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Alternative Medicine (alternative + medicine)
Terms modified by Alternative Medicine Selected AbstractsComplementary and integrative medical therapies, the FDA, and the NIH: definitions and regulationDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003Michael H. Cohen ABSTRACT: ,,The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) presently defines complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as covering "a broad range of healing philosophies (schools of thought), approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western (conventional) medicine does not commonly use, accept, study, understand, or make available. The research landscape, including NCCAM-funded research, is continually changing and subject to vigorous methodologic and interpretive debates. Part of the impetus for greater research dollars in this arena has been increasing consumer reliance on CAM to dramatically expand. State (not federal) law controls much of CAM practice. However, a significant federal role exists in the regulation of dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates foods, drugs, and cosmetics in interstate commerce. No new "drug" may be introduced into interstate commerce unless proven "safe" and "effective" for its intended use, as determined by FDA regulations. "Foods", however, are subject to different regulatory requirements, and need not go through trials proving safety and efficacy. The growing phenomenon of consumer use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other "dietary supplements" challenged the historical divide between drugs and foods. The federal Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (DSHEA) allows manufacturers to distribute dietary supplements without having to prove safety and efficacy, so long as the manufacturers make no claims linking the supplements to a specific disease. State law regulates the use of CAM therapies through a variety of legal rules. Of these, several major areas of concern for clinicians are professional licensure, scope of practice, and malpractice. Regarding licensure, each state has enacted medical licensing that prohibits the unlicensed practice of medicine and thereby criminalizes activity by unlicensed CAM providers who offer health care services to patients. Malpractice is defined as unskillful practice which fails to conform to a standard of care in the profession and results in injury. The definition is no different in CAM than in general medicine; its application to CAM, however, raises novel questions. Courts rely on medical consensus regarding the appropriateness of a given therapy. A framework for assessing potential liability risk involves assessing the medical evidence concerning safety and efficacy, and then aligning clinical decisions with liability concerns. Ultimately research will or will not establish a specific CAM therapy as an important part of the standard of care for the condition in question. Legal rules governing CAM providers and practices are, in many cases, new and evolving. Further, laws vary by state and their application depends on the specific clinical scenario in question. New research is constantly emerging, as are federal and state legislative developments and judicial opinions resulting from litigation. [source] Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative MedicineFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2006E Ernst [source] The Mainstreaming of Complementary and Alternative MedicineFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2004PH Canter [source] The Role of Complementary and Alternative MedicineFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2003E Ernst [source] The Perceived Efficacy and Risks of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Conventional Medicine: A Vignette Study,JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001Adrian Furnham Participants (N= 148), including CAM users and general practitioner (GP) patients who had never used CAM treatments, read a series of 6 vignettes describing 3 medical conditions being treated using orthodox and CAM methods. As expected, results indicated that both CAM users and GP patients were more likely to agree that their own treatments were effective and were associated with fewer generic risks. Contrary to expectation, both CAM and GP patients were more likely to agree that orthodox treatments were associated with more actual risks than were CAM treatments, and all orthodox treatments for each medical condition were perceived as having more side effects than CAM treatments. [source] Alternative Medicine: More Than A Harmless OptionJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 3 2001Roland J. Lamarine No abstract is available for this article. [source] The Growing Interest of Biomedicine in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Critical PerspectiveMEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2002Hans A. Baer No abstract is available for this article. [source] Touch and American ReligionsRELIGION COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2009Candy Gunther Brown The sense of touch plays an important role in many American religious practices. Yet dismissals of touch as an inferior mode of perception and reliance on textual sources that ignore touch have shaped research agendas. This essay identifies theories articulated by philosophical phenomenologists, students of ritual and performance studies, historians and anthropologists of art and architecture, neuroscientists, and feminist scholars that envision touch as a unique mode of gaining knowledge about the world and oneself and stimulating ethical behavior by working directly on the emotions to motivate empathetic, compassionate concern for others. The essay suggests how touch-oriented theories can aid the development of research areas in American religions where scholars have already begun fruitful explorations of tactility: studies of religious embodiment and ritual and of pain and its alleviation through divine healing or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). [source] Limited Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Israeli Head and Neck Cancer PatientsTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 8 2005FACS, Yoav P. Talmi MD Abstract Hypothesis/Objective: The use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) is growing among cancer patients. A Medline search failed to reveal any dedicated report of CAM use specifically in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Study Design: Use of CAM was evaluated in a cohort of treated HNC patients. Methods: Patients treated for HNC were asked if they had used CAM since their diagnosis. Demographic data and data pertaining to mode of CAM, duration of treatment and effects were obtained. Results: One hundred forty-three patients (mean age 61 years) were included. Only nine patients (6.3%) reported using disease related CAM. This included acupuncture (4), Reiki (2), naturopathy (2), hypnosis (1), shiatsu (1), chiropractic treatment (1), homeopathy (1), and selenium (1). Conclusion: Contrary to the reported use, few of our HNC patients used CAM. Although this could be related to good caregiver-patient relationship, further studies in comparable populations are warranted to evaluate if this is a local or a pervading finding in head and neck cancer patients. [source] Complementary and Alternative Medicine in OtolaryngologyTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 8 2001Benjamin F. Asher MD Abstract The widespread interest in and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients in the United States has been established by multiple surveys. One-third of the U.S. population uses some form of CAM, and an estimated 23 billion dollars is spent annually on these therapies. Because of prevalent usage of CAM among patients, it is important that physicians have some knowledge of this subject. With this purpose in mind, this report reviews the current research on CAM as it relates to common disorders of the head and neck: rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, vertigo, and head and neck oncology. [source] The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative MedicineBRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Brian Kirby No abstract is available for this article. [source] Complementary and integrative medical therapies, the FDA, and the NIH: definitions and regulationDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003Michael H. Cohen ABSTRACT: ,,The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) presently defines complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as covering "a broad range of healing philosophies (schools of thought), approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western (conventional) medicine does not commonly use, accept, study, understand, or make available. The research landscape, including NCCAM-funded research, is continually changing and subject to vigorous methodologic and interpretive debates. Part of the impetus for greater research dollars in this arena has been increasing consumer reliance on CAM to dramatically expand. State (not federal) law controls much of CAM practice. However, a significant federal role exists in the regulation of dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates foods, drugs, and cosmetics in interstate commerce. No new "drug" may be introduced into interstate commerce unless proven "safe" and "effective" for its intended use, as determined by FDA regulations. "Foods", however, are subject to different regulatory requirements, and need not go through trials proving safety and efficacy. The growing phenomenon of consumer use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other "dietary supplements" challenged the historical divide between drugs and foods. The federal Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (DSHEA) allows manufacturers to distribute dietary supplements without having to prove safety and efficacy, so long as the manufacturers make no claims linking the supplements to a specific disease. State law regulates the use of CAM therapies through a variety of legal rules. Of these, several major areas of concern for clinicians are professional licensure, scope of practice, and malpractice. Regarding licensure, each state has enacted medical licensing that prohibits the unlicensed practice of medicine and thereby criminalizes activity by unlicensed CAM providers who offer health care services to patients. Malpractice is defined as unskillful practice which fails to conform to a standard of care in the profession and results in injury. The definition is no different in CAM than in general medicine; its application to CAM, however, raises novel questions. Courts rely on medical consensus regarding the appropriateness of a given therapy. A framework for assessing potential liability risk involves assessing the