OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
120, McArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela City.

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH

SIVARAMAKRISHNAN,ANGULAKSHMI
SEC-B/AMS-504
17-9222-875

TOPIC : INTEGRATIVE, INDIGENOUS AND FOLK MEDICINE- DR. FRAULEIN P. TORMON

Question 1: Differentiate Conventional, Alternative, Complementary and Integrative

medicine.

Conventional medicine Alternative medicine Complementary medicine Integrative medicine

(Allopathy)
Disease oriented, everyone Used in the place of Modern approach that uses Combines conventional
gets the same treatment, conventional both conventional and and alternative
early and prompt diagnosis medicine/substitutes alternative medicines to medicines in a
the conventional diagnose and treat coordinated way.
medicine symptoms (a hybrid)
Treats the signs and Treats symptoms Refers to use of a non- Emphasis on data
symptoms using drugs, using medications mainstream approach driven solutions that are
radiation or surgery that are “closer to together with conventional safe and patient
nature ” medicine focussed
Serves as a knowledge Not all treatment are Complementary medicine is Integrative medicine is
base for western medicine scientifically validated a therapy that has not been used together with
accepted as conventional conventional medicine
medicine but is used in a deliberate manner
alongside conventional that is personalized,
medicine. evidence-based, and
safe.

BRIEF DEFINITION OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED TYPES OF FOLK MEDICINE:

Conventional Medicine:

 Conventional medicine consists primarily of drugs and surgery, which are the most
widely used treatment modalities
 Other treatments such as nutritional therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal
medicine, are not generally considered to be a part of conventional medicine.
 Conventional medicine does not include homeopathy, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.
  Conventional medicine is a system in which medical professionals treat symptoms and
diseases using drugs, radiation or surgery. Also called allopathic medicine, biomedicine,
mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine and Western medicine.
 Conventional medicine is a medical model of evidence-based practice for diagnosing
and treating disease
 Complementary medicine is used along with conventional medicine such as using
massage and drug therapy to reduce the discomfort of fibromyalgia.

Alternative Medicine:

 Alternative medicine is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of
standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, and allied
health professionals practice.
 Alternative medicine is used in place of standard medical care
 It is also known as Naturopathy.
 Examples of alternative practices include : Acupressure, Acupuncture,Aromatherapy,
Ayurveda, Balneotherapy, Biofeedback, Chiropractic medicine, Homeopathy,
Reflexology and Reiki
 Treating heart disease with chelation therapy (which seeks to remove excess metals
from the blood) instead of using a standard approach.
 Alternative medicine replaces conventional medicine such as using a special diet to treat
cancer instead of conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and
surgery.

Complementary Medicine:

 A group of diagnostic and therapeutic disciplines that are used together with
conventional medicine.
 Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine. Complementary
medicine is used together with conventional medicine.
 An example of a complementary therapy is using acupuncture in addition to usual care
to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery.
 An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of
undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a
physician.
 According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) can include the following: Acupuncture, Alexander technique,
Aromatherapy, Ayurveda (ayurvedic medicine), Biofeedback, Chiropractic medicine,
diet therapy, Herbalism, Holistic nursing, hypnosis, massage therapy, meditation,
naturopathy, nutritional therapy, osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT),Qi gong
(internal and external Qigong),reflexology, Reiki, spiritual healing, tai chi, Traditional
chinese medicine (TCM), and yoga.

Integrative Medicine:

 Integrative Medicine (IM) is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole
person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship
 between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all
appropriate therapies.
 All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration,
including mind, spirit, and community, as well as the body.
 The components of integrative medicine cannot exist in isolation. Complementary or
alternative therapies that fall under the integrative medicine umbrella. Acupuncture,
Certain bio-field therapies, Guided imagery, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness techniques,
Yoga.
 Integrative medicine combines mainstream medical therapies with complementary and
alternative therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety
and effectiveness.

Differentiate the DOMAINS of CAM and list examples on each domains

Complementary and alternative medicine therapies fall into five major categories, or domains:

 Alternative Medical Systems

Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often,
these systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach
used in the United States. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in
Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of
systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and
Ayurveda.

 Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to
affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past
have become mainstream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral
therapy). Other mind-body techniques are still considered CAM, including meditation, prayer,
mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance.

 Biologically Based Therapies

Biologically based therapies in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods,
and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements,3 herbal products, and the use of
other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies (for example, using shark
cartilage to treat cancer).

 Manipulative and Body-Based Methods

Manipulative and body-based methods in CAM are based on manipulation and/or movement of
one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation,
and massage.

 Energy Therapies
Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types:

(i)Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate
the human body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some
forms of energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body
by placing the hands in, or through, these fields. Examples include qi gong, Reiki, and
Therapeutic Touch.

(ii)Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields,

such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct-current fields.
REFERENCE :
https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-is-conventional-medicine
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2211
https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/about/definition.html
https://health.usnews.com/health-conditions/heart-health/integrative-medicine/overview#what_is
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31077
https://worldhealth.net/news/major_domains_of_cam/