Hw499 week 1 lecture notes
- 1. Week One Lecture Notes Benefits (and Risks) of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Lesson Summary: define Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and the associated benefits and risks. Determine why people choose CAM modalities instead of, or in conjunction with, conventional medicine. Ask what CAM means to the students. Focus on chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation, and where individuals may find the respective practitioners locally. Lesson Content: What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine? What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Complementary and Alternative Medicine?” What are some of the good things that you have heard? What are some of the scary things that you have heard? “Complementary” generally refers to using a non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine. “Alternative” refers to using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine (NCCIM, 2015). Give examples and ask the class for examples of complementary and alternative practices. Today we will be focusing on the mind and body practices of: chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. There are so many more modalities available, however I am choosing to focus on these because they are available through skilled practitioners locally, and more people seem to be familiar with these ones.
- 2. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, mind and body practices include a large and diverse group of procedures or techniques administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher (2015). The following definitions come from the NCCIM website. “Spinal manipulation is practiced by health care professionals such as chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and some medical doctors. Practitioners perform spinal manipulation by using their hands or a device to apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The amount of force applied depends on the form of manipulation used (2015).” “Massage therapy includes many different techniques in which practitioners manually manipulate the soft tissues of the body (2015).” “Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles through the skin (2015).” And lastly, “Most meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or transcendental meditation, involve ways in which a person learns to focus attention (2015).” What are the benefits of CAM? People like the individualized, personal attention they receive when they go to a CAM practitioner. Many people feel more comfortable because CAM practitioners generally try to gain a full understanding of what is ailing you, rather than just trying to treat the symptoms of what is ailing you. For example, you go to a conventional doctor for back pain, that doctor may prescribe you pain medication or determine that you need surgery. However, if you go to a CAM practitioner, such as a chiropractor, the doctor may ask about any recent falls you may have had, your sleep position, look at the insoles in your shoes, ask about your stress level, observe your posture, and other things of that nature. CAM practices are also generally safe and less invasive (Calabro, 2009).
- 3. What are the risks of CAM? The main risk of CAM is that there is very limited scientific research available, therefore making an informed decision for some people very difficult. Additionally, because CAM focuses on the “individual,” “individual results may vary” and there is always the potential for contraindications resulting from mixing CAM with conventional methods. Furthermore, there is quite a bit of confusion about the topic due to confusing marketing strategies regarding certain practices and products (Calabro, 2009). Who can benefit from CAM practices? Many people can benefit from the use and application of CAM modalities. However, I find it important to mention that this class is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or medical condition. When considering altering your healthcare regimen in any way, be sure to inform all your healthcare providers to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible and avoiding any possible adverse side effects from mixing different methods. I can tell you from personal experience that I benefited from chiropractic care during both of my pregnancies. Additionally, I have also introduced silent time and or meditation time into my daily routine. Having just a few minutes to recharge and regroup throughout the day makes a huge difference for me. I was also an accident victim in 2007, where I broke three vertebrae in my neck and two ribs, had a pulmonary contusion, and fractured my eye socket on the steering wheel. I truly believe that if I had not sought chiropractic care that I may still be experiencing immense back pain. But I went once a week for a few weeks, then once every other week for a while. Within a few months, I had absolutely no pain resulting from the accident. I also did not require the use of pain medication.
- 4. Group share: Can anyone share any personal experiences regarding any CAM modalities they have used? Good, bad, or indifferent? Keep in mind this class is intended to inform you about CAM and encourage you to make the best decisions regarding your health, whether or not CAM is right for you. Also, we are trying to keep the focus on chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation because these services are available locally and many people seem to be somewhat familiar with them. Let us take this time to hear from other classmates about their experiences. Where can CAM practitioners be found? In your handout for this week, I included a link for YellowPages.com that contains search results for chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. Of course, you are not limited by the aforementioned services; there are many others that you can find. Be sure to do your research and consult your current healthcare professional(s) before making changes to your healthcare plan. Question and Answer Portion of Class. Who has questions about what was discussed today? Does everyone have a copy of the handout provided for this week? What did you like about class today? Does anyone have any suggestions to make the next class better?
- 5. References Calabro, Sarah. (2009). Alternative Medicine Pros and Cons. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/the-basics/are-you-conisdering- complementary-and-alternative-medicine.aspx National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. (2015). What is CAM? Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam