Complementary And Alternative Medical Research Articles

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A qualitative study.

Patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) often make use of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) techniques to manage their chronic pain and other symptoms. Nevertheless, how they use CAM, which techniques they favor, and how CAM use affects their allopathic care remain unclear. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand patients' personal experiences with CAM and its role in their symptom management. Thirty individuals living with hEDS completed a brief online survey related to their CAM use. Thereafter, in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 of the survey respondents, qualitatively investigating their experiences with CAM. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants described massage therapy (N = 21), medical cannabis (N = 12), and mindfulness (N = 13) as some of the most useful CAM modalities for managing symptoms related to hEDS, but they expressed a general interest in pursuing any treatment that could potentially reduce their chronic pain. They suggested an overall trust in CAM modalities and practitioners and ascribed greater empathy to CAM practitioners than to conventional medical providers. However, they also described a critical skepticism of CAM (and conventional) therapies and recounted instances of injury from such treatments. Participants made extensive use of CAM therapies. They described both critical benefits as well as harms from the use of these non-conventional modalities. These results underscore the importance of clinicians maintaining communicative and compassionate relationships with their patients, and of an openness to the discussion and use of CAM treatments.

Acupuncture driven depression treatment: a noninvasive approach with acupuncture and oriental medication

In this article and memorandum, authors are presenting a short review of acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as driving factor and as a Complementary and Alternative Medical (CAM) therapy as a noninvasive treatment of depression by influencing QI as vital energy that circulates through the body all time. This therapy or treatment in general, is involves inserting thin needles into the skin of patient at very specific points on the body to stimulate the central nervous system. Practitioners of acupuncture technique are firmly ae believing that a QI deficiency is linked to spleen and that rest and eating certain foods can treat the imbalance. According to TCM, QI energy is an invisible energy that is a vital energy, which determines a person’s health and it flows through a network of 12 major energy meridians or pathways. The authors in this short review are investigating how acupuncture can influence this invisible energy in support of balancing neutrons and perceptrons waves within brain by synchronizing them, which enhance and improves reduction of depression within a patient as a noninvasive approach.

Managing fibromyalgia with complementary and alternative medical exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition of unclear etiopathology that diminished patients' quality of life; chronic pain is the main symptom, yet patients with fibromyalgia struggle also with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. For many years, pharmaceutical management of pain was the mainstay of treatment. In the latest decade, conventional low-impact aerobic exercise and complementary and alternative medical (CAM) exercise have become important when structuring a personalized therapeutic plan, since side effects are practically inexistent. Heterogenous studies with different methodological approaches have failed to display a clear clinical effect. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of clinical trials putting emphasis on standardized measurable outcomes (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, FIQ) in our effort to draw a safe conclusion on CAM exercise's effect. After analyzing 14 studies, including 886 patients, meta analysis showed CAM exercise had a beneficial effect on patients' FIQ score reports: standardized mean difference (SMD) 1.330 (95% CI 0.733-1.928). Among them, dance and Tai chi, had a more profound effect: SMD 1.969 (95% CI 0.575-3.364) and SMD 1.852 (95% CI 0.119-3.584), respectively. However, the risk of bias was overall medium to high and statistical heterogeneity was very high. Our meta-regression analysis failed to identify any variable that could account for high heterogeneity. Even though more experimental studies should be done on this subject, CAM exercise seems beneficial for patients with Fibromyalgia.

The Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Associated Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a touchy clinical and public health problem worldwide, which adversely affects women's health and health-related comorbidities for lifetime, and represents a tremendous burden for both the family of the patient and for society. According to the diagnostic criteria used and the population studied, the prevalence rate of PCOS is between 6% and 21%. However, current conventional modern medicines for PCOS are only moderately effective at controlling the signs and symptoms, while they are not thoroughly able to prevent complications. Therefore, many patients have turned to complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments. CAM use is wide spread among patients with PCOS, and more than 70% of patients use CAM at one point during their diseases. The patients' primary motivations include dissatisfaction with available medications, perceive higher risk of drug side effects and crushing health burden and economic costs, desire for symptom relief, pursuit of shortening the course of disease, and the belief that CAM therapy is in accordance with the patients' values and beliefs. At present, several CAM methods have been used in women with PCOS, which has achieved obvious effects. However, biologically plausible mechanisms of the action of traditional Chinese medicine- (TCM-) associated CAM for PCOS have not been systematically reviewed. This review briefly summarizes the current progress of the impact of herbal medicine on the outcomes of PCOS and introduces the mechanisms.

