Alternative Medicine

Traditional and Alternative Health

Care:
_ the
->
->
->

sum total of:

knowledge
skills
practices

- not embodied in biomedicine used in:

-> prevention
physical and
-> diagnosis
mental disorders
-> elimination
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Alternative Health Care Modalities:

- other forms of non-allopathic
- occasionally non- indigenous
- imported
healing method - may not have
been practiced for centuries nor
handed from one generation to
another
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Republic Act 8423- provided for the

creation of the Phil. Institute for
Traditional and Alternative Health
Care (PITHAC)
TAMA Traditional and Alternative
Medicine Act
- PITHAC was
legislated in 1997
- implementation = 1998
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Health Care Modalities:

- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Chiropractic
- Meditation Therapy
- Nurition Therapy
- Aroma Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Ayurveda
- Herbal Medicine or Herbal Drug

Acupuncture:
principle of acupuncture:
- under the skin nerve endings
connected to all glands and
organs
- pressure applied at specific
points on these nerve
endings
organs represented
function normally
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 Western practitioners point of view:

- acupuncture points = specific points
to influence:
-> nerves
-> muscles
-> connective tissues
i.e to:
* boost the activity of the body's
natural painkillers
* increase blood flow.
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 insertion of needle influences

body physiologic function treat
patients illnesses

 Fundamental basis of acupuncture:

- acupuncture is a science
- Shen Nung father of Chinese
medicine
> Qi in combination with
the universal forces of Yin
and Yang
i.e. Illnesses imbalances
in the Yin and Yang
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Qi (chee) is the energy force along

meridian lines in the body

Yin - negative or feminine factor

Yang - dominant, positive, masculine
factor

Meridian lines- Qi travels

Moxibustion - used of acupuncture
in conjunction with the burning of
specific herbs effect body
function
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Scientific Explanation of Acupuncture:

Neuronal theory organs of the
body have associated cutaneous
areas --> dermatomes
connected by neuronal
bridges
stimulus
repair response => elicited
on a deep organ
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 Circular theory- application of a pinprick

(irritant) to a specific area on the skin
dilation or constriction of the underlying
blood vessel
--->regulates the release of histamine
and kinins effecting the activity of
the internal organs
---> serum levels of kinin is lowered
** kinins elicit pain responses
- lower levels correspond to
analgesic effects
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 Augmentation of immunity
- acupuncture causes:
a rise in WBC
increases in gamma globulins
and opsonins
increases hormones and
prostaglandins
improves directly or indirectly
the CV and respiratory system
controls increase of RBC
population anti-anemic
some effects on mental disorders

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Types of Acupuncture:
Auricular - external ear
- points associated with internal organs
- stimulus effect the various system
functions
Scalp/Head target the motor areas of
the cerebral cortex
connections are electrophysiological as
opposed to topographical
treat paralysis, mental disorders,
speech disorders and system dysfunctions
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 Foot and hand

Nose/Nose and Face

Wrist and ankle

Treatment by Acupuncture
- specific philosophy: that a person is
both physical matter and energy
i.e.- physical matter pathologic
symptoms
- energy something is wrong in
the flow Qi
=> imbalance between the Yin
and Yang
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Tools and Techniques:

- various needles of different:
.. lengths
.. head shapes
.. widths
- methods of administration
.. angle of penetration = 15 90o
=>depending on the desired responds

- sensation desired = Deqi (dahchee)--->painless sensation

- techniques: raising, thrusting,

twirling, rotation, plucking and scraping

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How to spot the key response areas?

Standard Acupuncture Meridians:
Name of
Meridian

Code

8. Kidney meridian

KI

9.Pericardium

PC

10.Triple energizer

TE

11.Gallbladder
meridian
12.Liver meridian

GB

GV

1. Lung Meridian

LU

2. Large intestine
meridian

Ll

3.Stomachmeridian

St

4. Spleen meridian

Sp

5. Heart meridian

Ht

6.Small intestine

SI

13.Governor vessel

7.Bladder meridian

BL

14. Conception vessel CV

LR

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WHOs list of medical conditions may be

treated with acupuncture:
Dermatologic: eczema, acne, herpes
Respiratory System:
- acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma
Mental-emotional:
- anxiety and stress, depression, insomnia
Upper respiratory tract:
- acute sinusitis, acute tonsillitis, acute
rhinitis, common cold
Mouth disorders:
- toothache, post extraction pain, gingivitis,
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- acute and chronic pharyngitis

Eye and ear disorders: retinitis, uncomplicated
deafness
Genitourinary and reproductive:
- impotence, infertility, vaginitis, irregular
period, premenstrual syndrome, pelvic
inflammatory disease, morning sickness
* Neurological and musculo - skeletal disorders:
- headache and migraine, trigeminal neuralgia
peripheral neuropathies, menieres disease
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- intercostal neuralgia , stiff neck,

cervicobrachial syndrome, sciatica, lumbago
early stage of facial palsy, sequelae of
poliomyelitis, paresis following stroke, frozen
shoulder-tennis elbow, sprain, bursitis,
tendritis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, nocturnal
enuresis, neurogenic bladder dysfunction
GIT disorders:
- hiccups, spasm of esophagus and cardiogastric hyperacidity, acute and chronic
ulcer

gastritis, uncomplicated acute duodenal

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- pain relief of chronic duodenal

ulcer, hepatitis, acute and chronic
colitis, acute bacillary dysentery,
paralytic ileus, constipation, diarrhea,
hemorrhoids
Others:

- diabetes, hypoglycemia, HPN, post

surgical recovery, sign of aging,
decrease immunity and withdrawal
from addiction
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Advantages of Acupuncture:
Self regulating treatment bodys response
is not exaggerated.
- the body regulates the change
- damage is avoided
Augment and complement medical
treatment
Utilized as a diagnostic tool
Used as a source of non-invasive treatment
during w/drawal stages of drug and
alcohol addiction
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Disadvantages of acupuncture:
Complications during co-administration with
other therapeutic agents
i.e. drugs that effect physiologic functions
directly e.g. anti-HPN drugs->
contraindicate acupuncture
--->therapeutic benefits of acupuncture
must be compromised

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Acupressure
- a method of:
* maintaining health
* treating disease
* alleviating pain
by: -> applying pressure
-> massaging certain points on
the body surfaces
- finger acupuncture
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- also known as reflexology, zone

therapy, press point therapy or
finger massage
How Acupressure Works?
* Principle: under the skin are nerve
endings connected to all glands
and organs application of finger
pressure surfaces of nerve endings
organs function normally
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How acupressure is applied:

Posture
> lying down or sitting up
> must be relaxed comfortable
and natural
> Practitioner must be able to utilize fully
his/her fingers/hands and strength
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Manipulation
- thumb pressure (1 or 2 thumbs)
- hypothenar pressure
- thenar pressure
- elbow pressure

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The pressure must be:

> tolerable
> firm but not heavy enough to cause
pain
> applied on the point using small
circular movement
2 3 cycles/ sec,
count 60 300 (1- 5min/point)
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Frequency
> as frequent as every 4 hours
> usually once a day in chronic disease,
2-3 times/wk.
Precautions
Room should be warm and well
ventilated
> Practitioners hand should be
clean and warm, nails should be
trimmed
> Never massage with full stomach

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Causes of Illnesses
Internal Pathologic Factors:
>Anger Liver
>Fright/Fear
Kidney
> Joy - Heart
> Meditation - Spleen
> Grief/melancholy - Lung

External Factors:
* Wind
* Cold
* Summer Heat

* Heat
* Dryness
* Damp

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Wind - exposure to wind after sweating or

sleeping in a draft
attacks the upper portion of the body
headache, nasal obstruction, and
sore throat
Cold- too little clothing, exposure
to cold after sweating, or being
caught in wind and rain
chills pallor, diarrhea of
undigested food, clear urine with
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Summer Heat- prolong exposure

to sun, staying in a hot room with
poor ventilation--.excessive
sweating, thirst, shortness of
breath, concentrated urine

