Complementary Medicine Essay

4242 Words17 Pages
TRENDS AND ISSUES IN NURSING Introduction The writer notes that over the last decade, we have seen an increase in the reliance of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in many developed as well as developing countries. CAM often refers to a broad set of health-care practices that are not part of a country’s own tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health-care system. Other terms sometimes used to describe these health-care practices include ‘natural medicine’, ‘non-conventional medicine’ and ‘holistic medicine’ (WHO, 2000). Hence, the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine and CAM, as well as quality control, have become important concerns for both health authorities and the public. This work will attempt to look at CAM and medicine act and practice and its effect on the general health. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), traditional medicine (TM), complimentary therapy and holistic therapy are used interchangeably. These are a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are presently not considered as part of biomedicine. Major categories of CAM are whole body systems such as ayurveda, homeopathy, ‘unani’ and traditional Chinese medicine; mind–body medicine such as meditation, prayer, mental healing; biologically based therapies through the use of acupuncture, oil or heat and light. In Malaysia there are six major categories of CAM namely, Malay, Chinese, Indian traditional, homeopathy, complementary medicine and Islamic practice medicine. The history of CAM and cultural or customary medical practices brought by Indian and Chinese traders and migrants complemented without replacing the indigenous medical system in Malaysia. The introduction of Islam by Arab traders, on the other hand, led to major changes in the traditional medical system. One of the common practice of TM was
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