Increased Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Back Pain Following Statewide Medicaid Coverage Changes in Oregon.

In 2016, Oregon introduced a policy to improve back pain treatment among Medicaid enrollees by expanding benefits for evidence-based complementary and alternative medical (CAM) services and establishing opioid prescribing restrictions. To examine changes in CAM utilization following the policy and variations in utilization across patient populations. A retrospective study of Oregon Medicaid claims data, examining CAM therapy utilization by back pain patients pre- vs post-policy. We used an interrupted time series analysis to evaluate changes in CAM use and examined the association between patient characteristics and CAM use post-policy using linear regression models. Adult Medicaid patients with back pain. The Oregon Medicaid back pain policy, administered through Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). Use of CAM services. Use of any CAM service increased from 7.9% (95% CI 7.6-8.2%) prior to the policy to 30.9% (95% CI 30.4-31.3%) after the policy. Acupuncture increased from 0.3 to 5.6%, chiropractic from 0.3 to 11.1%, massage from 1.6 to 14.8%, PT/OT from 6.0 to 17.7%, and osteopathic from 1.4 to 1.9%. Interrupted time series showed an overall increase in proportion of back pain patients who used CAM service following the policy. Among those who accessed CAM, the policy did not appear to increase the number of services used. In the post period, CAM services were accessed more often by female and older enrollees and urban populations. Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic enrollees were less likely to access CAM services; for Black enrollees, this was true for all types of services. CAM service utilization increased among back pain patients following implementation of Oregon's policy. There was significant heterogeneity in uptake across service types, CCOs, and patient subgroups. Policymakers should consider implementation factors that might limit impact and perpetuate health disparities.

A Review for Existing Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has always been a frustrating disability for families and no official effective medical interventions has been found to cure this disorder yet. With more attention from the general public both nationally and internationally, more and more families and therapists showed preference to implement complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. This review aims to provide more information about potential CAM that has been applied and their effectiveness.

Understanding public perceptions of healing: An arts-based qualitative study

BackgroundMost healing research has focussed on the views of healers, complementary and alternative medical (CAM) practitioners or medical professionals, and little is known about how the general public conceives of healing. Because healing is a complex and often abstract concept, we addressed this gap in the knowledge using creative qualitative approaches with members of the public. We aimed to elucidate the views of members of the public about their healing, to help offer a better understanding to healthcare professionals. MethodsOur qualitative arts-based drawing method invited people to respond using crayons and paper to the question ‘What does the word healing mean to you?’ These drawings were followed by a short recorded interview in which people explained their image. We used convenience sampling to approach members of the public visiting a large wellbeing show and a museum. We analysed images and interviews in tandem using a focus on metaphor. ResultsWe interviewed 59 people, including three children. Almost two thirds of participants were female. Participants’ images and interviews documented three main models of the healing process: i) Healing comes from a great external force, exemplified by the sun; ii) Healing comes from other people, whether medical professionals, CAM practitioners or healers; and iii) Healing comes from within, and the individual has the ability to self-heal. People described practices and inner states that could help achieve healing. Some people depicted more than one model, demonstrating the interlinkages between the models, and some described the outcome of healing (wholeness) rather than the process. ConclusionsThe drawing-based approach encouraged an intuitive way of thinking, capturing concepts that cannot easily be verbalised. Members of the public have nuanced, complex understandings of the concept of healing, and these echo historical and modern concepts of healing and healthcare. The models our participants described often interlink, suggesting an overarching framework for the way people conceive of healing. The findings may be useful both as a guide to further research and as insight that may facilitate healthcare processes.

WITHDRAWN: Knowledge and attitudes towards utilizing complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments by mental health practitioner from various disciplines

Abstract Neuropsychiatric and mental health symptoms affect an estimated 37% of the U.S. population and are often refractory to standard, conventional medical treatment. Adults with more than one neuropsychiatric symptom, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficits, headaches, excessive sleepiness, and memory loss are disproportionally more likely to seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) options for their symptoms. Despite the growing popularity of CAM usage, (estimated at more than 30 percent of all adults by the National Centers on Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (NCCIH), there is very little known about mental health practitioner (MHP) attitudes, knowledge and understanding about CAM practices. A survey of 295 MHP's from multiple disciplines was conducted in order to investigate knowledge of, and attitudes towards, utilizing CAM treatments. Results suggest that many MHP's are unaware that they are using CAM approaches and are lacking knowledge regarding evidence for the use of CAM for mental health symptoms.