Damp- wearing of wet clothing, dwelling

in low lying and damp places or being in

frequent contact with water
heaviness in the head(as if bandaged),
fullness of chest and epigastrium,
nausea, vomiting, purulent discharges,
turbid urine
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Dryness- lack of moisture in the air

dryness in the mouth and nose,
dry cough with little sputum
Heat- fire, mild heat disturbances of
the blood, high fever, convulsion,
stiff neck, hemorrhage
(hematemesis, epistaxis),
stirs up wind
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Other Pathogenic Factors:

Irregular food intake

Traumatic injuries

Overstrain and stress

Lack of physical exertion
Stagnant blood and phlegm

Foods To Avoid During Treatment:

Iced food or drink

Peanuts

Alcohol drink

Salty foods

Sour food (vinegar, pickle, lemon etc.

Irritating food (pepper, hot sauce, spices)
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How Are Acupressure Points Selected:

Used of Prescribed Points
given sets of points
- used for specific diseases
Used of Ashi Points
painful spots or nodes
- appear when a person has an
illness

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How Are Acupressure Points Located:

Use of anatomical landmark certain
parts of the body could be used as
guides in locating certain acupressure
points
Use of Tsun measurements
patients own hands or fingers are
used as basis for measurement
i.e. 1 tsun; 1.5 tsun; 2 tsun and 3 tsun
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Common Ailments Treated by Acupressure

Headache

Ear problem

Sinusitis

Toothaches

Colds

Asthma

Fainting
Stomachache

Coughs
Gastric Ulcers

Emphysema & TB
Vomiting

Car sickness

Gas pain

Constipation

Kidney problems

Liver problem

Dysmenorrhea

Hemorrhoids

Nervousness

HPN

Paralysis stroke

Hand tremors

Sciatica

Insomnia

Arthritis

Lumbago

Varicous veins

Leg cramps

Lymph glands

obesity

Thinness

Acne

kolani
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Oily skin

Wrinkle on the
face

Baldness
Stretch mark
and gray or
white hair

Dry skin
Preventive therapy

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Chiropractic Therapy:
- chir or chiro or cheiro -> comb form
chiropractic -> hand
- chiropractic medicine -> system or
therapy w/c holds that disease results
from:
a lack of normal nerve function
w/c employs:
.. manipulation

of body

spinal

.. adjustment

structures column
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Chiropractic Therapy:
- a unique health care science
- deals with:
vital relationship between the
nervous system and the spinal column
role of this relationship in the restoration
and maintenance of health

Philosophy of Chiropractic Medicine:

- essential to the maintenance of health
ability of the individual to adapt to the :
.. external
.. internal environment

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Meditation Therapy:
- individuals thought is focus to
a particular direction/ phenomenon
- body and mind
-> state of relaxation
-> free from:
* worries
* strenuous physical activities
* other disturbances

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- body function normalized since individual

is relax
* appropriate substances necessitated =
produced in the right amount
* substances are supplied properly:
-> right amount
-> right time
* waste = eliminated at the proper
time not to cause:
.. blockade
.. unnecessary reactions
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* body defense mechanism

-> well established
-> body is more able to:
.. fight out
infections
other pathologic agents causing:
unnecessary responses
unnecessary reactions
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- A study at the University of North

Carolina shows:
-> brief meditative exercise helps
cognition
skills

essential to critical
thinking

-> exercise increases the blood flow to

all areas of the body
.. including - brain
- specifically areas
involved in memory
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Art Therapy:
- principle = similar to that of meditation
therapy
- more applicable to patients suffering with
severe stress
- believed that an individual who
appreciate art will feel more relax:
.. mentally
.. physically
.. emotionally

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* calm
* have the feeling of happiness
* better attitude
* depression
-> prevented
->cured
Aroma Therapy:

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Ayurveda:
- practice mostly by Indians
- involves a lot of:
-> meditation
-> introspective techniques
- links all physical imbalances in the
person with imbalances in the
individual consciousness
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Nutrition Therapy:
- Patients adhere to proper nutrition to:
-> improve health conditions
-> maintain wellness
- Natural medicines -> preferred over
commercial medicines:
* Fruits, vegetables, flavors and spice
* Considered most safe
* Least toxicity
* Least side effects
* Contain: vitamins, minerals, micronutrients
anti-oxidants, flavonoids and volatile oils

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* Food of choice:
.. more satisfactory
.. well appreciated
.. relaxing
.. minimized stress

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VENTOSA MASSAGE - Cupping therapy

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Ventosa Massage :
- ancient Chinese form of alternative
medicine
- process involves:
* placing of the glass on the back
with a heat- created suction
technique which makes the
skin lift
* After the skin lifts, one by one,
the cups are moved all over the
back sucking the air away i.e.