medical evidence concerning safety and efficacy, and then aligning clinical decisions with liability concerns. Ultimately research will or will not establish a specific CAM therapy as an important part of the standard of care for the condition in question. Legal rules governing CAM providers and practices are, in many cases, new and evolving. Further, laws vary by state and their application depends on the specific clinical scenario in question. New research is constantly emerging, as are federal and state legislative developments and judicial opinions resulting from litigation. [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] Complementary and alternative medicine use in families of children with cerebral palsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2003Edward A Hurvitz MD In order to assess patterns of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in families of children with cerebral palsy (CP), 213 families with a child (0 to 18 years) with CP were recruited at the university medical center in Ann Arbor, MI, USA as part of a descriptive survey. Two hundred and thirty-five surveys were distributed. Mean age of the child was 8 years 6 months (SD 4y: 9mo) and 56% of the sample was male with 35% full-time independent ambulators, while the rest used an assistive device or a wheelchair. Fifty-four percent were in special education classrooms. Families were given a survey on functional status of the child with CP, CAM usage of the child and the parent, factors influencing the decision to use CAM, demographics, and clinical information. Of the families, 56%, used one or more CAM techniques. Massage therapy (25%) and aquatherapy (25%) were the most common. Children of families that used CAM were significantly younger (7y: 9mo, SD 4y: 7mo) than non-users (9y: 6mo, SD 4y: 6mo: t -test p < 0.01 two-tailed). Children with quadriplegic CP, with spasticity, and those who could not walk independently were more commonly exposed to CAM (Pearson's X2 [PX2] p=0.01 two-tailed; for mobility, odds ratio [OR] of 2.5 with regression). Mothers with a college degree had a greater tendency to use CAM for their child than those without (PX2p=0.01 two-tailed). Fathers of children who used CAM were older than fathers of those who did not (37y: 9mo versus 33y: 2mo, p=0.04 two-tailed). There was no significant difference between groups for mother's age, father's education, income, or for population of home town. Parents who used CAM for themselves were more likely to try CAM for their child (70% versus 47%, OR 2.1), and were much more likely to be pleased with the outcome (71% versus 42%, OR 3.5). Child's age (younger), lack of independent mobility, and parental use of CAM were the most significant predictive factors identified via logistic regression. [source] Herbal medicine and epilepsy: Proconvulsive effects and interactions with antiepileptic drugsEPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2008Noah Samuels Summary The use of complementary and alternative medicine is on the rise, including among patients with epilepsy. Herbal medicine, one of the most popular forms of CAM, is considered to be both safe and effective by most consumers. Yet many herbs may increase the risk for seizures, through intrinsic proconvulsant properties or contamination by heavy metals, as well as via effects on the cytochrome P450 enzymes and P-glycoproteins, altering antiepileptic drug (AED) disposition. Herb,drug interactions may be difficult to predict, especially since the quality and quantity of active ingredients are often unknown. Since most patients do not inform their physicians that they are taking herbal medicines, health care professionals must initiate a dialogue in order to prevent complications with the combined regimen. At the same time, further research is required regarding the effect of herbs on seizure activity and interactions with AED treatment. [source] Complementary and alternative medicine practitioner consultations among those who have or have had cancer in a Norwegian total population (Nord-Trøndelag Health Study): prevalence, socio-demographics and health perceptionsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 3 2010A. STEINSBEKK phd, research fellow STEINSBEKK A., ADAMS J., SIBBRITT D. & JOHNSEN R. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care19, 346,351 Complementary and alternative medicine practitioner consultations among those who have or have had cancer in a Norwegian total population (Nord-Trøndelag Health Study): prevalence, socio-demographics and health perceptions The aim of the study was to identify the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners among current and previous cancer patients in a total population. A secondary analysis of data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (otherwise known as the HUNT 2 Study) , a total population survey conducted in central Norway , was undertaken. Analysis focused upon the response of 1406 individuals who reported to have or have had cancer and who answered a question on visits to CAM practitioners. The study identified 16.1% of respondents had visited a CAM practitioner in the prior 12 months compared with 12.8% in the total population, and the likelihood of consulting a CAM practitioner was significantly increased among those who had a university degree, who reported a lower perceived global health and who had experienced a health complaint during the last 12 months. Complementary and alternative medicine practitioner consultations among individuals with a previous or current malignant disease were highest for those with poor self-reported health status and with a recent health complaint. From the socio-demographic variables studied only the reporting of a university degree was significantly associated with higher CAM practitioner use. [source] Group mediation of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer care in the UK and PakistanEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 4 2003P. TOVEY No abstract is available for this article. [source] Complementary and alternative medicine in Japan: imitation and originalityFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2004Hitoshi Yamashita LAc [source] Regulation of complementary and alternative medicineFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 3 2003Edzard Ernst MD, FRCP (Edin) [source] The British House of Lords' enquiry into complementary and alternative medicineFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2000Edzard Ernst [source] An overview of 45 published database resources for complementary and alternative medicineHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Katja Boehm Background:, Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has succeeded to implement itself in the academic context of universities. In order to get information on CAM, clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals as well as the lay public are increasingly turning to online portals and databases, which disseminate relevant resources. One specific type of online information retrieval systems, namely the database, is being reviewed in this article. Question:, This overview aims at systematically retrieving and describing all databases covering the field of CAM. One of the requirements for inclusion was that the database would also have to be published in a medical journal. Data sources:, The databases amed, CAMbase, embase, and medline/PubMed were searched between December 2008 and December 2009 for publications relevant to CAM databases. The authors' specialist library was also searched for grey literature to be included. Study selection:, All included databases were then visited online and information on the context, structure and volume of the database was extracted. Main results:, Forty-five databases were included in this overview. Databases covered herbal therapies (n = 11), traditional Chinese medicine (n = 9) and some dealt with a vast number of CAM modalities (n = 9), amongst others. The amount of time the databases had been in existence ranged from 4 to 53 years. Countries of origin included the USA (n = 14), UK (n = 7) and Germany (n = 6), amongst others. The main language in 42 of 45 databases was English. Conclusions:, Although this overview is quite comprehensive with respect to the field of CAM, certain CAM practices such as chiropractic, massage, reflexology, meditation or yoga may not have been covered adequately. A more detailed assessment of the quality of the included databases might give additional insights into the listed resources. The creation of a personalised meta-search engine is suggested, towards which this overview could be seen as a first step. [source] A Self-Report Measure of Clinicians' Orientation toward Integrative MedicineHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 5p1 2005An-Fu Hsiao Objective. Patients in the U.S. often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and may use it concurrently with conventional medicine to treat illness and promote wellness. However, clinicians vary in their openness to the merging of treatment paradigms. Because integration of CAM with conventional medicine can have important implications for health care, we developed a survey instrument to assess clinicians' orientation toward integrative medicine. Study Setting. A convenience sample of 294 acupuncturists, chiropractors, primary care physicians, and physician acupuncturists in academic and community settings in California. Data Collection Methods. We used a qualitative analysis of structured interviews to develop a conceptual model of integrative medicine at the provider level. Based on this conceptual model, we developed a 30-item survey (IM-30) to assess five domains of clinicians' orientation toward integrative medicine: openness, readiness to refer, learning from alternate paradigms, patient-centered care, and safety of integration. Principal Findings. Two hundred and two clinicians (69 percent response rate) returned the survey. The internal consistency reliability for the 30-item total scale and the five subscales ranged from 0.71 to 0.90. Item-scale correlations for the five subscales were higher for the hypothesized subscale than other subscales 75 percent or more of the time. Construct validity was supported by the association of the IM-30 total scale score (0,100 possible range, with a higher score indicative of greater orientation toward integrative medicine) with hypothesized constructs: physician acupuncturists scored higher than physicians (71 versus 50, p<.001), dual-trained practitioners scored higher than single-trained practitioners (71 versus 62, p<.001), and practitioners' self-perceived "integrativeness" was significantly correlated (r=0.60, p<.001) with the IM-30 total score. Conclusion. This study provides support for the reliability and validity of the IM-30 as a measure of clinicians' orientation toward integrative medicine. The IM-30 survey, which we estimate as