sam's cam

Hi, I'm Samantha! This blog is dedicated to my VCU course UNIV 291: Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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One Big Happy Fa-med-ily :)

Final Post

Remember what CAM means? Let’s recap!

Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM is a category of non-Western medicine or treatments that fall outside of mainstream medicine. The difference between complementary and alternative medicine is that complementary medicine is used together with mainstream medical care; whereas, alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care. 

But what is integrative medicine? How does it apply to CAM?

Integrative medicine is when health care providers and facilities offer both types of care. In other words, it is basically combining Western medicine and CAM to form one big happy family called integrative medicine!

So, what is the point of recapping? How would this apply to future medicine?

Recently, the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) changed its name to the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health (NCCIH). The article can be found here. According to the National Institute of Health, “the change is made to more accurately reflect the Center’s research commitment to studying promising health approaches already in use by the American public.“ The mission of NCCIH is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and integrative health interventions and their roles in improving health and health care (NCCIH). To read more about their mission and goals, click here.

From what I learned in this class, I think NCCIH changed their name in order to accurately inform the public of their scientific research on complementary and integrative medicine. As stated above, integrative medicine combines CAM and Western medicine. By changing their name, NCCIH clearly promotes not only the research of alternative medicine, but how CAM and Western medicine work together.

I learned how to connect modern Western medicine with CAM. For example: when my mother received a bone fusion operation, she still had to take pain medication since the surgery only reduce the pinched nerve. She seek complementary medicine such as acupuncture and chiropractic, in order to reduce the intake of pain medicine. Another example is my boyfriend who prefers doing yoga to help relieve soreness after going to the gym. He tells me all the time that yoga helps with his physical posture if he slightly injured himself when using the gym equipment.

I do feel there is a place for integrating CAM therapies because of how beneficial it is for people who are going through health issues. My mother is a very good example since she has been able to manage her condition for over 5 years now. As long as the patient is satisfied, the news will most likely spread about how CAM therapies can help others. Hopefully there will be more research about how to integrate CAM and Western medicine.

The main challenge I can see for integrating CAM therapies into mainstream Western medicine is if people are not well-educated, or did not do their research before trying CAM therapies. I think it is extremely important when trying anything new to do the research. Another challenge could be that the CAM therapies made a condition worst, which can lead to lawsuits or even death. This beings me back to research! Before seeing any practitioner, patients should make sure that the therapist is certified and educated. Just like purchasing a new laptop, do the research to make sure it accommodates your needs.

For the most part, all of my questions are answered in this class. I really did learn a lot from my own research as well as fellow peers and professor. It has been a really enjoyable summer course - didn’t even feel like work! I like how everything ties together and how many branches of medicine there is. In the end, it is all one giant tree! Thank you so much for reading and the lovely experience. :-)

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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MateFit Teatox

General post:

Disclaimer: I am not sponsoring MateFit. Just a very happy customer! 

Just wanted to post something fun before the end of this class! :-)

I have been drinking this tea for about 2 months now and it definitely works! I wanted to try to lose weight in a healthy manner such as diet and exercise, but I wanted an extra boost! After doing some intense research and reading reviews, I came across this product called MateFit. 

Basically it is a cleansing regimen which combines a tea that increases your metabolism (drink twice a day, everyday) and another tea that detoxes your digestive system (drink once a day, every other day). All you have to do is drink the tea as directed and experience a teatox! Simple, right?

Here is a list of what you can expect as a result:

Flush away unwanted pounds and boost your metabolism

Reduce puffiness and bloating and enjoy a flatter abdomen, fast

Increase energy levels with the Metabolic Boost

Use both products together with healthy lifestyle to maximize weight loss results

I definitely see the results! I dropped about 10 lbs with diet and exercise. Most importantly, I feel more energized and extremely cleansed. Let’s just say my colon is very happy! I forgot to mention the main purpose of sharing this - the ingredients are all natural!

