complementary and alternative health care approaches

Question 1

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Answer 1

• Healing practices that are not conventional medicine
• Interested in CAM has increased over the past decade
• Herbal medicines are becoming a popular alternative to modern medicine resulting in an increase in international trade
• Australians are increasingly buying herbal remedies and consulting alternative healthcare practitioners such as chiropractors, homeopaths and Chinese herbalists
• Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments. Alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatments.

Question 2

Reasons for increasing popularity of CAM

Answer 2

• WHO recognition of the usefulness of many alternative approaches
• Effectiveness of treatment when modern medicine has been ineffective
• Desire for natural or herbal medicines rather than synthetically produced
• Increased migration

Question 3

Range of Products and Services Available

Answer 3

• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Osteopathy

Question 4

Range of Products and Services Available: ACUPUNCTURE

Answer 4

• Uses fine needles to stimulate change in the energy balance of body to restore health
• Used for pregnancy and stress

Question 5

Range of Products and Services Available: AROMATHERAPY

Answer 5

• Uses oils from nature (plants, flowers) to stimulate or relax the body
• Maintain resistance from disease

Question 6

Range of Products and Services Available: OSTEOPATHY

Answer 6

• Manual deep-tissue massage and the manipulation of the spine, joints and surrounding tissue to alleviate back pain, joint problems and muscular disorders

Question 7

How to Make Informed Consumer Choices

Answer 7

• Client needs to ask questions
• Gather specific information about the nature of the alternative medicine
• WHO recognises them to be effective treatments

To determine who to believe
- Qualifications
- Registrations
- Regulations
- Research