Cam Therapies Pros And Cons

Per our readings, the search to identifying the different dimensions of well-being that includes the holistic aspect of human being, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) was established. Also, this week’s literature revealed that there are inconsistent data to the concept that alternative use is uncommon among ethnic minorities. Based upon my experiences, I would argue that the use of CAM is prevalent among white, African-American, Latino, Asian, and Native Americans in the US, however, what differ is the specific CAM modality that one group may choose to practice due values and cultural influences. CAM offers a more holistic, more personalized and affordable treatment to patients with different or under-researched health care problems. Also, from my perspective, the prevalence of CAM reflects the established yet, recently surfacing needs and values in society such as an increased sense of

Steve Jobs tried alternative medicine after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before changing to conventional medicine until he died in 2011 (Williams, 2012, 90). Alternative medicine is defined as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not presently considered part of conventional medicine”(NCCAM, 2011, 92). Moreover, people have known about alternative medicine for many years and some prefer it to conventional medicine. Thus, insurance companies should cover alternative medicine for two important reasons.

Many other drugs also lose patent protection leading to the creation of substitutes that are cheaper.

According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine “CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.” (NCCAM, 2007) Science has yet to determine if these therapies are safe. Regardless of the answer there are hundreds of thousands of people today that use CAM to treat hundreds of different medical problems. Societies have used many of these practices for over 4000 years and are still in use today. CAM allows for a complete and holistic way of treatment of the human body.

Examining how and why CAM therapies have become so popular, in spite of what may appear as people ignoring efficacy concerns, is perhaps due to a general dissatisfaction with conventional medicine. How this has come about lies within changing social values; which have popularised holism, inspired

Throughout the years there have been two traditions within the practice of medicine. One is the 'art of healing ' which involves its own specialised brand of training. The art of healing is dependent on the prescriber 's foreknowledge and the clients’ viewpoint of the prosperous results. The 'Science of healing ' is based on scientific and technological ideas. This tradition results in a lower liability for practitioners regarding the showing of an original approach to medicine, however the results of this method are more calculable (Kayne 2002). It is believed that the tradition of the ‘art of healing’ is increasing in popularity. The World Health Organisation states ' 'that the terms ' 'complementary medicine ' ' or ' 'alternative medicine’ ' are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries. They refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country 's own tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health care system” (World Health Organization 2000). This type of treatment, is commonly known as ‘Complementary and alternative medicine’ (CAM). The word complementary derives from the meaning ‘together with’ established practices and the word alternative refers to ‘in place’ of established practices. Some patients choose to participate in complementary therapies along with the medication prescribed by their general practitioner whilst others prefer complementary therapies as opposed to the medications

CAM therapies are being used more today than in years past. The use of CAM has become helpful for many patients to elevate symptoms of their ailment. When studying which CAM therapy is right for the symptoms that are presented we need to be sure that the source of information is reliable and credible.

The mission of NCCAM is to investigate the “usefulness and safety” of alternative and complementary medicine and the roles they could possibly play in improving health of the nation and our healthcare system by advance research on mind and body interventions,

Dr. James Marcum, a cardiologist at the Chattanooga Heart Institute in Tennessee claims, “Pharmaceutical drugs don’t heal people.” In fact, he states, “Much of the time they do more harm than good”(Milner). U.S. Citizens need to stop taking harmful pills and start using more natural, holistic healing methods. Everyone has probably used a pill before to relieve their pain, but there are healthier ways to feel just as good. According to the results of the National Health Interview Survey, “In 2012, 33.2% of U.S. adults used complementary health approaches”(What Complementary and Integrative Approaches Do Americans Use?). While some people believe conventional medicine is a better choice, it is clear that holistic healing can replace prescription drugs because they are more safe and effective than prescription drugs, and they are more practical in many ways.

The broad aim of this proposed research is to examine Canada’s ethnocultural diversity and the use of CAM, specifically comparing the health-seeking behaviour and care use behaviour of Canadian residents of SSA origin with the rest of the populace. Additionally, the proposed research seeks to critically examine geographical, economic, biological, socio-cultural and prevailing health policy on CAM, and how these broader factors contribute to the less use of CAM among the elderly as compared to the younger people. These two broader aims are the gaps in CAM research both in Canada and other western countries. The proposed research seeks to achieve the following specific objectives:

1. CAM has involved into integrative healthcare which means that lifestyle factores such as diet, nutrition, physical activity play a significant role in an individual's state of health. The NIH's NCCAM has sponsored numerous studies confirming the safety and efficacy of many integrative health care strategies and interventions.Evidence-based care must come into the 21st century and not rely solely on pharmaceuticals (Greek root word "pharma" means poison).

If these medicines were considered factual, the biomedical scene could change the medical community significantly. However to find if CAM treatments are effective, one needs to prove it. On the other hand, this has become significantly difficult in the medical and scientific field. Although the amount of funding and users of alternative medicine is on the rise, scientists continue to hold a strong interpretation of CAM being unproven with insufficient evidence to believe these medicines are working (Keshet, Y. (2009), p. 148-149.). Many questions can be formed on the topic of the approval of CAM. Such as, why is alternative medicine not more popular? Why won’t scientists approve of the validity of CAM, and what is holding it back? And finally the belief that society holds on alternative medicine might be considered in the medical and scientific community as unprovable regarding the placebo effect; however, if people create the idea of the medicines working for them through their treatments in which evidence is formed through the improvement of the individual, would that be considered sufficient evidence of the

Complementary medicine and alternative options have gradually been gaining more support, and popularity as of late, especially among younger generations and the Elderly. With a politically charged health care system that focuses on after the fact response care, many Americans have been feeling as if the cards are stacked against maintaining a healthy lifestyle focusing on preventative measures. Taking into account of population it is the younger and older generations with the most to gain and lose.

They along with many other authors (Sointu 2006) suggests that negative experiences within conventional medical practises can cause disenchantment and initiate people to seek out other methods of elevating their health care problems. They also cite from sociological studies that impersonal practises and the inability to cure chronic illness is part of the explanation for the move to use CAM and alternative therapies (Telford, Kralik, Koch,2006). The results of the study indicate that another reason for uptake is the fact that many believed in the trends of alternative methods and choose to use a ‘consumerist attitude’ (Sharma, 1992:80) to obtaining health care. Consumer demand has brought about the changes associated with CAM and alternative therapies use. The increase in several countries at grass root level as suggested by Barry (2005) has influenced the integration of several therapies into biomedical healthcare systems. Consumerism was one of the main ideas to influence factor incorporated in the changes to the NHS in the 1970’s. Consumerism led systems meant a more flexible and responsive health service which encouraged inclusion and self- help. This shift in thinking was brought about partly by consumer demand growing ever higher and medical sociologists debating changes to how society views illness and health

By examining some of the most popular, enduring alternative medical systems, one can begin to see some general trends of the systems, understand some recurring flaws, and understand the attraction and usefulness of alternative medicine in today's health care system. However, alternative medicine remains controversial. Whether it can be supported scientifically or not, alternative medicine may be useful to encourage both physical and mental well-being via a placebo effect. For this reason, alternative medicine must be considered by physicians as a complement to modern medicine.