Ingredients of MateFit Metabolic Boost: (Organic Yerba Mate, Sechung Oolong Tea, Pinhead Gunpowder Tea, Angelica Root Powder, Guarana Seed Powder and Licorice Root cut)

Ingredients of MateFit Detox: (Organic Dandelion Root, Peppermint Loose Leaf Tea, Organic Rosemary Leaf, Organic Senna Leaf , Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Hibiscus Flower Powder, Organic Rhubarb Root Powder, Organic Lemongrass Leaf and Organic Grapefruit Peel)

Pretty awesome ingredients, huh? I really hope you give this a try! Of course, you can drink the tea for the taste and individual function. You should not be teatoxing all the time! After I finish teatoxing, I might purchase the Metabolic Boost for the taste and function - it’s so good! Please let me know if you plan on teatoxing and how your results go. :-)

Disclaimer (from MateFit): Please ask your doctor if any of these ingredients will have an adverse effect with your current medications. Do not use MateFit if you are pregnant or allergic to any of its ingredients. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice. 

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Cupping therapy? Gua sha?

Explore more deeply (General post): 

Whenever my parents are under stress or feeling sick, they relieve their tension by using an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine called cupping therapy. Just as the name implies, the cups are used to suction or “vacuum” when place on the skin. According to WebMD, “the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments.” Although there is no scientific evidence to support cupping therapy as a means to cure cancer or other diseases, my parents mainly use cupping to help blood circulation and for therapeutic remedies. My dad described it as: “it helps relieve that “sick” feeling when you have a cold or flu.” The one my parents have comes with multi-sized glass cups and a rubber pump as shown below:

Another traditional Chinese healing technique my parents use more frequently is called gua sha, or “coining, spooning or scraping”. The purpose of gua sha is similar to cupping in which the goal is to treat inflammation while promoting immunity and blood flow. Instead of creating suction, the method of gua sha is a repetitive scraping motion on the same area of skin. According to Arya Nielsen, PhD, “gua sha is defined as instrument-assisted unidirectional press-stroking of a lubricated area of the body surface to intentionally create transitory therapeutic petechiae called ‘sha’ representing extravasation of blood in the subcutis.” My mom describes it as: “it helps relieve the pressure or “trapped air” inside the body”. The tools are shown below:

Here is a link to read more about the science of gua sha by Arya Nielsen: 

http://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/press-releases/2015/05/05/science-gua-sha

Here is also a very descriptive video demonstrating gua sha:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJuuIcI-4Es

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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How did electrical needles help my mom?

General post:

Back when I was in high school, my mom got into a car accident. She had a hernia disk in her neck, which effected her nerves and muscles. My mom later received a bone fusion surgery, which was suppose to help with the pinched nerve. Unfortunately the surgery only helped with the pinched nerve, but the pain is still present. My mom prefers not taking pain medication everyday, but rather every once in awhile. Instead, she prefers receiving acupuncture every month or every two weeks. Since her pain varies, her treatment and medication varies. Upon discovery, my mom actually does receive chiropractic for her upper back after her acupuncture session.

I interviewed my mom on how she received her acupuncture and chiropractic. She says that depending on where the pain is, the needles are inserted in the targeted areas, such as the upper back, mid-back, or tailbone. Sometimes she will gets needles on her head and face. When she has sinus problems, needles are inserted around her nose and my mom says it actually works! Maybe I should try it out too.

After the needles are inserted, her specialist puts electrodes on the needles, which will send small electric currents to her bod, causing a stimulation. The degree of electricity level depends on the patient. My mom described the feeling as tapping or poking. This specific method of acupuncture is called electro-acupuncture. Once all the electrodes are attached to the needles, a heating lamp is placed above the patient. The lamp is used to help blood circulation.

The session last for 20 minutes, and right afterwards, her chiropractic session begins. Her specialist calls it mind and body manipulation. Depending on where my mom feels pain, she is either standing, sitting, or laying on her side or stomach. My mom says that since she has stayed committed to her electro-acupuncture and chiropractic sessions rather than taking medications daily, her pain has become more manageable. :-)

Check out this website for detailed explanations on various adjustments:

http://www.psychetruth.net/alternative-medicine/chiropractic/5-chiropractic-adjustments-hip-adjustment-part-3-austin-chiropractor-jeff-echols/

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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More Massages with Reflexology & Chiropractic On the Sides!

Chapter 4 - Thought questions: 

As stated in my previous post, I received a massage back in high school. Unfortunately I do not remember which type of massage I received - there is just so many! If I had to distinguish based on the descriptions, it would most likely be a Swedish massage. A Swedish massage “involves soft, long, kneading strokes, as well as light, rhythmic, tapping strokes, on topmost layers of muscles (WebMD).” It involves four common strokes: effleurage, petrissage, friction, and tapotement. 

Hot stone massage sparks my interest the most. For the most part, all the other types of massages involves no equipment and just the hands. I am curious to see how the hot stones will be used for a massage. I have seen chair massage at the mall, but I am way too shy to get a massage in public! It does look quick and relieving after walking all day. Swedish, hot stone, and chair massage are perfect for stress relief and relaxation. 

Deep tissue and trigger point massages sound very similar. After doing some research, the difference is that deep tissue massage uses various traditional massage techniques to work the tissue; whereas, trigger point massage is literally the attempt to manipulate or press on that one point that relieves tension in an entire area (perhaps not even nearby). Neuromuscular therapy massage is a subset of trigger point massage, which involves the application of pressure to a muscle spasm. There massages are good for treating pain and specific conditions. 

Massages that help with overall health and for rejuvenation are shiatsu, sport, and Thai. Shiatsu, which literally means “finger pressure”, sounds like something I would try. I wonder how imbalanced my flow of energy is. Thai massages sounds a little painful since it involves yoga-like stretches, but the masseur is rigorously manipulating the body! Maybe I should do more yoga to become more flexible before trying this one... Sports massage is, of course, for athletes. It combines Swedish, Shiatsu, and other techniques to concentrate on the areas that are related to your sport. Pregnancy massage can fall under this category as well as it focuses on the major changes the body goes through.

Reflexology is very intriguing to me. I remember reading back on another student’s post about it. The theory is that there are pressure points on the sole of the feet (or hands) that indicate the flow of energy (”chi”) in the body. The pressure or contact points are similar to the energy channels used in shiatsu and acupuncture. Aside from hot stone massage, I would give reflexology a try. I wonder if it works considering how confusing this chart looks!

I do see deep tissue, trigger point, and neuromuscular therapy massages being very useful when integrated with modern Western medicine. A couple of years ago, my mom was in a car accident that left her with muscle and nerve spasms around her back and neck. She received surgery for the pain, but it only relieved the pain. She takes pain medications as prescribed and gets acupuncture every month. (More details in another post!) I think it would really help my mom if she incorporates these massages in her life, along with her daily regimen to cope with her condition.

I wonder if my mom should try seeing a chiropractor as well. Chiropractic focuses on manipulation of the spine. They believe in the inherent ability of the body to heal. The focus of chiropractic is to normalize bodily function in order to restore health (Natural Medicine). If my mom were to see a chiropractor, they should have received training that is similar to a doctorate. According to the American Chiropractic Association, a chiropractor must have a 4-year pre-med undergrad college education; undergo about 4-5 years of accredited professional study; a minimum of a one-year clinical-based program; and have a state license to practice chiropractic. 

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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Massage Therapy

Chapter 3 - Experience of CAM (Thought questions): 

From my knowledge, a massage feels absolutely amazing - when you don’t think about a stranger getting touchy-touchy! My first professional massage experience was back in high school when I was visiting family in California. It was located in a spa. Unfortunately I do not remember the entire experience, but I do remember my muscles feeling like jello! It was certainly a mind-body experience in which I let my mind go and let my body do the talking. I definitely want to experience a professional massage again, now that I have a better appreciation it. Instead of a spa, maybe I can get a massage in a salon, the mall, a wellness center, or even a boardwalk! My family loves to give each other massages as well. It helps relieve some tension and soreness. Even I give myself a light massage after a long day of studying or driving all day. 

After doing some research, the Virginia Board of Nursing regulates the massage therapy licensure in Virginia. Who would’ve thought that massage would fall under the category of nursing? - I didn’t! Just like a practitioner, a massage therapist needs several credentials as well. Megan, from the story, should make sure that the massage therapist has a state license; should be board certified; received education and training from an accredited school; and should be a member in a professional association such as the American Massage Therapy Association. 

I only hope that my aunt from California did her research when she chose the massage therapist. If anything, I can say I survived! ;-) 

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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Kombucha Review!

General post:

As shown in my twitter, I tried out kombucha for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Let’s just say, it was pretty pungent... but addicting! But what is kombucha?

