Introduction to Complementary

and Alternative Medicine

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 Definitions
 Allopathic Medicine:
– A system of medicine that embraces all
methods of proven value in the treatment of
disease.
• Conventional medicine, Western Medicine

 Complementary and Alternative Medicine

– a group of diverse medical and health care
systems, practices, and products that are not
presently considered to be part of
conventional medicine. 2
 CAM is defined as “diagnosis, treatment, and/or
prevention which complements conventional
medicine by:-

 Contributing to a common whole

 Satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy, or
 Diversifying the conceptual framework of
medicine.”

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CAM

 safer and more natural

 emphasizes therapies that improve quality of life,
prevent disease, and address conditions that
conventional medicine has limited success in
curing, such as chronic back pain and certain
cancers.

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 Complementary medicine is different from
alternative medicine.

 Alternative medicine practices are used instead of

standard medical treatments (conventional
medicine).

 Whereas complementary medicine is used together

with conventional medicine.

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 Therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer
instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or
chemotherapy that has been recommended by a
physician.

 Usually not taught or used in Western medical

schools or hospitals. 6
 Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can
include the following:

 Acupuncture
 Aromatherapy,
 Homeopathy,
 Naturopathy,
 Ayurveda (Ayurvedic medicine),
 Chiropractic medicine,
 Herbalism,
 Massage therapy,
 Meditation,
 Nutritional therapy,
 Spiritual healing,
 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) etc.
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 Acupuncture

 Ancient Chinese medical procedure

involving insertion and manipulation of
needles at any of more than 360 points in
the human body.

 Applied to relieve pain during surgery or

in rheumatic conditions, and to treat many
other illnesses.
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 Acupuncture involves stimulating specific
points on the body, usually by inserting very
fine needles into the skin and underlying
tissues.

 Sometimes, additional stimulation is added

with a very low voltage electrical current or
by warming the needle.

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 Research has shown that acupuncture releases
various chemical messengers in the brain
(neurotransmitters), including serotonin, that
serve as natural painkillers.

Besides its potential effectiveness as a pain

reliever, acupuncture may help relieve the nausea
and vomiting that commonly occur after surgery.

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 A variation of acupuncture, called acupressure
(shiatsu), uses localized massage instead of
needles.
 Practitioner uses manipulation rather than
penetration to alleviate pain or other
symptoms.
 Administered by pressing with the fingertips
and sometimes the elbows or knees along a
complex network of trigger points in the
patient's body.
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 Moxibustion is a technique used in
traditional Chinese medicine in which a
stick or cone of burning mugwort,
Artemesia vulgaris, is placed over an
inflamed or affected area on the body.

 Used in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam,

Tibet, and Mongolia.
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 The moxa stick is burned to warm up the blood
and life energy that are not circulating well.

 The purpose is to stimulate and strengthen the

blood and the life energy of the body.

 used for people who have a cold or stagnant

condition.

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 It is particularly known for its ability to turn
breech presentation babies into a normal
head-down position that is considered safer
during childbirth.

 Significantly increases fetal movements in

pregnant women.

 Also used to treat inflammations.

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 For example, if treating a patient with
tendinitis, the moxa stick is burned over the
elbow area.

 It is also highly regarded for menstrual cramps,

where the stick is waved over the abdominal
area.
 Often, the cramps disappear immediately.

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o Ancient healing art to protect and promote
health & environment using essential oils

o They are synthesized in the plant cells like any

other nutrients.

o They are oily substance composed of chemical

components each having inherent therapeutic
qualities.
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 Relax and rejuvenate yourself
 Have more energy to work
harder
 Strengthen your immune system
 Possess good health without
discomfort and diseases
 Possess beautiful skin and
glowing hair care
 Have handy treatment for
common ailments
 Increase your memory &
meditation power
 Protect your environment
through non chemical ways. 25
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 Homeopathy
 Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the
Law of Similars.
 The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and
clinically for the last 200 years.

