Alternative Medicine Guidelines Protects Integrity Of Practice

Just about any type of healthcare that does not fall under the auspices of conventional medicine is considered to be alternative forms of medicine. As with any disciplines, alternative medicine guidelines exist for practitioners to have a baseline for treatment of different ailments. In addition to many of the alternative forms of medicine, there are some methods used in conjunction with modern medicine, termed complementary therapy, used to help traditional medicine achieve wellness.

Organizations have been formed for those practicing medicine not considered mainstream and there are alternative medicine guidelines that each practitioner follows. Originating in China, acupuncture is said to stimulate nerve points affecting the nerve impulses that adjusts the flow of vital energy. Some in the West use acupuncture as an analgesic or as anesthesia. The alternative medicine guidelines covering this practice insures patients are protected against dirty needles and nerve damage from improper placement.

Herbal medicine is also covered by alternative medicine guidelines due to the potential of interaction between natural remedies and prescription drugs. Using various extractions from botanicals, herbs and spice have been used for centuries as medicine, especially when compounded to treat a variety of ailments.

Some Alternatives Treat Entire Being

Similar to the practices of ancient Chinese medicine, holistic medicine believes in the treatment of the entire being to affect a cure instead of treating the symptoms. By getting to the root cause, alternative medicine guidelines for holistic medicine closely parallels the Yin-Yang theory of the Chinese medical theory. Early beliefs are that two sources of power exist in the human body, and to expel the symptoms of ailments, the two powers have to brought back into a harmonious balance.

Some believe that treating like with like will offer a better opportunity for a cure with the homeopathic form of alternative medicine guidelines. By vastly diluting an ingredient that causes similar symptoms as the disease can be given to a patients to cure their ailment. While there appears to be no research and scientific support for this type of medical practice, many follow the alternative medicine guidelines for homeopathy, being opposed to traditional medical treatments.

Skeletal complaints are often handled by a chiropractor who specializes in adjusting the musculo-skeletal system to relieve pain. Muscles, joints and tendons can be adjusted through manipulation to provide relief for a variety of complaints. In these practices, alternative medicine guidelines are strictly followed as a wrong diagnosis and improper manipulation can cause permanent damage to the skeletal system.

Diabetes: Alternative Medicine

Diabetes treatments can include many elements -- traditional and alternative treatments are available.

A health treatment that is not classified as standard western medical practice is referred to as "alternative." Alternative therapy encompasses a variety of disciplines that include everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes. Examples of alternative therapies include acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic treatments, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation, herbal remedies, massage and many others.

Complementary medicine is essentially alternative medicine that is taken along with conventional treatments.

What Alternative Therapies Are Used to Treat Diabetes?

Supplements

• Chromium has been widely publicized as therapy to improve diabetes control. Although there are several studies that support a role for chromium as beneficial in diabetes, currently there are no recommendations for its use in diabetes management.
• Magnesium has been studied for years as a form of therapy to improve glucose control in people with diabetes. A lack of magnesium has been associated with insulin secretion abnormalities and has been associated with diabetes complications.
• Vanadium is derived from plant sources and has been shown in a few studies to increase a person's sensitivity to insulin. Thus far, no recommendations exist for supplementation to be given to people with diabetes.

Plant Foods

The following plant foods have been found to help people with type 2 diabetes.

• Brewer's yeast
• Buckwheat
• Broccoli and other related greens
• Okra
• Peas
• Fenugreek seeds
• Sage

Most plant foods are rich in fiber, which is beneficial for helping control blood glucose levels.

There are no clinical trials with promising results for many of the other herbs being proposed for diabetes, such as garlic, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn or nettle. If you have diabetes and are considering taking any of these herbal substances, talk to your doctor before you take them.

Weight Control Substances

Since weight and diabetes are linked, many people with diabetes turn to alternative therapies that claim to help with weight loss, including:

• Chitosan
• Camsogia Garcinia (hydroxycitric acid)
• Chromium
• Pyruvate
• Germander
• Momordica charanta
• Sauropus androgynus
• Aristolochic acid

In addition, transdermal (skin patch) systems as well as oral sprays have been developed to purportedly reduce appetite and facilitate weight loss. One patch system uses homeopathic amounts of 29 different compounds to reduce appetite, but no published literature on its efficacy is available.

Are These Herbs Safe?

In December of 2003, Ephedrine -- also known as ma huang -- became the first herbal stimulant ever banned by the FDA. A popular component of anti-obesity over-the-counter medications, ephedrine was found to have some benefits. However, the evidence of its ability to cause harm was far more compelling. In high doses, it has been known to cause insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep), high blood pressure, glaucoma and urinary retention. This herbal supplement has also been associated with numerous cases of stroke.

Are These Herbs Safe? continued...

Chitosan has received a great deal of recent publicity. It is derived from seashells and has the ability to bind to fat and prevent its absorption. Although it is believed to facilitate weight loss, available studies thus far have not been encouraging.

Germander, momordica charanta, sauropus androgynus and aristolochic acid have been associated with liver disease, pulmonary disease and kidney disease.

The other so-called "obesity remedies" listed have not been rigorously studied and those that have yielded disappointing results.

Also, a recent survey of herbal preparations for obesity found that many preparations contained lead or arsenic and other toxic metals. Some also contain other undeclared ingredients. Occasionally there was mistaken plant identity as well.

Things to Think About When Considering Use of Any Herbal Product

When considering treating diabetes with an herbal product, you should:

• Discuss any drugs you use, including herbal products, with your doctor before taking them.
• If you experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea or skin rashes, stop taking the herbal product and notify your doctor immediately.
• Avoid preparations made with more than one herb.
• Beware of commercial claims of what herbal products can do. Look for scientific-based sources of information.
• Select brands carefully. Only purchase brands that list the herb's common and scientific name, the name and address of the manufacturer, a batch and lot number, expiration date, dosage guidelines and potential side effects.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

What is High Blood Pressure?

Also known as: Hypertension

According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. But nearly one-third of those people don't know they have high blood pressure, because it is a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.

The upper or first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure and the lower or second number is called the diastolic pressure. According to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines:

• Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
  
• Prehypertension is systolic pressure that's between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
  
• Stage 1 hypertension is systolic pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
  
• Stage 2 hypertension is systolic pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

• Dizziness or dizzy spells
  
• Headache
  
• Nosebleeds

Causes of High Blood Pressure

In most cases of high blood pressure, the American Heart Association says there is no one identifiable cause. This kind of high blood pressure is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It is usually a combination of factors, such as:

• Weight. The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls. That's because more blood is produced to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body.
  
• Activity level. Lack of physical activity tends to increase heart rate, which forces your heart to work harder with each contraction.
  
• Tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage artery walls.
  
• Sodium intake. Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium.
  
• Potassium intake. Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
  
• Stress. Stress can raise blood pressure.
  
• Alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol intake can, over time, increase the risk of heart disease.
  
• Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
  
• Family history. High blood pressure often runs in families.

High blood pressure can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease, and the use of certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives, or herbs such as licorice. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control high blood pressure, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower high blood pressure. It is important to work with your doctor, because untreated high blood pressure may damage organs in the body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss. See a drawing of a hypertensive heart.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

There is some evidence that the supplement CoQ10 may help to reduce high blood pressure.

A 12 week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 83 people with systolic hypertension examined the effect of CoQ10 supplements (60 mg twice daily). After the 12 weeks, there was a mean reduction in systolic blood pressure of 17.8 mm Hg in the Coq10-treated group.

Another study conducted at the University of Western Australia looked at the effect of CoQ10 on blood pressure and glycemic control in 74 people with type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 100mg CoQ10 twice daily, 200mg of the drug fenfibrate, both, or neither for 12 weeks.

CoQ10 significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure(mean reduction 6.1 mm Hg and 2.9 mm Hg respectively). There was also a reduction in HbA1C, a marker for long-term glycemic control.
To learn more about CoQ10, read the Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) fact sheet.

Garlic

In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.

Garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) similar to aspirin. Garlic may interact with many drugs and supplements such as the prescription "blood-thinners" drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline), aspirin, vitamin E, gingko. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

To learn more about garlic, go to the articles about garlic.

Hawthorn

The herb hawthorn is often used by traditional herbal practitioners for high blood pressure.

In a randomized controlled trial conducted by researchers in Reading, UK, 79 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 1200 mg of hawthorn extract a day or placebo for 16 weeks. Medication for high blood pressure was used by 71% of the patients.

At the end of the 16 weeks, patients taking the hawthorn supplement had a significant reduction in mean diastolic blood pressure (2.6 mm Hg). No herb-drug interactions were reported.

Fish oil

Preliminary studies suggest that fish oil may have a modest effect on high blood pressure. Although fish oil supplements often contain both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), there is some evidence that DHA is the ingredient that lowers high blood pressure. Learn more about fish oil.

Folic acid

Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

One small study of 24 cigarette smokers found that four weeks of folic acid supplementation significantly lowered blood pressure. Learn more about folic acid.

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine includes practices that differ from conventional medicine. Some alternative medicine practices are homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine. A typical definition is "every available approach to healing that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine".^[1]

Alternative medicine practices may be based on unconventional belief systems or philosophies; biological data and observations or biochemical principles;^[2] and some may not follow the scientific method. They may incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings, untested practices, pre-modern medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing. If an alternative medical approach, previously unproven according to orthodox scientific or regulatory methodologies, is subsequently shown to be safe and effective, it may then be adopted by conventional practitioners and no longer considered "alternative".

"Alternative medicine" is often categorized together with complementary medicine using the umbrella term Complementary and alternative medicine or CAM.