According to Mayo Clinic, kombucha is a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast. Also using the Natural Medicines database, kombucha is basically the starter culture of bacteria and yeast when fermenting sweetened tea. Kombucha is consumed orally for several reasons such as memory loss, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatism, aging, anorexia, AIDS, cancer, hypertension, increasing T-cell counts, strengthening the immune system and metabolism, constipation, arthritis, and hair regrowth. But there is no scientific evidence to support these claims (Natural Medicine). Fermentation results in a drink with a thin membrane of colonies on top. According to secondary sources, constituents in the resulting drink include acetic acid, lactic acid, enzymes, amino acids, polyphenols, B vitamins, and some alcohol (0.5-1.5%), and are effervescent (Natural Medicine). So why did I purchase kombucha?

To be honest, no particular reason. :-) It was an extremely hot day, and I was thirsty! I felt daring as well and decided to try something new. Aside from introductory, I actually really do like this drink. It is definitely an acquired taste and somewhat reminds me of vinegar. Apparently the fermentation of vinegar is similar to the kombucha process since alcohol is required. Anyways I cannot give a full review of how beneficial kombucha is in a scientific approach, but I can review the different kinds/flavors I tried and how I felt afterwards.

The first kombucha I tried was the GT’s Synergy Trilogy and the flavor is raspberry, lemon, and ginger. This is definitely a favorite, and I would recommend this one if you enjoy a more sour taste. 

The next was Kevita Master Brew in the flavor of pineapple peach. Not really a favorite since it was more on the sweeter side, but certainly not a bad drink. It’s kind of like a less stronger version of GT’s.

Next was from Whole Foods and it was on-tap, which Prof. Figment recommended to me! I had to hunt down several local Whole Foods, but I finally found one today (yay!) The flavor I chose was ginger and loved it! It has a lovely balance of fizz and sweetness.

Along with the on-tap drink, I also purchased GT’s Enlightened Original. I wanted to try just kombucha itself alone, no added flavors. Let’s just say that it was drinkable, but very, very strong!! You can really taste the fermentation.

As a result from all the drinks, I pretty much felt similar for all of them. I did feel more energized like a shot of espresso, except it was a shot of fizzy bubbles with some pungent sweet tea taste. I also felt more cleansed, but assuming that it is from the lactic acid. As for health purposes, I cannot say. Kombucha is something you have to try for yourself. It’s basically drinking tea in a different form in which that form is like drinking alcohol, since it is both fermented and  effervescent. On a side note, there are claims that kombucha may be prepared in a non-sterile home with high risk of contamination. For the most part, the companies I chose to review were good to me - I did not feel sick! So with that being said, I hope you guys give kombucha a try with safety in mind!

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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Feeling better, or getting better?

Chapter 2 - Placebo effect (Thought questions):

The placebo effect is defined as a fake treatment that can sometimes improvement a patient’s condition due to their expectation that it will be helpful (MedicineNet). A placebo is an inactive substance such as sugar, distilled water, or saline solution, that can be taken as a pill, a shot, or other types of “fake” treatments (WebMD).

I learned about the placebo effect in my psychology class, and I gained a new perspective of how people perceive treatments. I do wonder how a patient can tell the difference between the effects of a placebo or actually getting better... But maybe they can’t tell either. What I do believe is that a patient’s attitude and perspective can change how a patient heals during treatment. For example, if a cancer patient walks into a chemotherapy facility with a positive outlook rather than a negative outlook, then the probability of getting better will increase. Although, this can be contradicting considering how complex the world of medicine can be, and how each individual reacts differently to each treatment. In other words, that positive patient can still pass away from cancer due to how malignant the cancer is, or other outside factors. Sounds very cruel, but it is how the world works, right?

“To separate out this power of positive thinking and some other variables from a drug’s true medical benefits, companies seeking governmental approval of a new treatment often use placebo-controlled drug studies. If patients on the new drug fare significantly better than those taking placebo, the study helps support the conclusion that the medicine is effective (MedicineNet).”

From the paragraph above, it made me realize how important it is to understand what a placebo is. It allows a better understanding of how the body works as well as how it reacts over time. As a pre-PA student, I have learned over and over again how predictable, yet unpredictable the human body is and how it evolves over time. There may be rare cases, but due to their existence, those rare cases are always considered during any treatment.

