• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.16
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• 2012

An oncology-specific database called OncoRx (http://bit.ly/cancerRx) was previously set up in cyberspace to aid clinicians in identifying interactions of anticancer drugs (ACDs) and chemotherapy regimens with traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). Since then, users have requested the drug-CAM interactions (DCIs) of 5 specific CAMs (cranberry, melatonin, co-enzyme Q10, huachansu, reishi mushroom) to be updated in the database. Pharmacokinetic properties (metabolism, enzyme induction/inhibition, elimination), TCM properties and DCIs of each CAM were collated with 117 ACDs using 9 hardcopy compendia and online databases as resources. Additionally, individual ACDs and CAMs were used as keywords for PubMed searches in combination with the terms 'anticancer drugs', 'drug interactions', 'herb-drug/drug-herb interactions', 'pharmacokinetic interactions' and 'pharmacodynamic interactions'. DCI parameters consisted of interaction effects, evidence summaries, proposed management plans and alternative non-interacting CAMs, together with relevant citations and update dates of the DCIs. OncoRx is also used as a case to introduce the "Four Pharmaco-cybernetic Maxims" of quality, quantity, relationship and manner to developers of digital healthcare tools. Its role in Hayne's "5S" hierarchy of research evidence is also presented. OncoRx is meant to complement existing DCI resources for clinicians and alternative medicine practitioners as an additional drug information resource that provides evidence-based DCI information for ACD-CAM interactions.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.8
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• 2013

This study has been geared to document primary information on common complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) used to treat and/or manage common dermatological disorders in Mauritius, a tropical multicultural island in the Indian Ocean. Data from 355 key informants was collected via a semi-structured questionnaire. Pearson correlation and Chi-squared test were performed to delineate any association. Quantitative indexes including the Importance Value (IV) and fidelity value were calculated. Results tend to indicate that cultural reasons were behind the use of CAM among Mauritians and traditional knowledge was mainly acquired either from parents/relatives or from self-experience. Among the medicinal plants mentioned, Aziadiracta indica (IV = 0.78) and Paederia tomentosa (IV = 0.70) were found to be most used plants. Calendula officinalis (IV = 0.15), Centella asiatica (IV = 0.22) and Agauria salicifolia (IV = 0.11) were also recorded to be used for common dermatological disorders though greatly under-utilised. Animal products were mentioned by 38.0% respondents and cow ghee was found to be commonly used in the management of measles (IV = 0.88). Spiritual healing was found to be used mainly for measles and warts. Given the plethora of novel information documented from the present survey, it can be suggested that the Mauritian population still relies to a great extent on CAM which needs to be preserved and used sustainably. Nonetheless, further investigation is required to probe the possible active constituents that could be the basis of an evidence based investigation to discover new drugs.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends in foreign clinical trials for pediatric asthma in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods : We reviewed 31 randomized controlled trials (RCT) for pediatric asthma treatment in CAM published from 2005 to 2015 in PubMed and analyzed their treatments, compounds of herbal medicines, acupoints, methods of assessment, and treatment results. Results : The treatments used in the studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, acupoint application, breathing training, supplement, normocaloric diet, yoga, massage therapy, and art therapy. The frequently used herbs were Asari Herba Cum Radix (細辛). Ephedrae Herba (麻黃), Astragali Radix. The most common acupoints were Feishu (肺兪, BL13). The methods of assessment in pediatric asthma were symptom scale, questionnaire of Quality of Life, lung function test, laboratory studies, and medication usage. In 28 out of 31 studies, treatment group gets better than non-treated group. Conclusions : This study shows that CAM is effective in treating pediatric asthma. More clinical studies using objective outcome measures are needed to prove its efficacy clearly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.488-496
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for diabetic patients in Busan. The subjects were 227 patients at two general hospitals (over 400 bed). This study was performed through the interviewing process using questionnaires conducted from January to April, 2010. Of a total of subjects, 109 patients (48.0%) had taken CAM at least one time. The patients used CAM recognized that they were 'auxiliary medicines' (39.4%), 'supplementary health foods' (32.1%) and 'medicines' (19.3%), but inexperienced patients perceived them as 'supplementary health foods' (29.6%), 'unscientific treatment' (22.6%) and 'medicines' (20.2%), It was significantly different between two groups of patients (p < 0.001). The number of CAM types used for the patients was 51. The CAM types were plant foods (64.3%), dietary supplement (23.6%) and animal diets (12.1%). The patients used an average of 5.9 different kinds of CAM and an average of 3.8 years them and paid \93,345 per month. The patients with diabetic complications and for longer morbidity periods used CAM for significantly (p < 0.05) longer periods. The mean effectiveness scores of the patients used CAM were 3.31/5.00 for efficacy satisfaction, 3.58/5.00 for fewer side effects compared to those of oral drugs, 3.60/5.00 for psychological stability, 3.81/5.00 for easiness to use, and 3.06/5.00 for economic satisfaction. Of the patients that used CAM, 55.9% did not consult with doctors about CAM. More than two-thirds of the patients (77.1%) did not feel the need to consult with doctors.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.141-155
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• 2008

Traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine(CAM) constitutes a major source of health care in developing countries. Its therapies, products and practices are increasing used in industrialized countries, typically by around 50% of the population. However, controls on the provider of CAM services and supply and promotion of complementary medicines are weak in these countries. These trends evoke important public health questions relating to benefits and detriments, safety and quality from medical, financial, and social perspectives. In the western counties, investment in research is increasing, and some guideline is now available for ensuring their quality, efficacy, and safety according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine as legally demanded. National policies and legislation are being developed in many countries and often include partnerships between biomedical and traditional health practitioners. The purposes of the study were to review the policies on CAM, to examine the responses of the government to cope with use of CAM in industrialized countries. Lastly, some implications and recommendation are suggested.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.205-222
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review systemically journals on the studies for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the treatment of breast cancer. Methods: Through medical websites, foreign clinical literatures about complementary and alternative medicines of breast cancer were searched. The cite used was http://www.Pubmed.gov. And then they were divided into three groups. Medication, Non-medication therapies and questionnaire reports. Results: 1. We researched 23 papers about herb medicines. Most of papers were about single herb and there were rarely about mixed composition. And there were papers about Ocimum gratissimum, elliptilimba, seeds of Livistona chinensis, golden feverfew which were not commonly used in Korea. 2. We researched 16 papers about acupuncture. Acupuncture had a possitive effect on such symptoms like flushing, nausea and vomitting and pain on upper limb caused by anticancer therapy or tamoxifen or surgery. 3. We researched 36 papers about questionnaire study. Most were about research for women who diagnosed as breast cancer or women after breast cancer surgery. Subjects were about proportion of using CAM, purpose of using it, most popular CAM therapy, satisfaction degree, and relation with age, aducation and social position. And most conclusion were that patient-doctor communication was needed. Conclusion: Afterwards we have to focus on realisitic clinical studies about breast cancer patients, especially postsurgery and people who takes anticancer therapy. And we have to be interest in acupuncture therapy on breast cancer patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.212-220
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• 2012

In this study, we tried a study on a direction of the field of oriental medicine on accepting complementary alternative medicine by analyzing the related thesis, journals and papers on the complementary alternative medicine published in the field of oriental medicine. As the result of analyzing the present study of the field of oriental medicine on the complementary alternative medicine, there have been 22 studies on the complementary alternative medicine. Thesis, papers were mainly experimental papers about the bee venom therapy, energy therapy, fasting therapy, and colon therapy, and the journals were actively studied in order of clinical paper, experimental paper, and reference paper about the bee venom therapy, energy therapy, and reflexolgy. The acceptance of complementary alternative medicine by the field of oriental medicine through a scientific relation should be conducted more systemically by setting the main academy taking charge of the study on common characteristics of the complementary alternative medicines on the classification of NCCAM as well as the related academies taking charge of the study on the unique characteristic of each complementary alternative medicine. First, additional studies are needed to make the most of characteristics of each complementary alternative medicine through the main academy and the related academies, and for the next, additional studies are necessary to complement the research trend on each complementary alternative medicine through the main academy and related academies.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.534-549
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• 2009

Objectives : To study trends in complementary medical therapy for the allergic rhinitis. This study analyzed research on allergic rhinitis in PubMed. Methods : We searched PubMed related to complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis. We analyzed 25 research papers and examined published journals, years countries, and their methods, objectives, results, interventions, participants, periods and instruments of assessment. Results : The method of studies was mostly randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. There were research papers concerning treatment and prevention with herbal medicine, acupuncture, diet, etc. There were more positive results compared to negative results for treatment and prevention. Most studies were carried out during the winter/spring period. The median for number of participants was 90.54 persons. Diagnostic criteria for enrolment were nasal symptoms, allergic skin test, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil, etc. Assessment for outcomes were nasal symptoms, serum, nasal discharge allergen specific IgE eosinophil and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Conclusions : It is necessary to study effects of acupuncture and herb medicines for allergic rhinitis and more in-depth research about trends in complementary medical therapy for allergic rhinitis.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.165-178
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• 2007

This article explores how non-dominant medical practitioners shape their own self-images and the identity of relevant medicine and in what ways fashioning of self-images and accompanying modalities of medical practice informs the social evolution of the medicines at specific times and over specific places, by means of the historical configuration of osteopathy and chiropractic in the UK and the US. Attention is directed onto motivations and pursuits for professional recognition and actual strategies and activities of non-dominant medicines and its practitioners by turning to historical instances such as osteopathy and chiropractic in the UK and the US, not least drawing focus on professional desires with regard to circumstances it faces within and without. Some non-dominant medicines as a way with which to acquire and protect the exclusive monopoly of its knowledge and practical skills, adopted various forms of professionalism project, as dominant biomedical groups pressed up non-dominant medicines by virtue of marginalizing tactics. Meanwhile, non-dominant medicines took somewhat distinctive professionalisation strategies from each other. Strategies they took were diversified depending on medical philosophy, healing modality, the degree of occupational solidarity embodied as forms of medical organisation, and especially vocational aspiration and prospect. Change of socio-medical culture and the state's policy seems to have wielded critical influenceon the determination of the ups and downs of non-dominant medicines. From the perspective of long-term time span, dominant biomedicine eventually did not have much influence on the ups and downs of marginalized medicines in so far as in the case of osteopathy and chiropractic in Englandand the U. S.