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Health Level 3

Student Resource Material:

Essential Readings

3.3 Complementary Medicine

The Chinese traditional medicine symbol “yin and yang” and the western
emblem “caduceus”.

NAME_______________________________
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 Glossary
Abstract: A scientific abstract is a short summary of a full text journal article about a
particular topic.

Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on the idea of 'qi' (vital energy),
which is said to travel around the body along specific channels or 'meridians'. Fine
needles are used to puncture the skin at certain defined points to restore the balance of
‘qi’. Western Acupuncture uses the same needling technique but is based on affecting
nerve impulses and the central nervous system. Lasers, diodes, heat from the herb
‘moxa’ (moxabustion), suction cups and finger pressure may be used instead of needles.

Bias: A deviation of results from the truth. Any trend in the collection, analysis,
interpretation, publication, or review of data that can lead to conclusions that are
systematically different from the truth.

Blinding: Blinding occurs when researchers and/or subjects involved in a clinical trial do
not know to which treatment group people are assigned. Blinding is used as a way of
reducing bias. When both researchers and subjects don’t know who is receiving which
treatment, the study is referred to as “double-blind”. When either the researchers or the
subjects don’t know who is receiving which treatment, the study is referred to as “single-
blind”.

Case series study: A case-series study is the report of a number of case studies about
a common topic.

Case study: A case study is the report of a single example or event, such as an
“interesting person” or an “unusual situation”.

Case-control study: A study in which people with a disease or condition (cases) are
compared to another group of people from the same population who don't have that
disease or condition (controls). In this way risk factors for developing the disease or
condition can be identified.

Chiropractic: Used almost entirely to treat musculo-skeletal complaints through

adjusting muscles, tendons and joints and using manipulation and massage techniques.
Diagnostic procedures include case histories, conventional clinical examination and x-
rays. Chiropractic was originally based on the idea that 'reduced nerve flow' led to
disease.

Clinical trial: See "randomised controlled trial"

Cochrane: The Cochrane Collaboration is a non-profit group involving people from

throughout the world working together to sift through and analyse research on the effects
of health care. The Collaboration prepares, maintains, and disseminates systematic
reviews of the effects of health care. The reviews are published in the "Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews" - one of the components of a regular, electronic
publication called "The Cochrane Library".

Cohort study: A study in which a group of people (or cohort) are identified then followed
over time to see what happens to them (e.g. to see which people become ill and which
do not).

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems,
modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those
intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a
given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their
users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Examples of
CAM include acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and osteopathy.

Double-blind: See under “blinding”

Efficacy: The ability of a treatment to cause the desired effect - that is, whether the
treatment works

Evidence-based: Evidence-based research involves looking at and valuing ALL the

evidence on a particular topic, not just the evidence found in a few papers published in
large, easy-to-find journals.

Health Technology Assessment: A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a

research-based assessment of relevant available knowledge of a health or disease
related issue. Scientific evidence is reviewed for a HTA, as well as the social and ethical
aspects and the effect of policy in relation to the issue at hand. The goal of an HTA is to
provide input into decision-making in health purchasing, policy and practice.

Herbal medicine: A system of medicine, which uses various remedies, derived from
plants and plant extracts to treat disorders and maintain good health. Another term for
this type of treatment is phototherapy.

Homoeopathy: A therapy based on the theory of treating like with like. Homoeopathic
remedies use highly diluted substances that if given in higher doses to a healthy person
would produce the symptoms that the dilutions are being given to treat. In assessing the
patient homoeopaths often take into account a range of physical, emotional and lifestyle
factors which contribute to the diagnosis.

Observational study: A survey or non-experimental study (eg. case-control study or

cohort study), where researchers are examining and reporting on what is happening,
without deliberately intervening in the course of events.

Osteopathy: A system of diagnosis and treatment, usually by manipulation, that mainly

focuses on musculo-skeletal problems, but a few schools claim benefits across a wider
spectrum of disorders. Historically differs from chiropractic in its underlying theory that it
is impairment of blood supply and not nerve supply that leads to problems.

Placebo: A placebo is a fake, dummy or sham treatment that is given to people in the
control group of a clinical trial. A placebo is meant to look, smell, taste and/or feel the
same as the real treatment, so that people can’t distinguish whether they are receiving
the real treatment or the placebo. The difference is that a placebo is inactive and
harmless. Some examples of a placebo include sugar pills, starch pills, or “fake” surgery.

