course material

1. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) had become increasingly
popular.
Please respond to 2 classmates posts using current APA citations and references (2009-
Present)When responding to classmates, specifically state what you would like to confirm
or modify.Comment on how agreeing with what they have discussed would move the
discussion forward and would be an excellent aIDition to each post.1. Complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) had become increasingly popular. CAM is frequently being
utilized either alone or in aIDition to traditional westernized medicine. In fact 38% of
Americans have practiced some deviation of CAM in the past 12 months according to (Lilly
& Kundu, 2012). Learning about these different cultural practices is fascinating; especially
rituals that cause what one may consider a vulnerability or even taboo.In the Chinese
culture it is common to use coining, cupping and moxibustion (Edberg, 2013). Cupping is
used to treat symptoms “ including chronic lower back pain, headache, indigestion,
menstrual irregularity and acne” (Lilly & Kundu, 2012, p.375). This includes placing
multiple heated cups on the patients back, stomach, or buttocks and the negative pressure
from the cool air is stated to remove the impure toxins in the body (Edberg, 2012). This
often results in circular bruising from broken capillaries. The International Journal of
Dermatology states that cupping can cause breaches in skin integrity leaving the patient
with an infection risk (2012).Ayurveda is popular among the Indian culture, it is defined as
“ science of life” (Lilly & Kundu, 2012, p.375). This practice involves the use of herbal
remedies and natural methods. Arsenic is among these natural ingredients as well as lead,
and mercury. These ingredients can have a harmful effect on patients when not prepared
properly, as well as a fatal effect on unborn children (Lilly & Kundu, 2012).Interestingly
enough I was unaware that I often practice a form of cosmetic cultural practice, eyebrow
threading. This ancient Indian method of hair removal is described as becoming globally
popular (Lilly & Kundu, 2012). This process seemed harmless to me, a little redness for
about an hour post threading, until I came across this research. “ Less commonly discussed
[complications]…irritant dermatitis, folliculitis, bullous impetigo, mollusum contagiosun,
vitiligo, and [plantars warts]” (Lilly & Kundu, 2012. p.378). Though not common symptoms,
they in fact exist and are enough of a deterrent for me to search for a different
method.2. Edberg (2013) describes ethnomedical systems as culturally defined illness
whether it is due to the supernatural (personalistic) or imbalances within the body
(naturalistic). Many different cultures including western cultures identify a problem, cause

2. and treatment. Cultural beliefs provide for a wide variation of attitudes towards causation
of a problem, and therefore the treatment of the problem. Some of these cultural treatment
practices, ethnic predispositions or availability to resources can put patients at medical
risk.One of the examples in Edberg (2013) that I found interesting was of a Hmong
immigrant family living in California. The Lee family had a young daughter with epilepsy
that in their culture was looked at as the soul being frightened and leaving the body. The
Hmong treatment to this loss of soul is to have a shaman call the soul back to the child
(Edberg, 2013). In a situation where medical treatment may be needed to help prevent
further epileptic episodes, the disregard for biomedicine as a viable option for treatment
can put the patient at high risk.In a study done by Straus, Munguambe, Bassat, Machevo,
Pell, Roca and Pool (2011) the recognition and treatment of illness in children under the age
of five was done in the town of Manhica, Mozambique. It was found that the vast majority of
caretakers were unable to properly identify and thus seek treatment for their children. It
was shown that if the illness was thought to be severe enough that caregivers had no
problem seeking medical treatment at hospitals. Being able to identify the symptoms of
malaria, pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, malnutrition and dehydration, however,
proved to be very low and was often attributed to uncurable diseases existing at birth
(respiratory symptoms). It was also noted that a nyoka or “ snake” in the stomach was
thought to be the cause of symptoms such as diarrhea, chills, sunken fontanels and skinny
body of child and this snake causes different symptoms according to different phases of the
moon (Straus et al., 2011). These symptoms may be clinically recognized as symptoms of
malaria or dehydration and malnutrition and need for proper treatment may go
unrecognized by caregivers. In this specific part of Mozambique, malaria accounts for 19%
of deaths in young children (Straus et al., 2011).Many cultures use herbal remedies and
sometimes mix the use of herbal therapy with western medical therapy. In the Chinese
culture, an herb called Shu-Jing-Hwo-Shiee-Tang (SJHST) is commonly used in treatment of
osteoarthritis, however, can increase the risk for bleeding in those patients also on Warfarin
(Yang, Yu, Chen & Lin, 2013). People of Asian descent are also genetically predisposed to be
more sensitive to Warfarin (Moyer, O’ Kane, Baudhuin, Wiley, Fortini, Fisher, Dupras,
Chaudhry, Thapa, Zinsmeister & Heit, 2009) and thus are at great risk for bleeding. It is
important to communicate to not only ask about medications your patient is taking but also
herbal remedies, vitamins and diet as these can all interact with medication.