requiring 5 minutes to complete, can be administered to both conventional and CAM clinicians. [source] Introduction to therapy of hepatitis CHEPATOLOGY, Issue 5B 2002Karen L. Lindsay 1640 Marengo St. Since the 1997 National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on management of hepatitis C there have been several important advances that significantly impact its therapy; notably the availability of sensitive, specific, and standardized assays for identifying hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the serum, the addition of ribavirin to alpha interferon, the pegylation of alpha interferon, and the demonstration that sustained virological response (SVR) is the optimal surrogate endpoint of treatment. Using pegylated interferon and ribavirin, virological response with relapse and nonresponse are less common, but remain poorly understood. Current studies are evaluating nonvirological endpoints of treatment, namely biochemical response and histological response. To date, definitive treatment trials have primarily been conducted in adult patients with elevated aminotransferase levels, clinically compensated chronic liver disease, and no other significant medical disorder. Limited data are available from studies of other patient populations, and the safety of interferon-based treatment has not yet been established in several patient groups. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of viral response and clearance, to develop effective therapies for interferon nonresponse or intolerance, to define the role of complementary and alternative medicine and other nonspecific therapies, and to develop strategies for the optimal management and treatment of special patient populations who probably represent the majority of persons with chronic hepatitis C in the United States. [source] Introduction to therapy of hepatitis CHEPATOLOGY, Issue S1 2002Karen L. Lindsay M.D. Since the 1997 National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on management of hepatitis C there have been several important advances that significantly impact its therapy; notably the availability of sensitive, specific, and standardized assays for identifying hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the serum, the addition of ribavirin to alpha interferon, the pegylation of alpha interferon, and the demonstration that sustained virological response (SVR) is the optimal surrogate endpoint of treatment. Using pegylated interferon and ribavirin, virological response with relapse and nonresponse are less common, but remain poorly understood. Current studies are evaluating nonvirological endpoints of treatment, namely biochemical response and histological response. To date, definitive treatment trials have primarily been conducted in adult patients with elevated aminotransferase levels, clinically compensated chronic liver disease, and no other significant medical disorder. Limited data are available from studies of other patient populations, and the safety of interferon-based treatment has not yet been established in several patient groups. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of viral response and clearance, to develop effective therapies for interferon nonresponse or intolerance, to define the role of complementary and alternative medicine and other nonspecific therapies, and to develop strategies for the optimal management and treatment of special patient populations who probably represent the majority of persons with chronic hepatitis C in the United States. (HEPATOLOGY 2002;36:S114,S120). [source] Sleep disturbance experiences among perimenopausal women in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 15 2009Hsiu-Chin Hsu Aim., To generate a descriptive theory framework regarding the experiences of sleep disturbances among perimenopausal women in Taiwan. Background., Although studies show that some perimenopausal women are troubled by sleep problems, little information was found about the subjective experiences of sleep disturbances among these women. Research is required to explore women's feelings or perceptions in dealing with their sleep problems. These understandings will be important to help alleviate perimenopausal women's sleep problems. Design., A grounded theory research design was applied. Method., Twenty-one Taiwanese sleep disturbed women, aged 46,57 years, participated in in-depth interviews. Results., ,Getting back a good night's sleep' was the core theme for describing and guiding the process of the women's sleep disturbance experiences. During the process, ,disturbed sleep' was identified as the antecedent condition that included subcategories: easy awakening, difficulty falling asleep, inner worries, physical discomfort and genetic and bodily constitution. Analyses showed five categories (some with subcategories) of the sleep disturbed women: (i) worsening health status , physical exhaustion, impaired social interactions, emotional swings and decreased work performance; (ii) living with lonely nights , self-help and endurance; (iii) a search for resources to relieve sleep difficulties , doctor shopping, trying alternative therapies, exercising and seeking support; (iv) vicious cycle and (v) acceptance of insomnia. Conclusions., Women expected to relieve their sleep disturbance by finding comprehensive counselling or by their body constitution responding to treatment. Healthcare providers need to value women's individual concerns and subjective voices. Providers must