Healthy and Natural Alternative Healing

 

Alternative healing is healing of the mind and body without the use of prescription drugs, or more conventional treatment methods. These healing methods, also know as homeopathy, can take on many different forms. These can include, but are not limited to meditation, herbal healing, acupuncture as well as acupressure and many others. Sometimes it is just a matter of changing your eating habits, getting the right kind of exercise, etc., that can put you on the road to better overall health.

These methods have been used for centuries to treat and cure a variety of different ailments. From cancer to depression, and just about everything in between. What makes them different and in many cases more successful than conventional treatments is that they don’t just treat one particular part of the body, they treat the body as a whole. This goes beyond the mind and the physical body, but also the person’s spirit as well.

Another difference between alternative healing methods and conventional medicine is that alternative healing is completely natural, and drug free. This doesn’t mean that herbal supplements aren’t involved, but these are natural, and risk free. All too often medication is prescribed for an ailment, that not only has side effects that are worse than the disease itself, but are not fully tested. Some of these medication’s detrimental effects don’t even show themselves until much later.

Are alternative healing methods successful? Yes, they are as much if not more successful than conventional healing methods. Just ask the person who was diagnosed with cancer, with no hope of a cure, that went to an alternative cancer treatment center and is not only still alive today, but the cancer is gone. Ask the person who suffered from depression, or anxiety who used natural healing methods to over come these illnesses, and lead productive lives today.

In many cases, alternative healing methods are a last resort for some people. Whether it is because conventional medicine has failed to help, or because they simply can’t afford chemotherapy, expensive drugs, and seek other methods. Some people turn to natural healing methods first, because of the fears that go along with modern medical practices. For whatever the case, more and more people are seeking alternatives, and finding that these help much more, are safer, and much less expensive.

Sometimes, the simplest remedies are often the most effective. For a perfect example, let’s take a person who is always stressed out, whether it is from working too hard all the time, or family problems. Because they are always in a state of agitation, they end up with ulcers, or are sick all the time. One of the most simple ways to cure this stress can be through meditation techniques. A person doesn’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to learn meditation, it is mostly about getting into a more relaxed state of mind. It is about slowing down, taking some time for yourself, and learning how to do it in a constructive manner. Through meditation, and learning to prioritize what is important, their stress level is lowered considerably, they feel better, and aren’t sick all the time.

There are many examples of the success of alternative healing methods, you can find many of these online. The internet is a wealth of information on natural healing methods, including all and more of the ones that have been mentioned here. There are many resources at your disposal, all you need is to have the desire to explore all of your options.

We hope you have enjoyed out blog! For more information on health and natural, alternative healing visit the Sacred Eden Blog

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Information on Methods of Alternative Medicine

 

Many doctors and medical experts who use modern medicine will dismiss methods of alternative medicine. The reason they do this may be because they are biased or because of ignorance. Many patients working with herbalists who use ancient health management methods find that these experts ask a lot of the same questions about their background as traditional doctors do.

The focus of methods of alternative medical practice is to try to figure out what the pattern of symptoms is so the cause of the problem can be determined. Often an alternative medicine practitioner may ask questions about the patient’s parents, which may seem like he is trying to find a genetic link to the problem.

Methods of alternative medicines have been around way before modern medicine; however, that doesn’t mean they aren’t valid methods of treatment just because they predate science. The methods used in alternative medical practice are based more on intuition than standard algorithms used in modern medicine. However, when you look at the results, both modern and alternative medical practice often arrive at the same results.

Is there a place for methods of alternative medicine in these modern times? Many people aren’t aware that a lot of modern medications are based on natural substances used in alternative medical practice. For example, psychiatry is one branch of modern medicine that relies on methods of treatment very similar to the methods of alternative medicine. Another similarity is the use of antigens in small amounts to create vaccines. This is similar to what is done in homeopathic methods of alternative medicine.

You can see how the modern methods of health management used today can be traced back in some way to methods of alternative medicine used in the past. The two types of medicine have a lot more in common than most people think.

The major difference between the two is in the methods of treating some injuries, infections, and diseases. Modern medicine relies on evidence to provide scientific validation of how safe and how effective treatment methods are and it uses a uniform code of quality assurance. Modern treatment methods rely on big companies that profit from their research, development, and experimentation used to come up with new treatment methods.

Methods used in alternative medical practice, on the other hand, are not patented or based on profit. They do not require individuals or companies to invest large amounts of money. If there was public funding available for developing methods of alternative medicine, it would most likely become more commonly used by medical practitioners. That would be beneficial to consumers and patients.

Terje Brooks has long experience in writing articles online. Among medical issues – ordinary as well as alternative – he also like to write about topics related to home and family, for example automotive issues. You can take a look at his auto window repair home page if you need some auto window repair information. A vehicle in good condition if likely to prevent many kinds of injuries.

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Alternative Medicine – A Neutral Solution For All

 

Generally when we fall down with a disease we head our way to a doctor and he at most times recommend a medicine which normally makes us feel better. But there are at times situations when the conventional medicines do not work for us or simply they are unable to heal the problem. At these circumstances many of us decide to go with alternative medicine. This medicine is not a medicine which is prescribed by any physician; rather it is a neutral form of medicine which can be taken at our own will. This medicines are the opposite of evidence based medicines and are often inspired from cultural and social etiquettes which do not possess any genuine scientific base. These medicines as proclaimed by their manufacturers do not impose any side effects to our metabolism and hence are well-liked my most.

As cited by the American National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, herbals, ancient Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, homeopathy, meditation and nutritional based therapies are the ostensible ones counted as alternative medicine. All of these techniques are alternative since they have not been tested as effective in laboratories or their reliability is not guaranteed. Once they are found effective and the researchers give their nod they are no longer alternative and steps up as mainstream medicines. Hence alternative medicine lacks that authentic and unfeigned label which other customary drugs enjoy.

One acrimonious fact about alternative medicine is that they are always subjected to secondary status in comparison with their tested and decorous counterpart. Most people are found to use up mainstream medicine along with alternative medicine; they are noticed to get through with this middle-of-the-road solution. They utilize mainstream medicine for diagnosis purpose while the other is used to neutralize the side effects of the former. Such has been the trend with the users. Even most of the doctors are unaware of the fact that their patents are consuming two types of medicines simultaneously. Studies have shown that in only 38.5% of the cases patients discuss this dual treatment with their medical doctor.

Even though the advancement of medical science has gone so far and apart from two or three almost all diseases are curable with ease, still there are people who spend their money on alternative medicines. Many do this for easy access to medicines as no prescription is required in case of alternative medicines. Reports have shown that the users of this medicine are at a rise even in developed countries. The scenes at Heidi Park in London and New York with people performing yogas are astonishing. May be in a year or two we might see this trend rising much higher.

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Get The Prescription for Drug Alternatives

 

Prescription for Drug Alternatives is a book that does exactly what the title says; it prescribes natural alternatives for prescription drugs. After reading this book, you will no longer have to be dependent on prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Basically, what the book does is to explain to you how the usual prescription or over-the-counter medication may work on the body. It is then shown how natural drug alternatives can do exactly the same things but without the added costs and the undesirable side effects. It also goes on to say that there are times where prescription drugs will be absolutely be necessary, but you won’t have to suffer with the side effects because there will be supplements available out there that will help you cope with it properly.

