Week One Lecture Notes of a three week class regarding and introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine at a local Community College.

1. Week One Lecture Notes
Benefits (and Risks) of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Lesson Summary: define Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and the associated
benefits and risks. Determine why people choose CAM modalities instead of, or in conjunction
with, conventional medicine. Ask what CAM means to the students. Focus on chiropractic care,
massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation, and where individuals may find the respective
practitioners locally.
Lesson Content:
What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Complementary and Alternative
Medicine?” What are some of the good things that you have heard? What are some of the scary
things that you have heard?
“Complementary” generally refers to using a non-mainstream approach together with
conventional medicine. “Alternative” refers to using a non-mainstream approach in place of
conventional medicine (NCCIM, 2015). Give examples and ask the class for examples of
complementary and alternative practices. Today we will be focusing on the mind and body
practices of: chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. There are so
many more modalities available, however I am choosing to focus on these because they are
available through skilled practitioners locally, and more people seem to be familiar with these
ones.

2. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, mind and
body practices include a large and diverse group of procedures or techniques administered or
taught by a trained practitioner or teacher (2015). The following definitions come from the
NCCIM website. “Spinal manipulation is practiced by health care professionals such as
chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and some
medical doctors. Practitioners perform spinal manipulation by using their hands or a device to
apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The amount of force applied depends on the form
of manipulation used (2015).” “Massage therapy includes many different techniques in which
practitioners manually manipulate the soft tissues of the body (2015).” “Acupuncture is a
technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting
thin needles through the skin (2015).” And lastly, “Most meditation techniques, such as
mindfulness meditation or transcendental meditation, involve ways in which a person learns to
focus attention (2015).”
What are the benefits of CAM?
People like the individualized, personal attention they receive when they go to a CAM
practitioner. Many people feel more comfortable because CAM practitioners generally try to
gain a full understanding of what is ailing you, rather than just trying to treat the symptoms of
what is ailing you. For example, you go to a conventional doctor for back pain, that doctor may
prescribe you pain medication or determine that you need surgery. However, if you go to a
CAM practitioner, such as a chiropractor, the doctor may ask about any recent falls you may
have had, your sleep position, look at the insoles in your shoes, ask about your stress level,
observe your posture, and other things of that nature. CAM practices are also generally safe and
less invasive (Calabro, 2009).

3. What are the risks of CAM?
The main risk of CAM is that there is very limited scientific research available, therefore
making an informed decision for some people very difficult. Additionally, because CAM
focuses on the “individual,” “individual results may vary” and there is always the potential for
contraindications resulting from mixing CAM with conventional methods. Furthermore, there is
quite a bit of confusion about the topic due to confusing marketing strategies regarding certain
practices and products (Calabro, 2009).
Who can benefit from CAM practices?
Many people can benefit from the use and application of CAM modalities. However, I
find it important to mention that this class is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease
or medical condition. When considering altering your healthcare regimen in any way, be sure to
inform all your healthcare providers to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible and
avoiding any possible adverse side effects from mixing different methods. I can tell you from
personal experience that I benefited from chiropractic care during both of my pregnancies.
Additionally, I have also introduced silent time and or meditation time into my daily routine.
Having just a few minutes to recharge and regroup throughout the day makes a huge difference
for me. I was also an accident victim in 2007, where I broke three vertebrae in my neck and two
ribs, had a pulmonary contusion, and fractured my eye socket on the steering wheel. I truly
believe that if I had not sought chiropractic care that I may still be experiencing immense back
pain. But I went once a week for a few weeks, then once every other week for a while. Within a
few months, I had absolutely no pain resulting from the accident. I also did not require the use
of pain medication.

4. Group share:
Can anyone share any personal experiences regarding any CAM modalities they have
used? Good, bad, or indifferent? Keep in mind this class is intended to inform you about CAM
and encourage you to make the best decisions regarding your health, whether or not CAM is
right for you. Also, we are trying to keep the focus on chiropractic care, massage therapy,
acupuncture, and meditation because these services are available locally and many people seem
to be somewhat familiar with them. Let us take this time to hear from other classmates about
their experiences.
Where can CAM practitioners be found?
In your handout for this week, I included a link for YellowPages.com that contains search
results for chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. Of course, you are
not limited by the aforementioned services; there are many others that you can find. Be sure to
do your research and consult your current healthcare professional(s) before making changes to
your healthcare plan.
Question and Answer Portion of Class.
Who has questions about what was discussed today? Does everyone have a copy of the
handout provided for this week? What did you like about class today? Does anyone have any
suggestions to make the next class better?

5. References
Calabro, Sarah. (2009). Alternative Medicine Pros and Cons. Retrieved from
http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/the-basics/are-you-conisdering-
complementary-and-alternative-medicine.aspx
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. (2015). What is CAM? Retrieved
from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam