COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
YEAR 9 HEALTH
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINES (CAMS) / ORTHODOX MEDICINES
• ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES ARE SIMPLY THAT – ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO TREAT A
CONDITION. THEY ARE USUALLY NOT PROVEN OR BACKED BY CONCLUSIVE, PEER-
REVIEWED RESEARCH.
• COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES COMPLEMENTARY ARE OFTEN USED IN CONJUNCTION
WITH ORTHODOX MEDICINES. THEY ARE USED TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, TO
REDUCE PAIN, TO REDUCE OTHER SYMPTOMS, TO MAKE PATIENTS GENERALLY FEEL
BETTER, STRONGER, AND CALMER.
• ORTHODOX MEDICINES A SYSTEM IN WHICH MEDICAL DOCTORS AND HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS TREAT SYMPTOMS AND DISEASES USING DRUGS, RADIATION OR
SURGERY. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS WESTERN MEDICINE. THESE METHODS
ARE BACKED BY EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH AND SUCCESSFUL CLINICAL TRIALS.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE
THERAPIES REPRESENTED IN
THE FOLLOWING PICTURES AND
GUESS WHICH TYPE OF
MEDICINE THEY ARE AN
EXAMPLE OF?
ANSWER
REIKI
• ‘A HEALING TECHNIQUE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE
THERAPIST CAN CHANNEL ENERGY INTO THE PATIENT BY MEANS
OF TOUCH, TO ACTIVATE THE NATURAL HEALING PROCESSES OF
THE PATIENT'S BODY AND RESTORE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING.’
• IT IS A COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
ANSWER
CHEMOTHERAPY
• ‘THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE BY THE USE OF
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, ESPECIALLY THE TREATMENT
OF CANCER. IT TARGETS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
• IT IS ORTHODOX MEDICINE
ANSWER
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
• A BLOOD TRANSFUSION IS THE TRANSFER OF BLOOD OR BLOOD
PRODUCTS FROM ONE PERSON (DONOR) INTO ANOTHER
PERSON'S BLOODSTREAM (RECIPIENT). IT WILL REPLACE BLOOD
CELLS OR BLOOD PRODUCTS LOST THROUGH SEVERE
BLEEDING, DURING SURGERY WHEN BLOOD LOSS OCCURS OR
TO INCREASE THE BLOOD COUNT IN ANAEMIC PATIENTS
• IT IS ORTHODOX MEDICINE
ANSWER
ACUPUNCTURE
• ‘FINE NEEDLES ARE INSERTED IN THE SKIN AT SPECIFIC POINTS
ALONG WHAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE LINES OF ENERGY
(MERIDIANS), USED IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL CONDITIONS.’
• IT IS COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ANSWER
MEDICATIONS
• ‘SUBSTANCES(DRUGS) IN VARIOUS FORMS THAT TREAT
THE CAUSE OR SYMPTOMS OF VARIOUS MEDICAL
CONDITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
TABLETS, ANTIDEPRESSANTS)
• IT IS ORTHODOX MEDICINE
ANSWER
MEDITATION
• ‘A MINDFULNESS PRACTICE OFTEN USED IN CONJUNCTION
WITH YOGA THAT FOCUSES THE MIND ON SOMETHING
SINGULAR, OFTEN THE BREATH, TO INDUCE RELAXATION
AND CALM’
• IT IS COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ANSWER
HOMEOPATHY/AROMATHERAPY
• ‘HOMEOPATHY CLAIMS TO STIMULATE A HEALING RESPONSE AND
STRENGTHEN THE BODY’S ABILITY TO HEAL ITSELF. IT CLAIMS TO
STIMULATE THE BODY’S OWN HEALING RESPONSE TO DISEASE,
USING SPECIALLY PREPARED, HIGHLY DILUTED PREPARATIONS
(GENERALLY A PLANT, ANIMAL MATERIAL OR A CHEMICAL).’
AROMATHERAPY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.
• IT IS COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ANSWER
SURGERY
• ‘THE BRANCH OF MEDICINE THAT EMPLOYS
OPERATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE OR
INJURY. SURGERY CAN INVOLVE CUTTING, ABRADING,
SUTURING, OR OTHERWISE PHYSICALLY CHANGING
BODY TISSUES AND ORGANS.’
• IT IS ORTHODOX THERAPY
ANSWER
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
• ‘THE USE OF HERBAL MEDICINES AND VARIOUS MIND AND
BODY PRACTICES, SUCH AS ACUPUNCTURE AND TAI CHI, TO
TREAT OR PREVENT HEALTH PROBLEMS.’
• IT IS COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ANSWER
AYURVEDA
• ‘A SYSTEM OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE NATIVE TO
INDIA. TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE VARIED AND CAN
INCLUDE YOGA, ACUPUNCTURE, HERBAL MEDICINE,
MASSAGE THERAPY AND DIETARY CHANGES.
• IT IS COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
COMPLEMENTARY V ORTHODOX
WHAT MIGHT IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHOICE
WHEN CHOOSING WHAT TYPE OF MEDICINE TO HAVE?
FOR EXAMPLE…
BELIEFS? VALUES? ATTITUDES?
BELIEFS, VALUES AND ATTITUDES - HOW DO
THEY EFFECT OUR LIVES?
• HOW DO OUR VALUES AFFECT OUR LIFESTYLE CHOICES?
• YOUR VALUES FORM THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE. THEY
DICTATE THE CHOICES YOU MAKE AND DETERMINE THE
DIRECTION THAT YOUR LIFE TAKES. YOUR VALUES WILL
INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS RELATED TO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS,
CAREER, HEALTH AND OTHER ACTIVITIES YOU ENGAGE IN. YET
DESPITE THIS IMPORTANCE, FEW PEOPLE CHOOSE THEIR VALUES
EXAMPLES OF VALUES:
• HONESTY
• GROWTH
• FAMILY
• HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
• FAIRNESS
• EQUALITY
• TRADITION
NOW LIST 5 VALUES THAT YOU HAVE:
DISCUSS:
HOW DO YOU THINK THESE VALUES EFFECT YOUR EVERYDAY DECISION MAKING?
DO YOUR OR YOUR FAMILIES VALUES AFFECT YOUR LIFESTYLE CHOICES?
E.G. THE FOODS YOU EAT, THE EXERCISE YOU DO, THE MEDICAL CARE YOU SEEK.
EXAMPLE:
HOW DO YOU THINK A PERSON’S VALUES COULD AFFECT THE CHOICES AROUND WHAT
TYPE OF TREATMENT THEY CHOOSE FOR AN INJURY OR ILLNESS?
ORTHODOX, COMPLIMENTARY, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT.
WHO DECIDES YOUR VALUES?
• IS IT YOU? - VERY RARELY
• EXTERNAL FACTORS DECIDE YOUR VALUES: E.G. ???
START THE RESEARCH TASK…
