, physical damage, economic exploitation) are underscored. The authors plead for the application of adequate scientific criticism in complementary medicine, but warn that any approach to the practice of medicine which is not disinterested and patient oriented,as the academic one should be,will be inappropriate, misleading, or even immoral. In the authors' opinion, this could also apply to the evidence-based medicine movement (often perceived as the archenemy of alternative medicine), should this movement be influenced by economical, political, or other nonmedical factors. [source] Trends in access to complementary medicine via primary care in England, 1995,2001FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2003K Thomas [source] Patient-based evaluations of primary care for cardiovascular diseases: a comparison between conventional and complementary medicineJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2008Klazien Matter-Walstra PhD Abstract Background, Patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, increasingly rely on complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. Objectives, The Swiss Program for Complementary Medicine Evaluation offers a unique opportunity to analyse cardiovascular patients' satisfaction with CAM and conventional medical (COM) therapies. The treatment choices of doctors certified in conventional as well as complementary therapies also could be studied. Methods, A national observational evaluation on treatment satisfaction of patients consulting COM or CAM doctors. Out of this evaluation project, data related to patients with cardiovascular diseases were specifically analysed for patient satisfaction with treatment and outcome when treated by COM or CAM doctors. Results, Of 199 included doctors (78 COM, 121 CAM) treating cardiovascular patients, COM doctors treated twice as many cardiovascular patients per doctor than CAM doctors. CAM doctors treated less than 1/3 of their cardiovascular patients solely by CAM, while they treated 42% exclusively by COM therapies. Patients seeing a CAM doctor had a significantly longer consultation and were more likely to be highly satisfied with overall treatment outcome and patient-practitioner communication. Moreover, patients seeing a CAM doctor and being treated solely by a CAM therapy more often report ,complete fulfilment of outcome expectation' and ,high overall satisfaction with treatment', although their symptoms less often disappear totally than those of COM therapy-treated patients. Conclusion, CAM therapies are not the first treatment choice for cardiovascular diseases. However, even though CAM doctors preferentially apply COM therapies, cardiovascular patients treated by CAM doctors are more likely to be satisfied with the overall treatment outcome, possibly because of the longer and better patient,practitioner interaction. [source] The Emergence of Integrative Medicine in Australia: The Growing Interest of Biomedicine and Nursing in Complementary Medicine in a Southern Developed SocietyMEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2008Hans Baer In this article, I examine the process by which some biomedical physicians and nurses in Australia have come to adopt various alternative therapies in their regimens of practice, largely in response to (1) the growing interest on the part of many Australians in what is generally called "complementary medicine", and (2) a recognition that biomedicine is not particularly effective in treating an array of chronic ailments. Some Australian biomedical physicians and nurses have come to embrace "integrative medicine," which purports to blend the best of biomedicine and complementary medicine, and have even created an Australasian Integrative Medical Association and established integrative medical training programs and centers. I argue that the adoption of alternative therapies and the development of integrative medicine on the part of Australian biomedical physicians and nurses constitute another national manifestation of the co-option of complementary and alternative medicine. [source] Cultural Variations in the Placebo Effect: Ulcers, Anxiety, and Blood PressureMEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2000Daniel E. Moerman An analysis of the control groups in double-blind trials of medicines demonstrates broad variation,from 0 to 100 percent,in placebo effectiveness rates for the same treatment for the same condition. In two cases considered here, drug healing rates covary with placebo healing rates; placebo healing is the ultimate and inescapable "complementary medicine. " Several factors can account for the dramatic variation in placebo healing rates, including cultural ones. But because variation differs by illness, large placebo effects for one condition do not necessarily anticipate large placebo effects for other conditions as well. Deeper understanding of the intimate relationship between cultural and biological processes will require close ethnographic scrutiny of the meaningfulness of medical treatment in different societies, [placebo effect, ulcer disease, anxiety, hypertension, cross-cultural variation] [source] Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trialALLERGY, Issue 9 2004B. Brinkhaus Background:, Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) increasingly use complementary medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether traditional Chinese therapy is efficacious in patients suffering from seasonal AR. Methods:, Fifty-two patients between the ages of 20 and 58 who had typical symptoms of seasonal AR were assigned randomly and in a blinded fashion to (i) an active treatment group which received a semi-standardized treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and (ii) a control group which received acupuncture applied to non-acupuncture points in addition to a non-specific Chinese herbal formula. All patients received acupuncture treatment once per week and the respective Chinese herbal formula as a decoction three times daily for a total of 6 weeks. Assessments were performed before, during, and 1 week after treatment. The change in severity of hay fever symptoms was the primary outcome measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results:, Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the active treatment group showed a significant after-treatment improvement on the VAS (P = 0.006) and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (P = 0.015). Improvement on the Global Assessment of Change Scale was noted in 85% of active treatment group participants vs 40% in the control group (P = 0.048). No differences between the two groups could be detected with the Allergic Rhinitis Symptom Questionnaire. Both treatments were well-tolerated. Conclusions:, The results of this study suggest that traditional Chinese therapy may be an efficacious and safe treatment option for patients with seasonal AR. [source] Evaluation of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: A double-blind pilot studyMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2005Adrian Cristian MD Abstract As many as 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) use some form of complementary medicine during the course of their illness, and many try acupuncture. One nonblinded study of the effects of acupuncture in PD suggested that it might be helpful for some aspects of PD. We performed a double-blind, randomized, pilot study comparing acupuncture to a control nonacupuncture procedure to determine the effects of acupuncture upon a variety of PD-associated symptoms. Fourteen patients with Stage II or III PD received acupuncture or a control nonacupuncture protocol. Before and after treatment, patients were evaluated using the Motor subscale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and the Geriatric Depression Scale. There were no statistically significant changes for the outcomes measured. In the patients who received acupuncture, nonsignificant trends toward improvement were noted in the Activities of Daily Living score of the PDQ-39, the PDQ-39 Summary Index, and the Motor subscale of the UPDRS. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society [source] The Australian Dominative Medical System: A Reflection of Social Relations in the Larger SocietyTHE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Hans Baer This paper posits a working or tentative model of medical pluralism, a pattern in which multiple medical sub-systems co-exist, or what I term the Australian dominative medical system. I argue that whereas the Australian medical system with its various medical sub-systems was pluralistic, that is more or less on an equal footing, in the nineteenth century, by the early twentieth century it became a plural or dominative one in the sense that biomedicine came to clearly dominate other medical sub-systems. This paper also explores the growing interest of biomedicine and the Australian Government in complementary medicine to which Australians have increasingly turned over the course of the past three decades or so. [source] Women's use of complementary medicine to enhance fertility: The views of fertility specialists in Victoria, AustraliaAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Jo-Anne RAYNER No abstract is available for this article. [source] Complementary and alternative medicine: the move into mainstream health careCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 2 2004Kylie O'Brien BSc (Optometry) BAppSc (Chinese Medicine) MPH The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia is extensive with over 50 per cent of the Australian population using some form of complementary medicine and almost 25 per cent of Australians visiting CAM practitioners. Expenditure on CAM by Australians is significant. The scope of CAM is extremely broad and ranges from complete medical systems such as Chinese medicine to well-known therapies, such as massage and little known therapies, such as pranic healing. There is a growing focus on CAM in Australia and worldwide by a range of stakeholders including government, the World Health Organization, western medical practitioners and private health insurance companies. CAM practices may offer the potential for substantial public health gains and challenge the way that we view human beings, health and illness. Several issues are emerging that need to be addressed. They include safety and quality control of complementary medicines, issues related to integration of CAM with western medicine and standards of practice. The evidence base of forms of CAM varies considerably: some forms of CAM have developed systematically over thousands of years while others have developed much more recently and have a less convincing evidence base. Many forms of CAM are now being investigated using scientific research methodology and there are increasing examples of good research. Certain forms of CAM, including Chinese medicine in which ophthalmology is an area of clinical speciality, view the eye in a unique way. It is important to keep an open mind about CAM and give proper scrutiny to new evidence as it emerges. [source] Professional practices and experiences with complementary medicines: a cross-sectional study involving community pharmacists in EnglandINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007Joanne Barnes associate professor in herbal medicines Objective As retailers of complementary medicines (CMs), pharmacists are well placed to advise consumers on the safe and effective use of these products; where CMs are available in pharmacies, pharmacists should be well informed about such products. This study explored the extent to which CMs are available in community pharmacies in England, and examined pharmacists' experiences, professional practices and training with regard to these products. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving a structured questionnaire posted to community pharmacists. Coded follow-up mailings were sent to non-responders after 2 and 4 months, and a reminder telephone call made after 3 months. Setting All community pharmacists in six areas (Devon, Cornwall, Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, Stockport) of England (total n = 1337). Key findings The response rate was 66.5%. Overall, 92% of respondents reported that CMs (excluding vitamins/minerals) are sold in the pharmacy in which they practise, 81% had received requests from patients/consumers for specific CMs in the previous year, and 58% had recommended CMs. Around 70% of respondents rarely/never asks about CMs use when counter-prescribing conventional medicines or when receiving reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with conventional medicines. In total, 40% of respondents had undertaken training in complementary/alternative medicine (CAM). Pharmacists who had undertaken training were more likely to ask patients/consumers specifically about use of CMs when counter-prescribing conventional over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (37.0% versus 23.4%, respectively; ,2 = 17.4; P = 0.0003) and when receiving reports from patients/customers of suspected ADRs associated with conventional (prescribed or OTC) medicines (35.6% versus 23.8%, respectively; ,2 = 13.0; P = 0.0003). Conclusion CMs are widely available in pharmacies in England, and pharmacists interact with users of these products. An opportunity exists for pharmacists to embrace a professional role as expert advisors on CMs. However, pharmacists' training, professional practices and competence with respect to CMs first need to improve. [source] Domiciliary medication reviews by fourth year pharmacy students in Western AustraliaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2004Margaret Boyatzis MPharm candidate ABSTRACT Objective The principal aim of this study was to assess the potential value of final-year undergraduate pharmacy students in domiciliary medication review (DMR). Method Students attended workshops on communication skills, complementary medicines and medication review. Each student contacted 5,10 patients by telephone and asked them to identify from memory all current medications. The student later conducted a DMR in the patient's home and prepared a report for the pharmacist preceptor and the patient's medical practitioner (GP) to review. Results The students recruited 189 patients, 80% of whom were over 60 years of age. The mean number of medications recalled by patients (5.8±2.9) was significantly lower than the number of medications that patients were actually taking (8.5 ± 3.5; P <0.001). Overall, 39% of patients gave incorrect/unknown indications for at least one medication and 17% had expired medicines. Students identified an average of 2.1 ± 1.7 actual or potential medication problems per patient. The mean number of problems endorsed by the pharmacist and GP were 1.1 and 0.9, and an additional 0.4 and 0.2 problems were identified, respectively. Nineteen patients (10%) required changes in therapy. Pharmacists and GPs thought it was appropriate for students to conduct DMRs under supervision and to include DMR as part of the students' training. Conclusion Final-year pharmacy students were capable of collecting and collating medication information for DMRs in the community setting. The programme was acceptable to patients, GPs and pharmacist preceptors. Experience in DMRs should be included in the education of pharmacy students and pre-registration trainees. [source] The effects of the phytoestrogenic isoflavone genistein on the hepatic disposition of preformed and hepatically generated gemfibrozil 1- O -acyl glucuronide in the isolated perfused rat liverJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 10 2003Anthony N. Lucas ABSTRACT Foods and complementary medicines contain phytoestrogenic isoflavones such as genistein, which undergo hepatic glucuronidation and excretion into bile and can potentially interfere with the hepatic elimination of other compounds. To investigate this potential, livers from Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused in single-pass mode with preformed gemfibrozil 1- O -acyl glucuronide (GG) (1 ,M, n = 12) for 60 min followed by a 30-min washout phase, or with gemfibrozil (1 ,M n = 10) for 120 min. Half of each group of livers were co-perfused with genistein (10 ,M) throughout the experiment. Perfusate and bile were analyzed for GG and gemfibrozil by HPLC. Co-perfusion with genistein significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the biliary extraction ratio of preformed GG from a mean of 0.82 to 0.65 and the first-order rate constant for transport of GG into bile from 0.054 + 0.010 to 0.032 + 0.008 min,1, but increased the first-order rate constant for sinusoidal efflux of GG from 0.128 + 0.023 to 0.227 + 0.078 min,1. Co-perfusion with genistein also significantly decreased the biliary extraction ratio of hepatically generated GG from 0.95 + 0.01 to 0.83 + 0.05. The findings confirm that genistein increases the potential for hepatic and systemic exposure to hepatically generated glucuronides, which may