The first mistake that people do when they think of natural supplements is that they will think that one sort is just the same as the next one. They tend to just pick any vitamin mix out there and will be content with that. The book will show you that there are a lot of different vitamins and mineral combinations out there and not everything may be right for everyone. The cost saved alone from purchasing the right type of vitamin supplement will be enough to recover the cost of this book.

Conventional doctors will never tell you about the alternatives shown in Prescription for Drug Alternatives because of the lucrative incentives that pharmaceutical companies are giving them. With Prescription for Drug Alternatives, you’ll never have to overpay for medicine again and you’ll never have to be dependent on over-the counter stuff when you can simply take a natural alternative.

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Baby Boomers Use Alternative Medicine

 

According to a recent study conducted at Ohio State University, about 70 percent of the 50 Plus market use alternative medicine. Funded by the National Institute on Aging, Professor Gong-Soog Hong spearheaded a survey that included almost 900 participants aged 50 and above. 65 percent of seniors who described themselves in poor health said they used some form of alternative medicine they considered either curative or preventive–a higher percentage than any other group.

Baby boomers are searching for other ways to alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain and arthritis, as well as utilizing alternative therapies as preventive medicine. Chiropractic care topped the list with a whopping 43% of respondents, while acupuncture came in last.

Last fall, another survey of baby boomers was conducted by Sorelli B, a national research firm. This particular study showed than more than one third of those surveyed said that chiropractic care prevented the need for prescription drugs and physical therapy. The respondents also believed that chiropractic care helped them avoid back surgery and long, grueling, hospital stays. Close to 60 percent of those surveyed stated they would be willing to petition their insurance companies to include chiropractic as a component of their health care plan even though they were willing to pay for those services out-of-pocket.

The other most popular methods of alternative medicine include massage therapy, breathing exercises, herbal medicine and meditation.

The first study looking at alternative medicine use among seniors with depression finds that close to 20 percent are using gingko biloba, ginseng, St. John’s Wort and other herbal remedies. The surprising findings could cause concern with physicians who treat baby boomers as most patients were unaware of the risks of potential drug interactions.
Helen Kale, M.D., from the University of Michigan says, “The results merit further study and suggest that seniors may have entered the alternative medicine market ina big way, much bigger than we thought.”

Why alternative medicine? Older adults are searching for different kind of treatment to lessen the aches and pains that often come with age. Seniors are reporting problems with daily activities such as carrying groceries, eating or bathing. Moreover, many of them are simply not satisfied with mainstream health care and often have issues with the current state of conventional health care. “Older adults tend to have more chronic illnesses and conventional medicine doesn’t always solve their problems,” says Hong.

In addition, the survey showed that because the treatment of chronic pain is very difficult and demanding, people living in such pain will try everything possible to alleviate it.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the percentage of the 50 plus market who received a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years has almost tripled. Why do baby boomers get massage? For health reasons, according to the survey. Seniors even indicated they seek massage for health reasons (other than stress relief and relaxation) more than any other age group (41 percent).

The least popular practice of alternative medicine surfaced in the U.S. in the 1970s, Acupuncture has gained acceptance as an alternative to traditional Western medicine for pain relief and for treating a variety of other health conditions. Studies show that baby boomers who sufffer from muscle and bone pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other ranges of problems, are giving acupuncture a try to lessen their symptoms.

The health-minded baby boomer generation is also exercising. Being physically active is the solution to maintaining the quality of life for adults 50 years and older. 16 million seniors exercise at least three times per week. From 1987 to 1995, the number of 50-plus health club members jumped 199%, and the number of 65-plus who joined health clubs jumped a staggering 669%. According to the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), most active adult communities are responding to this need by including wellness centers within their planned communities. Plus, age-targeted programs have been shown to be quite popular with tremendous benefits to other types of senior housing, fitness facilities and publicly-sponsored community recreation programs.

Interestingly enough, day spas are quickly becoming a hot market for those aged 50 and better. Instead of the usual day spa fare of facials and waxing, now medical spas or MedSpas are cropping up in the market. MedSpas take all the comfort and care of day spas, yet add the latest in medical technology. Mud packs and cucumber slices have been replaced with high-tech advanced fluorescence technology, microdermabrasion, and ultrasound technologies–all designed to help the 50 plus market feel better about their appearance.

Although alternative medicine plays a huge role in the lives of baby boomers, when it comes to health, there is no comparison to preventive measures. The Southeastern Institute of Research found that the 50 plus market say some of the most important things to do to stay healthy are to get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. It’s no wonder that life expectancy has increased by 30 years in the past century.

As health care costs continue to rise, baby boomers will continue to seek alternative medicine and transform into “health boomers.” They have defined health care because they’re strong, vocal, and know what they want. Boomers are healthier than any generation of seniors in history and live longer, happier lives.

Former Sacramento newscaster and radio personality Connie Werner Reichert (Connie Synclair) is the President of Write Side Up Freelance Writing & Publicity in Latrobe. She may be reached at 530.277.4560 or visit her on the web at http://www.authorsden.com/conniewreichert Her email address is Connieis@pacbell.net

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How Old Is Alternative Medicine and the Comparative Allopathic Medicine?

 

The term alternative medicine has not been around very long. In Le Fanu’s work, The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine we see examples of the term being used to refer to practitioners taking on the older medical practices once in common use before the advent of empirical-based medicine which denounced them. The term “alternative medicine” has not been in existence any longer than the second half of the 20th century and perhaps earlier in isolated cases as allopathic medicine replaced holistic health care.

What is Holistic Health Care and How Old Is It?

Holistic health care originates in prehistoric times and most likely been around as long as human beings have existed. Holistic health refers to a number of medical systems, now considered by allopathic medicine to be within the alternative medicine group. These relied (and still do) on the alleged existence of prana, qi – what is known as vital life energy. Many believe that this energy has particular healing qualities and that the human body has these energies inside of them which facilitates self-healing. Today most of the modalities and holistic health systems found in alternative medicine uphold the theory that this energy exists and lends to the belief that wholesome living (clean lifestyles) lends to the promotion of natural healing.

What we have in alternative medicine today represents these philosophies from which allopathic medicine has deviated from. Very old cultures, such as China and India, have always retained the spiritual and emotional aspects of human experience in, not only their cultures, but their health care systems as well, making them holistic health care systems. There is no doubt that Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda all have their roots in prehistoric times. A number of other health systems and modalities share in these implications, including allopathic medicine, though indirectly.

What is Allopathic Medicine and How Old Is it?

As late as the early 19th century allopathic medicine, as we know it, was still very unorganized and relied on many truly dangerous procedures and therapies, notorious methods, as blood-letting and extremely caustic chemical preparations we now know are highly toxic. Such men as German Physician, Samuel Hahnemann became so disillusioned with the medical practices of the time that he formed the now-infamous Homeopathic medical system – now considered an alternative medicine, though falling in line with holistic health, in theory and practice.

Allopathic medicine as we know it now is not very old though it is said of Ayurveda to be the Mother of Modern Medicine. Allopathic medicine is a very up-to-date and highly technical scientifically based system and has no repudiated ties to holistic health practices of yesterday. It was Hahnemann who coined the term, allopathic medicine, which in the Greek, means “other suffering.” This refers to modern medical’s departure from holistic health and treatment of symptoms rather than addressing the causes of the aliment.

