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Exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine (July 2007)
Have you ever thought about incorporating natural or alternative treatment methods into your current medical protocol, but felt overwhelmed by all the choices? Or are you simply curious about your alternative healthcare options? The first annual Richmond Alternative Health Expo this fall will provide an opportunity for you to learn more about complementary and alternative practices, and also become acquainted with local practitioners offering services.
What exactly is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)? According to the FDA’s industry regulation guidelines, CAM is “...‘a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.’ It [The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine] interprets ‘complementary’ medicine as being used together with conventional medicine, whereas ‘alternative’ medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.”
The reasons why people choose different modalities are multifold. Some prefer a holistic approach that acknowledges the mind-body connection. Others have tried conventional medical treatments for chronic conditions, but aren’t getting the results they’d like. Some turn to CAM because they prefer to use natural treatment modalities. And some are trying to avoid the side effects of drugs, or the cost and physical trauma of surgery.
Variety of choices offers an individual fit
Within the wide spectrum of CAM, there are many options and approaches to choose from. The FDA organizes its regulated substances into six specific categories: cosmetic products, devices, dietary supplements, drugs, foods, and food additives. Each category has its own legal definitions and restrictions, some more stringent than others. Health claims are carefully monitored and cannot be made about a supplement until proven by a long process of independent research.
Some modalities, such as homeopathy and flower essences, are subtle, vibrational healing systems intended to align our entire organism and help awaken our natural immune response. Vibrational remedies are energetic rather than disease-specific; therefore, one person may need one homeopathic remedy for a cold, while someone with a different constitution may need a completely different one to achieve the same results.
Other CAM modalities like herbs and vitamin supplementation are allopathic—intended to help alleviate a specific symptom or condition. With herbs and vitamins, careful quality control must be maintained—since a natural substance can have more variability than a synthesized, concentrated drug. Within each industry, individual companies often have their own independently verified testing and standardization processes.
Bodywork like shiatsu therapy or rolfing, as well as movement re-education techniques such as the Alexander Technique, work with the body in a physical, direct way. Some bodywork techniques such as Reiki are designed to work with the electromagnetic field surrounding the body, rather than on the tissues of the physical body itself.
There are also entire systems of CAM such as naturopathy, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) which encompass many modalities within themselves. For example, Ayurvedic practitioners make recommendations about herbs, diet, exercise, lifestyle and breathing techniques. Since many of these techniques and systems are so individually prescribed, it can be hard to tailor independent studies for CAM along the same lines as for drugs.
Modern day drugs imitate nature’s pharmacy
Interestingly enough, the line between alternative and conventional medicine is less clear-cut than it may seem. Many medical drugs are refined or synthesized versions of substances found in nature. For example, acetylsalicyclic acid (aspirin) is a synthetic chemical which mimics the natural salicin found in white willow bark.
In many other parts of the world such as Europe and Asia, this distinction blurs even more. CAM is more widely accepted in these areas than it is here in the U.S. In numerous European pharmacies, homeopathy and herbs are sold alongside conventional drugs. Many doctors in Germany routinely prescribe valerian root in place of Valium for anxiety and insomnia. In reality, conventional medicine grew out of what we now know of as CAM. At one point in history before drugs, vaccines and surgery were available; humans relied on the options nature provided and the wisdom of the medicine men and women of those times.
Medical arenas incorporate CAM
Numerous doctors and hospitals are incorporating some CAM modalities into their practices, often with measurable success. For example, many hospital OB/GYN wards are offering natural childbirth options by adding birth centers, midwife and doula programs, and even providing access to alternative childbirth support such as water birthing and aromatherapy. Not only is this empowering for many parents-to-be, but it can also be cost-effective in the long run.
Some doctors are also now prescribing nutritional supplements such as fish oil, garlic and single vitamins or minerals to their patients, as complementary treatments. Physical therapy, while recognized as a standard medical discipline, bears many similarities to alternative therapies like massage and chiropractic work. And when your doctor advises you to manage your stress-related hypertension, he or she is acknowledging the mind/body link in health.
The clearest difference between alternative and conventional therapies is that conventional medical treatments do not fully embrace a mind-body-spirit perspective, while many CAM therapies do.
An Integrative Medical Doctor or Naturopathic Physician may be an ideal guide for those seeking to use CAM for serious health conditions. Some herbs or supplements may not be compatible with certain medications, and others may not be suitable for pregnant or nursing women. While choosing a complementary or alternative treatment modality can be a safe and effective step on the road to better health, decisions should be made with careful consideration, research and a consultation with a knowledgeable CAM practitioner.
At the fall expo, you can learn about everything from aromatherapy to internal cleansing to special diets, all in an easy-to-navigate layout divided by category. Come with curiosity and questions, and plan to have fun! For more information about CAM, visit RVAHealthExpo.com, and click on Learn About CAM.
Sarah Noack Millogo is a freelance writer and a product educator with a focus on all-natural beauty care. She credits her full recovery from fibromyalgia (a debilitating systemic illness) to CAM modalities, and lives in Fredericksburg.
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