Discussion 1   (Everton)

 

Module 3 Discussion

Alternative & Complementary Medicine 

 

Discuss the safety and effectiveness of alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment of specific illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

Complementary medicine is a form of treatment used that does not include prescribed medications but are instead used with the use of prescribed medications (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). According to Cleveland Clinic (2021), some forms of complementary medicine are the use of relaxation techniques, such as mediation, massages, music, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and even dietary supplements. Some of the purposes of using complementary medicine is to relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce and prevent nausea, improving wound health, one’s mood, muscle tension, circulation, and improving energy (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Whereas alternative medicine if a form of treatment that is used in place of medications (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). According to the National Cancer Institute (2022), alternative medicine could be a specific diet a patient with cancer may start rather than taking any prescribing medications.

 

For patients with cancer, using alternative and complementary medicine as a form of treatment assists with coping with the side effects of some medications, or providing comfort through pain relief or reducing stress and anxiety. For patients with cancer, some complementary medicines are safe and effective, such as meditation and imagery where not a lot of body movements need to be done during times of feeling weakness, fatigue, or pains, but instead will relieve some of the pain and stress the treatments may be causing. For patients with diabetes, it has been proven that high levels of stress can increase one’s blood sugar levels. Therefore, complementary medicine such as breathing techniques, meditation, and exercise could assist with managing high sugar levels in conjunction with insulin or oral anti- diabetic medications. The same would go for patients with high blood pressure as stress and anxiety could cause further increase in blood pressure resulting in complications. Therefore, the use of certain complementary medicine would be beneficial. Along with the use of pharmacological methods, taking dietary restrictions into consideration would also assist with managing diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

Would you have any conflicts/concerns supporting a patient who choose holistic/allopathic medicine?

With the use of complementary and alternative medicine, I feel there is a very wide range of data that still has not been found or prove that these methods, specifically alternative medicine, is more effective in treating or curing medical conditions. Although these ae considered to be more natural routes of treatment, there actually has been more evidence showing they are less effective than prescribed medical treatment or can lead to further complications, such as taking certain dietary supplements or start specific diets rather than medications. Although these therapies and forms of treatments may provide relief and assist with other areas during the treatment process, it can be more effective using complementary medicine as it is used in conjunction with evidence- based research, rather than completely refusing treatments. Reasons I feel it would be acceptable is if these prescribed treatments were attempted and not successful; therefore, it is instead used to slow progression or relieve symptoms of certain conditions. For instance, for a patient with a history of cancer that may have relapsed and metastasized, using alternative or complementary medicine could be beneficially in providing comfort.

 

References:

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). National Cancer Institute. (2022, March 21). Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam

 

Discussion 2 (Dominique)

 

 

The Use of Complementary Medicine

Complementary and Alternative medicines has been used by different cultures in different ways since the dawn of time. It has been used medicinally (for example St. John’s Worts, or Blue Vervain), in the foods that we eat (For example culantro, or mint), and spiritually (for example sage, or ashwagandha root ). Modern medicine has been a more recent invention that started during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century and started with the invention of the smallpox vaccine in 1799; later on the the 1860s, the germ theory was codeveloped by French chemist Louis Pasteur based on his observation of fermented and spoiling food (Greenwood, 2021); it is based on this theory that modern medicine was born. Most of the medications invented in that era were based on an acute care model which is still implemented today in both acute and chronic situations. Most diseases like diabetes and hypertension are chronic illnesses that require a different more holistic approach. Modern medicine focuses on the symptoms of the disease and does not take into account the underlying issue that presents these symptoms. Prior to modern medicine, the use of natural herbs and having a holistic lifestyle were considered the best prevention from major illnesses. Many different cultures had (and still do to this day) medicinal guides, or practitioners, in their community that carry on the tradition of health promotion for the community, and continue the legacy by teaching their ways to the newer generation. With the induction of modern medicine and scientific research, a new standard of acceptable healthcare was invented based on scientific proof; but it begs the question of how can you “prove” the efficacy of traditional holistic lifestyle that has been in place for thousands of years to a fairly new concept?

Scientific evaluation has always been based on theories that did not take the culture and lifestyle of the patient into account; the only aspect that has been scientifically tested is the herbs and aromatherapy methods used. It is my belief that science has its flaws as well and any alleged conclusions to the best method of health should be looked at as an added perspective. Alternative treatments used for cancer mostly encompass the patients wellbeing as a whole. The patients mental, physical, and spiritual health are all taken into account. The premise behind this approach is to improve the patients mood by decreasing stress which decreases stress on the body and that way the body can divert the needed immunologic mechanism to help fight off the cancer cells (Wode et al, 2019). Holistic health also takes into account the foods that the patient eats as well, because in some cases the food we eat contributes to the development of illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. Holistic health encompasses physical exercise which varies from swimming, yoga, and meditation to running, strength training, and high intensity exercise. Science and modern medicine has divided all of these aspects of the patients wellbeing into different categories, but in order for the patient to achieve optimal health their mental, physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing must be taken into account. The use of Complementary and Alternative medicine should be respected and recognized as a part of the patients culture (Swihart, Yarrarapu, & Martin, 2021). Being that most of the medications that have been invented have been manipulations of nature, there is potential for interactions with certain herbs that the patient may be taking. With respect to the cultural choices of the patient, the nurse should do a proper assessment of the herbal teas and vitamins that the patient takes or drinks daily, then assess the medications that they may be taking currently.With this information, the nurse can identify if there are any interactions between these medications, and relay this information to the patient; then the patient can decide what has been more effective for them and what needs to be discontinued. As a nurse and someone raised in a culture that required a rites of passage at a certain age in which we are taught how to transition from a child to an adult and how to manage and maintain our health holistically, I would respect the patients choice to use alternative medicine. My only advice would be that they keep a list of all of the herbs and aromatherapy that they currently use in order to reduce risk of interaction with any new medications

 

References

Greenwood, M. (2021, May 20). History of micobiology: Germ theory and immunity. Medical & Life Sciences. https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/History-of-Microbiology-e28093-Germ-Theory-and-Immunity.aspx