• 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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and utilization patterns of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Methods: A total of 92 fibromyalgia syndrome patients participated in this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: As a result, 59.8% of subjects had an experience of CAM and 33.7% of subjects have used until now. There were significant differences of the use of CAM between the group of CAM users and non-CAM users by education ($x^2$=4.04, p=.044), period of illness ($x^2$=15.03, p=.001), and period of treatment ($x^2$=12.10, p=.002). Relatively large numbers of patients understanded as that CAM was effective (58.7%) and fibromyalgia syndrome was controllable (75.0%). Moreover, there were significant differences of the use of CAM by the perception of CAM effects ($x^2$=4.15, p=.042), fibromyalgia syndrome ($x^2$=6.55, p=.038), and best treatment for fibromyalgia ($x^2$=11.03, p=.001). Conclusion: These results could be utilized as a basic data for developing nursing intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze Korean clinical studies in Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis and to propose for better methods of clinical studies and effective treatments on allergic rhinitis. Methods Electronic researches were performed with NDSL, RISS, KISTI, KISS, OASIS by keyword 'Allergic rhinitis'. Results The treatments used in 36 studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, cupping, inject medicine to nasal cavity, aroma therapy, ointment, nasal cleansing solution, laser treatment, infra-red therapy, oxygen nebulizer, diet treatment, moxa-pellet treatment, mindfulness meditation and space-spine manipulation techniques. The most common acupoints were LI4 and LI20 (Large Intestine Meridian). The most common methods of assessment is subjective nasal symptoms. All studies using subjective nasal symptoms and quality of life as assessment methods to show valid results on the improvement of allergic rhinitis. Conclusions This study shows that Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine on allergic rhinitis are effective. It will be expected to use that various methods for allergic rhinitis and more clinical studies for allergic rhinitis and pediatric patients needed in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.279-302
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review systemically clinical trials on the trends of studies for Complementary Alternative Medicine in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Methods: Through medical websites, foreign clinical literatures about complementary and alternative medicines of dysmenorrhea were searched. And domestic clinical literatures about dysmenorrhea, complementary and alternative treatment and oriental medicine treatment were searched using internet websites or hand-searching in National digital library, National assembly library, KISS, RISS. And then they were assessed by the assessment standard of Jadad scale and Classifying Recommendations. Results: 1. 15 foreign literatures and 36 domestic literatures were selected. 2. 4 foreign and 4 domestic clinical literatures were enough to satisfy over 2 points in Jadad score and recommendation level in Classifying Recommendations. 3. Some clinical trials were rated low in Jadad score since it was not easy to set control groups and keep blinding in clinical trials. 4. Some clinical trials were rated low in Classifying Recommendations since they did not carry out enough study about stability, side effect and follow-ups. Conclusion: To put clinical trials to practical use of Complementary Alternative Medicine in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, scientific and objective-based studies should be needed.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.73-89
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• 2006

Complementary and alternative medicine has gained popularity and respectability in recent years in the United States. Since aging is often associated with chronic health conditions that commonly lead to physical and psychosocial disabilities (e.g., depression, functional and/or cognitive disabilities, and decreased quality of life), older adults often seek options to maintain health and treat chronic conditions as an adjunct to conventional medical care. Herbal products, the most commonly used among various complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), should be used with caution due to potential herbal-drug interactions (related to polypharmacy) and herbal-disease interactions (related to comorbidities). Five of the most common chronic conditions in older adults are chronic pain, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic lung problems. A high rate of falls or risk of falling is also a problem unique to this older population. For these conditions, only a few types of CAM (e.g., acupuncture, qi gong, tai chi) were tested, with promising results. However, in spite of evidence supporting the use of certain types of CAM to alleviate some common chronic conditions, findings are limited in terms of other types of CAM tested and both short and long-term effects. More rigorous clinical trials of various CAM types are thus warranted to advance scientific knowledge and establish evidence-based practices to care for the growing number of older adults who deserve to have a better quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2011

The market of conferences and expos of traditional/ complementary and alternative medicine has not been mature enough while interests in those medicines are growing fast. Meanwhile, some related events in Europe, North America, and Asia, held on regular basis, have reached to the international level in size, such as CAMExpo The Complementary, Natural & Healthcare Show in Europe, Integrative Healthcare Symposium in North America, Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo in India, International Conference and Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products in Hong Kong. Those events have been held for 10 years or so, initiated their own features, and secured their own regular booth exhibitors and visitors. They open the homepage on the internet one or two years before their events are held and vigorously advertise their events on yearly basis. To succeed in, and bear fruits from, the 2013 World Traditional Medicine Expo in Sancheong, it is needed to analyze strong points of the events above and benchmark a practical timeline and technical road map to the 2013 Expo from them.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.4 s.143
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• pp.305-310
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• 2005

