Question

You are reading about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) this week. What makes something a complementary and integrative health approach? Choose one complementary and integrative health approach from the text and discuss the scientific evidence behind it. What does the available data say about its efficacy (or inefficacy) and for what health outcome(s)? Is the data convincing, why or why not? Could you see yourself trying the approach? Lastly, could you think of a complementary and integrative health approach that might be helpful for someone who is coping with a cancer diagnosis? Is there any evidence to support this particular activity in this situation?

Answer 1

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a form of complementary and integrative health that includes practices such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. It is considered complementary when used alongside conventional medicine. Scientific evidence supports certain TCM practices for specific conditions, and it may also offer supportive care in cancer treatment with varying degrees of evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches

Complementary and integrative health approaches refer to treatments that are used in conjunction with or as an alternative to conventional medical treatments. These approaches often incorporate traditional knowledge and practices and may include therapies like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and yoga. For this discussion, we will focus on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an ethnomedical system which encompasses a range of practices and is based on the concept of balancing one's Qi (vital energy).

Traditional Chinese medicine includes the use of various natural substances and techniques, such as herbs, acupuncture, and cupping, and is viewed by many as a complementary approach to biomedicine. Evaluating the efficacy of these practices can be challenging due to differences in the methodological approaches compared to Western scientific standards. However, some TCM practices such as acupuncture have undergone significant scientific scrutiny with a growing body of evidence suggesting efficacy for certain conditions like chronic pain management and nausea related to chemotherapy.

Regarding cancer, TCM may offer supportive care to improve the quality of life of patients and may be integrated with conventional cancer treatments. Certain therapeutic practices within TCM are considered to support overall well-being and can potentially help with side effects of cancer therapies, although evidence for efficacy can vary. It's important for patients to discuss the use of any CAM approaches with their healthcare provider to ensure safety and appropriateness for their individual situation.

The trust and belief in science play a critical role in the adoption of biomedicine, but it's often more effective when it does not assume supremacy over traditional practices, instead cooperating with them in a hybrid model of care.

Learn more about Traditional Chinese Medicine