What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

Lesson 1

Instructor: Megan Dyer

What is CAM?

Examples
Mind/Body

Medicine Biologically based practices Whole medical systems Manipulation and body-based practices Energy medicine

Mind/Body Medicine

Yoga

Meditation

a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. To think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.

Prayer

Practical Exercise!

Meditation
Generally,

a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as a specific posture, focused attention, and an open attitude toward distractions In meditation, a person learns to focus attention. Some forms of meditation instruct the practitioner to become mindful of thoughts, feelings, and sensations and to observe them in a nonjudgmental way

Meditation (cont)
Most

types of meditation have four elements in common

A quiet location A specific, comfortable posture A focus of attention An open attitude

Practical Exercise 2

Our bodies aren't designed to hold a position for eight or more hours a daythey're made to dance, twist, jump, and run. When we're deskbound, the body has to hold a fixed, unnatural position for a long time. Eventually that can lead to problems, including changes in our metabolism, decreased circulation in the legs, and compression in the spine and pelvis, which places extra pressure on the connective tissue and nerves. Chronically poor posture can also lead to neck and back pain, repetitive stress injuries, and even bulging disks and sciatica.

Practical Exercise 2
What's

the solution? Stand up, stretch, and breathe deeply at least once every 50 minutes. You'll find a quick sequence on these pages and great "office yoga" video instruction at yogajournal.com/officeyoga. So, get up and out of your chairyour body will thank you.

Practical Exercise 2

While standing, hold on to the back of the chair with your right hand. Ground both legs firmly into the floor. Inhale as you lift your left arm up by your ear. Exhale, engage your abdominal muscles, and move your tailbone down. Inhale, lengthen your spine, and sidebend to the right. Move your left shoulder back, open your chest, and breathe into your left side for 4 to 6 breaths. Repeat on the right side.

Practical Exercise 2

Place your right foot on the seat of a chair. Press your knee against the back of the chair. Firm your legs and belly to stabilize your lower back. Twist to the right and hold the back of the seat with your left hand. Place your right hand on your right hip. Inhale; lengthen the spine. Exhale; slowly turn the shoulders to the right, looking over your right shoulder. Progressively deepen the twist over 8 to 10 breaths and then repeat on the other side.

Practical Exercise 2

While standing, clasp your hands behind your back or hold on to a scarf or belt behind your back with your palms facing forward. Inhale; expand your torso. Exhale; firm the legs and belly. Inhale and slowly stretch your arms straight. Move your hands away from your back, draw the shoulders and head back, and enjoy the stretch across the collarbones. Exhale; lift the chin slightly and soften your jaw. Hold for 2 breaths, keeping your belly firm to support your low back while breathing deeply into your neck and shoulders.

Benefits of Mind/Body Medicine

- Reduces stress, counteracts the "fight or flight response" - Teaches self-regulation of the autonomic nervous system - Provides symptom relief for a variety of chronic conditions

Lesson 1 Conclusion
Types

of CAM

Mind/Body Medicine Biologically based practices Whole medical systems Manipulation and body-based practices Energy medicine

Mind-body

techniques strengthen the communication between your mind and your body.

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

Lesson 2

Instructor: Megan Dyer

Lesson 1 Recap
Types

of CAM

Mind/Body Medicine Biologically based practices Whole medical systems Manipulation and body-based practices Energy medicine

Mind-body

techniques strengthen the communication between your mind and your body.

Biology Based Practices

Herbal

Remedies- using a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes.

Ginseng Prim Rose Chamomile Eucalyptus

Dietary

Supplements

POP QUIZ!
Devil's

claw, skullcap, and stinging nettle: They may sound like the ingredients of a witch's brew, but many herbal remedies are gaining acceptance in the world of mainstream medicine. How much do you know about herbs and their uses?

Question 1
Herbal

remedies may be helpful in relieving which of the following ailments?

a. Migraines b. Enlarged prostate c. Cold and flu d. All of the above

Question 2
A

product labeled "standardized extract" will provide a reliable dose of an herb's active ingredients. True or false? True False

What is a dietary supplement?

Congress defined the term "dietary supplement" in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar, but if they are, information on their label must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet. Whatever their form may be, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement.

Where can I get information about a specific dietary supplement?

Manufacturers and distributors do not need FDA approval to sell their dietary supplements. This means that FDA does not keep a list of manufacturers, distributors or the dietary supplement products they sell. If you want more detailed information than the label tells you about a specific product, you may contact the manufacturer of that brand directly. The name and address of the manufacturer or distributor can be found on the label of the dietary supplement.

Regulation of Supplements
FDA

regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients. FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering "conventional" foods and drug products. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA

DSHEA

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations. FDA is responsible for taking action against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

Lesson 2 Conclusion
FDA

regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients Herbs and supplements can be taken as teas, oils, syrups, powders, tablets or capsules.

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

Lesson 3

Instructor: Megan Dyer

Lesson 2 Recap
FDA

regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients Herbs and supplements can be taken as teas, oils, syrups, powders, tablets or capsules.

Manipulation and body-based practices

Chiropractic

a system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, especially those of the spinal column, which are held to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and organs. is manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments) to enhance a person's health and wellbeing

Massage Therapy

Chiropractic Medicine

Chiropractors perform adjustments (manipulations) to the spine or other parts of the body. The goal is to correct alignment problems, ease pain, and support the body's natural ability to heal itself. They may also use other treatments including

Many people visit chiropractors for treatment of low back pain.

Heat and ice Electrical stimulation Relaxation techniques

Chiropractic Adjustments Short Term Benefits

Chiropractic Adjustments Long Term Benefits

Massage Therapy
Massage

therapy encompasses many different techniques. In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet.

Types of Massage Therapy

Swedish

massage Deep massage Sports massage Trigger point massage

Benefits of Massage Therapy

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:

Anxiety Digestive disorders Fibromyalgia Headaches Insomnia related to stress Soft tissue strains or injuries Sports injuries Joint pain

Energy Medicine

Magnet Therapy

Reiki

is the application of the magnetic field of electromagnetic devices or permanent static magnets to the body for purported health benefits. healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being Qigong (also spelled Ch'i Kung) is a powerful system of healing and energy medicine from China. It is the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy is a technique in which the hands are used to direct human energy for healing purposes

Qi Gong

Therapeutic Touch

Whole Medical Systems

Ancient healing systems. These healing systems arose long before conventional Western medicine and include ayurveda from India and traditional Chinese medicine. Homeopathy. This approach uses minute doses of a substance that causes symptoms to stimulate the body's self-healing response. Naturopathy. This approach focuses on noninvasive treatments to help your body do its own healing and uses a variety of practices, such as massage, acupuncture, herbal remedies, exercise and lifestyle counseling.

References
Refer

to Hand Out