Alternative therapies in health and medicine
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jul 2002
Complementary and alternative medical treatment of breast cancer: a survey of licensed North American naturopathic physicians.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is on the rise in the United States, especially for breast cancer patients. Many CAM therapies are delivered by licensed naturopathic physicians using individualized treatment plans. ⋯ Of those respondents screened, 497 (77%) had provided naturopathic care to women with breast cancer, and 402 (63%) had treated women with breast cancer in the previous 12 months. Naturopaths who were women were more likely than men to treat breast cancer (P < or = .004). Of the survey respondents, 104 (65%) practiced in the United States, and 57 (35%) practiced in Canada; 107 (66.5%) were women, and 54 (33.5%) were men. To develop naturopathic treatment plans, naturopathic physicians most often considered the stage of cancer, the patient's emotional constitution, and the conventional therapies used. To monitor patients clinically, 64% of the naturopathic physicians used diagnostic imaging, 57% considered the patient's quality of life, and 51% used physical examinations. The most common general CAM therapies used were dietary counseling (94%), botanical medicines (88%), antioxidants (84%), and supplemental nutrition (84%). The most common specific treatments were vitamin C (39%), coenzyme Q-10 (34%), and Hoxsey formula (29%).
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Altern Ther Health Med · May 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMassage therapy for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
Anxiety and its pharmacological treatment can interfere with cardiac catheterization. Massage therapy has been used primarily in nonmedical settings for relaxation and stress reduction, and some research demonstrates its efficacy in medical environments. ⋯ The results of the study suggest that a 10-minute massage before an invasive cardiac procedure is insufficient to decrease stress measurably.
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jan 2002
ReviewAlternative treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: does evidence support their use?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 2 to 3 million children in the United States. Stimulant medication is one of the most common treatments for ADHD; however, adverse reactions from its use cause many parents to seek complementary or alternative treatments. Many individuals use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because they are attracted to CAM philosophies and health beliefs, dissatisfied with the process or results of their conventional care, or concerned about adverse effects of stimulants. ⋯ Alternative treatments often include neurofeedback, homeopathy, herbal medicines, iron supplements, and dietary modifications or supplements. Although anecdotal and empirical evidence is surfacing to support the efficacy of these alternatives, further research is needed before they can be regarded as effective, reliable treatments for ADHD. Therefore, the use of more conventional treatments should be considered if alternative interventions prove unsuccessful.