Chapter 8 The CAM Movement CAM Complimentary and

Chapter 8 - The “CAM” Movement

CAM Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Unsubstantiated and lack scientific rationale Products and services that do not serve a medical purpose Some may be used as part of care or self-care Put the rejection science has no place in medicine 8 -

5 Classifications of CAM 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Whole medical systems Mind body medicine Biologically based practices Manipulative and body-based practices Energy medicine 8 -

Common Themes Vitalsim- bodily functions are due to a vital principle distinct from physical forces; treat diseases by stimulating the body to heal itself Quantum healing- health can be improved by manipulating forces that can’t be detected with science Holistic medicine- treat the whole person (emotional and lifestyle) Detoxification- claim need to rid the body of toxins 8 -

Homeopathy Originated in the 1700 s in Germany Diseases can be cured with substances that would cause the same symptoms as the disease Need a small stimulus for body to heal itself People will respond to specific remedies Products trigger an immune response Some use electrodiagnosis to diagnosis what homeopathic remedies to use 8 -

Homeopathy There are 1000 s of products available No FDA rules for homeopathic remedies Have not been proven safe like other medical drugs 600 practitioners in the US listed in National Center for Homeopathy Directory 8 -

Acupuncture Body’s vital energy circulates through 14 channels (meridians) that connect to the bodily organs and functions and acupuncture restores balance Insertion of stainless steel needles into various body areas based on disease or treatment Some claim it treats diseases and others pain relief Research has not supported that it is therapeutic 8 -

Acupuncture Perceived effects are due to expectation, suggestion, distraction Improperly performed can cause fainting, bleeding FDA regulated needles for one-time use and practitioners need to be legally authorized to use them 8 -

Naturopathy Natural medicine that removes underlying causes of disease and stimulates the body’s healing process Rid the body of toxins and waste products Offer treatments in offices or spas Methods include fasting, natural food diets, vitamins, herbs, massage, exercise, colonic irrigation Doctor of Naturopathy-4 full-time schools in the U. S. ; can only practice in certain states 8 -

Naturopathy Have not been scientifically proven and most are useless Detoxification plays a key role Natural hygiene- denounces medical treatment and advocates raw food diet, fasting and food combining 8 -

Iridology Based on notion that each area of the body is represented by an area in the iris of the eye 8 -

Iridology Person’s state of health or disease can be diagnosed by color, texture and location of pigment of eye Imbalances can be remedied with vitamins, minerals, herbs 8 -

Reflexology 8 -

Reflexology Based on the notion that pressing on hands or feet can help relieve pain and remove cause of diseases Each organ or part of body is represented on hands and feet No scientific support for these claims 8 -

Cranial Therapy Based on the notion that the skull bones can be manipulated to relieve pain and remedy ailments No logic reasoning behind this 8 -

Energy Healing Based on the notion the body is surrounded by an energy field that is not measurable by science Can improve health by balancing the “force” Therapeutic touch- use hands to detect illness and stimulate the person’s recuperative powers Reiki- transmit “universal life energy” by placing hands in specific positions on or near the body 8 -

Massage Therapy Manual manipulation of the soft tissue of the body for therapeutic purposes Can help people relax and relieve aching muscles but nothing else 8 -

An alleged ability to treat illness without using any type of drug, surgery or other curative agent Faith healing- based on belief that religious faith can bring about recovery Evangelical healers- claim to posses a gift of “miracle healing”- unsubstantiated claims Christian Science- contends all illness is an illusion caused by faulty beliefs and prayer heals by replacing bad thoughts with good 8 -

Use of horoscope to determine the diseases and infirmities to which one is predisposed Patters at the time of birth indicate potential illness Maintain certain times are best for surgery based on astrological sign 8 -

Sit with eyes closed and mentally repeat a word or sound for 15 -20 minutes twice a day Process can be learned for a fee Claims to help people think clearer, improve memory, reverse aging, enjoy life Claim stress is basis of illness and TM will ease stress and eliminate illness 8 -

A series of pills, IV or injections of drugs that increase the excretion of heavy metals Claims to be effective against a variety of diseases, but no scientific evidence Expensive and not covered by insurance Believe body has toxic levels of heavy metals and this will rid the body of toxins 8 -

Alternative practitioners are supportive of each other Some publish journals and have membership boards Alliance for Natural Health USA- the largest organization; mission is to protect the right of natural health practitioners to practice and right of consumers to choose treatment options 8 -

Medical freedom of choice laws- prevent or make it difficult for their licensing boards to discipline practitioners that use nonstandard treatment that doesn’t threaten life of patient 8 -

NIH Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Fosters research on CAM methods Have found little criticism of methods But have not found any scientific evidence to support methods 8 -