Complementary And Alternative Medicine ( Cam )

Dr. Clive Alonzo, Hospital Internist, Crown Point, Indiana explains how during his medical training, they focused on giving their patients pharmaceuticals of giving them expensive tests to treat the condition.

Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, can be characterized as a gathering of restorative, human services, and healing systems other than those incorporated into health care in the United States. CAM incorporates the perspectives, speculations, modalities, items, and practices connected with these systems and their utilization to treat disease and advance health and prosperity (McKenzie, 2012). Even though heterogeneous, the significant CAM frameworks have numerous normal attributes, including an attention on individualizing medications, treating the entire individual, advancing self-consideration and self-recuperating, and perceiving the otherworldly way of every person. What's more, numerous CAM frameworks have attributes generally found in standard human services, for example, an emphasis on great sustenance and preventive practices. Dissimilar to standard medication, CAM frequently needs or has just restricted trial and clinical concentrate; then again, experimental examination of CAM is starting to address this learning crevice. In this manner, limits in the

It could be considered that conventional medicine has indirectly contributed to the rise of complementary and alternative medicine. A broad definition of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is “a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health-care system” (The World Health Organisation, n.d.). Expanding on this definition it is important to address the variable similarities of CAM modalities. CAM therapies across the various modalities have in common a shared, in varying degrees, holistic approach and subscribe to some form of vitality - a contrast from the science-based view point of conventional medicine prevalent in western society. In spite of CAM therapies empirical nature and efficacies, it is suggested that dissatisfaction of conventional medicine underpins the popularity it has garnered, thus, it will be examined further as to how and why. A further discussion will be made to related dangers of both alternative and science-based medicine; providing an opportunity to constructively educate the public on the differences between the two systems.

Like it or not, people are going to get sick. There will always be a need for medicine; however, recently people have been seeking complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) before going straight to conventional medical treatments. CAM is a nontraditional way to diagnose, prevent, or treat a specific problem and its symptoms. It differs from the more mainstream options in healthcare, and is not commonly used by medical practitioners. Complementary and alternative medicine is becoming more popular and accepted within the medical field by the various treatments and therapies used to promote and restore health.

Although, U.S. adults are increasingly using CAM therapies, a national survey characterizing U.S. adults, who does not consider the use CAM has yet to be described. According to the NHIS study, "an estimated 16-26 percent of the adult population does not receive conventional care in a year. Also, an estimated 4 percent of adult population may use it as an alternative to conventional medicine (alternative medicine). Thus, up to 20-25 percent of the adult population not receiving conventional care in a year might, be using alternative medicine instead" (Nahin, Dahlhamer, Stussman, 2010). This paper will discuss the reasons people chose CAM therapies, follow by the area in which CAM is more prone, then focus on how the article contributes to

Complementary and alternative medicine or CAM is “a large and diverse set of systems of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention based on philosophies and techniques other than those used in conventional Western medicine, often derived from traditions of medical practice used in other (non-Western) cultures. Such practices may be described as alternative that is, existing as a body separate from and as a replacement for conventional Western medicine, or complementary, that is, used in addition to conventional Western practice. CAM is characterized by its focus on the whole person as a unique individual, on the energy of the body and its influence on health and disease, on the healing power of nature and the mobilization of the body 's own resources to heal itself, and on the treatment of the underlying causes, rather than symptoms, of disease. Many of the techniques used are the subject of controversy and have not been validated by controlled studies” (“Complementary and alternative”, 2009). In essence, complementary refers to unconventional therapy used together with conventional medicine and alternative refers to an unconventional approach used in the place of conventional medicine. Some examples of CAM include chiropractic medicine, yoga, meditation, diet therapies, acupuncture, herbal medicine such as vitamin and mineral supplements and therapeutic touch therapy. They will either be classified as complementary or alternative based on whether the method

Instead of focusing on treating an illness, an approach toward total body health and prevention of disease is a much more eclectic system of health care. CAM can offer the alternative methods to healing which in combination with traditional methods can offer better healing and healing capacities.

The purpose of this site is to display information on what the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) does.