Anxiety: a Primer for the Pediatrician

This paper focuses on the assessment and treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders targeted at pediatricians. It reviews the prevalence, role of the pediatrician in differentiating anxiety disorders from age-appropriate fears or normative responses to stressors, use of assessment tools, evidence-based treatment, and provides psychoeducation resources for children, parents, and clinicians. It reviews considerations for treatment modality and evidence for use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology. First-line treatment of mild severity anxiety disorders is guided by well-established evidence and supported by randomized controlled trials that includes psychoeducation and psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). When anxiety is moderate to severe in intensity or impairment, initiation of psychopharmacology is considered in combination with CBT. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have the most evidence in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials and are recommended as first line for anxiety disorders, starting with low doses. It is important to discuss and monitor for potential adverse effects. Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are often used by youth, though there is limited evidence for benefit in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, and potential risks need to be considered. Pediatric anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents and can result in significant impairment and morbidity. Pediatricians have an important role in identifying and facilitating treatment for youth with anxiety disorders, and CBT and psychopharmacology, particularly SSRIs, have the most evidence. However, accessing CBT for many families remains challenging. Pediatricians can provide psychoeducation and resources as a first step and initiate medications if indicated. Further research into integration of mental healthcare in pediatric settings could increase access to CBT and decrease morbidity. In addition, more randomized controlled trials and comparison studies for medications, CAM therapies, and combination treatments for pediatric anxiety disorders are needed.

Extraordinary Cases of Miraculous Healing

Most healing research has focussed on the views of healers, complementary and alternative medical (CAM) practitioners or medical professionals, and little is known about how the general public conceives of healing. Because healing is a complex and often abstract concept, we addressed this gap in the knowledge using creative qualitative approaches with members of the public. We aimed to elucidate the views of members of the public about their healing, to help offer a better understanding to healthcare professionals.Our qualitative arts-based drawing method invited people to respond using crayons and paper to the question ‘What does the word healing mean to you?’ These drawings were followed by a short recorded interview in which people explained their image. We used convenience sampling to approach members of the public visiting a large wellbeing show and a museum. We analysed images and interviews in tandem using a focus on metaphor.We interviewed 59 people, including three children. Almost two thirds of participants were female. Participants’ images and interviews documented three main models of the healing process: i) Healing comes from a great external force, exemplified by the sun; ii) Healing comes from other people, whether medical professionals, CAM practitioners or healers; and iii) Healing comes from within, and the individual has the ability to self-heal. People described practices and inner states that could help achieve healing. Some people depicted more than one model, demonstrating the interlinkages between the models, and some described the outcome of healing (wholeness) rather than the process.The drawing-based approach encouraged an intuitive way of thinking, capturing concepts that cannot easily be verbalised. Members of the public have nuanced, complex understandings of the concept of healing, and these echo historical and modern concepts of healing and healthcare. The models our participants described often interlink, suggesting an overarching framework for the way people conceive of healing. The findings may be useful both as a guide to further research and as insight that may facilitate healthcare processes.

And Then a Miracle Occurs

Most healing research has focussed on the views of healers, complementary and alternative medical (CAM) practitioners or medical professionals, and little is known about how the general public conceives of healing. Because healing is a complex and often abstract concept, we addressed this gap in the knowledge using creative qualitative approaches with members of the public. We aimed to elucidate the views of members of the public about their healing, to help offer a better understanding to healthcare professionals.Our qualitative arts-based drawing method invited people to respond using crayons and paper to the question ‘What does the word healing mean to you?’ These drawings were followed by a short recorded interview in which people explained their image. We used convenience sampling to approach members of the public visiting a large wellbeing show and a museum. We analysed images and interviews in tandem using a focus on metaphor.We interviewed 59 people, including three children. Almost two thirds of participants were female. Participants’ images and interviews documented three main models of the healing process: i) Healing comes from a great external force, exemplified by the sun; ii) Healing comes from other people, whether medical professionals, CAM practitioners or healers; and iii) Healing comes from within, and the individual has the ability to self-heal. People described practices and inner states that could help achieve healing. Some people depicted more than one model, demonstrating the interlinkages between the models, and some described the outcome of healing (wholeness) rather than the process.The drawing-based approach encouraged an intuitive way of thinking, capturing concepts that cannot easily be verbalised. Members of the public have nuanced, complex understandings of the concept of healing, and these echo historical and modern concepts of healing and healthcare. The models our participants described often interlink, suggesting an overarching framework for the way people conceive of healing. The findings may be useful both as a guide to further research and as insight that may facilitate healthcare processes.