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Placebo effect: The placebo effect is the measurable, observable, and/or felt
improvement (or decline) in health, which cannot be attributed to the treatment. It is often
seen in people who are receiving a placebo treatment in a clinical trial. The reason why
an inert substance or fake therapy would produce an effect is not known. Positive effects
from a placebo are believed by some to be psychological (i.e. due to belief in the
treatment), while others believe that it is due to an illness or injury taking its natural
course. Some people believe that the placebo effect is due to the fact that showing
attention and care to a patient itself triggers reactions in the body that promotes healing.
Some people believe that as long as a treatment is effective, it doesn't matter if the effect
is due to the placebo effect or otherwise.

Randomised controlled trial: A study in which people are assigned by chance (e.g. flip
of a coin) to receive either an experimental treatment or no treatment (e.g. placebo or
usual care). People in the study are the same at onset and are cared for in exactly the
same way throughout the trial. Any differences between the two groups at the end of the
trial can then be attributed to the difference in treatment alone, and not to bias or
chance.

Systematic review: A review of studies (usually clinical trials) in which evidence has
been systematically searched for, studied, assessed, and summarised according to
predetermined criteria. Sometimes referred to as a meta-analysis.

Some useful resources

www.cam.org.nz
www.newhealth.govt.nz/maccah.htm
www.who.int
www.bmj.com
www.moh.govt.nz
www.jama.com
www.nzma.org.nz
www.cdc.govt
www.nccam.nih.gov
www.libertpub.com
http://www.biomedcentral.com/complementalternmed/
www.healthy.net
www.itmonline.org
www.acupuncture.com
www.holistichealing.co.nz

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What is holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is an approach to health that aims to deal with the patient as a
whole, and not merely with physical symptoms. It takes into account the
psychological state of the individual, social and environmental factors, and
spiritual factors.

According to the world’s holistic health systems (such as naturopathy, Traditional

Chinese medicine, homeopathy), the body has a natural tendency to strive
towards equilibrium (homeostasis, balance) – this is maintained by keeping both
the body and mind healthy. When equilibrium is disrupted, holistic practitioners
work on all aspects of a patient’s life to promote self-healing. The Chinese
symbol “yin and yang” represents the idea of equilibrium – opposing but
complementary forces, as does the western medical emblem ‘caduceus.”

Not all complementary therapies are inherently holistic or spiritual. Therapies

such as osteopathy and chiropractic focus on physical symptoms and are as
grounded in anatomy and pathology as conventional medicine.

Popularity
Interst in complementary medicine from western populations has grown steadily
since the 1970’s. Nearly half of the Australian population is said to have at least
one non prescribed remedy, with over a 5th having visited a complementary
practitioner. In India and China and Africa, traditional healing systems are in
common use and may receive government backing. A 1995 survey of British
people found that people turn to CAM because they feel it is more effective for
thei Health condition than conventional medicine.

As people turn to alternatives they need to check effectiveness, pros and cons of
CAM/TM.

What is CAM?
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing
resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and
their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the
politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given
historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their
users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being
(O’Connor et al 1997).

Provision of CAM
CAM services are provided by CAM practitioners and by some mainstream
health professionals such as doctors or nurses. In most cases, practitioners can
legally provide services with or without formal training.

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CAM products can be obtained from pharmacies, homoeopathic pharmacies,
health food stores and supermarkets. Consumers can also purchase CAM
products from practitioners; for example, herbal tonics may be purchased from
herbalists. Other non-shop-based retailers also sell CAM products, for instance,
by mail order or over the Internet.

Therapies and products are provided in a wide variety of ways. These include
needling; touching; manipulation of the muscles or spine; taking pills, tonics, or
enemas; and using creams or essential oils.

Use of CAM
A wide range of CAM therapy is available in New Zealand

In 1997 the New Zealand Consumers' Institute carried out a random survey of its
members. This survey found that the most widely used therapies were
chiropractic, herbal medicine and homoeopathy. Therapies with a high
satisfaction rate included chiropractic, osteopathy and faith healing.

The Consumer Institute survey reported that, of those respondents who had seen
a doctor for the same ailment, 65 percent had informed their doctor that they
were also seeing a CAM practitioner. The doctors were reported to be most
supportive where the CAM practitioner was an acupuncturist, aroma therapist or
osteopath (63% support for each). Doctors were least likely to support herbal
medicine (26%) or naturopathy (23%).

