Consumption Of Alternative Medicine Research Articles

Variety and variation in lived worlds: Defining and exploring a new marketing research agenda based on an ethnography of complementary and alternative medicine consumption

The ontological turn in anthropology renews the questioning of otherness by being attentive to the diversity of conceptions of the world and phenomenological relations to the world. Descola’s model has become an essential part of this theoretical movement. It distinguishes three ontologies other than the one currently dominant in the West. While he admits the possibility of their expression in the ordinary lives of Westerners, it is only in a fleeting mode. Drawing on the model of cognitive polyphasia, extended here to ontologies, and using alternative and complementary medicine as its ethnographic terrain, this research shows that these other ontologies can profoundly organize experiences. Consumers can inhabit worlds other than the dominant one. They may inhabit several worlds (e.g. animist and naturalist) hybridizing them or not. They may draw highly variable boundaries between humans and nonhumans (both interpersonal and intrapersonal). Various theoretical and operational implications for marketing are outlined.

Understanding the paradox of rising consumption of alternative medicine in Kenya

Kenya has been expanding provision of healthcare services, taking health facilities closer to the people. While this would be expected to reduce dependence on complementary/alternative medicine, the consumption has continued to rise. This raises the question of whether alternative medicine is replacing conventional medicine or the two are jointly used to deal with diseases. Thus, this study sought to establish the relationship of the two remedies in household choice of healthcare and explored the determinants of such choices. The study used bivariate probit analysis on cross-sectional data. The study found that consumption of conventional medicine and alternative medicine was indeed interdependent. The two were, on average, substitutes although some groups still consumed them jointly. Gender, education and age of the household head, price of conventional medicine, distance to conventional medicine facilities and social networks were found to influence the decisions. Male household heads, price of conventional medicine and distance to conventional medical facilities had a positive relationship with the probability of using alternative remedies. Education and age of household head, and social capital were associated with lower likelihood of choosing alternative remedies. The results of this study have important ramifications for medical researchers, health policy makers and health insurance providers. For medical researchers, joint use of alternative and conventional medicines makes it important to understand the interactions between the two so as to avoid adverse reactions that may endanger the lives of patients. For the health policy makers, because patients have different preferences for healthcare services, it is useful to provide alternative medicine and conventional medicine in a joint and integrated health system for patients’ freedom of choice, and for safety and efficacy of treatment. Health insurance providers, on their part, need to explore the possibilities and modalities for bringing users of alternative medicine, and joint users of alternative and conventional medicines under their cover.

Acute Kidney Injury Due to Arsenic Contained in Alternative Medicines in the Setting of Adult Nephrotic Syndrome

33 year old male presented to us with history of puffiness of face, edema feet of 2-3 weeks duration. 4-5 days before admission he developed oliguria with worsening of edema. There was no history of fever, upper respiratory tract symptoms, pyoderma, or jaundice preceding the illness. He also denied any history of hematuria, flank pain, prior similar episodes or recent NSAIDs use. His past history was significant for use of unlabeled alternative ayurvedic powder and liquid for eczematous skin lesions for last 6 months. On evaluation, he was afebrile, conscious, and alert with heart rate of 86 per minute, blood pressure 114/66 mmHg with no postural drop. He had edema upto knees and there was no pallor, lymphadenopathy, skin hyperpigmentation, nail changes, or icterus. Chest was clear to auscultation, heart sounds were normal, there was no hepatosplenomegaly. Higher mental functions were normal and there was no evidence of peripheral neuropathy. Laborotary evaluation showed: Hemoglobin 13.4 g/dl, leucocyte count of 11300 (with 68% polymorphs and 22% lymphocytes), platelets 2,33,100/cmm, Urine albumin 4+, no red blood cells, occasional pus cells and granular casts. 24 hr urine protein 4.2 gm/day, blood urea nitrogen 16mg/dl, creatinine 1.6mg/dl, total protein 5.5 g, albumin 2.4 g, sodium 132 mEq, potassium 3.8 mEq, chloride 101 mEq, serum total cholesterol 412 mg and triglyceride 344 mg/dl. Serologies for antinuclear antibodies and anti double stranded antibodies were negative and complement C3 and C4 levels were normal. A kidney biopsy was performed and in view of history of consumption of alternative medicines, samples of ayurvedic powder and liquid were sent for toxicological analysis. After admission patient remained oliguric and there was no response to volume expansion with 200 ml of 10% albumin with diuretics. Serum creatinine rose to the peak of 3.7 mg/dl. Patient was treated conservatively as a case of nephrotic syndrome with acute kidney injury. Renal replacement therapy was not required. After 8 days of oliguria patient went into diuretic phase and creatinine decreased to 1.1 mg/dl on day 14 of admission. Kidney biopsy showed predominant involvement of tubulointerstitium with glomeruli showing normal basement membrane and cellularity. Tubule showed denudation of epithelium and fraying of borders. Interstitium showed deposition of pink, rectangular, and polarizing crystals extending at places into the tubular epithelium and

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study of Australian Women

The use of complementary and alternative medicine is increasingly prevalent in contemporary Western societies. The objective of this study was to explore trends and patterns in complementary and alternative medicine practitioner consultations and the use of complementary and alternative medicine consumption before, during, and after pregnancy and between pregnancies. Analysis focused on data from 13,961 women from the younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health collected between 1996 and 2006. Chi-square tests were employed for the cross-sectional analysis of categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. Generalized estimating equations were used to conduct multivariate longitudinal analysis. Complementary and alternative medicine use among pregnant and nonpregnant women continued to increase over the 10-year period. Although pregnancy status was not predictive of the use of alternative treatments, pregnant women employed these therapies or modalities for the relief of pregnancy-related complaints and symptoms. Analysis also revealed that women used complementary and alternative treatments selectively during pregnancy. This study highlights the need for further research that is sensitive to the consumption of specific complementary and alternative therapies or modalities and to the wider contexts within which women perceive risk associated with their use of complementary and alternative treatments.

Postmodern consumption and alternative medications

Alternative medicine consumption is examined as a paradigm case of postmodern consumption. Content analysis of advertisements and analysis of a survey of purchasers of such medicines demonstrate niche markets delineated by life style, an emphasis on symbolic value rather than use value and the use of such medicines as a means of self-assembly – all features predicted by theorists of postmodern society. However, purchasers are predominantly female, and age and gender distinguish different types of products purchased, purchase is not entirely symbolic and many purchases are made to be consumed by others, making it uncertain whether they are used for self-assembly. These results suggest modifications to theories of postmodern consumption are necessary.

Complementary and alternative medicines for Alzheimer's disease.

The recent successes of large, multicenter clinical trials of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease have spawned enthusiasm that this common and fatal neurologic disease is "treatable." A parallel explosion has occurred in the consumption of alternative medicines by the public seeking more effective, natural, or safer methods for treatment of dementia. Some of these medicines may, in fact, be biologically active in modulating the disease as well as producing side effects and interactions with accepted pharmaceuticals. This review brings to focus the scientific evidence presently available regarding such agents.