 It’s primary principle is: Similia Similibus Curentur,

which translates: "Let likes cure likes"

 In other words, a substance taken in small amounts will

cure the same symptoms it causes if it were taken in large
amounts.
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 Hahnemann began researching & experimenting
believing that a substance can cure what it can
induce

 First used cinchona bark (malaria treatment)

 Concluded that effective drugs must produce

symptoms in healthy people that are similar to
the symptoms of that disease

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 Homeopathic medicines work by stimulating
the body’s own immune system (vital force)

 Non-toxic and when properly administered are

safe for infants, children, adults and animals

 Substances are diluted to micro-dose levels

 No known side-effects

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 Used for respiratory infections, peripheral
circulation disorders, pain and trauma, swelling due
to trauma or surgery

 Aid in returning normal gastrointestinal function

after bowel surgery, helpful for depression, otitis in
children, and diarrhoea.

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 Law of Similars
"Similia similibus curentur"

“Like cures like…Any substance which can

produce a totality of symptoms in a healthy
human being can cure that totality of
symptoms in a sick human being.”

Samuel Hahnemann

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 Vital Force
“During health, a spiritual power (vital force)
animates the organism and keeps it in
harmonious order.”

• When symptoms of illness are present, vital

force is unbalanced – not in homeostasis

• Remedies work to return homeostasis

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 Totality of Symptoms
• “…it follows undeniably that the sum of all the
symptoms and conditions in each individual
case of disease must be the sole indication,
the sole guide to direct us in the choice of a
remedy.”

• “The homeopathic method of prescribing on a

totality of symptoms is designed to be
curative, not just palliative & suppressive.”

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 Minimum Dose
• “The correctness of a medicine for a given
case…depends not only on its accurate
homeopathic selection but also on the correct
size (or rather smallness) of the dose.”

• Dosing always begins with the lowest possible

potency with minimal repetitions

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 Single Remedy
• Only one remedy can be the most similar at
any given time to the condition of any given
patient - Similia Similibus Curentur

• If more than one remedy is used the

homeopath will never know which element
was curative and our source of future
guidance is obscured

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 Homeopathic Health Model
Allopathy Homeopathy`
Medicines have different Medicines have similar
biological effects from biological effects to the
the illness illness
Act directly upon tissues Initiates self-healing
& cells of the body, w/o process, acting
any effects upon the indirectly on the
body’s innate healing diseased cells and
powers organs
Counter effects of Heal the diseased
pathological tendencies, tissues or remove the
but do not change the biological tendency to
tendencies themselves. develop the disease
Medicines can cure, but (i.e.: medicines can
rarely, and usually not “restore”)
w/o destroying cells in
 Cont..
Medicines (for chronic In general, medicines are
illness) are taken taken infrequently & only
continuously & as often as needed
indefinitely
May cause side effects in Free of side effects and
some cases & in the toxicity
worst cases, may hasten
or lead to disease/death
from toxicity
Crude or large material Infinitesimally small
doses that work on a doses - just enough to
chemical level provoke a reaction
The mental & physical There is not a division
are divided as separate made between mental &
areas of health, treated physical aspects of
 cont…
Concurrent symptoms & Concurrent symptoms &
illnesses are considered illnesses treated together
"comorbid" and require as multiple
use of multiple manifestations of the
medications or underlying disease state
treatments - at least one by one medicine
for each condition
Illness as defined Illness is felt to be a sign
conventionally is felt to of biological imbalance
be a valid existential which remedies correct.
construct, equivalent to Conventionally defined
the sum of symptoms & illness is merely the
physical manifestations indicator of imbalance
Usually palliates the Addresses the underlying
symptoms of illness cause and attempts to
 Naturopathy

 Is a clinical specialty that emphasizes the use

of natural products in both prevention and
treatment of disease.
 Not the same as homeopathy.
It is founded on six basic principles:
1. Nature has the power to heal.
2. Treat the whole person.
3. “Do no harm.”
4. Identify and treat the cause of the disease.
5. Prevention is as important as cure.
6. Doctors should be teachers. 40
 Naturopathic doctors (NDs) use many forms of
therapy including therapeutic diets, fasting,
herbal supplements, hydrotherapy,
psychotherapy, stress management, massage
and other physical manipulation therapies, and
homeopathy.

 can perform minor surgeries and prescribe

specific conventional medicines such as
antibiotics.
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 Naturopathy appears to be effective in treating the
following:
 asthma * osteoarthritis * cardiovascular disease (CVD)
* hypertension * benign prostatic hypertrophy *
diabetes mellitus * irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) *
premenstrual syndrome (PMS) * vaginitis * eczema
and promoting weight loss.

 treat cancer and usually work in conjunction with

conventional oncologists.
 ND approaches with cancer patients include fasting,
therapeutic diet, hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and
stress management.
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 The scientific basis for the clinical efficacy of
naturopathy is weak.