CAM providers
CAM services are provided in a variety of settings, and by a wide range of
providers and practitioners.

Who provides CAM services in New Zealand?

The majority of CAM services (excluding the self-prescription of products) are
provided by CAM practitioners in private practice. These practitioners usually
have some training in one or more CAM modalities.

Some CAM practitioners are based in multidisciplinary clinics that may also offer
mainstream general practitioner (GP) services. Other practitioners operate
informally out of their own homes.

Some GPs practise CAM themselves, and some others refer patients to CAM
practitioners for treatment.

Some other mainstream health professionals, such as nurses and

physiotherapists, also practise CAM therapies and use them to treat their patients
as appropriate.

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Traditional healers, such as tohunga and fofo, may provide services out of a
combined practice (with GPs and other health professionals), from private
practices, from home, or by home visits. Most traditional healers either operate
out of their own homes, by home visits, or a combination of the two.

Many health food stores and pharmacists provide advice on CAM products such
as vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies and homoeopathic medicines.

Many people self-prescribe CAM products without seeing a practitioner. This can
be in the home (using food products for medicinal purposes), by purchasing
products at the supermarket (such as vitamins, minerals or herbal-based
products) or by purchasing products from pharmacies. Traditional knowledge that
has been passed down, often through the family, is also frequently used to
diagnose and treat conditions.

How many CAM providers are there?

The New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners (known as the Charter), which
represents around 8,500 CAM practitioners, estimates that there are currently
approximately 10,000 CAM practitioners in New Zealand. The Charter estimates
that this constitutes about 85 percent of those providing CAM services in New
Zealand[i].

GPs that provide CAM services

There are no up-to-date, comprehensive statistics on the number of New
Zealand GPs currently offering CAM services to their patients.

A study carried out in 1990 surveyed the use of ‘alternative’ therapies by

Auckland GPs. Thirty percent of the respondents stated that they personally
practised one or more forms of ‘alternative’ medicine. Two-thirds reported they
would refer patients for alternative treatment.

A postal survey conducted in 1988 found that 24 percent of doctors who took part
had received some training in ‘alternative’ therapies, with 54 percent wanting
further training in the field. Eighty percent of the doctors who responded referred
patients on to non-medically qualified alternative health practitioners.

Traditional healer
There are no estimates of the number of traditional healers currently practising in
New Zealand. However, the estimated figure of 10,000 CAM practitioners
provided by the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners (see above) does
include some traditional healers

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CAM consumers
There are few up-to-date, comprehensive statistics on the use of CAM in
New Zealand. However, the following surveys contain some information on
levels of use, the kind of consumers who use CAM, and what conditions
they use it for.

How many people use CAM?

The 1997 Ministry of Health survey Taking the Pulse reported that in the previous
twelve months:
• 6 percent of male and 7 percent of female respondents had used a
chiropractor or osteopath
• 3 percent of males and 6.5 percent of females had visited a CAM therapist
such as a naturopath, homoeopath, iridologist or acupuncturist
• 1 percent of males and 2 percent of females had seen a traditional healer,
such as a tohunga, Maori specialist, or fofo.
• This compares with 14 percent of women and 15 percent of men surveyed
who had visited a physiotherapist, and 4 percent of women and 6 percent
of men who had seen a social worker, psychologist or counsellor.

In 1997 the New Zealand Consumers' Institute carried out a random survey of its
members. Just over 50 percent of respondents had tried a ‘non-conventional’
therapy. Forty percent of female and 25 percent of male respondents had tried
one of these therapies in the last year.

A survey carried out by the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners in 1997
concluded that 74 percent of New Zealand households use vitamins, minerals,
amino acids, herbal remedies or other CAM products.

A 1996 survey of university students found that 66.5 percent of respondents had
used an ‘alternative health care provider’ in the last year. This definition included
pharmacists/chemists and health food shop assistants.

Who uses CAM?

There is only one recent, significant survey of the characteristics of New
Zealand CAM consumers[v]. It was carried out between 1998 and 1999
with the aim of profiling 26-year-old users of unconventional practitioners.

The survey found that 10 percent of participants had seen an

unconventional practitioner in the previous 12 months. The majority (88%)
had also seen a conventional practitioner. Those who had used both types
of practitioner tended to be heavy users of health services (12+ visits per
year). Compared to those who used conventional practitioners exclusively,
they had significantly higher incomes and were more likely to report a
serious injury, a current disability, a history of back problems, and more
bodily pain.
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Notes……….