seek out sleep counselling instead of simply prescribing drugs for their sleep difficulties. Relevance to clinical practice., It is crucial to integrate perimenopausal sleep care by implementing a multidimensional approach such as sleep assessment laboratories, sleep counselling, complementary alternative medicine, sleep strategies and support groups. [source] The management of menopause with complementary and alternative medicine using an experimental model: Ovariectomized ratsJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010Suely R. Bello Abstract Aim:, The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of the flower essences She Oak and Bush Fuchsia on behavioral anxiety in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods:, For four weeks, OVX rats received the flower essences She Oak, Bush Fuchsia or a combination of the two. After flower therapy, the animals were subjected to an elevated plus maze (EPM) behavioral anxiety-test. Cortisol blood level was also evaluated. Results:, OVX rats treated with the flower essence She Oak became less anxious and had more entries in the EPM open arms. On the other hand, OVX rats treated with the Bush Fuchsia essence spent more time in the EPM closed arms. This finding is similar to those obtained with controls. In addition, OVX rats that received She Oak and Bush Fuchsia in combination presented the same results as those receiving the Bush Fuchsia alone. Conclusions:, Our results suggest that the flower essence She Oak could have an anxiolytic effect in OVX rats, but that the combination therapy of the She Oak and Bush Fuchsia could avoid the effects of the She Oak. [source] Review article: complementary and alternative therapies for inflammatory bowel diseaseALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2006L. LANGMEAD Summary Complementary and alternative medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies outside the realms of conventional western medicine. Despite a lack of scientific data in the form of controlled trials for either efficacy or safety of complementary and alternative medicine, use by patients with inflammatory bowel disease, particularly of herbal therapies, is widespread and increasing. There is limited controlled evidence indicating efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines, aloe vera gel, wheat grass juice, Boswellia serrata and bovine colostrum enemas in ulcerative colitis. Encouraging results have also been reported in small studies of acupuncture for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Contrary to popular belief, natural therapies are not necessarily safe: fatal hepatic and irreversible renal failure have occurred with some preparations and interactions with conventional drugs are potentially dangerous. There is a need for further controlled clinical trials of the potential efficacy of complementary and alternative approaches in inflammatory bowel disease, together with enhanced legislation to maximize their quality and safety. [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] The Sociopolitical Status of U.S. Naturopathy at the Dawn of the 21st CenturyMEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2001Hans A. Baer Naturopathic medicine in the United States had its inception around the turn of the 20th century. Subsequently, it underwent a process of relatively rapid growth until around the 1930s, followed by a period of gradual decline almost to the point of extinction due to biomedical opposition and the advent of "miracle drugs." Because its therapeutic eclecticism had preadapted it to fit into the holistic health movement that emerged in the 1970s, it was able to undergo a process of organizational rejuvenation during the last two decades of the century. Nevertheless, U.S. naturopathy as a professionalized heterodox medical system faces several dilemmas as it enters the new millennium. These include (1) the fact that it has succeeded in obtaining licensure in only two sections of the country, namely, the Far West and New England; (2) increasing competition from partially professionalized and lay naturopaths, many of whom are graduates of correspondence schools; and (3) the danger of cooptation as many biomedical practitioners adopt natural therapies, [naturopathy, alternative medicine, medical pluralism] [source] Unproven diagnostic procedures in IgE-mediated allergic diseasesALLERGY, Issue 8 2004B. Niggemann A considerable body of literature on therapeutic aspects of complementary and alternative medicine has been published in recent years, but little is known on diagnostic procedures. This short review lists complementary and alternative diagnostic procedures for the diagnosis of allergic diseases and presents an assessment of their usefulness for the daily practice. The review of the literature revealed that neither the determination of specific immunoglobulin G-antibodies in serum, the hair-analysis, the cytotoxic test, kinesiology, iridology, or electrodermal testing represent useful tests for the daily practice. To date, no complementary or alternative diagnostic procedure can be recommended as a meaningful element in the diagnostic work-up of allergic diseases. This is especially true for food allergy: properly performed oral food challenges still represent the gold standard for implementing specific diets in food allergic individuals. Ineffective diagnostic approaches may be costly for the consumer and delay appropriate therapy. [source] | ||||||||||||||||