Musculoskeletal pain affects
one-quarter of the adult population and is the most common reason
for self-medication and for seeking health care. The most common
reason for the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM),
and the lower back, head, neck, and knee are the most commonly
reported areas of pain. The most common forms of pain include those
associated with musculoskeletal disorders, such as degenerative
arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain,
chronic headache, low back pain, and bone pain. Complementary and
alternative medicine is often used to describe various substances,
procedures, and approaches outside of mainstream. Western, or
conventional medicine for health promotion, treating injuries,
symptoms, and illnesses. Althoug, complementary
and alternative are often used interchangeably, the 2
terms refer to different concepts. Complementary refers to
the use of a nonmainstream approach with conventional medicine,
whereas alternative refers to the use of a nonmainstream
approach instead of conventional medicine.
- Comparing traditional and
alternative medicine is a subject of great scrutiny and
speculation.
- An important point to understand is
that both the systems share the same objective – a healthy and safe
body.
- Traditional medicine, as we
commonly know, includes modern health science, medical technology,
surgery, and associated practices. It can also be referred to as
contemporary medicine or the western medicine. Alternative medicine
is the collection of all the knowledge, skills, and practices based
on age-old theories or experiences. It comprises a wide range of
procedures native to different cultures around the world.
-
Traditional approach focuses on the cause of the ailment. It
concentrates on factors causing the disease, its prevention,
remedies, and deals with the abnormality as an independent entity.
The person affected, the environment, or the circumstances under
which the disease occurred is insignificant in this system. It is
limited to the scientific study of an anomaly and ways to remove
it.
A) COMPARE AND CONTRAST
TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE TREATMENT FOR
CHRONIC BACK PAIN
COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE TREATMENT
- Mind and body practices or
provider-based CAM therapies such as chiropractic care,
acupuncture, and massage increased significantly between 2002 and
2007, and many more patients may be willing to try these therapies
for chronic low back pain if they do not have to pay out of
pocket.
- Multiple studies have also found
that these treatments in addition to herbal medicine are the most
commonly reported CAM treatments used for pain relief in
adults.
- Other commonly reported CAM
therapies are garlic preparations, exercise, and yoga and
meditation.
- A large number of veterans have
reported previous use or willingness to try chiropractic care,
massage therapy, herbal medicines, and acupuncture for chronic
noncancer pain.
- In addition to acute care with
conventional treatment, the VHA has now expanded services to allow
for CAM as available treatment options for chronic musculoskeletal
pain.
- The majority of VHA facilities also
provide and refer patients to CAM service providers.
- the most commonly reported CAM
therapies; specifically acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal
manipulation back pain relief.
- The investigators sought to examine
the effectiveness of acupuncture, spinal manipulation, or massage
compared with no treatment, sham therapy, or current noninvasive
first-line treatment for chronic back pain.
i) Acupuncture
- The most commonly reported reason
for its use is chronic pain.
- Trials that examined the
characteristics of those seeking and using acupuncture as adjunct
to conventional treatment have found that patients who experienced
positive outcomes, such as improvement in pain subscale, included
females, previous failure of other therapies, and prior positive
acupuncture encounters.
ii) Massage
- Massage promotes health and wellbeing through the use of
mechanical manipulation of body tissues with rhythmic pressure and
stroking.
- Treatment techniques include Hoffa massage, friction massage,
connective tissue massage, transverse friction massage, and trigger
point massage.
- Massage is one of the most popular CAM therapies for neck and
back pain.
iii) Spinal manipulation
- Spinal manipulation is high-velocity and low-amplitude
localized force directed at specific spinal segments.
- It is performed by using the hands or a device to apply a
controlled force to a joint of the spine and is practiced by
osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, chiropractors,
physical therapists, and some medical doctors.
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT FOR
CHRONIC BACK PAIN
i) Hypnosis
Using hypnosis to enhance
traditional pain management is the latest research-led treatment
showing promise in the battle against chronic back pain. The aim of
assisting people who are desperate for help in managing their pain
or in transitioning off their pain relief medication.
ii) Herbal
Remedies
- Herbs in Chanderprabha Vati, Kaishore Guggul are useful herbal
remedies for backache due to leucorrhea and
other...
- If you have chronic back pain, keep yourself
warm and eat hot food items.
- Include herbs like Turmeric, Tulsi, Ginger and Garlic in your
daily diet.
- Boil ten Tulsi leaves in one cup of water until the water is
reduced to half a cup. Add salt to it after cooling. Take...
- Make a decoction of garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric in 100 ml
water. Mix 100 ml Mustard Oil into it.
B) COMPARE AND CONTRAST
TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE TREATMENT FOR
INSOMNIA
1) TRADITIONAL
METHODS
A) Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements are purported to help treat insomnia:
i) Valerian root.
- Some studies have suggested that the root of valerian
(Valeriana officinalis) may help with the onset of sleep and with
sleep maintenance.
- It also has side effects and is not safe in small children or
during pregnancy.
ii) Chamomile
- Chamomile is another commonly used herb for
the treatment of insomnia.
- More research is needed, however, to see if it is
effective.
- The FDA considers chamomile to be safe and the herb has no
known adverse effects.
iii) Other herbs
Other herbs promoted as effective sleep
remedies include:
- passionflower
- hops
- lemon balm.
These still need to be studied to determine their safety and
effectiveness.
B) Light Exposure.
Light therapy is used as part of sleep treatment plans.
2) COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
a) Mindfulness
Meditation
- Mindfulness meditation consists of slow, steady breathing while
sitting quietly.
- You observe your breath, body, thoughts, feelings, and
sensations as they rise and pass.
- Mindfulness meditation has numerous health benefits that go
hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle promoting good sleep.
- It’s said to reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost
immunity.
b) Mantra repetition
- Repeating a mantra or positive affirmation repeatedly can help
focus and calm your mind.
- Mantras are said to produce feelings of relaxation by quieting
the mind.
c) Yoga
- Yoga has been foundTrusted Source to have a positive effect on
sleep quality.
- Yoga may also alleviate stress, improve physical functioning,
and boost mental focus.
d) Exercise
- Exercise boosts overall health.
- It can enhance your mood, give you more energy, aid in weight
loss, and promote better sleep.
e) Massage
- Massage therapy to benefit people with insomnia by improving
sleep quality and daytime dysfunction.
- It may also reduce feelings of pain, anxiety, and
depression.
f) Magnesium
- Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral.
- It can help muscles relax and relieve stress.
- This is thought to encourage healthy sleep patterns.
g) Lavender Oil
- Lavender is used to improve mood, reduce pain, and promote
sleep.
- Taking it orally is thought to be more effective.
h) Melatonin
- Melatonin to significantly improve sleep patterns in people
with cancer and insomnia.
- Sleep quality was improved even more between seven and 14
days.
i) Acupuncture
- Acupuncture is often used in traditional Chinese medicine for
the treatment of insomnia