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 Sinisipsip na (referring to the

cups) ang lamig sa katawan

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* ventosa massage - help mobilize

blood flow to promote healing
- 1hr. and a half massage therapy
- the simple peace of mind of having
a disposition that I am (a
patient) well is priceless
- some believe best way to have
ventosa is to simultaneously do it
while getting a leg and arm

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massage i.e. four hands and several

cups working to ease the sore body

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Disadvantage of Ventosa massage:

- the cupping leaves red circles all over
the back it happens when the
pressures too strong
* siguro pag maraming lamig sa
katawan
* some say: dont worry it
doesnt hurt because its
supposed to be a painless
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procedure the redness should

disappear within two days

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with HARD BACK MASSAGE.

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Herbal Medicine:
> Areas of concern toxicity
- contamination
hence:
- approved by the government
guarantee that producers adhered
to international standards
- important for physicians:
-> can motivate patients--->ask the
physicians opinion before taking
herbal drugs
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10 Herbal Plants Species Intensively

Studied:
Lagundi Vitex negundo
- analgesic, antipyretic and
asthma maintenance drug
Sambong Blumea balsamifera
- diuretic and antiurolithiatic
Yerba buena Mentha cordifilia
- peppermint
- analgesic
Tsang Gubat Carmona retusa
- antidiarrheic

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 Akapulco Cassia alata

- dermatological preparation
Ampalaya Momordica charantia
- anti-diabetes mellitus--->mild
non-insulin dependent
Niyug-niyogan Quisqualis indica L.
- anti-parasitic agent--->
ascaris
Bayabas Psidium guajava L.
- use for washing wounds, mouth
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infection, inflamed gums and

tooth decays
Bawang Alium sativum
- anti-cholesterol
Ulasimang Bato Peperomia pellucida
- anti-uric acid in the
blood

Some Internationally Used HerbaL Plants:

Paclitaxil anti-cancer agent
- bark and leaves of Yew Tree
Tiger balm headache

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Stephen Tang chinese herbal

practitioner in Uk suggested the ff.:
* Asthma almond and ephedra
(Ba Da Ning Ren)
* Bedwetting walnut and black ginger
(Hu STao Ren)
* Chickenpox safflower, cimicifuga,
(Jin Yin)
* Cystitis plaintain seeds (Che Qian Zi)
* Impotence Cibot root (Gou Ji)
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* Peptic Ulcer ginseng, dandelion

(Corydalis Run Shen, Pu Gong Ying)
Thrush entian and Oriental
Wormwood Long (Dan Cao and
Qing Hao)

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Chichirica Catharanthus rose (L.)G.Don

- cure for cancer
- contain vinblastne and vincristine
Vinblastine = tx Hodgkins disease,
lymphocytic lymphoma,
histiocytic lymphoma,
advanced testicular and breast
cancer and Letter Siwe
disease

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Vincristine = uterine cancer

- known in the Phil. as:
Atay-biya or amnias (Tag.)
Sisirika (Bikol)
Pink perwinkle or Madagascar
perwinkle (Eng.)
Komintang (Cebuano)
San Vicente (Ilocano)
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Samoan Tree Homalanthus nutans

- contains prostatin molecule
candidate drug against AIDS
stops cells from being infected
w/ the HIV-1 virus
prolongs the life of infected cells
effective as part of a combination
therapy in tandem with proteases
and other antiviral compounds
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 belong to group of toxic- phorbol

compounds:
=> known to be tumor promoter
anti-tumor promoter stops mutant
cells from developing into tumors

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THANK YOU

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