2. Alternative medicine
“Any of a range of medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox
by the medical profession” (Oxford dictionary, n.d.)
Acupuncture
ChiropracticeAromatherapy
Yoga
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3. Acupuncture
• Acupuncture release pain
• Acupuncture can’t release pain in the case of some diseases
• Acupuncture is effective, currently
excepting some diseases
✓ Acupuncture treatment outperformed sham treatments and
standard care regarding osteoarthritis, migraines and chronic
back, neck and shoulder pain (O'connor, 2012).
✓ Although effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic back pain is
confirmed, one for acute low back pain wasn’t (Furlan, et al,
2008).
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4. Aromatherapy
• Aromatherapy release stress
✓ Sweet almond oil aromatherapy improved patients’ sleep
patterns in general hospital in the UK (Cannard, 1996).
• Scientific evidence is lacking
• Aromatherapy effect is empirically
proved
✓ Aromatherapy didn’t lead noticeable physical reaction, such as
heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and immune
function (Kiecolt-Glaser, et al, 2008).
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5. Conclusion
• Alternative medicine is wide range of treatments that are
not included in medical custom.
• Former study showed;
✓ Although some diseases, such as acute low back pain, are
exception, acupuncture is effective, as chronic low back
pain was reduced.
✓ In spite of anecdotal treatment, aromatherapy is effective,
as stress decreased.
• Alternative medicine is as effective as conventional
medicine.
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6. References
1. Brown, C. G. (2013). Buyer beware: Learning to ask why complementary and alternative medicine works.
The Huffington Post. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/candy-gunther-brown-phd/complementary-
and-alternative-medicine_b_4503832.html (Accessed: 6 May 2014)
2. Cannard, G. (1996). The effect of aromatherapy in promoting relaxation and stress reduction in a general
hospital. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 2(2), pp38-40.
3. Furlan, A. D., van Tulder, M. W., Cherkin, D., Tsukayama, H., Lao, L., Koes, B. W., Berman, B. M. (2008).
Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain (Review). Cochrane review, 4.
4. Hunt, K., Coelho, H., Wider, B., Perry, R., Hung, S., Terry, R., Ernst, E. (2010). Complementary and
alternative medicine use in England: Results from a national survey. International Journal of Clinical
Practice, 64(11), pp1496-1502.
5. Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Graham, J. E., Malarkey, W.B., Porter, K., Lemeshow, S., Glaser, R. (2008). Olfactory
influences on mood and autonomic, endocrine, and immune function. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33(3),
pp328-339.
6. Laber-Warren, E. (2005). Relieve pain: Does acupuncture work? Women’s Health [Online]. Available at:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/acupuncture-to-relieve-pain (Accessed: 5 May 2014)
7. O'connor, A. (2012). Acupuncture provides true pain relief in study. The New York Times [Online]. Available
at: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/acupuncture-provides-true-pain-relief-in-study/ (Accessed: 5
May 2014)
8. Oxford dictionaries (n.d.). Definition of alternative medicine in English. Oxford dictionaries. Available at:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/alternative-medicine?q=alternative+medicine
(Accessed: 5 May 2014)
9. Shakeshaft, J. (2011). Does Aromatherapy Really Work? Greatist. Available at: http://greatist.com/happiness/
does-aromatherapy-really-work (Accessed: 5 May 2014)
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