ALTERNATIVE

THERAPIES
ARCE, KIMBERLY
BAGNI, FARAH JELIMAE
CASTRO, VERONICA
DORION, GELZA ERIKA
 Introduction
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) covers a broad range of healing
philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Generally, it is defined as those treatments and
healthcare practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals,
and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies.

The list of practices that are considered CAM changes continually as CAM practices and
therapies that are proven safe and effective become accepted as mainstream healthcare
practices. A therapy is generally called complementary and it is often called alternative
when it is used instead of conventional treatment.

Depending on how they are used, some therapies can be considered either complementary
or alternative. Complementary and Alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent
illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure
disease.
5 Categories or Domains
of Complementary and
Alternative Medicine
1 ALTERNATIVE
MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Involve complete systems of
theory and practice that have
evolved independent of and
often prior to the
conventional biomedical
approach.
Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures
throughout the world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches.

 Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes the proper

balance or disturbance of qi, or vital energy, in health and
disease, respectively. Traditional Chinese medicine
consists of a group of techniques and methods, including
acupuncture, herbal medicine, oriental massage, and qi
gong (a form of energy therapy).
Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures
throughout the world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches.

 Ayurveda is India’s traditional system of medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive system of
medicine that places equal emphasis on body, mind, and
spirit, and strives to restore the innate harmony of the
individual. Some of the primary Ayurvedic treatments
include diet, exercise, meditation, herbs, massage,
exposure to sunlight, and controlled breathing.
Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures
throughout the world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches.

 Homeopathic Medicine is an unconventional Western

system that is based on the principle that “like cures like”,
namely, that the same substance that in large doses
produces the symptoms of an illness, in very minute doses
cures it.
Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures
throughout the world, including a number of venerable Asian approaches.

 Naturopathic Medicine views disease as a manifestation

of alterations in the processes by which the body naturally
heals itself and emphasize health restoration rather than
disease treatment.
2 MIND BODY
INTERVENTIONS
Employ a variety of
techniques designed to
facilitate the mind’s capacity
to affect bodily function and
symptoms. Only a subset of
mind-body interventions are
considered CAM.
 MEDITATION BIOFEEDBACK

Focused breathing or repitition Using simple machines, the

of words or phrases to quiet the patient learns how to affect
mind. certain body functions that are
normally out of one’s awareness
(such as heart rate).
 HYPNOSIS YOGA

A state of relaxed and focused Systems of stretches and poses,

attention in which a person with special attention given to
concentrates on a certain feeling, breathing.
idea, or suggestion to aid in
healing.
 TAI CHI IMAGERY

Involves slow, gentle Imagining scenes, pictures, or

movements with a focus on the experiences to help the body
breath and concentration. heal.
 CREATIVE OUTLETS

Interests such as art, music, or

dance.
3 BIOLOGICAL-BASED
THERAPIES
Included in this category or
herbal, special dietary,
orthomolecular, and
individual biological
therapies. Herbal therapies
employ individual or
mixtures of herbs for
therapeutic value.
Special diet therapies such as those proposed by Drs. Atkins, Ornish, Pritikin,
and Weil, are believed to prevent or control illness as well as promote health.
Orthomolecular therapies aim to treat disease with varying concentrations of
chemicals, such as magnesium, melatonin and of vitamins. Some examples
are:

 Vitamins and dietary supplements.

 Botanicals, which are plants or parts of plants. One type is
cannabis.
 Herbs and spices such as turmeric or cinnamon. ( See
herbs at a glance).
 Special foods or diets.
4 MANIPULATIVE AND
BODY-BASED
METHODS
This category includes
methods that are based on
manipulation and movement
of the body.
Some examples are:

 Massage: The soft tissues of the body are kneaded,

rubbed, tapped and stroked.
 Chiropractic therapy: A type of manipulation of the
spine, joints, and skeletal system.
 Reflexology: Using pressure points in the hands or feet to
affect other parts of the body.
 Energy Therapies – focus either on energy fields
originating within the body or those from sources
(electromagnetic fields).
5
INTEGRATIVE
MEDICINE
Approach to care that puts the
patient at the center and
addresses the full range of
physical, emotional, mental,
social, spiritual, and
environmental influences that
affects a person’s health.
 It is a combination of both conventional Western
Medicine and alternative medicine. As Western
medicine is an evidence-based practice, doctors have
started encouraging the use of alternative therapies
more and more.
The 5 Top Benefits of Integrative Medicine

Focusing on Prevention – focuses on preventive to support

optimal health prior to disease development, as well as
reinforcing the body’s innate ability to heal itself, utilizing
lifestyle enchantments, mind-body medicine, and in-depth
patient education.
The 5 Top Benefits of Integrative Medicine

A Holistic Approach – by considering each patient’s

immediate environment, activity levels, lifestyle
choices, social relationships, and emotional well-being,
an all-encompassing view is obtained that can truly
offer in-depth answers to one’s emerging problems
The 5 Top Benefits of Integrative Medicine

A model that is based on Relationship and

Collaboration – is an inescapable and highly desired
component of modern medical care, which comes
naturally and with ease in the warm, empathetic and
friendly atmosphere of an integrative physician’s office.
The 5 Top Benefits of Integrative Medicine

Personalized Care – the goal of a primary care physician

who practices integrative medicine is to carefully
uncover all components that affect their patient’s
physiological and emotional well-being. There is also a
commitment to find the root cause that undermines health
and creates a combination of unique problems that can’t
always be solved by applying cookie-cutter solutions.
The 5 Top Benefits of Integrative Medicine

Standard Medical Care

 Treatment that is accepted by medical expert as a proper
treatment for a certain type of disease and that is widely
used by healthcare professionals. Also called best practice,
standard of care, and standard therapy.
 It is a medical or psychological treatment guideline, and
can be general or specific. It specifies appropriate treatment
based on scientific evidence and collaboration between
and/or psychological professionals involved in the
treatment of a given condition.
 COMPLEMENTARY
MEDICINE
Complementary and Alternative
medicine is the term for medical
products and practices that are
not part of standard medical
care.
 People with cancer may use CAM to:
 Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as
nausea, pain, and fatigue.
 Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer
treatment and related stress.
 Feel that they are doing something to help with their own
care.
 Try to treat or cure their cancer.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
ARCE, KIMBERLY
BAGNI, FARAH JELIMAE
CASTRO, VERONICA
DORION, GELZA ERIKA