Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Homework: CAM
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Homework: CAM
CAM refers to medical products and practices not included in mainstream healthcare. Complementary and alternative are applied as a single category, although it is crucial to differentiate the two terms. Complementary medication occurs when non-mainstream activities are incorporated with connectional medicine. On the other hand, alternative medication occurs when non-mainstream procedures are applied instead of conventional medicine. An overlap can occur between the two types of medication. For instance, medical practitioners apply aromatherapy as a complementary treatment in specific scenarios and as an alternative treatment in others (Fjær et al., 2020). Both complementary and alternative treatments treat or cure specific health problems. Examples of CAM include chiropractic, homeopathy, and herbal medicines.
Patients Using CAM the Most
Female patients use CAM more compared to male patients. The prevalence is high among individuals between 45 and 64 years, particularly those with high education. Females are associated with an elevated rate of unmet necessities, poor health conditions, and increased healthcare utilization, increasing the use of CAM in society (NCCIH, 2021). Females tend to use CAM more to control the factors, thus indicating the differences in values and personalities between men and women.
Common Misconceptions about CAM
One common misconception about CAM is that they are mutually exclusive. However, that is not the case since most patients are best served with a combination of complementary and alternative medicine. Patients suffering from acute or painful symptoms should use the conventional route first. Another misconception associated with CAM is that natural means are safe. In medicines and pharmaceutical products, high consistency standards are required since natural compounds have different strengths.
Methods of including the use of CAM in Patient Education
Healthcare personnel should conduct an open discussion with patients concerning their CAM practice and have negotiations related to the patients’ decisions. If the application of CAM is unsafe for patients, healthcare professionals should provide a sound explanation to the patient and gain collaboration (NCCIH, 2021). The use of CAM might carry more significant risks to patients if they apply the methods before or during conventional treatment without consulting health care professionals.
The Safe Application of CAM
Many patients consider the CAM products are generally safe. However, the safety of many CAM therapies is uncertain due to limited clinical trials connected to CAM therapies. Various types of CAM are considered safe such as yoga, meditation, and prayers, but patients must take caution on herbal supplements.
Integration of Conventional Medicine and CAM
Conventional medication and CAM can improve the performance of each other. The two medical categories are combined into conventional medicine under correct procedures. Healthcare professionals should practice special are to prevent harmful interactions. They should familiarize themselves with CAM and substitute medicin...