How Alternative Medicine, Holistic Health Care and Allopathic Medicine Stand Today

All of these, including allopathic medicine have their origin as far back as prehistoric times though holistic health found in the alternative medicine group continues in the timeless philosophies and theories that the human body is equipped with that life force which is capable of healing on its own and the interruption of these energies can be intervened by the practitioner whose job it is to remove whatever it is that is blocking the natural flow of the energy.

The legacy of alternative medicine lies in its continuation of these ancient, time-tested holistic procedures. Allopathic medicine, despite its incredible contributions to the knowledge of human anatomy and health, sadly has abandoned the holism which is an important part of the medical systems within alternative medicine.

Daniel Euergetes is working hard to helping you rise above mediocrity and reach more satisfactory and more fulfilling planes in living. One of the ways this is done is through education and appropriate resources.

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Alternative Medicine – When Traditional Drugs Can’t Fix Your Sickness

 

If we get sick with the cold or with a cough or even painful muscle tissue and body, a lot of people rush off to the medical doctor to see if some medical care or a prescription medicine can help us. If the medicine works, then we head out on our way. But what would we do if the medicine or treatment method given by the physician doesn’t give good results and consistently fails to make you remedy your pain? If this has been happening to you, it may possibly be time to look into medicine.

What is Alternative Medicine?

In opposition to what most people think, alternative medicine is not all about herbs and enchantment. The fundamental interpretation of alternative medicine is a manner of therapy that is possibly not educated in most principal medical schools. Medicine treatments can envelop nearly anything from naturopathy to teas and fitness routines. Medicine practices are achieving recognition, mainly due to the fact that men and women with common conditions are not as likely to put their loyalty in prescriptions and modern medicine than purely natural or alternative therapies.

Why Alternative Medicine is Gaining Popularity

Today’s current market is composed of an increasing number of “label readers” – those individuals who assess the tags of the products they buy to be sure the components are something they recognize, or can at least pronounce. Several of the common beliefs from the public are that the side effects of many of today’s modern drugs are worse than the diseases they are supposed to treat. Feelings such as this are driving more and more people towards giving alternative medicine practices a shot.

Is Alternative Medicine Right for You?

Probably. There is no danger in testing a consultation. Unless of course you have an aversion to needles or herbal teas, nothing is inherently dangerous about alternative medicine. If you are getting sick of traditional medicine falling short in making you well, now is the time to consider talking to doctor.

Tim Fortin works for Human Health Specialists, a homeopathic medicine office in Arizona. Their naturopathic treatments help patients live healthier lives every day.

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Definition and Types of Alternative Medicine

 

Alternative medicine is “any healing practice “that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine, or that which has not been shown consistently to be effective”. They are classified into 5 broad categories by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

The article lists here the alternative medicine types and their constituents.

1. Alternative Medical Systems – It is a system built upon the “combination of theory and practice” and mostly the alternative medicine types are non-Western origin. This constitutes traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, homoeopathy, ayurveda, acupuncture, Native American healing practices, and naturopathic medicine.

2. Mind Body Interventions – Used in combination with traditional medical system, this medicine type approaches healing of health though psychological, and behavioral, social, and religious methods. They stress on the ability of the mind to influence body healing. This constitutes Yoga, hypnotherapy, meditation, music therapy, prayer therapy, humor therapy, dance therapy, guided imagery, and biofeedback.

3. Manipulative And Body Based Methods – Treatment is based on the manipulation is body movements. A sound knowledge of anatomy is a must. This constitutes Trager Approach, massage therapy, chiropractic, reflexology, Rolfing, acupressure, Alexander technique and therapeutic touch.

4. Biologically Based Therapies – This alternative medicine type uses methods and products (such as botanicals and animal derived extracts) derived from nature to help in healing. This constitutes dietary supplements, orthomolecular medicines, herbal products, diet and megavitamins.

5. Energy Therapies – It refers to “a variety of alternative and complementary treatments based on the use, modification, or manipulation of energy fields”. This constitutes therapeutic touch, reiki, pulsed fields, magnetic fields, Oi gong and alternating current.

Though the alternative medicine types and treatment abound in criticism from conventional medical practices owing to the diversification of treatment methods and some being non-Western, still they are widely used for healing.

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Avoid Common Side Effects From Medications When You Turn to Alternative Medicine

 

There are many different types of medications out there that doctors prescribe for relief. It can be a long process working with your doctor to find the one that works well for you. Prescription medications fall into many categories so if one doesn’t work well for you they will likely prescribe you something else to try. The dose of it to take may need to be tweaked as well.

It seems like the cost involved with prescription medications continues to increase all the time. Even if you have health insurance you may discover many of these medications aren’t covered. You may have a co-pay that you need to give out of pocket each time you go in to have the prescription filled up again. The other major concern is the side effects.

When you pick up a prescription medication you will be given a list of the possible side effects. Some of the most common ones include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, and the inability to sleep. The way in which a particular medication affects you will depend on many factors. The severity of the side effects will also vary. You may suffer from them for only the first few days or continually while taking that medication.

This can pose some serious problems though so many people are turning to alternative medicine. When you are taking medication to get relief from a medical concern the last thing you want is side effects to make you feel worse. It is unrealistic too that you can function normally with them. It is almost impossible to work all day when you feel sick or you have diarrhea.

Since there are natural remedies out there that fall into the category of alternative medicine you can get results. However, you get those results without the side effects. That means you can get back to feeling good again. You can go on about your life and not have to worry about it. This is even more important if you are suffering from a problem that you will need ongoing treatment for.

Why does the medical community withhold information about alternative medicine? There are quite a few theories about this. First, they do make quite a bit of money off of the pharmaceutical companies for recommending certain medications. Second, they don’t want their patients to get into the habit of self medicating.

However, if you do still see your doctor on a regular basis then tell them you are looking at alternative medicine. You have ever right to refuse to use prescription medications so that you can save money and avoid the side effects. Take the time to do your own research so you can evaluate various types of alternative medication that could replace those prescriptions for you.

The process can be one of trial and error as there are quite a few different types of alternative medicine for the same medical concern. Try one to see what type of results you get. If it isn’t what you were after then try something else. Even if you haven’t had much success with prescription medications you just may find a form of alternative medicine that works wonders.

Cindy Browne loves everything to do with alternative health and is an author of articles about blah [http://natural.youraltmed.org].

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Prescription Medicine Alternatives Offer Same Solutions and Save You Money

 

Did you know that you most likely live within a short distance of cheaper prescription medicine than you are now paying? If you are having to choose between filling your prescription or buying food for you and your family, you may want to read on. This article will not only explain how you can save thousands of dollars in prescription medicine but also where you can get it for a lot less.

Many of the articles I have read, about reducing prescription medicine costs, involve buying your medicine online or from a source you probably do not feel comfortable with. What I hope to share with you is not only different, but the cheaper prescription medicine is probably within 5 miles of where you live.

Prescription medicine can cut a deep hole into your family’s budget and is too often left as the last thing to purchase in order to maintain your limited budget. Sacrifices are given too often in areas that will eventually catch up with you and the price you have to pay later is greater than the sacrifices you made.

