COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

• Western Medicine


  An approach to health that focuses on the use of science in the diagnosis and treatment of health problems. Also called conventional medicine, biomedicine, or allopathic medicine.
• Eastern Medicine


  An approach to health that puts emphasis on the prevention and natural healing. Also called Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM).
• Complementary Medicine


  The use of CAM together with conventional medicine.
• Alternative Medicine


  The use of CAM in place of conventional medicine.
• Integrative Medicine


  Combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM. Also called Integrated Medicine. Has high quality evidence of safety and effectiveness.
• The increasing public interest in complementary and alternative therapies is extensive and growing.
• Ethnocentrism


  The assumption that one's own cultural belief or ethnic group is superior to others.
• Ethnocentrism prevented Western health care practitioners from learning new ways to promote health and prevent chronic illness.
• With consumers' demand for a broader range of options, we must be open-minded that other cultures have valid ways of preventing and curing diseases.
• Ayurveda


  An Indian system of medicine that is over 2,500 years old. It is the "science of life" or "sciences of life span". Illness is seen as a state of imbalance of the body's system.
• Ayurveda


  • Emphasizes the interdependence of the health of the individual and the quality of societal life.
  • Mentally healthy people have good memory, comprehension, intelligence, and reasoning ability.
  • Emotionally healthy people have evenly balanced emotional states and sense of happiness.
  • Physically healthy people have abundant energy with proper functioning of the senses, digestion and elimination.
  • Spiritually healthy people have a sense of aliveness and richness of life, developing towards full potentials, has good relationship with themselves.
  • Environmentally healthy people have minimal economic, social, and political stress.
• Ayurvedic Lifestyle Interventions


  • Individualized diet and exercise program depending on the (dosha) body type and the nature of the underlying dosha imbalance.
  • Herbal preparation added to the diet for preventive or regenerative purposes, and treatment of specific disorders.
  • Yoga; Breathing exercises; meditative techniques.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)


  A system of medicine developed over 3,000 years. The premise is that the body's vital energy "qi" circulates through pathways or meridians and can be accessed or manipulated through specific anatomic points along the surface of the body. Illness is seen as an imbalance or interruptions of the flow of qi.
• In TCM, mind, body, spirit, and emotions are never separated.
• Heart in TCM


  Not just a blood pump but also influences one's capacity for joy, sense of purpose, connectedness with others.
• Kidneys in TCM


  Not just filter fluids but also manage one's capacity for fear, will, motivation, and faith.
• Lungs in TCM


  Breathe in air and breathe out waste products but also regulates one's capacity to grieve, acknowledge self and others.
• Liver in TCM


  Cleanses the body but also influences one's feelings of anger, vision, and creativity.
• Stomach in TCM


  Digest food but also influences one's ability to be thoughtful, kind and nurturing.
• TCM Therapeutic Methods


  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Herbal medicine
  • Massage
  • Heat therapy
  • Qi gong
  • T'ai Chi
  • Nutritional lifestyle counselling
• Native American Healing


  Spirituality and medicine are inseparable. Health is viewed as a balance of mind and body. When people open up to the universe, learn what is good for them and find ways to be happier, they can begin to work toward a longer and healthier life.
• Curanderismo


  A cultural healing tradition in Latin America and Latinos in the U.S. Male healers are called Curanderos, female healers are called Curanderas. Healers may specialize as herbalists, midwives, counselors, spine and joint workers, massage therapists. They also use religious rituals, cleansing rites, and prayers.
• Herbal Medicine


  A traditional medicinal or folk-medicine practice on the use of plants and plant extracts.
• RA 8420 calls for effective utilization of medicinal plants as an alternative for high cost medications.
• Preparation of Herbal Medicines

  • Decoction (boil/laga)
  • Poultice (tapal, may add oil)
  • Infusion (adding hot water to tea for at least 24 hrs)
  • Syrup (add sugar, lasts 3-5 days)
  • Oils and ointment (with wax)
  • Tincture (water and alcohol)
  • Elixir (based)
• Herbal Medicines


  • Lagundi (vitex negundo)
  • Yerba buena (mentha cordifelia)
  • Tsaang Gubat (carmona retusa)
  • Sambong (blumea balsamifera)
  • Niyug-niyogan (quisqualis indica)
  • Bawang (garlic)
  • Ulasimang-Bato (Peperonia pellucida)
  • Akapulko (cassia alata)
  • Ampalaya (mamordica charantia)
  • Bayabas/guava (psidium guajava)
• Guidelines on the Use of Medicinal Plants


  • B - Boiling: remove cover
  • O - One kind of plant for each type of symptoms
  • N - No insecticides
  • U - Use clay pot and plant part advocated
  • S - Stop in case of untoward reactions; seek consultation if symptoms are not relieved after 2-3 doses.
• Decoction


  Procedures/Preparations: Gather leaves & wash thoroughly, place in a container, let it boil without cover to vaporize/steam to release toxic substance, add water. Use extracts for washing. Undesirable taste.
• Poultice


  Procedures/Preparations: For treatment of skin diseases. Example: Akapulko leaves - when pounded, it releases extracts containing enzyme (serves as anti-inflammatory) then apply on affected skin or spread it over skin. Done by pounding or chewing leaves used by herbolaryo.
• Infusion


  Procedures/Preparations: To prepare a tea (use lipton bag), keep standing for 15 minutes in a cup of warm water where a brown solution is collected, pectin which serves as an adsorbent and astringent.
• Cream/Ointment


  Procedures/Preparations: Start with poultice (pound leaves) to turn it semi-solid, add flour to keep preparation pasty & make it adhere to skin lesions. To make it into an ointment: add oil (mineral, baby or any oil-serves as moisturizer) to the prepared cream to keep it lubricated while being massaged on the affected area.
• Juice/Syrup


  Procedures/Preparations: To prepare a papaya juice, use ripe papaya & mechanically mashed then put inside a blender & add water. To produce it into a syrup, add sugar then heat to dissolve sugar & mix it.
• Oresol


  Glucose 20 grams - For re-absorption of Na, Facilitates assimilation of Na. Sodium Chloride/NaCl (3.5 grams) - For retention of water/fluid. Sodium Bicarbonate/NaHCO3 - Buffer content of solution, Neutralizer content of solution. Potassium Chloride/KCI 1.5 grams - Stimulates smooth muscle contractility especially the heart & GIT.
• Preparation of Proper Homemade Oresol

  1. Water 1000 ml. or 1 liter, 250 ml.

  2. Sugar 8 teaspoon, 2 teaspoon

  3. Salt 1 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon
• Ointment


  Keep preparation pasty & make it adhere to skin lesions
• Making ointment


  Add oil (mineral, baby or any oil-serves as moisturizer) to the prepared cream to keep it lubricated while being massaged on the affected area
• Preparing papaya juice


  Use ripe papaya & mechanically mashed then put inside a blender & add water
• Producing papaya syrup


  Add sugar then heat to dissolve sugar & mix it
• ORESOL


  Oral rehydration solution
• ORESOL ingredients


  • Glucose 20 grams
  • Sodium Chloride/NaCl (3.5 grams)
  • Sodium Bicarbonate/NaHCO3
  • Potassium Chloride/KCI 1.5 grams