Discussion: Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Have you ever relied on a massage to ease aches, pains, or stress? If so, then you have benefited from a form of complementary medicine. Have you ever taken herbs or plant extracts to prevent the onset or shorten the length of a cold? If so, then you have relied on a form of alternative medicine. How might different interventions be used to soothe or prevent the discomforts of life? Some assist in managing or curing health ailments while others help relieve symptoms. Even practices such as hypnosis can help you change behaviors that contribute to disease and reduce pain. As a health psychology professional, reflect on the variety of ways you might assist populations in managing their health, preventing illness, and easing the symptoms of disease.

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For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources. Next, select two CAMs from the website of the National Council on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM.nih.gov). Then, search the Walden Library for at least one article that addresses the research and practice of the two CAMs you selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 3 a brief description of the two CAMs you selected. Then, present a comparison of the research and practice for those CAMs. Be specific, and support your response with references to articles you selected from the Walden Library.

READINGS

Abourjaily, P. (1999). Feverfew: A Practical Review. Nutrition in Clinical Care, 2(2), 87–94.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Barrett, L. F. (2009). The future of psychology: Connecting mind to brain. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(4), 326–339.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Bryant, R. A., Moulds, M. L., Guthrie, R. M., & Nixon, R. D. V. (2005). The additive benefit of hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating acute stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(2), 334–340.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Halsband, U., Mueller, S., Hinterberger, T., & Strickner, S. (2009). Plasticity changes in the brain in hypnosis and meditation. Contemporary Hypnosis, 26(4), 194–215.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
How the gut was won: A probiotics roundtable (Cover story). (2011). Functional Ingredients, 107, 30–36.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Irwin, M. R., Olmstead, R., & Oxman, M. N. (2007). Augmenting immune responses to Varicella Zoster virus in older adults: A randomized, controlled trial of Tai Chi. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55(4), 511–517.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2009). Psychoneuroimmunology: Psychology’s gateway to biomedical future.Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(4), 367–369.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Matchim, Y., & Armer, J. M. (2007). Measuring the psychological impact of mindfulness meditation on health among patients with cancer: A literature review. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(5), 1059–1066.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Motivala, S. J., Sollers, J., Thayer, J., & Irwin, M. R. (2006). Tai Chi Chih acutely decreases sympathetic nervous system activity in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology, 61A(11), 1177–1180.
Tai Chi Chih acutely decreases sympathetic nervous system activity in older adults by Motivala, S. J. et al in The Journals of Gerontology, 61A(11). Copyright 2006 by Oxford University Press. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Sharma, H., Chandola, H. M., Singh, G., & Basisht, G. (2007). Utilization of ayurveda in health care: An approach for prevention, health promotion, and treatment of disease. Part 1—Ayurveda, the science of life. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 13(9), 1011–1020.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Weichselbaum, E. (2009). Probiotics and health: A review of the evidence. Nutrition Bulletin, 34(4), 340–373.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Witek-Janusek, L., Albuquerque, K., Chroniak, K. R., Chroniak, C., Durazo-Arvizu, R., & Mathews, H. L. (2008). Effect of mindfulness based stress reduction on immune function, quality of life and coping in women newly diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 22(6), 969–981.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2008). What is complementary and alternative medicine? Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam

MEDIA

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Chronic Diseases. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Please click on the following link for the transcript: Transcript (PDF).