Proven treatment refers to evidence-based, or mainstream medical treatments

that have been tested following a strict set of guidelines and found to be safe and
effective. The results of such studies have been published in peer reviewed
journals-that is, journals reviewed by other doctors or scientists in the field. The
Food and Drug Administration have approved the treatments used in mainstream
medicine.

Research or investigational treatments are therapies being studied in a clinical

trial. Clinical trials are research projects that determine whether a new treatment
is effective and safe for patients. Before a drug or other treatment can be used
regularly to treat patients, it is studied and tested carefully, first in laboratory test
tubes, and then in animals. After these studies are completed and the therapy is
found safe and promising, it is tested to see if it helps patients. After careful
testing with patient’s shows that the drug or other treatment is safe and effective,
the Food and Drug Administration may approve it for regular use. Only then does
the treatment become part of the standard, mainstream collection of proven
therapies used to treat disease in human beings.

Complementary refers to supportive methods that are used to complement, or

add to, mainstream treatments. Examples might include meditation to reduce
stress, peppermint tea for nausea, and acupuncture for chronic back pain.
Complementary methods are not given to cure disease; rather they may help
control symptoms and improve well-being. Some of the methods, such as
massage therapy, yoga, and meditation that are categorized as complementary
have actually been referred to as supportive care in the past.

Integrative therapy is a term that refers to the combined offering of evidence-

based mainstream and complementary therapies.

The term unproven or untested can be confusing because it is sometimes used

to refer to treatments with little basis in scientific fact, while it may also refer to
treatments or tests that are under investigation. Adequate scientific evidence is
not available to support its use.

Alternative refers to treatments that are promoted as cancer cures. They are
unproven because they have not been scientifically tested, or were tested and
found to be ineffective. If they are used instead of evidence-based treatment the
patient may suffer, either from a lack of helpful treatment or because the
alternative treatment is actually harmful.

Quackery refers to the promotion of methods that claim to prevent, diagnose, or

cure cancers that are known to be false, or which are unproven. These methods
are based on the use of patient testimonials as evidence of its efficacy and
safety. Often the treatment is claimed to be effective in other diseases as well as
cancer.

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Some Helpful Complementary Approaches

aromatherapy reflexology
art therapy music therapy
chinese herbal medicine prayer, spiritual practices
massage therapy t’ai chi
meditation yoga
acupuncture
hypnotherapy

Questions to Ask About Alternative and Complementary

Therapies
1. What claims are made for the treatment: to cure the cancer or
to enable the evidence-based treatment to work better? To
relieve symptoms or side effects?

2. What are the credentials of those supporting the treatment? Are

they recognized experts in cancer treatment? Have they
published their findings in trustworthy journals?

3. How is the method promoted? Is it promoted only in the mass

media (books, magazines, TV and radio talk shows) rather than
in scientific journals?

4. What are the costs of the therapy?

5. Is the method widely available for use within the health-care

community, or is it controlled with access to its use limited?

6. If used in place of standard therapies or clinical trials, will the

ensuing delay affect any chances for cure or advance the
cancer stage?

7. Is the treatment based on an unproven theory? What evidence

do you have for this? Use internet sites etc.

8. Does the treatment promise a cure for all cancers?

9. Is the treatment or drug a "secret" that only certain providers

can give? Does the treatment require travel to another country?
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 Cancer

Chemotherapy: What It Is, How It Helps

Introduction
The word chemotherapy was once used to mean any medicine for treating any
disease. Even taking an aspirin would be chemotherapy. These days,
chemotherapy is most often used to mean taking medicines, or drugs, to treat
cancer. You might take these drugs before or after surgery, with radiation (x-ray)
treatment or you might take the drugs by themselves.

Cancer chemotherapy is not new. It has been helping people since the early
1950s. The chemotherapy drugs your doctor suggests have been tested again
and again. Careful research shows they work. Partly because of chemotherapy,
many people with cancer live full and happy lives.

How Chemotherapy Works

If your doctor wants you to have chemotherapy, it means something can be done
to try to control, or even cure, your cancer.

Cancer is a group of cells that divide quickly and are growing out of control. The
word cancer is just a broad name for many different diseases. They all affect your
body in different ways. But these diseases have one thing in common: they
involve cells growing out of control. Everyone's cancer is different and so is the
chemotherapy that is given.

