TRADITIONAL MEDICINES:COMPLEMENTARY AND

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES (CAM)

Mikee Junsay, RPh, CPS

MBAH

Medical Entrepreneur

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES?

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF THESE?

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES

• “is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all healthy systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. “ –Cochrane Collaboration on Complementary Medicines.

• “CAM simply as a group of diverse medical and health care interventions, practices, products, or disciplines that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.”—US- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

Complementary medicine is used together with

conventional medicine.

- ex. the use of aromatherapy to help lessen a

patient's discomfort following surgery.

Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional

medicine.

- ex. use of a special diet to treat cancer instead of

undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has

been recommended by a conventional doctor.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

National Institute for Health- US

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINES

• Combination of the evidence-based medicine andalternative medicines.

• focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence,and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic andlifestyle approaches, healthcare and disciplines toachieve optimal health and healing

• Combining the use of special diets, herbs, acupuncture,mind-body interventions, and massage therapy withconventional cancer care often aids the healing process.

TYPES OF CAM

(NCCAM)

Acupuncture

originated in China over 5,000 years ago

based on the belief that health isdetermined by a balanced flow of qi –the vital life energy present in all livingorganisms

Acupuncture

World Health Organization has cited over 40 conditionsthat acupuncture can treat:

Migraine

Asthma

Gastrointestinal disorders

Paralysis from stroke

Herbal MedicineSambong tablets, 250 mg

diuretic/anti-urolithiasis

Herbal Medicine

Lagundi tablets, 300 mg

for cough and asthma

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are dilutions

of natural substances from plants,

minerals and animals.

Homeopathy

Based on the principle of “like

cures like” – match different

symptom patterns or “profiles”

of illness and act to stimulate

the body’s natural healing

response.

Aromatherapy

Uses the essential oils extractedfrom plants and herbs to treatconditions ranging from:

Infections

Skin disorders

Immune deficiencies

Stress

Aromatherapy

The oils exert much of their therapeutic

effect through their pharmacological

properties and their small molecular

size

Ayurveda

Ayurvedic medicine – “science of life”

practiced in India for the past 5,000years

comprehensive system of medicine

Chiropractic Medicine

The practice of chiropractic focuses

on the relationship between the

structure of the spine and the

function coordinated by the

nervous system, and how this

relationship affects the

preservation and restoration of

health.

Detoxification therapy

Helps to rid the body ofchemicals and pollutants and canrejuvenate the body

Forms of detoxification: Fasting and specific diets

Colon hydrotherapy

Coffee enema

Hyperbaric oxygen

Iridologists believe that changing

patterns and markings in the iris can be

used to reveal emerging conditions in

every part of the body and to identify

inherited weaknesses that may lead to

physical and emotional disorders.

Chelation therapy

Used to rid the body of unnecessary and

toxic metals

chelating agent, EDTA, with vitamins and

minerals, are administered intravenously

Chelation therapy

Adjunct in the treatment and

prevention of ailments linked to

atherosclerosis – coronary artery

disease, strokes, peripheral vascular

disease and arterial blockages

Pranic Healing

A no-touch natural healing system that

utilizes prana or vital energy to cleanse

and energize the human energy body

and to accelerate the natural healing

power of the physical body.

Acupressure

application of pressure to the body to affectthe flow of energy in the meridians according tothe principles of traditional Chinese medicine

believed to be the 'mother of Acupuncture' inthat it predates the use of needles to stimulatethe body's energy flow

same principles as Acupuncture, but thepressure is applied directly to the points of thebody mainly by using the hands, fingers, thumb orknuckles

T. A. M. A of 1997

Republic Act No. 8423 (Tradiitonal and Alternative Medicines Act)

The goal is to improve delivery of quality & delivery of health services for Filipino through the recognition, development and promotion of:

Traditional and alternative healthcare & delivery system

Creation of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)

To accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health care in the Philippine.

PHILIPPINES SITUATION ON CAM

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Filipinos: Prevalence, Costs and Patterns of Use

Jose Hesron D. Morfe, M.D.*; Victoriano S. Lim, M.D.*

Objective:

To determine the prevalence, costs and patterns of complementary andalternative medicine (CAM) use among Filipinos and identifying likelyfactors that influence practice.

- Cross sectional study in outpatient department of UST Hospital.

- 100 respondent (26 males and 74 were females)

- Mean age: 45.6 years

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON CAM

Result:

• Efficacy rating: the mean rating was 2.5 (S.D. 1), implying a less thansatisfactory appreciation for such unconventional therapies.

• However, 56% expressed willingness to continue CAM use.

• There were no significant associations between CAM use and the socio-demographic groupings except for the estimated annual income

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON CAM

Conclusion:

• CAM, with its various component disciplines, is very much present in thePhilippines and being availed by majority of those surveyed to complementconventional medical therapies.

• There were no factors associated with CAM use, except for lowersocioeconomic status.

• It would therefore be advisable for medical doctors to ask patients abouttheir use of unconventional therapies for a holistic approach to theattainment of health.

THANK YOU…

REFERENCES

• MS powerpoint presentation from PITAHC “Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the Philippines”

• Complementary and Alternative Medicines Among Filipinos: Prevalence, Costs and Patterns of Use, Morfe et. al., 2001

• http://www.healthy.net/

• US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health