Complementary And Alternative Medicine: A Case Study

One of the main arguments for mental and physical wellbeing receiving the same funding and attention is that mental health can impact physical health drastically (and vice versa). There are various ways in which bad mental health has been shown to be harmful to physical health, mental issues account for 23% of burdening diseases in the UK, these issues also have a dramatic effect on life expectancy. Mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia have been linked to heart disease and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, approximately 24 million people suffer from schizophrenia and over 350 million people have depression worldwide. People suffering from serious mental health issues also often experience high blood pressure and high levels of stress hormones therefore an

If I'm not well my first stop would be to have some acupuncture. I’m a great believer in Chinese medicine. Myotherapy and massage are also things I use. I really think there’s a place for complementary medicine.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term that describes health and wellness therapies that have not been part of conventional medicine. Complementary treatments is with conventional medicine, and alternative treatments is used in place of conventional medicine. It can include treatments and therapies such as massage, natural products, meditation, yoga, vitamin supplements, herbs, chiropractic, acupuncture, and lots more. But problems arise when CAM is questioned if it scientifically helps patients overcome a disease. Is there really health benefits? Are some of the products natural? Do they come with risks? These are questions that can be asked when looking into CAM.

Complementary and alternative therapies are very large group of non-orthodox therapies that may be used alone or with other non-orthodox and orthodox therapies. This term (CAM) is applied to over 700 different therapies. Some relaxation techniques, massage therapies, special diets and self-help groups could be considered to be lifestyle rather than true therapies, also it can be considered as actions that enhanced the feeling of

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy, has been around and practiced by many countries considered as undeveloped or developing for centuries. It’s use in modern times by developed countries has increased tremendously, as research has shown the effectiveness of its use. CAM therapy and practices are being embraced by healthcare professionals slowly, in what is considered an alternative therapy, or adjunct to western medicine. However, research shows that many individuals are using CAM, but are not reporting it to their healthcare providers. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) studies has shown a “36% increase of CAM therapy use in the United States in 2002, with a 38% increase noted by 2007, resulting in thirty-four billion dollars being spent on this alternative medicine and practice,” (Artani, Mhatre, & Sansgiry, 2013; National Institutes of Health [NIH], 2013) prompting this question, why are people keeping their CAM usage a secret? Should the word about CAM therapy be increased among healthcare providers and patients? If CAM therapy is affective and could decrease the cost of our strained healthcare budget, why has this century old dialogue not been improved. Could the loss of money for big industry drug distributers be behind the quieting voice of CAM therapy usage?

“Mental health and wellbeing can positively affect almost every area of a person’s life: education, employment, family and relationships. It can help people achieve their potential, realise their ambitions, cope with adversity, work productively and contribute to their community and society. Promoting mental health and wellbeing has multiple benefits. It improves health outcomes, life expectancy, productivity and educational and economic outcomes and reduces violence and crime.” (The Department of Health, 2010)

Conventional treating of patients is not always the best treatment; there are routes a provider can explore to assist in the overall health and wellbeing of the patient. Complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) is the other route for the patient. Each of these modalities can produce a healing effect or relief from an ailment that will have an effect in a positive manner on the quality of life. Too many times patients become settled or complacent in his or her disease process and never look into the other routes.

The people in the UK who use CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine), are usually satisfied with their mainstream health care. The usage of CAM correlates with their philosophy; self-healing and self-care. Individuals who choose to use an alternative way, do so because they usually want to expand their options. CAM has come to identify as self-care, which plays a big role in the UK health care system, it focuses on prevention rather than curing[1]. Due to insurance coverage, preventive care is presumed to-be much cheaper than paying out-of-pocket for services that are not covered, such as, medications and GP visits. Conversely, due to long wait times with GP's and emergency rooms, the most efficient way to avoid the agonizing wait is to,

In today’s society an increased number of patient are turning to complementary and alternative therapies to help maintain or recondition health. Alternative therapy is a parasol term that simply defines practices like chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage therapy, hypnotherapy, pet therapy, reflexology and many others. Many of these complementary and alternative therapies do not interfere with most therapies prescribed by a medical doctor; they help provide an ongoing method to maintain optimal health. The number of patients turning to alternative therapies has increased tremendously in over the years. This increase is due to people’s awareness that treatments provided by regular medical doctor does not provide relief for a lot of

The term complementary therapy is generally used to indicate therapies and treatments that differ from westernised medicine and that may be used to complement and support it. Patients are increasingly using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat depression. “Antidepressants are very necessary for severe depression, and some people need to remain on them for life. But if your symptoms are at the mild end of the spectrum, it is equally effective to use "non drug" treatments, such as talking therapies, exercise, grounding and mindfulness”. Certain complementary therapies may enhance your life and help you to maintain wellbeing. In general, mindfulness, hypnotherapy, yoga, exercise, relaxation, massage, mirimiri and

Mental health is a combination of the social, psychological, and emotional wellbeing of individuals. It is an important consideration for everyone throughout their lives as it can affect the way people act, think, and feel. Mental health problems negatively impact on the quality of life of individuals as it may cause psychosocial impairment and emotional distress (Rogers, 2014). I once encountered an individual with severe depression as indicated by a score of 22 on the PHQ-9 patient depression questionnaire. The patient had only sought treatment for a mental issue. Sharfstein, Dickerson, and Oldham (2012) noted

Incorporate non-pharmacological complementary and alternative treatments with conventional medicine to treat complex chronic pain conditions as a collaborative and integral part of the health care system.

Armstrong, A. R., Thiebaut, S. P., Brown, L. J., & Nepal, B. (2011). Australian adults use complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of chronic illness: a national study. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 35(4), 384-390. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00745.x

Today, around 70 million Americans are affected by chronic pain, whether it be chronic headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or musculoskeletal pain, in general. (treatment of chronic medical conditions). For many, conventional rehabilitation therapy has proven to be an effective form of treatment, but for some, not so much. In these types of cases, doctors refer their patients to alternative forms of medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, or hypnosis (principles and practice of pain medicine). One of the more popular types of alternative medicine among researchers and medical professionals is acupuncture.

Psychiatric Mental health is vital to an individual’s well-being yet too often it is overlooked. Regardless of economic status, ethnicity, age or geographical location an individual’s daily interactions and activities or the lack thereof are directly influenced by psychological and emotional well-being. Mental health and exposure to life stressors can significantly affect an individual’s ability and desire to attend school, work, and engage social interactions. If psychological conditions are not addressed they can result in physical health problems and lead to safety concerns for the individual as well as the general public. Despite the importance of mental health many refrain from seeking and obtaining treatment due to the social stigma and