Complementary and alternative medicine treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders.

There are many treatments in current use for core and associated symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This review discusses the complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments commonly added to conventional interventions for children with ASD, including natural products, mind and body practices, and other biomedical treatments. The article focuses on factors associated with use of CAM, the empirical evidence for the most frequently used treatments, and how clinicians work with families who choose CAM treatments. Some treatments have been ineffective, some have unacceptable potential side effects, and others require more study in depth.

The use of art and music therapy in substance abuse treatment programs.

Although the implementation of evidence-based practices in the treatment of substance use disorders has attracted substantial research attention, little consideration has been given to parallel implementation of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) practices. Using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 299) of U.S. substance abuse treatment programs, this study modeled organizational factors falling in the domains of patient characteristics, treatment ideologies, and structural characteristics, associated with the use of art therapy and music therapy. We found that 36.8% of treatment programs offered art therapy and 14.7% of programs offered music therapy. Programs with a greater proportion of women were more likely to use both therapies, and programs with larger proportions of adolescents were more likely to offer music therapy. In terms of other treatment ideologies, programs' use of Motivational Enhancement Therapy was positively related to offering art therapy, whereas use of contingency management was positively associated with offering music therapy. Finally, our findings showed a significant relationship between requiring 12-step meetings and the use of both art therapy and music therapy. With increasing use of CAM in a diverse range of medical settings and recent federal legislation likely to reduce barriers in accessing CAM, the inclusion of CAM in addiction treatment is growing in importance. Our findings suggest treatment programs may be utilizing art and music therapies to address unique patient needs of women and adolescents.

The effect of complementary and alternative medicine on subfertile women with in vitro fertilization.

About 10–15% of couples have difficulty conceiving at some point in their reproductive lives and thus have to seek specialist fertility care. One of the most commonly used treatment options is in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its related expansions. Despite many recent technological advances, the average IVF live birth rate per single initiated cycle is still only 30%. Consequently, there is a need to find new therapies to promote the efficiency of the procedure. Many patients have turned to complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments as an adjuvant therapy to improve their chances of success when they undergo IVF treatment. At present, several CAM methods have been used in infertile couples with IVF, which has achieved obvious effects. However, biologically plausible mechanisms of the action of CAM for IVF have not been systematically reviewed. This review briefly summarizes the current progress of the impact of CAM on the outcomes of IVF and introduces the mechanisms.

The complementary and alternative medicine for endometriosis: a review of utilization and mechanism.

Endometriosis (EM) is one of the common gynecological conditions causing menstrual and pelvic pain and affects 10%–15% of women of reproductive age. In recent years, the complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatment for EM has become popular due to the few adverse reactions reported. The CAM therapy for EM includes several different treatments such as herbs (herbal prescription, extract, and patent), acupuncture, microwave physiotherapy, and Chinese herb medicine enema (CHM enema). These CAM therapies are effective at relieving dysmenorrhoea, shrinking adnexal masses, and promoting pregnancy, with less unpleasant side effects when compared to hormonal and surgical treatments. In this review, we focus on the status quo of CAM on EM and try to identify therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms based on some clinical and experimental studies. We hope to provide some instructive suggestions for clinical treatment and experimental research in the future.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies Among Youth With Mental Health Concerns

BackgroundUse of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies is common among adults with mental health concerns, but little is known about CAM use among adolescents with mental health concerns. MethodsData from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed for youth from 7 to 17 years old. The study focused on 3 common mental health conditions: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. CAM therapy use was identified by criteria from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. ResultsIn a sample of 5651 individuals, representing 7 million youth, with 1 or more mental health concerns in the past 12 months, 28.9% used 1 or more types of CAM therapy, excluding vitamins/minerals. In contrast, only 11.6% of those without mental health concerns reported CAM therapy use (P < .05). Among youth with 1 or more mental health conditions, the most commonly used CAM therapies were mind–body therapies (16.3%) and biologically based therapies (11%); use was higher for therapies that could be directly accessed (18.6%) than for therapies delivered in groups (11.8%) or through a health professional (10.2%). In the multivariable regression model, demographic factors significantly associated with CAM therapy use were higher household income, higher parental education, having other chronic health conditions, use of prescription medications, and difficulty affording mental health counseling. ConclusionsReadily accessible CAM therapies are commonly used by youth with ADHD, depression, and anxiety, particularly those who have comorbid chronic health conditions, receive prescription medications, and have difficulty affording counseling. Clinicians can use these data to guide inquiries and counseling. Researchers should explore the longitudinal relationship between access to coordinated care within a medical home and use of CAM therapies among youth with mental health concerns.

Evaluating Consumer-Oriented Web Sites for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Consumers and healthcare professionals need to exercise caution when seeking health care information of any type on the Web, but they need to exercise even greater caution when seeking nonstandard medical advice through complementary and alternative medical (CAM) web sites. The Health on the Net (HON) Foundation certifies web sites, but CAM information seekers need to engage in their own critical appraisals in addition to seeking out sites which enjoy HON certification. The web sites of the University of Maryland Medical Center, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Mayo Clinic are evaluated as sources of information about CAM.

Taking control: Complementary and alternative medicine in diabetes and cardiovascular disease management

The chronicity of chronic disease, and its associated uncertainties and fluctuations in health status, pain and/or discomfort, often leaves those so diagnosed feeling that they have lost control. Treatment can exacerbate this sense of loss of control, as people surrender to the expertise of their biomedical providers and interventions. In principle, self-management aims to return control to the individual, but its promotion is as much motivated by cost-containment as patient autonomy, and is advocated in an environment largely shaped by policy makers and biomedical providers. In this article, we examine how Australians with type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease supplement medical with complementary and alternative medical (CAM) care. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 69 participants collected in 2009-2010, we illustrate how people rely on medical providers and pharmaceuticals to manage their diabetes, but concurrently consulted with CAM practitioners and used non-biomedical therapies to enhance well-being. In explaining this, participants framed CAM use in the context of reclaiming relative personal and bodily control.

OA11.02. A model of integrative care for low back pain

Purpose While previous studies focused on the effectiveness of individual complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, the value of providing patients access to an integrated program involving multiple CAM and conventional therapies remains unknown. Our objective is to explore the feasibility and effects of a model of multidisciplinary integrative care for subacute low back pain (LBP) in an academic teaching hospital.

A Model of Integrative Care for Low-Back Pain

While previous studies focused on the effectiveness of individual complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, the value of providing patients access to an integrated program involving multiple CAM and conventional therapies remains unknown. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility and effects of a model of multidisciplinary integrative care for subacute low-back pain (LBP) in an academic teaching hospital. This was a pilot randomized trial comparing an individualized program of integrative care (IC) plus usual care to usual care (UC) alone for adults with LBP. Twenty (20) individuals with LPB of 3-12 weeks' duration were recruited from an occupational health clinic and community health center. Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of individualized IC plus usual care versus UC alone. IC was provided by a trained multidisciplinary team offering CAM therapies and conventional medical care. The outcome measures were symptoms (pain, bothersomeness), functional status (Roland-Morris score), SF-12, worry, and difficulty performing three self-selected activities. Over 12 weeks, participants in the IC group had a median of 12.0 visits (range 5-25). IC participants experienced significantly greater improvements at 12 weeks than those receiving UC alone in symptom bothersomeness (p=0.02) and pain (p=0.005), and showed greater improvement in functional status (p=0.08). Rates of improvement were greater for patients in IC than UC in functional status (p=0.02), bothersomeness (p=0.002), and pain scores (p=0.001). Secondary outcomes of self-selected most challenging activity, worry, and the SF-12 also showed improvement in the IC group at 12 weeks. These differences persisted at 26 weeks, but were no longer statistically significant. It was feasible for a multidisciplinary, outpatient IC team to deliver coordinated, individualized intervention to patients with subacute LBP. Results showed a promising trend for benefit of treating patients with persistent LBP with this IC model, and warrant evaluation in a full-scale study.