The pharmaceutical companies do not take into account the recession we are in and even before it was announced that this country was in a recession they continue to gouge the sufferers with outrageous prescription prices.

Pharmaceutical companies are constantly bombarding physicians with their new, improved, and revised medicines they produce. They will peddle free medicine samples through your personal doctors and they in turn will suggest or prescribe the name brand medicines that the pharmaceutical companies have provided free samples. This really seems unethical, but this is the way new medicines are often introduced.

You may be thinking that you have to qualify or be accepted to get the free or reduced cost prescription medicine. The truth is, if you have a legitimate prescription prescribed for you, you are entitled to reduced cost prescription medicine. You just need to know who offers these refreshing and welcomed deals. In many cases, you may be closer to the better deal than you currently travel to pay the higher prices for prescription medicine.

Most but not all prescription medicine has a generic substitute, but unless you ask, it may not be offered to you at the time you ask for your prescription to be filled. It always saves you a considerable amount of your money to ask if a generic substitute is available.
Free antibiotics, prescriptions for $4, Prozac and Vista prescriptions, 30 day supply for only $12, and other great deals to keep you healthy and with medicine at these prices there is money left over for food and other necessities. There are online pharmacies, but most are fearful of their source and usually resort to paying higher prescription costs thinking there are no other alternatives.

Even if you live in a remote area, there are money saving ways to greatly reduce the cost of your prescription medicine that you probably never heard of, that you need to know about.

As we age and become more dependent on prescription medicine, there are alternatives you need to be aware of. Giving away your life savings on prescription medicine, in order to live longer or healthier is not the right answer. Always know that where there is greed in the world, there are those who seek to deter greed and find ways to offset that mentality. Life is about living and enjoying what the world has to offer. Paying a premium in order to enjoy life, is not a natural part of that experience. The time we have to physically enjoy life and our family is very short, but we want to capture as much of it as possible, and be able to afford it along the way. If you know someone that is struggling with their prescription medicine costs, please pass this message along, so that others may know there are simple alternatives for so many people.

To learn more about prescription medicine alternatives that are being offered for free and at greatly reduced prices, check out this extensive list of prescription medicine providers in your area. The money you save may prevent you from sacrificing or avoiding other necessities that you need.

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The True Meaning of Alternative Medicine

 

Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is often because they feel it is a natural way to get better.

There are many types of alternative medicine. Some are covered by medical insurance, but most are not. Some forms of alternative medicine that may be covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. These forms of alternative medicine are widely used.

There are other forms of alternative medicine that are not as widely used, but are becoming more popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, therapeutic touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, special diets, homeopathy, music therapy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new age healing. There are also some non-western forms of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi gong, reiki, and ayarveda.

There are some less commonly practiced forms of alternative medicine as well. One is called biofield therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that works with your so called “energy fields” to heal you. Another is bioelectrical magnetic therapy. This alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to heal you.

Alternative medicine is quite popular for people who are terminally ill. Many AIDS and cancer patients prefer it. An example of this is a cancer patient who uses alternative medicine instead of receiving traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. People also use alternative medicine to heal ailments such as back pain or migraines. Instead of traditional painkillers, the patients would use aromatherapy, sound therapy or herbal therapy. Alternative medicine is even used on animals. Have you ever seen the movie “The Horse Whisperer?” That was about a form of alternative medicine used on an animal. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and others have also been used on animals.

The last thing you should know is that there is no scientific evidence that alternative medicine is effective. There have been no scientific studies to prove if they are safe or if they work for the diseases or ailments they are used for. Before using an alternative medicine, talk to your doctor, make sure your doctor feels it is safe and will not harm you.

There are many different kinds of alternative medicines to choose from. Now that you understand it a bit better, you can decide if it is right for you. For more information talk to your doctor or research it online. With careful research, you may find one that is right for you.

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.info-meds.info a blog focusing on the Medical, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on medicines.

For more info on medicines visit: http://www.info-meds.info

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Alternative Medicine Techniques For The Modern World

The Western world is generally perceived to be the bringer of modernity, and oftentimes, their particular standard when it comes to certain areas of life, such as medicine for example, is deemed to be the ultimate and absolute measurement for modern living.

In the field of medicine, for example, it has been traditionally perceived that mainstream medical treatments are the only acceptable means for treating patients with several diseases. Lately however, with the growing acceptance of alternative medicine techniques that employ unconventional treatment methods, but are nonetheless proven to have healing capabilities, the Western standard is slowly opening up to these newer treatment techniques.

Alternative medicine techniques refer to certain treatment approaches that deal with an illness from another medicinal approach. For example, these techniques might originate from indigenous and traditional practices and utilize unconventional treatment tools, and have only been recently discovered by modern scientists. Moreover, in the United States, several collected pieces of evidence have proven that these medicine types are effective for several conditions such as neck and back pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and many more.

Here are some popular examples of these techniques:

The first one is Acupuncture. This alternative technique has long been practiced in China. As a matter of fact, it’s already been in use for 2,500 years for treating several diseases and conditions, such as back pain, bone or joint injury, allergies, gout, and even severe headache. This technique is executed by inserting one or more needles in specific areas of the body and in different depths, and are left there for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Many people have since testified that acupuncture is effective and has treated them either incrementally or fully – and the explanation for this is that the needles are inserted in specific areas that coincide with the body’s line of energy.

Another alternative technique is the Craniosacral therapy. This was introduced in the 1970s by John Upledger, and is done by exerting mild pressure in certain key areas of the cranial bones, specifically near the skull’s sutures. Moreover, this can also be done on the whole body, but the exerted pressure should specifically be mild. With these strategic applications of pressure, CST generally corrects the body’s dysfunctions and imbalances that may be contributing factors to painful conditions. Some of the diseases that CST specifically targets include back and neck pain, TMJ dysfunction, orthopedic problems, central nervous system disorders, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Medical massage therapy is, of course, another popular alternative treatment option, and is widely perceived to be one of the more well known alternative medicine techniques. Medical massages are widely offered in hospitals because of their inherent capability to relieve certain painful ailments and medical conditions.

Moreover, since 2004, these add-on services have been offered 30% more to hospital patients because of their established alleviation for not just pain management, but even for anxiety and depression. The major conditions that medical massage therapy targets are stress relief, relief for patients with cancer, and of course pain management. The more popular massages include the Thai massage, Swedish massage, hot stone massage, deep tissue massage, and Marma therapy massage.

Are you interested in alternative medicine? Be sure to visit my site for alternative medicine books and to find out when to be your own doctor.

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Are There Alternatives To Antiviral Herpes Medications That Can Effectively Treat Outbreaks?

More and more herpes sufferers are seeking alternatives to Valtrex and other herpes medications to avoid the many potential side effects or avoid the high cost of daily therapy. Fortunately, there are natural treatment options that can be very effective in reducing the length and severity of outbreaks.

Valtrex is the brand name for a prescription drug called valacyclovir HCl used to treat genital and oral herpes, as well as shingles (herpes zoster). Some people take the medication every single day as part of a daily therapy regimen, which is said to reduce the number of outbreaks and the risk of spreading herpes. Others take Valtrex when breakouts occur for a period of a few days until symptoms disappear.

