INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRPM160

necessarily practiced for centuries nor handed down

M1 Lesson 1 The Philosophy of Integrative from one generation to another. (PITAHC R.A. 8433)
Medicine

Historical Developments in ICAM (GLOBAL) Examples of CAM

 Traditional Chinese Medicine: yin-yang; 5 element

 1978: Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health
Care (PHC): Integration of Traditional Medicine in
PHC
 1999: US Congress established the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM) in the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) Bethesda, Maryland.
Philippine Experience in ICAM
 Mid-70’s: Private physicians started training in
acupuncture in China
 Early 1980’s: DOH physicians trained
acupuncture in China; herbal medicine production
started
 1993-95: DOH established the Traditional
Medicine Unit which promoted the use of
medicinal plants, acupuncture and therapeutic
massage
 Mid-70’s: Private physicians started training in
acupuncture in China
 Early 1980’s: DOH physicians trained
acupuncture in China; herbal medicine production
started
 1993-95: DOH established the Traditional
Medicine Unit which promoted the use of
medicinal plants, acupuncture and therapeutic
massage
What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
1. Complementary and alternative medicine is a group
of diverse medical and health care systems, practices,
and products that are not presently considered to be
part of conventional medicine (NCCAM-NIH).
law; acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion,
tuina, medicinal plants, chi- gong, tai chi, animal
and mineral medicine
 Ayurveda: humours (vata-pita-kapha), yoga,
meditation, fasting, purification, medicinal plants,
aromatic oils, urine therapy
 European: homeopathy, iridology, health spa,
psychic healing, Swedish massage,
orthomolecular, anthroposopy, macrobiotics
 North American: chiropractic, osteopathy, prayer
healing, nutraceuticals, music therapy, color
therapy, chelation, biofeedback, native American
medicine
 Asian: reiki, shiatzu, Kampo medicine, reflexology,
Zen meditation, Buddhist meditation, Thai
massage, Tibetan medicine, kalimasada
 Filipino: herbal medicines, hilot sa pilay, hilot sa
panganganak, psychic surgery, biomagnetic
healing, pasma, usog, babaylan, mumbaki,
spiritual healing, bentosa, tawas, hiyang
Classification of CAM Modalities
 Biological therapies: herbal medicine,
aromatherapy, dietary therapies
 Manipulation therapies: acupuncture, massage,
reflexology, chiropractic, osteopathy
 Mind-Body interventions: meditation,
hypnotherapy, prayer, spiritual healing, imaging,
visualization
 Energy therapy: pranic healing, reiki, crystals, bio-
magnetic healing
 Alternative systems: traditional Chinese medicine,
Ayurveda, Yunani-Tibb, naturopathy, homeopathy

2. CAM is a broad domain of healing resources that

encompasses all health systems, modalities and
practice and their accompanying theories and beliefs,
other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant
health systems of a particular society or culture in a
given historical period (Cochrane Collaboration).

3. The scope of alternative health care modalities as

other forms of non-allopathic, occasionally non-
indigenous or imported healing methods, though not
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRPM160
Concepts of Health, Well-Being, Wellness and Illness
Biomedical or Conventional Medicine Definition
circa 1878-1978
 Biomedicine is Disease-oriented;
 Understanding the person physically (anatomy,
histology, biochemistry, physiology, pathology
etc)
W.H.O Definition of Health 1978
 It is a state of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity
Filipino Definition of Health and Wellness
 Health and wellness is the state of harmony,
balance and synergy between humankind and
the universe, between humankind and the
environment, between and among humankind
and within the human body, mind and soul. (J.Z.
Galvez Tan from interviews with hundreds of
traditional healers)
Integrative or Holistic Medicine
 Is a healing-oriented medicine that account of the
whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle.
 Integrative healthcare often brings conventional
and complementary approaches together in a
coordinated way.
M1 Lesson 2 CAM Policy and Practice here in the
Philippines
Republic Act 8423 established the Philippine Institute
for Traditional and Complementary Health
Care (PITAHC) in 1997 as an attached agency of the
DOH.
M1 Lesson 3 Complementary and Alternative
Medicine in Pharmacy Practice
The increase in usage of CAM indicates growing
prevalence of:
 Self-medication
 Self-management
 Patient autonomy
 desire to manage health conditions with a natural
or holistic approach
The use/misuse of TM/CM products without sufficient
professional supervision is not only a risk to the
individual but it can also become a complicating public
health issue in any given health care system.
Role of the Pharmacist in CAM Practices
Pharmacists have a professional responsibility to
acknowledge and seek out information about
patients' CAM use. This includes:
1. Pharmacists help patients use CAM appropriately
and safely;
2. Pharmacists discuss the adverse drug events, and
report them appropriately
3. Pharmacists need to educate patients about CAM
and its potential benefits and risks.
4. Pharmacists approach to CAM needs to be
collaborative in nature, and they need to work with
health care professionals.