2023 REPLY1 NIH means National Institute of Health while CAM means Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Complementary and alternative medicine

REPLY1

NIH means, National Institute of Health while CAM means, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are health care approaches that are used outside the typical western practice. These two approaches are different, complementary is referred to when conventional medicine and another approach is used together, while alternative does not use conventional medicine. (NIH, 2017)Complementary practice includes the use of natural products and mind/body practices. Natural products that are used include herbs, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Mind and body practices include yoga, meditation, acupuncture, relaxation techniques chi, hypnotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation therapy. (NIH, 2017). The typical person who uses CAM balances their health through equalization of mind, body, and spirit. (Falvo, 2011). The users of CAM aim in preventing or treating illness and promoting health. Health care professionals who hold degrees in D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) or M.D. (medical doctors) with alliance with other professionals such as psychologists, registered nurses and physical therapists practices conventional medicine. CAM describes a wide range of ambiguous modalities such as herb, meditation which users can administer alone, such as massage, homeopathy and acupuncture that requires involving a practitioner.

CAM is used by people of all backgrounds according to NIH website. However, among adults’ women with higher incomes and level of education tend to use CAM more than men. High usage rates in female is due to nature of being more health conscious and are more likely to take part in preventive health care. Furthermore, in most families, women act as head of healthcare thus leading high usage rates of CAM among families. Majority of CAM users tend to be 35 years and above though its popular among all age groups. In most research studies, a positive association is observed between the CAM use, education and income as well. Einsberg study reported the CAM usage rate as 14% for those lacking high school educations, 37% for the high school graduates and 49% for college, degree and higher levels (Mackenzie et al., 2003).

References:

Falvo, D. R. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increased adherence (4th ed.). Sudbury (Massachusetts): Jones and Bartlett.

NIH. (2017). The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/2007/camsurvey_fs1.htm

Mackenzie, E. R., Taylor, L., Bloom, B. S., Hufford, D. J., & Johnson, J. C. (2003). Ethnic minority use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): a national probability survey of CAM utilizers. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 9(4), 50-57.

Wai Fan, K. (2005). National center for complementary and alternative medicine website. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 93(3), 410.

REPLY2

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are health care approaches that are used outside the typical western practice. These two approaches are different, complementary is referred to when conventional medicine and another approach is used together, while alternative does not use conventional medicine. (NIH, 2017)Complementary practice includes the use of natural products and mind/body practices. Natural products that are used include herbs, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Mind and body practices include yoga, meditation, acupuncture, relaxation techniques chi, hypnotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation therapy. (NIH, 2017) The typical person who uses CAM balances their health through equalization of mind, body, and spirit. (Falvo, 2011)

According to, American nurse today, a study was conducted that found aromatherapy helpful in reducing nurse stress in the workplace. (Reynolds, 2018) Aromatherapy uses extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, complement, and promote the health of body and mind. Nurses participated in a stress test in which stress levels were measured before, during and after diffusing essential oils. Stress was measured using a perceived stress scale(PSS), in which was tested 2 weeks before the intervention, and then over the next 4 weeks during (nebulized diffusers placed at the nurse’s station), and then after 4 weeks after the diffusers were removed. A reduction of stress levels was revealed compared to baseline to during and after aromatherapy. (Reynolds, 2018)

Falvo, D. R. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increased adherence (4th ed.). Sudbury (Massachusetts): Jones and Bartlett.

NIH. (2017). The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/2007/camsurvey_fs1.htm

Reynolds, J. (2018). Using aromatherapy in the clinical setting: Making sense of scents. American Nurse Today, 13(6). Retrieved from https://www.americannursetoday.com/aromatherapy-clinical-setting/.