The five categories of CAM are: alternative “medical” systems, mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, manipulative and body-based methods, and energy therapies. Alternative “medical” systems are sometimes known as healing systems. They are built upon systems of theory and practice, and revolve around a philosophy or lifestyle. Mind-body interventions use a variety of techniques to improve the mind’s capacity to affect bodily functions and symptoms (mediation, prayer, yoga hypnosis etc.). Biologically based therapies use substances that are usually found in nature such as herbs and vitamins. There is no guarantee that most of these are helpful or safe. Manipulative and body-based methods are based on movement of one or more

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy, has been around and practiced by many countries considered as undeveloped or developing for centuries. It’s use in modern times by developed countries has increased tremendously, as research has shown the effectiveness of its use. CAM therapy and practices are being embraced by healthcare professionals slowly, in what is considered an alternative therapy, or adjunct to western medicine. However, research shows that many individuals are using CAM, but are not reporting it to their healthcare providers. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) studies has shown a “36% increase of CAM therapy use in the United States in 2002, with a 38% increase noted by 2007, resulting in thirty-four billion dollars being spent on this alternative medicine and practice,” (Artani, Mhatre, & Sansgiry, 2013; National Institutes of Health [NIH], 2013) prompting this question, why are people keeping their CAM usage a secret? Should the word about CAM therapy be increased among healthcare providers and patients? If CAM therapy is affective and could decrease the cost of our strained healthcare budget, why has this century old dialogue not been improved. Could the loss of money for big industry drug distributers be behind the quieting voice of CAM therapy usage?

Likewise, cultural norms have influenced Ben’s perceptions and belief about how health services should be provided and what constitutes quality care. He has stated, “Every time someone is admitted to a nursing home, they change the patient’s medicines to conform to the doctors preferences”. Additionally, Ben has reported he believes people should not be treated with many medications. Further, over 40% of adults in the U.S. use some form of CAM therapy developed outside of mainstream Western medicine (Ventola, 2010). In turn, it is certainly possible Ben favors alternative medicine over conventional medicine.

The video series opens with, “there are a million ways to get to health.” Remember medicine is a science and, therefore, medicine is unique to individuals and populations. The video proclaims that one-third of Americans use some form of alternative medicine, but I argue that today this number has risen. I believe our culture should step back and take a more holistic health approach. There should be more harmony between alternative medicine and modern medicine. How do we combine the best practices of modern medicine and alternative medicine to create a more sufficient integrated delivery system? Well, simply put, there is not exact answer to this. Pointed out in the video it is a process of trial and error followed by immense research.

Our society has become more accustomed to a synthetic lifestyle. Because we are losing more and more nature, more and more is becoming unnatural. By this, I mean today in our world things are not as natural as they once were on planet Earth. Our health care has even become synthetic, using pharmaceuticals to treat patient’s ailments. Health is our natural state of being, and because now less is natural on Earth, less people are emitting health. Naturopathic Medicine is a type of medical practice where practitioners use organic substances to treat patients. With Naturopathic medicine, the doctor gives care to the patient’s entire being, including the mind, body, and spirit. Doctors look to the root cause of the disease to see where the physical ailment stems from.

They along with many other authors (Sointu 2006) suggests that negative experiences within conventional medical practises can cause disenchantment and initiate people to seek out other methods of elevating their health care problems. They also cite from sociological studies that impersonal practises and the inability to cure chronic illness is part of the explanation for the move to use CAM and alternative therapies (Telford, Kralik, Koch,2006). The results of the study indicate that another reason for uptake is the fact that many believed in the trends of alternative methods and choose to use a ‘consumerist attitude’ (Sharma, 1992:80) to obtaining health care. Consumer demand has brought about the changes associated with CAM and alternative therapies use. The increase in several countries at grass root level as suggested by Barry (2005) has influenced the integration of several therapies into biomedical healthcare systems. Consumerism was one of the main ideas to influence factor incorporated in the changes to the NHS in the 1970’s. Consumerism led systems meant a more flexible and responsive health service which encouraged inclusion and self- help. This shift in thinking was brought about partly by consumer demand growing ever higher and medical sociologists debating changes to how society views illness and health

There are several Americans who use the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with a hope of having full health and total well being. In the National Health Interview survey (NHIS) that was conducted in 2007, there was particular emphasis placed on CAM as used by most Americans and the result were that on estimation, 38% of the adults in America use CAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011).