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ARTICLES
A) Alternative Treatments for Wounds: Leeches, Maggots, and Bees
Karen M. Dente, MA, MD
Medscape General Surgery. 2007; ©2007 Medscape
Posted 11/08/2007
The recalcitrant nature and complexity of chronic wounds continue to challenge health practitioners in the field, with many of the standard treatment options often failing to provide good outcomes. Chronic wounds are often infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics, compounding the problem. Some alternative biologic forms of treatment have been used and are gaining recognition; they include apitherapy (application of honey), maggots, and leeches. In addition to other wound-promoting actions, they all seem to show efficacy against bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
NOTE: To view the article with Web enhancements, go to:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/563656
B) Integrative Medicine: Sorting Fact From Fiction
Webcast Video Editorials: Kenneth R. Pelletier, MD, PhD
Medscape General Medicine. 2007;9(4):26. ©2007 Medscape
Integrative medicine is the "evidence-based [1]" combination of conventional with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for assuring the maximum therapeutic benefit for patients and practitioners.[2,3] Under the 5 category taxonomy of the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov), there are many areas of CAM and integrative medicine where there is a substantial and growing body of evidence based on research and clinical practice.[4,5]
To cite but a few representative examples, there are the domains of:
1. Mind-body medicine where such approaches constitute the most extensive body of CAM research documenting the efficacy of such interventions for the largest number of conditions for the greatest number of patients.[6]
2. Acupuncture with 16 systematic reviews in the Cochrane Library (www.cochrane.org) demonstrating efficacy in conditions as diverse as depression, back pain, Bell's palsy, dysmenorrhea, arthritis of the knee,[7] and fibromyalgia.[8]
3. Specific herbal interventions (www.herbalgram.org) and a growing sophistication regarding drug-herbal interactions (www.herbmed.org; www.healthyroads.com).
4. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with several international NCCAM Centers of Excellence to focus on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), side effects of cancer treatment, and allergic asthma.[5]
5. Upwards of 50 ongoing research studies annually from the NIH-NCCAM (http://nccam.nih.gov). Among the many diverse CAM/IM areas being researched are dietary practices and supplements, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, electromagnetic effects, and Ayurvedic medicine, chelation, and spiritual healing.[9-12]
Based on the 2006 Institute of Medicine report on CAM, it is clear that integrative medicine is part of a rapidly evolving era of genomics, international medicine, and evidence-based approaches (www.nap.edu/catalog/11182.html). Through acknowledging and addressing the need for an adequate "evidence-based" foundation in conventional, CAM, and integrative medicine, the standards whereby all medicine should be judged will be raised for the benefit of both patients and practitioners.
C) A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Tai Chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney Tai Chi Trial
Alexander Voukelatos, MA (Psychol); Robert G. Cumming, PhD; Stephen R. Lord, DSc; Chris Rissel, PhD
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(8):1185-1191. ©2007 Blackwell Publishing
Medscape: Posted 09/12/2007
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a 16-week community-based tai chi program in reducing falls and improving balance in people aged 60 and older.
Design: Randomized, controlled trial with waiting list control group.
Setting: Community in Sydney, Australia.
Participants: Seven hundred two relatively healthy community-dwelling people aged 60 and older (mean age 69).
Intervention: Sixteen-week program of community-based tai chi classes of 1 hour duration per week.
Measurements: Falls during 16 and 24 weeks of follow-up were assessed using a calendar method. Balance was measured at baseline and 16-week follow-up using six balance tests.
Results: Falls were less frequent in the tai chi group than in the control group. Using Cox regression and time to first fall, the hazard ratio after 16 weeks was 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.51-1.01, P=.06), and after 24 weeks it was 0.67 (95% CI=0.49-0.93, P=.02). There was no difference in the percentage of participants who had one or more falls. There were statistically significant differences in changes in balance favoring the tai chi group on five of six balance tests.
Conclusion: Participation in once per week tai chi classes for 16 weeks can prevent falls in relatively healthy community-dwelling older people.
D) From AHNA: Environmentally safe health care agencies: nursing's responsibility, Nightingale's Legacy.
Shaner-McRae, H., McRae, G., Jas, V. (May 31, 2007). Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 12(2).
This article provides both theoretical and practical perspectives to integrate environmental concerns into nursing practice. It offers nurses specific actions that can be taken to improve the environment within the health care setting.
View the entire article please click here..
E) Non pharmacological methods for the treatment of pain in children and adolescents.
Cunin-Roy C, Bienvenu M, Wood C. Arch Pediatrics. 2007 Oct.
View the entire article please click here.
Abstract
This article deals with non-pharmacological methods for the treatment of pain in children and adolescents: acupuncture, homeopathy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, massage, relaxation, heat therapy, and hypnosis. These specialized techniques are used separately, either alone or in association with pharmacological methods. They have the specificity of considering the patient as a whole, including the biological and psycho-affective aspects. These methods are being developed more often, increasingly used but are still far from being systematic.
F) Acupuncture and Massage for Chronic Pain
NEWS RELEASE: August 21, 2007
According to the American Pain Association, an estimated 86 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain can be characterized by persistent pain signals that are repeatedly fired from the nervous system, and they can last from weeks to years. As with most prevalent and life-affecting afflictions, there is a wide variety of solutions available; from over-the-counter medication to prescription drugs, chronic pain is dealt with daily in a variety of ways. However, traditional Chinese medicine may have two more effective means of relief to offer.
Both Chinese acupuncture and massage therapy are regularly used to alleviate chronic pain. There is some contention in the field of Oriental medicine as to which practice is more beneficial. According to the British Medical Journal, a recent study showed acupuncture to provide greater short-term pain relief and better range of motion than traditional massage. The conclusion of the British Medical Journal declared acupuncture to be a safe form of treatment for people with chronic neck pain and one that offers clear clinical advantages over conventional massage in the reduction of pain and improvement of mobility.
While acupuncture is believed by many to provide long-term relief for chronic pain, massage therapy also has a good deal of staunch believers. The Archives of Internal Medicine conducted a randomized trial comparing traditional Chinese medical acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and self-care education for chronic low back pain. The results this study stated that therapeutic massage was effective for persistent low back pain and provided long-lasting benefits, and that traditional Chinese acupuncture was "relatively ineffective." The Touch Research Institute has conducted over 90 clinical studies on the beneficial effects of massage therapy. These studies have proven massage therapy's effectiveness in the relief of not only chronic pain, but also juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, labor pain, fibromyalgia, and back pain.
Thankfully, the millions of sufferers of chronic pain do not have to choose between acupuncture or massage therapy for their relief. Both practices have obvious benefits and continuous business with returning clients, which is perhaps the most convincing proof of their success. While common, chronic pain should not be one of the most accepted ailments in the world, particularly when there are so many treatment options. By utilizing the resources available in traditional Chinese medicine, whether acupuncture or massage therapy, people can greatly improve their daily lives and well-being.
For more information on how acupuncture and massage can help chronic pain, please contact Pacific College of Oriental Medicine at (800) 729-0941, or visit www.PacificCollege.edu
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