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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
- Incidence: 35% of Americans; 62% when include prayer and meditation
- National Center of CAM serves to support scientific research in CAM and provide info to public about efficacy and safety
- Many people turning to CAM due to holistic beliefs, decreased side effects, cost, decreased confidence in traditional medicine, etc.
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Alternative medical systems
- Ayurvedic medicine - holistic preventative model
- Traditional Chinese medicine - oneness with rhythms of universe (yin/yang, diet therapy, acupuncture, exercises, herbal therapy, musculoskeletal manipulation, pulse diagnosis); work together to restore pt's chi
- Homeopathy - uses small doses of plant extracts or minerals to stimulate bodies defense mechanisms
- Naturopathy - largely focuses on individual responsibility for health and utilizes various CAMs to support the health in the individual
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Mind-body interventions
- Imagery
- Aromatherapy
- Therapeutic touch
- Relaxation
- Biofeedback
- Yoga
- Dance therapy, music therapy, art therapy
- Prayer
- Spiritual healing
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Biologically based therapies
- Vitamin supplements: can be helpful, but excessive use can be harmful; Vitamin C - too much can cause incr risk of kidney stone; Vitamin E - too much can cause incr risk of hemorrhage; Vitamin A - too much can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision and lack of muscle coordination
- Herbs: St. John's Wort (helpful in mild to mod depression, anxiety, pain; incr risk of serotonin syndrome if used with SSRIs); kava kava (anxiety; potentiates benzos and CNS depression); ginko biloba (decr mild memory problems; potential incr bleeding time); black cohash (pain, menstrual prob, menopause symptoms)
- Good nutrition: balanced diet is important to prevent development of comorbid medical conditions and to provide energy; assess for ability to follow dietary instructions
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Manipulative and body-based methods
- Chiropractic (pain, asthma, sinus conditions)
- Massage therapy (relaxation, pain, fibromyalgia)
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Energy therapies
- Acupuncture (needles placed along lives of bodies energy lines): alcoholism (decr cravings); pain relief; anxiety; depression; insomnia
- Acupressure (derivative of acupuncture)
- Therapeutic touch and Reiki (move energy through body)
- Jin Shin Jitsu
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