Non-prescription Valtrex alternatives do exist and can be effective in treating the symptoms of herpes, and many people choose OTC products to avoid adverse reactions from anti-viral medications. Some of the common side effects of valacyclovir are nausea, headaches. vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain. Other side effects can include hypertension, allergic reactions, seizures, mania, renal failure, visual abnormalities and liver problems.

Most natural alternatives to Valtrex have few to no side effects to contend with, as they consist of anti-viral herbal extracts that are generally regarded as safe by the FDA. These herbs are usually combined in a topical ointment that can be applied to the area of a herpes breakout. Usually, the symptoms disappear in a short amount of time.

It’s important to know that there is no cure for herpes at the present time. Anti-viral medications and Valtrex alternatives are just treatment options that can help manage the condition so that outbreaks are not as severe as they would be without treatment. Valtrex does not work for everyone, and is not recommended for the elderly, the infirm or people with kidney problems. Daily therapy can be costly as well, and most prescription medications cause one side effect or another.

That’s why alternatives to Valtrex might be a better, safer option for you. If you have genital or oral herpes talk to your doctor and see if a natural Valtrex alternative makes sense for you. You might find that you can treat outbreaks without having to take oral medications.

Sheldon Miller is a health researcher who has been studying natural remedies for herpes and other STDs for many years. He is a regular contributor to Herpes Treatment Guide. Learn about natural Valtrex alternatives as well as various treatment options on the site.

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Alternative Medicine Brings Balance to the Old and New

Alternative medicine refers to the healing practices which according to how the modern western world defines it, do not use medical products and treatments that can be considered as standard care or conventional medicine. This includes acupuncture, yoga, meditation, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, chiropractic, hypnosis, homeopathy, and diet- based therapies, among many others. Even though those referred to as alternative medicine have been around since ancient times and the discovery of what is called standard care and conventional medicine came thousand of years after, alternative medicine still has to be accepted as safe and useful.

Alternative medicine is now combined with complimentary medicine which refers to the treatments used in addition to conventional therapies prescribed by doctors such as massage. Complementary and alternative medicine or CAM is slowly being recognized by conventional doctors as a means to help patients with their treatments. Some medical schools have already included the study of nontraditional techniques in their curriculum. Once alternative therapies have proved effective, they are then combined with conventional care. This is called integrative medicine. This practice involves using conventional treatment with CAM such as eating food with omega-3 fatty acids to help keep the heart healthy other than taking the prescribed medicine.

Alternative medicine can be traced back thousands of years ago in Asian countries such as China and India. Alternative medicine which originated in India is called Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine. This has been practiced for thousands of years now and continuously aid patients to balance the harmony of mind, soul and body which are believed to heal different ailments. Similarly in China, traditional Chinese medicine has been used for more than 5,000 years based on the concept of balance from the Taoist philosophy and Chinese culture. Meanwhile, Europe and other western countries have also used their own version of alternative medicine called naturopathy, herbalism and hydrotherapy. In the United States, for example, herbalism is the widely used alternative medicine especially by Native American Indians and those who cultivated plants.

Complementary and alternative therapies are classified into five major groups:

Whole medical systems – include Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda
Mind-body medicine – uses therapy in balancing the body, mind and spirit
Biological-based practices – used natural substances such as herbs, food, vitamins and other natural supplements
Manipulative and body-based practices – uses manipulations of body parts such as those done in chiropractic and massage therapies
Energy medicine – uses putative and verifiable energy fields called biofield and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies

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Alternative Medicine in America Meets the Rigor of Western Medicine

 

When half of the adults in a country says yes to a certain style of “cure philosophy”, can you still call it “alternative”? That is just how it really is in America, a place where 80 million grown-ups annually turn to some sort of alternative treatment; herbs, mega-vitamins, yoga exercises, acupuncture or anything else. Like George says in Seinfeld, everyone wants to go holistic nowadays. As amazing as the promises are for alternative healthcare, there isn’t any sound scientific evidence to back them up, at least insufficient. Most people enjoy to dislike huge Pharma, yet next to the scientific studies that big Pharma sets up for its medications, studies about alternative treatment can seem really medieval, and unscientific in the way they are designed and conducted. But there is hope.

The government, conscious that fifty percent of the country is incredibly in love with alternative healthcare, is hard at work trying to bring to this type of medicine the scientific requirements which popular medicine takes for granted. Soon, the government hopes that there will be standards which segregate the wheat from the chaff, the science from the snake oil. To somebody originating from mainstream scientific research, the specifications in research used to examine alternative healthcare techniques like yoga exercises can seem laughable. For instance, there was a Harvard study done 6 years ago on more than 100 existing research documents on yoga which stated that yoga can combat everything from heart problems to cancer and psychological issues. Once they looked closely at these documents they realized that fewer than half of them employed the universal research standard of randomized controlled trials. In regular research, this standard is a mainstay a way that makes sure (by utilizing chance and randomness to allocate a researcher to a patient)that no scientist involved in a study is able to bring his personal hopes and tendencies into play.

The government body, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine expects to put an end to all this, equipped with a financial budget of more than $100 million. They plan to undertake all the alternative medicine study on their own, to try to bring more rigor in these circles. One of the most popular statements made for alternative treatment today may be the one in which they say that ginkgo biloba may arrest Alzheimer’s. The National Center is now taking up a large-scale study of 3000 patients to find out if this is accurate. The Center is likewise involved in a large-scale study to find out if acupuncture can sort out arthritis. That study is performed right now, and they have found that acupuncture does indeed help with osteoarthritis of the knee.

As for the ginkgo research, they feel the active component inside the plant isn’t constantly present in sufficient concentration in immediate extracts. They wish to see if artificially improving its active ingredients might help. There has never been this type of rigor in alternative treatment, and it is great to see that the mainstream is embracing and recognizing the value you will find in alternative treatment. These research can be very pricey, and the $100 million is not going to go very far. If only they might discover the financing for this now, a wouldn’t be far away.

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Understanding Alternative Medicine: 5 Key Points

The phrase “alternative medicine” is becoming less alternative every day, though it is still a very controversial topic. As this concept creeps into the mainstream of American culture, it’s important to be clear about what types of medicine would legitimately fall within this category. The phrase has become a catch-all for any healing practice that is not considered part of traditional or conventional medicine. Skeptics would say that definition leaves people vulnerable to deceptive practices or outright scams. But alternative methods are becoming more popular despite these concerns. Advocates of it argue that there are many effective methods that have been practiced for thousands of years.

Here are five key points that indicate a particular method or practice is worth your time and money.

1. Alternative Medicine is Holistic. The best methods, like acupuncture and herbal remedies, address the body as an interconnected system. No discomfort or disease is isolated within a certain area of the body, so make sure that your particular alternative medicine practitioner acknowledges the idea that what happens in one part of the body affects the whole body.

2. Alternative Medicine is Individualized. In keeping with the notion that the body is a complex group of connected systems, most forms of alternative medicine prescribe remedies that are specific to the patient. Two people may have the very same condition and be treated in entirely different ways. Be weary if a treatment is presented as some sort of miracle cure that works for everyone.

3. Alternative Medicine is Documented. If you’re not sure about a particular method or practice, just do a little research. Most of the well-established forms are rooted in centuries of tradition. Even more modern forms operate in the light of day and should have some sort of information that explains the methods.

