Development and Application of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

INTRODUCTION

The numerous benefits directly linked with alternative or natural medicine has created a wave
of interest, paving its way in the progress of health care system. Alternative medicine emphasizes
whole-body care, addressing not just the physical body but also emotional and spiritual health. It
opens new face in modern medicine, associated as a remedy for complex and state-of-the-art
procedures. Improvement and legallity of it ensures promotion of safer, more flexible, more
affortable, and improved quality of living.

Recently, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
reported that about 38 percent of U.S. adults and about 12 percent of children are using some form
of alternative medicine. Here are some of the reasons:

Whole-person treatments. Traditional medicine views disease as a distinct entity from the
person who carries it. The growing trend toward specialization in medicine has led to many
treatment advances, but also has distanced physicians from the “healthy” parts of their patients. A
key difference between traditional and alternative medicine is that most forms of alternative
medicine emphasize whole-body care. Practitioners of alternative medicine address not just the
physical body but also the patient’s emotional and spiritual health. According to the Osher Center
for Integrative Medicine, a growing interest in a more holistic approach to health is one of the
main reasons alternative medicine is on the rise.
Personal attention. Because of the emphasis on whole-body care, alternative medicine
practitioners often offer patients a great deal of personal attention. Traditional physicians can be
strapped for time and pressured by insurance companies and packed waiting rooms. Alternative
medicine practitioners, because of different philosophies and fee structures, typically place
greater emphasis on one-on-one attention.
Focus on prevention. Another draw to alternative medicine is its focus on prevention. Whereas
traditional medicine tends to intervene once disease is present, many types of alternative
medicine encourage patients to have “well visits,” treatments that are focused on preventing
disease before it occurs, in addition to being cared for when sick.

Before trying a new kind of alternative medicine, there are some key factors to keep in mind.
The following concerns should not prevent you or a loved one from using alternative medicine,
but offer more information in the decision-making process.

Limited scientific research. In response to increased consumer demand, funding for research
studies on alternative medicine is growing. But compared with traditional medical methods,
evidence is still limited, which has left many questions unanswered. Currently, there are several
studies under way. In order to learn about ongoing studies on alternative medicine, NCCAM
recommends asking your primary care physician or other health care provider, visiting the
"Research" link on the NCCAM site, or going to your local library and inquiring about scientific
journals or online resources.
Confusing marketing. It’s easy to confuse the words “natural” and “safe” — but the two are
not synonymous, despite some marketers’ attempts to make us think otherwise. Many dietary
supplements and herbal remedies, both of which fall under the alternative medicine umbrella,
are mislabeled as “natural.” A red flag should also go up if a manufacturer makes unrealistic
claims that their products are “miracle cures” or have “secret ingredients.”
 Potentially dangerous interactions. Even in cases when the product contains no artificial
substances, supplements and herbs can still potentially interact with prescription and
over-the-counter medication. And some of these natural products have side effects of their own.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Republic Act No. 8423
“AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE (PITAHC) TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE IN THE PHILIPPINES,
PROVIDING FOR A TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE
DEVELOPMENT FUND AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

The objectives of this Act are

1. To encourage scientific research on and develop traditional and alternative health care
systems that have direct impact on public health care;
2. To promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative health
care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and consistent with
government standards on medical practice;
3. To develop and coordinate skills training courses for various forms of traditional and
alternative health care modalities;
4. To formulate standards, guidelines and codes of ethical practice appropriate for the practice of
traditional and alternative health care as well as in the manufacture, quality control and
marketing of different traditional and alternative health care materials, natural and organic
products, for approval and adoption by the appropriate government agencies;
5. To formulate policies for the protection of indigenous and natural health resources and
technology from unwarranted exploitation, for approval and adoption by the appropriate
government agencies;
6. To formulate policies to strengthen the role of traditional and alternative health care delivery
system; and
7. To promote traditional and alternative health care in international and national conventions,
seminars and meetings in coordination with the Department of Tourism, Duty Free Philippines,
Incorporated, Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation and other tourism-related
agencies as well as non-government organizations and local government units.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
a) Acupuncture - an ancient Chinese system of health care that involves procedures to
stimulate anatomical points of the body; the procedure usually is done with very fine, solid
needles, but pressure, magnets, electrical stimulation and other techniques can be used.
b) Alternative Medicine - the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the
theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not,
used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or
treatment of physical and mental illness. Cancer - a group of diseases involving abnormal
cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast
with benign tumors, which do not spread.
c) Chiropractic Medicine - a system of noninvasive therapy which holds that certain
musculoskeletal disorders result from nervous system dysfunction arising from
misalignment of the spine and joints and that focuses treatment especially on the manual
adjustment or manipulation of the spinal vertebrae.
d) Energy Therapy - a form of complementary and alternative medicine based on the belief
that a vital energy flows through the human body. The goal of energy therapy is to balance
the energy flow in the patient. It is used to reduce stress and anxiety and promote
well-being.
e) Herbal medicine – also known as botanical medicine, phytotherapy or phytomedicine –
involves using a plant or part of a plant for healing purposes. The herbal part of a remedy
may come from the leaf, flower, stem, seed, root, fruit or bark of the plant and it may be
used to treat wounds and a range of other conditions.
f) Magnetic therapy - also called magnetic field therapy and bioenergy therapy, is an
alternative therapy that uses magnets of varying sizes and strengths that are placed on the
 body to relieve pain and treat disease. Thin metal magnets are attached to the body alone or
in groups.
g) Medical Marijuana - refers to the use of cannabis or marijuana, including constituents of
cannabis, THC and other cannabinoids, as a physician-recommended form of medicine or
herbal therapy.
h) Therapeutic Touch - a holistic, evidence-based therapy that incorporates the intentional
and compassionate use of universal energy to promote balance and well-being. It is a
consciously directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses the
hands as a focus to facilitate the process.

BENEFICIARIES
Anyone can benefit from this reform especially the depressed, deprived and the
under-served people of the society.

REFERENCES
http://pitahc.gov.ph/about/republic-act-no-8423/
https://www.cascobayacupuncturemassage.com/what-are-the-main-objectives-of-acupuncture-tr
eatments/
nwhealth.edu/academics/acupuncture-chinese-medicine/goals-objectives/
https://www.thejoint.com/texas/katy/cinco-ranch-28014/what-is-the-goal-of-chiropractic-care
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/chiropractic-pain-relief#1
https://www.jacquifernandez.com.au/herbal-medicine.html

Maria Chrispina A. Accad

Buena Mae P. Viray

BSMLS 2E