• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Objective : We designed this study to analyse the anti-cancer effects of materials of green vegetable juice by using the natural standard methodology and apply the results to new studying and evaluating methods. Methods : We investigated the main stream of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the methodology of natural standard, guideline in CAM, and concrete 15 green vegetable juice in cancer therapy. Results : There are 15 graded materials of green vegetable juice that associated with cancer in natural standard contents. Most of them get grade C, unclear or conflicting scientific evidence. Conclusion : Natural Standard aims to provide high-quality, reliable information about CAM therapies to clinicians, patients, and healthcare institutions. We have to acquire more reliable evidence in future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2009

Ginseng is a popular herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years. A number of its components have been isolated and characterized, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, polyacetylenic alcohols, and fatty acids. The lipophilic characteristics of ginsenosides have raised the possibility of their efficacy as steroid hormones. Several in-vitro studies have reported their pharmacological function as steroid hormones, especially estrogen, but no human study to date has confirmed their efficacy as alternatives to synthetic estrogen.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of the user of complementary alternative therapies(CAT) and to identify the important predictive factors associated with them. Method: This study included 142 patients attending outpatient rheumatology clinics of D Hospital in Busan between July and August in 2001. The multiple logistic regression model was developed to estimate the likelihood of user or nonuser of CAT. Result: The duration of illness and chance score of health locus of control were found to be significant factors through the estimated coefficients of using CAT. Duration of illness is longer and chance score of health locus of control is higher in patients who have used CAT in past than that of nonuser. When the model performance was evaluated by comparing the observed outcome with predicted outcome, the model correctly identified 95% of user of CAT and 31% of nonuser. Conclusion: In this survey, duration of illness and chance score of health locus of control are found to be significant factors in predicting utilization of CAT. Nurses who care for rheumatoid arthritis patients should take consideration into health locus of control in planning health education programs.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2005

Sho-Seiryu-To is known to be effective against allergic diseases, but its effect on skin itching has not been reported. We observed the effect of Sho-Seiryu-To on three elderly patients who, desoite using an anti-allergic drug, has severe chronic skin itching with peripheral eosinophilia. All three patients decreased their peripheral eosinophilia and improved their skin condition within eight weeks. We conclude that Sho-Seiryu-To could be capable of treating elderly patients with chronic skin itching and peripheral eosinophilia.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2008

Objective: This study was aimed to review the recent trends of complementary medicine research in ICCMR 2008. Methods: Analyzed data include all researches of both oral and poster presentations in ICCMR. We classified presented researches according to their treatment method, nations, and targeted diseases. Results: In total, 338 researches were presented. In terms of methods, 68 basic researches, 98 clinical trials, 55 commentaries, 46 reviews, 71 trend analysis papers were classified. Herbal medicine was the most common treatment for research in ICCMR. And in terms of nation. Australia's announcement was the most in ICCMR. Lastly, cancer was the most focused theme in the conference. Conclusion: In the recent CAM research, cancer, depression and stress are the most targeted diseases since they are difficult to cure in modern medicine and since patients have high hopes to overcome their state by CAM. This review will help Korean doctors or scientists to systematically understand traditional medicine and to develop their researches.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2018

This study investigates the effect of a combination of homeopathic medicine and electro- acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe liver disease who could not receive standard anaesthesia therapy due to liver problems. Specifically, measurable and quantifiable parameters were used to evaluate whether an integrated approach-consisting of electro- acupuncture and a homeopathic medicine diluted above Avogadro's limit (that is, above a potency of 12CH) during the pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical phases -can improve general well-being of a patient undergoing breast cancer surgery. In breast cancer surgery, we employed an integrated approach consisting of induction with hypnotics and muscle relaxants, followed by maintenance with anaesthetic gas, combined with a homeopathic treatment (Arnica montana 15CH and Apis mellifica 15CH) before and after surgery and an electro- acupuncture treatment performed in the pre- and post-surgical phases without any analgesic/pain relieving medications. Both of the patients treated with the integrated approach improved their overall condition without need for other common pain relieving medicines. Additionally, thanks to their rapid awakening, the patients were not relocated to a protected area and the hospitalization was shorter. A multidisciplinary approach incorporating homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture can be a solution for patients who need or ask about a different and/or safer alternative to the standard treatment. This approach can offer a safe, much less expensive, non-invasive and viable alternative for such cases. Moreover it can be useful for an opioids free anesthesia.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.23.1-23.6
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• 2015