4. Alternative Medicine is Natural. A common thread through most every modality is that it involves natural remedies. The philosophy is that through naturally occurring substances, or through the body’s natural ability to heal itself, one can address most any health issue. Anything that strays too far from nature yet claims to be an alternative remedy has most likely been rejected by conventional medicine and thus falls into neither category.

5. Alternative Medicine Works. The easiest way to determine if a practice is fraudulent is to seek testimonials from others. Alternative practices have been in the spotlight long enough to provide compelling evidence in the form of patient feedback. Ask your friends about their experiences. Ask a practitioner for references. If none are available, you could be looking at a questionable method.

Despite the implication that this is a minefield of schemes that don’t really help your well-being, the vast majority of alternative medicine practitioners genuinely care about helping you improve your health. Examine a practice through the five criteria above and use a little common sense and your alternative medicine experience is sure to be great.

Tyler Stroebel owns and operates an alternative medicine and acupuncture clinic in Boulder, Colorado. For the last 7 years she has been helping patients find effective healing options outside of conventional methods. She strives to make her practice a comfortable, safe and trustworthy environment. Tyler has often been referred to as one of the most skillful alternative medicine practitioners in Boulder. She would simply say she is deeply committed to helping people heal.

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Complementary/Alternative Medicine Use in a Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Implications for Oncology

By Mary Ann Richardson, Tina Sanders, J. Lynn Palmer, Anthony Greisinger, S. Eva Singletary 

 

 

From the Centers for Alternative Medicine Research and Health Promotion Research and Development, The University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health; Departments of Biostatistics and Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; and Section of Health Services Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Address reprint requests to Mary Ann Richardson, DrPH, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 31 Center Dr, Room 5B-58, Bethesda, MD 20892-2182; email marich@ od.nih.gov.

PURPOSE: Oncologists are aware that their patients use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM). As cancer incidence rates and survival time increase, use of CAM will likely increase. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of CAM use in a comprehensive cancer center.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were English-speaking cancer patients at least 18 years of age, attending one of eight outpatient clinics at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, between December 1997 and June 1998. After giving written informed consent, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Differences between CAM users and nonusers were assessed by χ² and univariate logistic regression analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model identified the simultaneous impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables on CAM use; P values were two-sided.
RESULTS: Of the 453 participants (response rate, 51.4%), 99.3% had heard of CAM. Of those, 83.3% had used at least one CAM approach. Use was greatest for spiritual practices (80.5%), vitamins and herbs (62.6%), and movement and physical therapies (59.2%) and predicted (P < .001) by sex (female), younger age, indigent pay status, and surgery. After excluding spiritual practices and psychotherapy, 95.8% of participants were aware of CAM and 68.7% of those had used CAM. Use was predicted (P < .0001) by sex (female), education, and chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION: In most categories, CAM use was common among outpatients. Given the number of patients combining vitamins and herbs with conventional treatments, the oncology community must improve patient-provider communication, offer reliable information to patients, and initiate research to determine possible drug-herb-vitamin interactions.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Pediatric Patients With Functional and Organic Gastrointestinal Diseases: Results From a Multicenter Survey

1. Arine M. Vlieger, MD^a,
2. Marjolein Blink, MD^a,
3. Ellen Tromp, PhD^b,
4. Marc A. Benninga, MD, PhD^c

Author Affiliations

1. Departments of ^aPediatrics
2. ^bStatistics, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands
3. ^cDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES. Many pediatric patients use complementary and alternative medicine, especially when facing a chronic illness for which treatment options are limited. So far, research on the use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with functional gastrointestinal disease has been scarce. This study was designed to assess complementary and alternative medicine use in children with different gastrointestinal diseases, including functional disorders, to determine which factors predicted complementary and alternative medicine use and to assess the willingness of parents to participate in future studies on complementary and alternative medicine efficacy and safety.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use was assessed by using a questionnaire for 749 children visiting pediatric gastroenterology clinics of 9 hospitals in the Netherlands. The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions on the child's gastrointestinal disease, medication use, health status, past and future complementary and alternative medicine use, reasons for its use, and the necessity of complementary and alternative medicine research.

RESULTS. In this study population, the frequency of complementary and alternative medicine use was 37.6%. A total of 60.3% of this group had used complementary and alternative medicine specifically for their gastrointestinal disease. This specific complementary and alternative medicine use was higher in patients with functional disorders than organic disorders (25.3% vs 17.2%). Adverse effects of allopathic medication, school absenteeism, age ≤11 years, and a low effect of conventional treatment were predictors of specific complementary and alternative medicine use. Almost all (93%) of the parents considered it important that pediatricians initiate complementary and alternative medicine research, and 51% of parents were willing to participate in future complementary and alternative medicine trials.

CONCLUSIONS. Almost 40% of parents of pediatric gastroenterology patients are turning to complementary and alternative medicine for their child. Lack of effectiveness of conventional therapy, school absenteeism, and adverse effects of allopathic medication are more important predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use than the type of gastrointestinal disease. Because evidence on most complementary and alternative medicine modalities in children with gastrointestinal disorders is lacking, there is an urgent need for research in this field.

Key Words:

• complementary and alternative medicine
• children
• functional gastrointestinal disease

The term “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) refers to a spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities that complement mainstream medicine by contributing to a common whole by satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy or by diversifying the conceptual frameworks of medicine,¹ a definition adopted by the Cochrane Collaboration. CAM incorporates many different approaches and methodologies, ranging from ancient techniques like acupuncture and ayurvedic medicine to chiropractic, homeopathy, spiritual healing, and body-mind medicine. Most of these modalities are aimed not only at relieving symptoms and restore wellness, like in conventional medicine, but also at helping the individual in a process of self-healing within a holistic view of health, in which body, mind, and spirit are addressed. CAM has become prominent in the last decades, with approximately one third of both adult and pediatric patients using CAM.^2–5 Higher prevalences have been found in children with chronic or life-threatening diseases, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma, and cancer.^6–8

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) like regurgitation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain, and defecation disorders are highly prevalent in childhood.^9–11 These conditions can be bothersome, often affect daily activities, and are associated with a high medical consumption. A large proportion of children with FGIDs remain symptomatic for years despite conventional treatment.^12–14 It is reasonable to assume that parents become dissatisfied and consult practitioners of alternative medicine. However, so far, no studies have been performed examining the prevalence of CAM use in this group of patients. Also, for other gastrointestinal disorders in pediatric patients, research has been limited and has been focused mainly on children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with CAM prevalences between 41% and 72%.^15–18 In an Australian study, ∼36% of 92 children attending gastroenterology outpatient clinics were using CAM and/or probiotic agents.¹⁹ This latter study, however, could not define usage patterns in subgroups of patients with different gastrointestinal disorders, because these groups contained relatively small numbers of patients. Wong et al¹⁷ studied the use of CAM in 3 pediatric medical centers in the United States, comparing a group of children suffering from IBD with children presenting with chronic constipation, but no other gastrointestinal disorders were examined. Thus, so far it is unknown whether differences exist in CAM usage in several of various gastrointestinal disorders and especially if differences exist between pediatric patients with organic disorders like IBD or celiac disease and patients with FGIDs.