be important for patients on conventional drugs who consume isoflavones. [source] Traditional Chinese herbal medicines for treatment of liver fibrosis and cancer: from laboratory discovery to clinical evaluationLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2007John M. Luk Abstract Liver disease afflicts over 10% of the world population. This includes chronic hepatitis, alcoholic steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are the most health-threatening conditions drawing considerable attention from medical professionals and scientists. Patients with alcoholism or viral hepatitis are much more likely to have liver cell damage and cirrhosis, and some may eventually develop HCC, which is unfortunately, and very often, a fatal malignancy without cure. While liver surgery is not suitable in many of the HCC cases, patients are mostly given palliative support cares or transarterial chemoembolization or systemic chemotherapies. However, HCC is well known to be a highly chemoresistant tumour, and the response rate is <10,20%. To this end, alternative medicines are being actively sought from other sources with hopes to halt the disease's progression or even eliminate the tumours. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has begun to gain popularity worldwide for promoting healthcare as well as disease prevention, and been used as conventional or complementary medicines for both treatable and incurable diseases in Asia and the West. In this article, we discuss the laboratory findings and clinical trial studies of Chinese herbal medicines (particularly small molecule compounds) for the treatment of liver disease ranging from fibrosis to liver cancer. [source] Guidelines for submitting adverse event reports for publication,,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 5 2007FISPE (Chair), William N. Kelly Pharm D Publication of case reports describing suspected adverse effects of drugs and medical products that include herbal and complementary medicines, vaccines, and other biologicals and devices is important for postmarketing surveillance. Publication lends credence to important signals raised in these adverse event reports. Unfortunately, deficiencies in vital information in published cases can often limit the value of such reports by failing to provide sufficient details for either (i) a differential diagnosis or provisional assessment of cause-effect association, or (ii) a reasonable pharmacological or biological explanation. Properly described, a published report of one or more adverse events can provide a useful signal of possible risks associated with the use of a drug or medical product which might warrant further exploration. A review conducted by the Task Force authors found that many major journals have minimal requirements for publishing adverse event reports, and some have none at all. Based on a literature review and our collective experience in reviewing adverse event case reports in regulatory, academic, and industry settings, we have identified information that we propose should always be considered for inclusion in a report submitted for publication. These guidelines have been endorsed by the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) and the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) and are freely available on the societies' web sites. Their widespread distribution is encouraged. ISPE and ISoP urge biomedical journals to adopt these guidelines and apply them to case reports submitted for publication. They also encourage schools of medicine, pharmacy, and nursing to incorporate them into the relevant curricula that address the detection, evaluation, and reporting of suspected drug or other medical product adverse events. Copyright © 2007 Kelly et al. Reproduced with permission by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Complementary and alternative medicine: the move into mainstream health careCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPTOMETRY, Issue 2 2004Kylie O'Brien BSc (Optometry) BAppSc (Chinese Medicine) MPH The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia is extensive with over 50 per cent of the Australian population using some form of complementary medicine and almost 25 per cent of Australians visiting CAM practitioners. Expenditure on CAM by Australians is significant. The scope of CAM is extremely broad and ranges from complete medical systems such as Chinese medicine to well-known therapies, such as massage and little known therapies, such as pranic healing. There is a growing focus on CAM in Australia and worldwide by a range of stakeholders including government, the World Health Organization, western medical practitioners and private health insurance companies. CAM practices may offer the potential for substantial public health gains and challenge the way that we view human beings, health and illness. Several issues are emerging that need to be addressed. They include safety and quality control of complementary medicines, issues related to integration of CAM with western medicine and standards of practice. The evidence base of forms of CAM varies considerably: some forms of CAM have developed systematically over thousands of years while others have developed much more recently and have a less convincing evidence base. Many forms of CAM are now being investigated using scientific research methodology and there are increasing examples of good research. Certain forms of CAM, including Chinese medicine in which ophthalmology is an area of clinical speciality, view the eye in a unique way. It is important to keep an open mind about CAM and give proper scrutiny to new evidence as it emerges. [source] | |||||||||||||