Complementary and Alternative Medicine Part III,

Alternative Western Therapies

Candice Gorremans

Kaplan University

Outline • Introduction• Naturopathic Medicine• Western Herbalism• Aromatherapy• Nutrition and Hydration • Resources

IntroductionAlternative Western therapies includes therapies that have either developed or become popular in Western culture. They have become essential components of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). They have also helped many Americans make a smooth transition from science-based medicine to Integrative and/or CAM.

Naturopathic Medicine• Naturopathic Medicine is a major branch of Complementary and

Alternative Medicine and a leading option for integrative primary care. It combines concepts of science-based medicine, innate healing systems, therapeutic modalities and a patient-centered approach. The core principle of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person, mind, body and spirit while increasing body’s innate healing ability.

• Contemporary naturopathic medicine stems from the healing systems of the 1700s and 1800s. Although the term naturopathy was first coined by Dr. John Scheel in 1895, it was Benedict Lust who founded the profession in 1896.

• There are seven core principles of naturopathic medicine that serve as basic doctrine and guide for naturopaths: nature’s healing power, first do no harm, treat the whole person, find the cause, health promotion and wellness, preventive medicine and doctor as teacher

• In naturopathy, there is strong emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion.

• Various modalities exist naturopathic medicine. These include homeopathy, detoxification, hydrotherapy and clinical nutrition.

Western Herbalism

Herbalism can be defined as the practice and study of using plants for medicine, food and health promotion. •Themes of Western Herbalism

a. Emphasis on the holistic healing

b. Optimizing health and wellness

c. The importance of recycling

d. Regulation of the herbalist’s practice

e. Acceptance of things that are unmeasurable and abstract

f. Being open to the exchange of knowledge

e. Humility

•Up until World War II, plant materials were the primary source of medicines for physicians. As science based medicine became more prevalent in Western society, the importance of plant based materials for medicinal use became less important. Nevertheless, herbal remedies from plant materials continue to be the primary source of treatment in many countries throughout the world.

Western Herbalism

Although the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate herbal products and remedies on efficacy or concentration of drugs, it does regulate herbal products on safety. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act was passed. This was a critical piece of legislation, directed at regulating herbal products

Aromatherapy• Aromatherapy is a CAM modality in which essential oils are used as a

platform for mind-body healing. Modern use of essential oils began in 1937 with French perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse and his two colleagues.

• Aromatherapy has grown increasingly popular over the past 20 years. Many people enjoy the versatility of essential oils, and they provide them with an easy way to conduct self-healing.

• In a broad sense, aromatherapy can be broken up into four different categories: holistic (involving whole body massage), medical (for alternative treatment of medical problems), clinical (used to augment allopathic medical treatment) and aesthetic (used in skin and hair care products).

• Essential oils can be used in a number of clinical interventions: topical preparations, wound dressings, foot baths, nasal gels and mouth rinses

• Some of the main pharmacological actions of essential oils include: anti-inflammatory, sedative, immune stimulating, anti-parasitic, antifungal and analgesic

• The most commonly used essential oils include: lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, sweet orange, chamomile, lemongrass, peppermint, rose and tea tree.

Aromatherapy

• As with any product that has medicinal properties, there are safety concerns with the use of essential oils in aromatherapy. When used inappropriately, essential oils can be hazardous to human health.

• Although there are only a few documented cases of illness or adverse reactions from essential oils, it is still recommended that they be administered by a certified Aromatherapist for medicinal purposes.

Nutrition and Hydration • Eating regular, well balanced, healthy meals is essential to overall

wellness and is a basic principle of CAM. We use food to provide our body with the nutrients it needs to grow and function properly.

• Although the United States Department of Agriculture has put forth great effort to promote healthy eating habits, many Americans are malnourished from regular consumption of unhealthy foods

• When the appropriate amount of macro and micronutrients are ingested, managing the stresses of life and performing at an optimal level becomes much easier.

• Diet and nutrition is often used Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Naturopathy as therapy. In these tenets of medicine, diet and nutrition is a key component to a holistic approach.

• The Pritikin diet which was introduced by Dr. Dean Ornish, was a critical component is restoring heart health along with exercise and stress management.

Nutrition and Hydration • A vegetarian lifestyle is one that excludes any type of meat whether it be

fish, poultry or beef. However, animal products such as milk and eggs are still consumed. Long-term research has shown that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of colon cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. A vegan diet, which excludes meat and animal products has been shown by long-term research to treat ischemic chest pain, asthma and high blood pressure.

• Detoxification has gained popularity in Western society to remove toxins and cleanse the body. The best method for a complete detox is to eat fruits, vegetables and lots of water.

Resources

Naturopathic.org

http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=60

Fruits and Veggies More Matters• http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/fruit-and-veggie-color-list

Questions?