You and your doctor will decide on what chemotherapy is best for your cancer.
Together, you will plan a schedule that works for you.

How Is Chemotherapy Given?

Most chemotherapy drugs are given in one of the following ways:

• You might simply swallow a pill. If your chemotherapy is a pill, just swallow
it as your doctor prescribes.
• Sometimes chemotherapy is given like a flu shot. The shots may be given
in your doctor's office, a hospital, a clinic, or at home.
• Sometimes drugs are given right into your veins through a needle. This is
called an IV (intravenous) injection.

You may take chemotherapy once a day, once a week, or even once a month,
depending on the type of cancer you have and the chemotherapy you are taking.
How long you take chemotherapy also depends on the type of cancer and what
length of time research has shown produces the best treatment results.

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What Are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Some people have no side effects at all from chemotherapy. Sometimes,
however, chemotherapy will make you feel sick. This is because the drugs being
used are very strong. They go after any cell that is quickly dividing, whether it's a
cancer cell or not. So some non-cancer cells in the body that divide quickly are
also damaged.

Parts of the Body Affected by Chemotherapy

• cells in your hair (can cause hair loss)
• cells in your bone marrow (can cause a tired feeling and higher risk of
infection)
• cells of the skin and mouth (can cause sores in your mouth and dry skin)
• cells in your stomach and intestines (can cause you to feel sick to your
stomach)

Bone Marrow Changes

Bone marrow is the inner part of some bones that makes your blood cells (red
blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). It is often affected by chemotherapy
in the following ways:
• Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. During
chemotherapy, the bone marrow may not be able to make enough red
blood cells. Not having enough red blood cells is called anaemia and can
cause shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue.
• White blood cells fight infection. Chemotherapy lowers your white blood
cell count, which can lower your resistance to infections. Your cancer care
team may recommend certain precautions to avoid infection, such as
wearing a surgical mask, not being near people with colds, not eating
uncooked foods, and washing your hands thoroughly.
• Platelets form blood clots that plug up any cuts or bruises. If your bone
marrow cannot make enough platelets, you may bleed too much, even
from small cuts. If your platelet count is very low, you will need to be very
careful to avoid any cuts or bruises. Even brushing your teeth with a brush
that has hard bristles could cause your gums to bleed, so you may need a
special toothbrush.

Hair, Skin, Mouth, and Stomach

Cells in your hair, skin, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines)
can be affected by chemotherapy. This can result in hair loss, sores in your
mouth, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting.

Preventing and Treating Side Effects

People with cancer can lessen the effects of chemotherapy in the following ways:
• You can take some medicines at the same time as your chemotherapy to prevent
vomiting or feeling sick to your stomach.
• New drugs called growth factors can be given as injections to help the bone
marrow recover from chemotherapy and start making new blood cells.
• Transfusions of red blood cells or platelets from blood donors help many people

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Nutrition and Cancer Treatment

Benefits of Good Nutrition

Holistic Naturopath approach…
Good nutrition is especially important for people with cancer. That is
because the illness itself, as well as its treatments, may affect your
appetite. Cancer and cancer treatments may also alter your body's
ability to tolerate certain foods and to use nutrients.

The nutrient needs of a cancer patient vary from person to person.

Your doctor, nurses, and dieticians can help you identify your nutrition
goals and plan strategies to help you meet them. Eating well while
undergoing cancer therapy can help you to:

* Feel better
* Keep up your strength and energy
* Keep up your weight and your body's store of nutrients
* Tolerate treatment-related side effects
* Decrease your risk of infection
* Heal and recover quickly

Eating well means eating a variety of foods that provide the nutrients
you need to maintain your health while fighting cancer. These
nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and
minerals.

Nutrients

Protein: Protein helps to ensure growth, to repair body tissue, and to

maintain a healthy immune system. Without enough protein, the body
takes longer to recover from illness and lowers resistance to infection.
As such, people with cancer often need more protein than usual.
Following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, additional
protein is usually needed to heal tissues and to help prevent infection.
Good sources of protein include lean meat, fish, poultry, dairy
products, nuts, dried beans, peas and lentils, and soy foods.

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Carbohydrates and fats: Carbohydrates and fats supply the body
with the bulk of the calories it needs. The amount of calories each
person needs depends on his or her age, size, and level of physical
activity. Sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, breads,
pasta, grains and cereal products, dried beans, peas, and lentils.
Sources of fat include butter, margarine, oils, nuts, seeds, and the fat
in meats, fish, and poultry.

Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins and minerals help ensure proper

growth and development. In addition, they allow the body to use the
energy (calories) supplied in foods. A person who eats a balanced
diet with enough calories and protein usually gets plenty of vitamins
and minerals. However, eating a balanced diet can be challenging
when you are receiving cancer treatment, particularly if treatment side
effects persist for long periods of time. When that is the case, your
doctor or dietician may recommend a daily multivitamin and mineral
supplement.

Water: Water and fluids are vital to health. If you do not take in
enough fluids or if you are vomiting or have diarrhoea, you may
become dehydrated. Ask your doctor or nurse how much fluid you
need each day to prevent dehydration.

You can use the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Nutrition for
Cancer Prevention below to help you plan what to eat each day. The
guidelines serve as a general guide for healthy people that lets you
choose a healthful diet. People with cancer, however, may have
increased nutritional needs. For example, your doctor or dietician
may suggest increasing the number of servings of specific types of
food.

• Eat five or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits

each day.
• Choose whole grains in preference to processed (refined)
grains and sugars.
• Limit consumption of red meats, especially those high in fat and
processed.
• Choose foods that help you maintain a healthful weight.

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ACUPUNCTURE: Preventing Breast Cancer
By Dr. Daoshing Ni
Each year in the United States,
approximately 180,000 women will
be told they have breast cancer.
While there is ample information in
the public about the medical aspects
of treatment, by comparison,
information on prevention is still
lacking. This article will provide some
current information on how Chinese
women prevent breast cancer. While
this article addresses women, breast
cancer does occur in men (less than
2% of the cases each year).
Diet
Diet plays a major role in prevention of
breast cancer. Breast cancer rates
among Japanese and Chinese women
are approximately one-tenth of those of
American women. The typical Asian diet
is lower in fat and dairy products and
much higher in soy products, green
vegetables and whole grains compared
to Western societies. Breast cancer
rates have increased for immigrant
Japanese women and descendents in
California who have gradually switched
to a more western diet. Overweight
females also have higher risk.
Eating more fish instead of red meat can
reduce the intake of saturated fat.
Asians also tend to eat fresher foods,
which have fewer preservatives.
Farming in Asia tends to use fewer
chemical fertilizers and pesticides due to
the high cost of chemicals, though this
has been changing rapidly as farming
has increasingly become "westernized".
Organic farming has become more
popular of late and does provide a better
source of produce.
Stress
Stress can stimulate excessive hormone
secretion in the body, which can lead to
higher rate of breast cancer. Evaluate
your daily life. Being busy does not
necessarily equal more stress. Worrying
excessively can create tension in the
body and should be reduced if possible.
Try to have a more positive outlook in
life. My mother always told me, "When
you are angry, 10 million cells in your
body die or become toxic; when you are
happy, all your cells are happy and
functioning."
Alcohol, smoking and
coffee
Alcohol and coffee consumption and
smoking have been directly linked to
higher cancer rates. These habits tend
to develop at a young age, so it is
important to teach our daughters healthy
lifestyle habits early in life. It's also
important to avoid persistent second-
hand smoke.
Meditation and energy
exercises
Exercises such as Qigong, Taiji and
Yoga can help reduce stress and
tension in our bodies. Meditation can
relax our minds and bring our bodies
into balance. These exercises are not
difficult to learn and can be incorporated
into our lifestyles relatively easily. Since
the 1970s, Chinese people have been
experimenting with Qigong in treating
breast cancer. While medical Qigong
treatments have shown some
effectiveness in controlling cancer,
Qigong has also been shown to delay
the both the onset and growth of
cancerous cells.
15
It's official: acupuncture really works

Study reveals health benefits of ancient healing art

Jo Revill, health editor

Sunday May 1, 2005
The Observer

Judith Ritchie slowly eases a fine steel needle into the back of her patient at a point
marked out in felt-tip ink. As the needle is gently tapped, Judith explains: 'This point lies
over the organ I want to strengthen, her liver. I want to improve the quality of her blood
and her yin, which affects the energy balance.'

Acupuncture relies on a different language and different tools from Western medicine,
but however strange it seems at first, this patient, Louise Shelver, is a convert. For years
she has had debilitating migraines and pre-menstrual tension.