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice is still popular among the Malaysian population nowadays although western or allopathic medicine is the first line of treatment. Dissatisfaction with health services and therapeutic effects of western medicine or preference for holistic, integrative approach in treatment are common reasons favouring the increasing popularity of CAM practices. The efforts toward integration of CAM and western medicine in Malaysia were rather slow and in a piece-meal fashion. Strategic efforts in strengthening government and self-regulation among practitioners, formalizing education, promoting research, and cultivating national and international networks are necessary to achieve an integrative system. Regulations to restrict the practice and sale of CAM products to licensed practitioners, strict and mandatory registration of the practitioners, inclusion of CAM in essential medicines list, and pricing regulations must be comprehensively discussed. Development of curriculum, offers of scholarship and incentives, promotion of courses and seminars for professionals is necessary to increase the numbers of CAM experts. Malaysia should follow the efforts of other countries on the production and documentation of local CAM data, allocation of funding, and establishment of research centres to assess the efficacy of potentially useful local products. Local and international collaboration in research and continuous education is important for exchange of knowledge and skills. In conclusion more coordinated efforts in regulation of CAM practice and products, formalizing CAM training and education would significantly move the process forward and allow the public to enjoy more health benefits from CAM practice in Malaysia.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.427-453
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• 2009

This study aims to review legal problems of similar medical practice and suggest methods of improvement. Similar medical practice refers to all medical practices conducted in the state that human qualification is not fulfilled. It may cause serious damages on health and lives of national people. Currently, similar medical practices are recognized as unlicensed medical practices and prohibited based on the Medical law and additionally punished by then special law in Korea. However, the current Medical Law does not provide clear and accurate concept of medical practices so that it is difficult to regulate similar medical practices. The issue of complementary and alternative therapy related to similar medical practices is also in special state different from other countries. In addition, since similar medical practices lack of evidences in terms of safety, the dangerousness of accidents is high and it may affect badly on health of national people and health care policies. Methods of improvement in order to resolve problems regarding similar medical practices are: first, concept and scope of medical practice should be clear, accurate and concrete. Second, complementary and alternative therapies related to similar medical practices need to be strictly examined and the supervisory right should be given to doctors should be given even though a part of it is allowed. Third, research institutes specialized in the field should be established for scientific examination of complementary and alternative therapy and objective research results should be open to the public. Finally, since damage cases caused by similar medical practices by non-medical personnel, national management and supervision for similar medical practices should be reinforced.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2012

The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) among women with gynecologic cancer is becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, it is important to gain insight into the prevalence and factors related to the use of CAM. The aim of this study was to assess the use of CAM in women with gynecologic cancer. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from 67 gynecological cancer patients at gynecologic oncology clinic of a hospital in Turkey between October 2009 to December 2010 using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The instrument included questions on socio-demographic information, disease specifics and complementary and alternative medicine usage. On the basis of women's responses, all participants were divided into 2 groups: CAM users and nonusers. The findings indicated that 61.2% of the women reported the use of 1 or more CAM therapies. There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between CAM users and nonusers (P <0.05). The most frequently used CAM method was herbal therapy (90.2%) and the second was prayer (41.5%). The main sources of information about CAM were informal (friends/ family members). A considerable proportion (56.1%) of CAM users had discussed their CAM use with their physicians or nurses. Turkish women with gynecologic cancer frequently use CAM in addition to standard medical therapy. Nurses/ oncologists caring for women with gynecologic cancer should initiate a dialogue about usage of CAM, discussing the potential adverse effects of CAM and the patient's therapeutic goals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.225-230
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine patient characteristics and other factors associated with discontinuation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in Korea. Methods: A national, multicenter, cross-sectional survey of cancer patients was performed in which 674 of 2,661 patients were analyzed for their use of CAM after cancer diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to CAM discontinuation. Results: Among the surveyed cancer patients, 25.3% (674 of 2,661) had used CAM, whereas 38.3% (258 of 674) of those with CAM experience had discontinued CAM therapy. The most frequently used form of CAM was herbs (43.5%). The major reasons for the discontinuation of CAM included absence of effects (23.9%), financial burden (22.9%), and physician opposition (13.7%). Other factors associated with the discontinuation of CAM included metastatic cancer (OR = 2.06), a long duration of cancer treatment (OR = 3.34), dissatisfaction (OR = 4.34), and side effects (OR = 4.23) of CAM therapy. Conclusions: For cancer patients to correctly employ CAM therapy, increase their satisfaction, and reduce their side effects, efforts should be made to analyze the cost effectiveness of CAM, and valid information must be provided to physicians and cancer patients.