Finally, neither safety nor efficacy of most CAM therapies has been investigated systematically yet in children. Because so many patients are using CAM these days, and because CAM therapies are not always devoid of adverse effects, there is an urgent need for good research in this area. It is unknown, however, whether parents are willing to have their children participating in pediatric CAM studies.

We undertook this study to assess CAM use in children with different gastrointestinal diseases and to test the hypothesis that FGIDs are associated with a higher use of CAM compared with organic disorders. Our second objective was to determine which patient and disease characteristics, such as health status or duration of symptoms, are associated with CAM use in this patient group. Third, we assessed the parents’ attitude toward pediatric CAM research and their willingness to participate in future safety and efficacy studies.

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PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients

Between July and December 2005, parents of children attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinics of 5 academic hospitals in the Netherlands (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam; Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam; University Medical Center, Groningen; University Medical Center, Nijmegen; and University Medical Center, Utrecht) and of 4 teaching hospitals (St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein; Alkmaar Medical Center, Alkmaar; Isala Clinics, Zwolle; and Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn) were invited to participate in this study. The prevalence of CAM use was assessed using a questionnaire to be filled in by the parents. They were asked to complete the questionnaire while attending the outpatient department and to return the form before leaving. A cover page outlined the intent of the study and emphasized the anonymity of the study. Parents were asked to fill in the questionnaire completely, but they were free to leave questions open that they did not want to answer. Unique patient numbers were recorded on the questionnaire with the only purpose of confirming the gastrointestinal diagnosis of the child 6 months later. This was done by checking the medical files.

Questionnaire

The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions, and completion took ∼15 minutes. It was modified from an instrument developed to assess CAM use among general pediatric patients in the Netherlands⁵ and included questions on the child's age, diagnosis, disease history, medication use, adverse effects, health status, and the perceived efficacy of the conventional treatment on a scale of 1 (no effect) to 5 (very effective). We asked questions on the child's use of CAM in the past 12 months and the reasons for the CAM use. Ten different CAM modalities were listed, and parents were asked to comment on the perceived efficacy of each of the used modalities, again on a scale of 1 to 5. The questionnaire also contained questions on future CAM use in 3 hypothetical situations (“Would you use CAM if [A] your child would not be symptom free despite conventional medication? [B] your child would be free of symptoms but needs to use medication for a long time without side effects? [C] your child can become asymptomatic but only by taking medication with severe side effects?”). Finally, parents were asked for the necessity of CAM research and their possible participation in future trials.

Data Analysis

In this study, we defined CAM users as those who used any of the different CAM modalities listed in our questionnaire. Furthermore, we defined “specific” CAM users as those who used CAM for the same gastrointestinal disorder for which the outpatient clinic was visited. The group of functional disorders consisted of regurgitation, functional abdominal pain, IBS, and functional constipation, diagnosed according to the Rome II criteria for FGIDs.²⁰ IBD, celiac disease, liver and gallbladder disorders, and infectious diseases were defined as organic disorders. Feeding problems, food allergies, aspecific diarrhea, and a rest group (such as failure to thrive e cause ignota (e.c.i.) or gastric stomas) were defined as “other disorders.”

Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses (backward elimination, P < .05) were performed to identify potential predictors associated with specific CAM use. To facilitate clinical interpretation, all of the categorical and continuous variables were dichotomized before they were entered into the analyses. Cutoff points were defined for age (≤11 years), duration of symptoms (≤3 months), duration of treatment (≤3 months), adverse effects allopathic medication ([very] much), perceived effect of conventional therapy (little/no effect), health status (fair/poor), feelings of pain or discomfort ([very] much), and school absenteeism (>5 days). For significant predictors, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 14.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL).

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RESULTS

A total of 749 questionnaires were completed, 505 in a university hospital and 244 in a teaching hospital. Only 2 of the participating hospitals had recorded how many parents refused to participate (6%). The most cited reasons for not participating were lack of time and insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language. Not all of the questions were answered in every questionnaire, resulting in different total numbers per analysis. Patient demographics and disease data of the patients are shown in Table 1.

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TABLE 1

Patient Demographics and Disease Data

Use of CAM

A total of 278 children (37.6%) of 739 had used ≥1 CAM modality in the last 12 months; 63.7% of them had visited a CAM therapist. The other 36.3% had used over-the-counter remedies or were receiving treatments from their parents like Reiki and massage therapy. The frequency of specific types of CAM use and the experienced effect are listed in Table 2. Herbal remedies (46.0%), food supplements (36.0%), manual therapies (23.7%), and homeopathy (21.9%) were the most commonly used CAM modalities. Many patients were reasonably satisfied with the used CAM therapy: 90 of 255 parents reported a good or very good effect (35.3%), and another 86 (33.7%) experienced a moderate effect. Seventy-nine parents (31%) noticed no or little effect. No significant difference was found in the mean experienced effect for each of the CAM therapies; it varied between 2.68 and 3.65 (Table 2). The mean of the experienced effect for conventional medicine was 3.05.

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TABLE 2

Use of the Different CAM Therapies

Reasons for CAM Use

Parents were asked to indicate whether they used CAM for the gastrointestinal disease of their child, other medical disorders, or in promoting general well-being. These figures were 60.3% (n = 132), 21.5% (n = 47), and 18.2% (n = 40), respectively, in the 219 patients who answered this question. The most frequent reasons given by parents for their child's CAM use are shown in Table 3. Approximately half of the parents discussed CAM use with their pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist (51%). Most physicians reacted neutrally to disclosure of CAM use (54.3%), 40.9% of the physicians reacted positive, and only 4.7% gave a negative response.

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TABLE 3

Reasons for Overall Use of CAM as Provided by the Parents

Predictors of Specific CAM Use

Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed 6 positive predictors for specific CAM use: age ≤11 years, a low perceived effect of conventional treatment, severe adverse effects of allopathic medication, a low health status as reported by the parents, feelings of discomfort related to the gastrointestinal disorder, and school absenteeism >5 days (Table 4). Type of hospital (academic versus nonacademic), duration of symptoms, duration of treatment, and use of medication were not associated with CAM use. All of these variables were then included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis, showing that age ≤11 years, severe adverse effects of allopathic medication, a low perceived effect of conventional treatment, and school absenteeism >5 days were independent predictors of specific CAM use (Table 4). Analysis per disease group showed that severe adverse effects were a more important predictor in the group with organic disorders and a low perceived effect of conventional treatment in the group with functional disorders (data not shown).

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TABLE 4

Variables Associated With Specific CAM Use

A significant difference was found in specific CAM use between functional and organic or other disorders (Table 5; OR: 1.57 [95% CI: 1.10–2.24]). Analysis of all of the disorders separately revealed a significantly higher specific CAM use in patients with IBS (OR: 1.86 [95% CI: 1.04–3.32]) and food allergies (OR: 4.13 [95% CI: 1.37–12.45]).

