William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-01-01 / 1. szám
Alternative measures An introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine YOU HAVE A NAGGING PAIN. It comes and goes; been that way for years. Nothing your doctor says, does or prescribes seems to help. You’re at the point where you’re willing to try anything as long as the pain goes away and stays away. Take some comfort in knowing you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from chronic conditions for which mainstream medicine provides no relief. Many of these people, along with many others eager to prevent such conditions, are seeking and finding treatment outside of the mainstream. The increasing popularity and variety of so-called “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) is generating increasing attention to and study of the effectiveness and safety of such treatments. Finding reliable information can be tricky. Beginning this month, the William Penn Life will publish a series of articles in our HealthPage section on complementary and alternative medicine, courtesy of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a department of the National Institutes of Health. The series will examine the basic types of CAM, suggest things to keep in mind when considering CAM, and explore the pros and cons of such treatments. c'omplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) covers a 'broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Generally, it is defined as those treatments and health care practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies. Many therapies are termed "holistic," which generally means that the health care practitioner considers the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Many therapies are also known as "preventive," which means that the practitioner educates and treats the person to prevent health problems from arising, rather than treating symptoms after problems have occurred. People use these treatments and therapies in a variety of ways. Therapies are used alone (often referred to as alternative), in combination with other alternative therapies, or in addition to conventional therapies (referred to as complementary). Some approaches are consistent with physiological principles of Western medicine, while others constitute healing systems with a different origin. While some therapies are far outside the realm of accepted Western medical theory and practice, others are becoming established in mainstream medicine. Today, CAM practices may be grouped within five major categories: (1) alternative medical systems, (2) mind-body interventions, (3) biologically-based treatments, (4) manipulative and body-based methods, and (5) energy therapies. What follows is a brief look at each category. I. ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL SYSTEMS Alternative medical systems involve complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved independent of and often prior to the conventional biomedical approach. Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures throughout the BASIC TYPES OF CAM world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches. Traditional oriental medicine emphasizes the proper balance or disturbances of "qi" (pronounced chi), or vital energy, in health and disease. Traditional oriental medicine consists of a group of techniques and methods, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, oriental massage, and qi gong (a form of energy therapy described more fully later). Acupuncture involves stimulating specific anatomic points in the body for therapeutic purposes, usually by puncturing the skin with a needle. Ayurveda is India's traditional system of medicine. Ayurvedic medicine (meaning "science of life") is a comprehensive system of medicine that places equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, and strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual. Primary Ayurvedic treatments include diet, exercise, 6 IVilliam Penn lile, January 2002