 Naturopathic physicians receive training leading

to a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) degree.

 Overall, the training is similar to conventional

medical training in the basic biomedical sciences
but has a greater emphasis on herbal and other
natural therapies.

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 Ayurvedic medicine

 Is the indigenous, traditional medicine of India.

 According to Ayurveda, there are basic life forces,

or “doshas,” that determine a person’s unique
constitution.

 These are the “vata” or air- aspect for very

energetic people; the “pitta” or fire- aspect of
aggressive people; and the “kapha” aspect of slow
moving- conservative individuals. 44
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 According to Ayurveda everything in life is
composed of the Panchamahabhutas – Akash
(Space), Vayu (Air), Jal (Water), Agni (Fire)
and Prithvi (Earth).

 Omnipresent, they are mixed in an infinite

variety of relative proportions such that each
form of matter is distinctly unique.

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• Although each element has a range of attributes,
only some get evident in particular situations.
• Constantly changing and interacting with each
other, they create a situation of dynamic flux that
keeps the world going.
• Within a simple, single living cell for example the
earth element predominates by giving structure to
the cell.
• The water element is present in the cytoplasm or
the liquid within the cell membrane.
• The fire element regulates the metabolic
processes regulating the cell.

• While the air element predominates the gases

therein.

• The space occupied by the cell denoting the

last of the elements.
 In the case of a complex, multi-cellular
organism as a human being for instance,

• Akash- corresponds to spaces within the body

(mouth, nostrils, abdomen etc.);
• Vayu- denotes the movement (essentially
muscular);
• Agni- controls the functioning of enzymes
(intelligence, digestive system, metabolism);
• Jal -is in all body fluids (as plasma, saliva,
digestive juices);
• Prithvi- manifests itself in the solid structure
of the body (bones, teeth, flesh, hair et al).
• The Panchamahabhutas therefore serve as the
foundation of all diagnosis & treatment
modalities in Ayurveda and has served as a
most valuable theory for physicians to detect
and treat illness of the body and mind
successfully.
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 Chiropractic medicine
 Is an approach that is derived from the Greek roots
“cheir,” meaning hand, and “praxis,” meaning
practice, and was formulated by the founder of
chiropractic, Daniel David Palmer, to mean “done by
hand.”

 The emphasis in chiropractic is on the use of physical

manipulation or adjustments to correct misalignment of
the spinal vertebrae and other musculoskeletal joints to
improve the function of the related organs and
musculature.
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 The main treatments used by chiropractic physicians
are adjustments, or physical manipulation of the
musculoskeletal system.

 Chiropractors also use heat and/or cold therapy,

immobilization (with splints, for example),
hydrotherapy, ultrasound, and massage.
 Chiropractic treatments can help lower back and neck
pain, as well as general musculoskeletal pain.

 It is less certain if they help headaches.

 Chiropractic physicians receive training in the basic

biomedical sciences but with a greater emphasis on
the spine and musculoskeletal system.

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 Chiropractic physicians are licensed to
practice in every state in the United States,

 chiropractic is one of the alternative medicine

therapies most commonly used by the general
public

 While the histories, theoretical

underpinnings, and practices of
nonconventional healing traditions vary
widely, several themes can be traced through
them all 56
 SUMMARY

Common Threads Through CAM Therapies

a) The whole person—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual—is the

healer's focus.

 Indeed, illness is often considered a manifestation of the loss of

balance or right relationship among these personal aspects, and
therapy is directed at restoring balance and integration.

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b) Prevention of illness is a primary concern.

 Contrast to the Western approach of pharmacotherapeutic or

surgical intervention, CAM practitioners tend to call upon the
participation of the individual, supporting that person's use of
inner resources to maintain health.

 In this model, according to CAM anthropologist Marc Micozzi, MD,

PhD, wellness results from the "balance of internal resources with
the external natural and social environment."

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c) Treatment regimes are highly individualized, devised in response
to the unique totality of the individual rather than to a disease entity.

d) Treatment is directed at the causes of illness rather than at

symptoms.

e) Treatment is designed to support what are seen as the natural

healing processes inherent in all human beings.