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TABLE 5

Total and Specific CAM Use per Gastrointestinal Disorder

Future CAM Use and Interest in Research

Parents were asked if they would use CAM in the future in 3 different situations. In the hypothetical situation that their child would not become symptom free despite conventional therapy, 347 of 693 parents (50.1%) would be prepared to use CAM; 243 (33.8%) did not know this yet; and only 92 (13.3%) would not use CAM. If the child would become symptom free but only with medications with significant adverse effects, the percentages were 40.4%, 38.7%, and 20.9%, respectively. If the child would be free of symptoms but had to take medications for years without any adverse effects, the interest in CAM use further decreased: 30.4% would use it, 34.8% did not know, and 34.6% would not consider CAM use. We found a significant difference in all 3 of the scenarios between CAM users and nonusers (P < .001) Almost all of the parents considered it important that pediatricians initiate CAM research (641 of 691 [93%]), only 15 parents were against CAM research (2.2%), and 35 (5.1%) had no opinion. No difference was found between CAM users and nonusers. Fifty-one percent of parents (355 of 696) were willing to participate in future CAM trials, whereas 37% (262) did not know. A significant difference was found between CAM users and nonusers: 58.9% of the CAM users would participate versus 46.3% of the nonusers (P < .01).

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DISCUSSION

This is the largest study to date to describe CAM use in pediatric patients with different gastrointestinal disorders. A total of 37.6% of 739 patients reported some form of CAM use in the past 12 months. Sixty percent of these patients had visited a CAM practitioner at least once. These data are not surprising given the prevalences found so far in studies among pediatric IBD patients and general pediatric gastroenterology patients.^15–17,19 It is interesting that we did not find any differences in the experienced effect of all of the different CAM modalities. This may suggest that all of the CAM therapies only have a nonspecific or nontrue therapeutic effect. On the other hand, no difference was seen as well with the experienced effect of conventional medicine. Therefore, it may also be possible that asking parents for the experienced effect on a scale of 1 to 5 is not an adequate way of investigating perceived efficacy.

No difference was found in overall CAM use between children whose diseases were classified as functional and children with organic disorders. However, significantly more patients with functional disorders had used CAM specifically for their gastrointestinal condition compared with patients in the other groups. This finding is consistent with some studies in adult patients with gastrointestinal disorders,^21,22 although other adults studies did not show such a difference.^23,24 Most of these adult studies compared functional disorders with IBD patients. We, however, also included other organic diseases, like liver and gallbladder disorders and celiac disease. In our study, patients with celiac disease had the lowest prevalence of specific CAM use. After removing the latter group from the group-to-group analysis, the difference was not significant anymore. Children with celiac disease are often asymptomatic with a gluten-free diet and have a normal quality of life.²⁵ It is, therefore, not surprising that the prevalence of specific CAM use in this group of patients was only 7.9%.

This study has a number of limitations. Although the survey was voluntary and anonymous, parents may have been reluctant to disclose the use of CAM, possibly resulting in an underreporting of CAM use. Because parents were asked to recall CAM use over the previous year, there may also have been a recall bias. Finally, we cannot exclude the possibility that some patients were misdiagnosed. We think, however, that this was not a high number of patients, thereby not significantly influencing the results of this study.

For pediatricians, it may be important to know why and when parents of their patients will seek alternative medical care. A low perceived effectiveness of conventional treatment was 1 of the predictors of specific CAM use, especially in the group of functional disorders. This is not surprising, given the fact that, for example, many patients with chronic constipation are dissatisfied with traditional treatment options, primarily because of a lack of efficacy.²⁶ Also, for functional abdominal pain and IBS, available treatment options have limited efficacy, resulting in dissatisfied patients. With the increasing popularity of CAM these days in mind, it, therefore, seems just a matter of time before patients with functional disorders not responding to conventional treatment will consider an alternative route. Severe adverse effects of allopathic medication were also associated with CAM use, which is in accordance with the studies in children with IBD.^15–17 We were surprised by the fact that children ≤11 years of age used CAM for their gastrointestinal disease more often than older children. This may be caused by the fact that adolescents can be more skeptical about alternative therapies and, thus, are unwilling to go to a CAM practitioner. We noticed, for example, in our recent study evaluating the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in pediatric functional abdominal pain and IBS, that adolescents were more reluctant to participate than younger children.²⁷ Another predictor of specific CAM use was school absenteeism; this finding has also been reported by Markowitz et al.¹⁶ Heuschkel et al,¹⁵ however, could not find a relation between CAM and the number of sickness days. The relation between CAM use and these characteristics is also reflected in the answers of the parents on hypothetical situations. More than 50% of the parents will consider CAM if their child does not respond to conventional treatment. This figure is still 40% if symptoms do disappear but only because of medication, but with significant adverse effects.

We were surprised as well by the high percentage of parents (93%) who consider it important that pediatricians initiate CAM research and by the fact that 50% of the parents were willing to participate in future CAM studies. So far, CAM research in children has been limited and has been focused mainly on efficacy. However, safety studies in CAM are also very important, especially in pediatrics. We and others found that herbal medicine is the most frequently used CAM modality.^3,28 One of the reasons why phytotherapy is so popular is that parents equate “natural” with safety. However, especially with herbal medicines, it is known that they have the potential to elicit severe adverse reactions because of contamination with heavy metals, adulteration with synthetic drugs, or direct toxic effects.²⁹ Problems of toxicity and drug interactions can be exaggerated in young children whose metabolism and organ function are immature and less tolerant of even subtle changes in comparison with adults. This highlights the need for rigorous CAM studies in pediatrics.

There are, however, some hurdles to take before initiating CAM research of good quality. The first is the problem of study design. One of the most used methods in conventional research, the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, is not always ideal for investigating CAM, because many of the alternative therapies are rooted in the concept of individualized care rather than disease-based treatment.³⁰ Blinding patients to their treatment arm may also be problematic, for example, in massage-based therapies or body-mind modalities. Funding can be another important obstacle. Although governments and private foundations are increasingly investigating CAM research, the available budgets are still very small in comparison with the budgets for conventional research.^31–33

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CONCLUSIONS

A total of 37.6% of parents of pediatric gastrointestinal patients are turning to CAM for their child and even more will do so when their child is not helped adequately by conventional medicine. Because evidence on efficacy and safety of most CAM modalities is lacking, especially in pediatrics, there is an urgent need for good quality research in this field. This study shows that parents are willing to have their child participate in this kind of research.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam; the Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam; the University Medical Center, Groningen; the University Medical Center, Nijmegen; the University Medical Center, Utrecht; the St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein; the Alkmaar Medical Center, Alkmaar; the Isala Clinics, Zwolle; and the Apeldoorn Hospital, Apeldoorn, for cooperation in this study.

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Footnotes

• Accepted March 27, 2008.
• Address correspondence to Arine M. Vlieger, MD, Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital, PO Box 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein, Netherlands. E-mail: a.vlieger@antonius.net
• The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
• What's Known on This Subject

  Use of CAM is common in pediatric patients with IBD, but no studies have looked at the use of CAM in children with other gastrointestinal diseases such as functional disorders.
  What This Study Adds

  This study shows that CAM use is also common in children with other gastrointestinal disorders. A low perceived effect of conventional medicine and adverse effects of allopathic medications are predictors for CAM use. Parents are interested in CAM research.

CAM—complementary and alternative medicine • FGID—functional and gastrointestinal disorder • IBS—irritable bowel syndrome • IBD—inflammatory bowel disease • OR—odds ratio • CI—confidence interval

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