All in all, I do believe that Jack, from the story, made a very valuable point that should be considered because a patient should not continue a treatment if it is not beneficial for them. Just because a patient feels better, it does not mean they are getting better. But I do contradict myself because I also think that Nicole adds perspective on a patient who seeks outside treatment from Western medicine such as CAM. A positive outlook not only helps make a patient feel better, it may can also help make them get better. Adding more treatment can only help more, right? So overall, I do believe that CAM definitely helps a patient’s healing process, but I do not believe it can replace or substitute Western medicine, considering the placebo effect. Don’t want a patient to continue a “fake” treatment, yeah? :-)

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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What is CAM?

Chapter 1 - Thought questions

From Medline Plus, the definition of CAM is as followed:

“Complementary medicine is used together with mainstream medical care. An example is using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment. When health care providers and facilities offer both types of care, it is called integrative medicine. Alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care.”

Some examples are from Mayo Clinic as shown below:

“CAM focuses on the whole person and includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. For example, CAM includes mind-body medicine (such as meditation, acupuncture and yoga), manipulative and body-based practices (such as massage therapy and spinal manipulation), and natural products (such as herbs and dietary supplements).“

As stated, supplements are a part of CAM as a subgroup. In my last post, I thought supplements and CAM were different. Thanks to Prof. Figment for pointing out my misunderstanding. All part of the learning experience, right? :-) Hope these definitions and examples will be helpful as they were for me! 

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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Supplements or CAM, or even both?

Chapter 1 - Perspective on CAM (Thought questions): 

Starting a multivitamin is definitely risky, but I believe in trial and error. From my experience, multivitamin supplements are safe and effective. But each body is different, so Megan should do her research before consumption. The ingredients must be well labeled and carefully examined. But I strongly believe supplements should not replace natural vitamins! Fruits and vegetables should be eaten due to their natural beneficial properties. Even during my busy college days, I cannot go through a day without an apple or baby carrots. 

Similar to a fellow CAM traveler, I found a NIH government approved database, which can provide information about drugs, herbs, and supplements. Medline Plus is very convenient as it provides related topics and other approved websites if you want to learn more about topics such as complementary and alternative medicine. Check it out! Maybe it will answer your questions as it did mine.

Speaking of CAM, I do have some experience with massage, yoga, and natural medicine. I am no expert, but I do yoga sometimes after a good workout. When it comes to massage, I like receiving it rather than practicing it - but who doesn’t, right? Natural medicine is starting to be more prominent in my life. I do not necessarily want to replace everything with natural medicine, but I do want to explore more of what mother nature has to offer for us. My mother enjoys acupuncture, but I never tried it myself. I recognized chiropractic, reflexology, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and meditation. But reiki? I have no idea what that is. Once I googled reiki, I have an idea of what it is, but maybe from movies and TV shows... I am a little skeptic with hypnosis and reiki, but I will keep an open-mind as I continue with Megan’s story.

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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Why did I choose to learn “hocus pocus”?

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Reasons for taking the course, goals and expectations:

First things first, I am so excited to be sharing this journey with my fellow CAM travelers! I cannot wait to enhance my knowledge and maybe even convince skeptics of joining our journey. 

With only one more year left to receive my B.A. in Biology, I hope to further my education with a Physician Assistant certificate. As much as I look forward to dedicating my life to assisting others, I want to learn how to take care of myself as well. I wanted to take a course that was outside of my major, but still around the topic of health and medicine. After stumbling upon the introductory CAM video, this class had my name written all over it. And it was online with creative writing? No doubt, for sure.

I do have some knowledge of alternative medicine from my family and my own research, but not enough for me to be confident in the information. To maintain my healthy lifestyle, I eat a nutritional meal and exercise every day. I cannot have one without the other! But is there a way to take better care of my body? If so, which one will be more beneficial for a healthier lifestyle? I do take multivitamins for women as well as biotin supplements. As a result, I am a satisfied consumer. But I always ask myself, what are those filler ingredients? I have done my fair share of research, but which sources are trustworthy?

With that being said, I hope that this course will address these questions, or will help steer me into finding the answer(s). I expect that my fellow CAM travelers and Professor Figment will become my new, reliable resource. Most importantly, I hope to become more confident in passing along the information about the wonderful world of alternative medicine.

Disclaimer: This was created by students for a class and is not intended to provide any medical advice.

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