Sarcodon aspratus (Thelepholaceae), a native mushroom, is distributed in Korea and Japan, and has been widely used in traditional food and fork medicines. To confirm the biological activities of Sarcodon aspratus, the liver protecting activity, anti-clotting activity, and anti-complementary activity of the water extract, EtOH extract, and the water soluble proteoglycan part of S. aspratus were investigated. The EtOH, and water extract of S. aspratus decreased the GOT and GPT releases induced by $CCl_4$ in a dose-dependant manner. On the other hand, the water soluble proteoglycan part of S. aspratus showed weak inhibitory activity. In addition, the EtOH and water extract of S. aspratus prevented $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxicity, as described by a liver histopathologic study. To confirm the anti-clotting activity, the APTT and PT assay were carried out. As a result, only the crude proteoglycan part of S. aspratus showed the anti-coagulating activity, and this result might be due to the inhibition of intrinsic clotting system. Also, the crude proteoglycan part of S. aspratus showed the anti-complementary activity, and the $IC_{50}$ value was $50\;{\mu}l/ml$.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2016

The use of folk medicine has been widely embraced in many developed countries under the name of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) and is now becoming the mainstream in the UK and the rest of Europe, as well as in North America and Australia. Diversity, easy accessibility, broad continuity, relatively low cost, base levels of technological inputs, fewer side effects, and growing economic importance are some of the positive features of folk medicine. In this framework, a critical need exists to introduce the practice of folk medicine into public healthcare if the goal of reformed access to healthcare facilities is to be achieved. The amount of information available to public health practitioners about traditional medicine concepts and the utilization of that information are inadequate and pose many problems for the delivery of primary healthcare globally. Different societies have evolved various forms of indigenous perceptions that are captured under the broad concept of folk medicine, e.g., Persian, Chinese, Grecian, and African folk medicines, which explain the lack of universally accepted definitions of terms. Thus, the exchange of information on the diverse forms of folk medicine needs to be facilitated. Various concepts of Wind are found in books on traditional medicine, and many of those go beyond the boundaries established in old manuscripts and are not easily understood. This study intends to provide information, context, and guidance for the collection of all important information on the different concepts of Wind and for their simplification. This new vision for understanding earlier Chinese medicine will benefit public health specialists, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, and those who are interested in historical medicine by providing a theoretical basis for the traditional medicines and the acupuncture that is used to eliminate Wind in order to treat various diseases.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-4
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• 2002

The development of Korean Oriental medicine is based upon the accumulation of experience and knowledge gathered over the centuries. The approaches taken are holistic and empirical. There is a need to understand their actions at molecular levels with more rational, objective and scientific studies. Today it appears that Chronic and age-associated diceases may be multifactorial and hence more complex. A different approach may be required. One claimed usage of Korean Oriental medicine is for the treatment and prevention of chronic and age-associated illnesses. Some of the botanical formulas used for this purpose were discovered thousands of years ago and continue to be used today. There are indications that these formulas may indeed be helpful in the treatment or prevention of chronic diseases. This multi-component medicine could not only be very useful meeting the unmet clinical needs but for defining a more synergistic therapy that supports and maintains the bodies natural curative abilities. The potential usefulness of Korean Oriental medicine embodies the belief of maintaining healthy homeostasis of the body through the proper balance of a mixture of chemical at different organs or tissues. This concept is different from western medicine and implies that multiple compounds may act on multiple mechanisms of action to maintain the balance of the complex web of biology. This is very important in view of sciences current direction to integrate fragmented information to develop future medicines. The western and eastern approaches to human health and disease are complementary to each other. The best approach in developing future medicines is to integrate both approaches.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.732-745
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• 2009

Objectives : This study analyzed the contents of research papers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) published in PubMed during the last 5 years. This study was conducted to help clinical studies for treating COPD with Oriental medicine. Materials and Methods : We inspected 31 theses and scrutinized their objectives, periods, participants, materials and methods, methods of assessment, results and Jadad score. Results : The treatments in the studies were supplements, physical training, acupuncture, acu-TENS, Bojungikgi-tang (Buzhongyiqi-tang), counseling, breathing training, osteopathic manipulative treatment, reflexology, and distractive auditory stimuli. The aims of treatment were improvement of exercise capacity, lung function, quality of life, oxidative status, nutrient status, systemic inflammation, and cessation of smoking. The median for treatment period of study was 8 weeks, the median number of participants was 35 and the differences between mean $FEV_1$ from groups were less than 10% in 22 studies. The methods of assessment were lung function test, exercise capacity test, muscle strength test, questionnaire of QoL, laboratory studies, and measurement of nutrient state. The mean of Jadad score was $2.4\;{\pm}\;1.03$, and 24 treatment were assessed as effective. Conclusion : Recent CAM studies of COPD have focused on various topics in alternative and complementary medicine, and it is necessary to provide objective studies for treatment of this disease with Oriental medicines.