'The doctor told me that I could go on the Pill or have anti-depressants,' said Shelver,
from Reading, Berkshire, who is treated fortnightly. 'I didn't want that, so I came here and
it has totally altered my life.

'The migraines come maybe every three months now, but they are not so bad and I feel
like a different person. My husband has noticed a huge change because I don't get so
low. Some days I feel on top of the world.'

Controversy has raged for years over whether acupuncture has only a placebo effect
that makes people feel psychologically and physically better but changes nothing
physiologically.

However, this weekend a new study reveals for the first time that it provokes a specific
response in the brain, shedding light on how it might affect the body's pain pathways.
This helps to explain why both patients and health professionals trained in Western
medicine are increasingly turning to this ancient form of Chinese healing.

Ritchie is a qualified children's nurse who has spent the last nine months learning this
complementary therapy.

'I began to realise acupuncture's use goes far beyond pain relief. In the West you treat a
disease. With acupuncture you're treating the whole person - the root of the problems,
not just the symptoms.

'I can spend an hour or more with a patient. In the NHS you never get that time.
Acupuncture can benefit so many adults and children.'

More than two million treatments will be given this year. Most practitioners work in
private clinics, charging around £30 a time.

Increasingly, however, acupuncture is becoming mainstream, and it is being offered in

the NHS because of patient demand. The profession is heading towards self-regulation
on the recommendation of a House of Lords committee. This will protect patients more
by preventing just anyone calling themselves acupuncturists.

The latest study is from researchers at Southampton University and University College
London, who devised a clever trial to determine whether acupuncture worked by carrying
out brain scans on patients receiving it.

The patients, all with painful osteoarthritis in their thumbs, were divided into three
groups. The first group were touched by blunt needles which did not pierce the skin and
had no therapeutic value.

The second had 'sham acupuncture' they believed was real. Their scans showed that
one area of the brain associated with the production of natural opiates lit up.

In the third group, who received real acupuncture, the scans showed that, as well as the
opiate centre, another region of the brain, the ipsilateral insular, was activated. This
region appears to be involved in pain modulation.

Dr George Lewith, a research team member from Southampton, said: 'This shows us
that real acupuncture produces a demonstrable physiological effect over and above a
simple skin prick.

'We still don't fully understand how pain works, but we do know that after patients
receive acupuncture there are changes in the way they manage their problems that last
for up to two years.'

Acupuncturists believe there are 12 energy pathways in the body, each associated with a
different organ, and the treatment re-establishes the energy balance in organs when it
goes awry.

To treat an illness, practitioners take a full view of the patient, asking how their body
functions, about their character and even their childhood. Treatment is varied
accordingly. Fine needles are inserted into different points, either to stimulate or reduce
the flow of energy along pathways.

It is said to work for an increasing number of conditions. Its worth for depression,
migraines, chronic pain, rheumatism, eczema, multiple sclerosis and high blood
pressure has been subjected to clinical studies. Yet a growing number of patients have it
simply because they say that acupuncture makes them feel happier and more fulfilled.

The patients' profile is also changing. Gwyneth Paltrow and Cherie Blair are at the
celebrity end of the scale, but such patients as retired firefighter John Thurston show
how widespread acceptance of the therapy has become.

Thurston, at 79, is one of the oldest patients at the College of Integrated Chinese
Medicine in Reading, Berkshire, where he has been treated fortnightly for several
months.

A stroke last year left him with difficulty in walking, numbness in one hand and unable to
lift one of his arms. 'It has made a remarkable difference,' said a delighted Thurston. 'I
can dress myself now, whereas after the stroke I couldn't do a button up. I used to find it
hard to lift my left leg up and I'm now walking more or less straight. I have got a lot more
movement back.
'When the doctors signed me off at the hospital, they said cheerio and that was it. I did
have a a bit of physiotherapy, but it's coming here that has really helped. I wish everyone
could have it. It's done me a world of good.'

Pinpoint prowess

Researchers in Sweden have found that acupuncture is effective at relieving pelvic pain,
a common complaint during pregnancy. Another clinical trial at Stanford University in the
US showed it could help alleviate depression in pregnant women.

A study in the British Medical Journal showed that patients with osteoarthritis in the knee
who received acupuncture a well as an anti-inflammatory painkiller suffered less pain
and stiffness than those who received the drug plus sham acupuncture, where the
needle did not penetrate the skin.
Resources used for Achievement Standard 3.3 Assessment
Contemporary health practices in New Zealand
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