Allergy - What is CAM? (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used to describe a diverse group of healing systems that are not presently considered to be part of mainstream medicine also known as traditional or western medicine. The goal of conventional medicine is to locate the physical source of a particular disease and then remove it or treat or "mask" the symptom. For example, if a patient has some sort of infection, a conventional doctor would probably prescribe a specific antibiotic to kill the invading bacteria. If a patient has an allergy, that patient is usually treated with over the counter or prescription medication to treat the symptoms. For other cases, a patient is given a series of shots that can last many years to teach the body to build up immunity. CAM practitioners, on the other hand, take a more "holistic" approach to healthcare. They believe that health and disease involve a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. In order to treat a disease or simply promote good health, CAM practitioners treat the whole body by taking all of these factors into account. These practitioners also look at ways to prevent illness or symptoms. In the United States, this holistic approach to health has been labeled "alternative" for a variety of scientific, cultural, and political reasons. When you think about it, traditional medicine in the United States is really the alternative when you consider things like Chinese Medicine which has been practices for thousands of years not a couple of hundred years. In many cases it is very difficult to scientifically test alternative practices, such as acupuncture, in the same way that certain conventional practices, such as medications, are tested. Although alternative therapies are often based on hundreds -- in some cases thousands -- of years of experience, the conventional medical community relies heavily on scientific evidence (rather than clinical experience) when evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a particular therapy. For this reason, many alternative practices that have not been thoroughly tested (or cannot be thoroughly tested) are considered "unscientific" by modern Western standards. Not too long ago, Chiropractic medicine was not covered by most insurance policies. In addition, many non-Western healing practices are not taught in United States medical schools, available to patients in U.S. hospitals, or even covered by health insurance in the country. So typically in the United States, medical professionals treat the symptoms and not the cause or the whole body. They don't usually look at how to prevent the symptoms. If you have a headache, take an aspirin. If you have an allergy, take an anti-histamine. An example of a CAM would be a product called NasalGuard for allergy sufferers. This product creates an invisible electrostatic screen around the nose. Since all allergens have an electrostatic charge, it screens out the allergens and therefore a patient does not get the allergy symptoms. Some patients and doctors even recommend NasalGuard to keep people from catching the cold or flu, as these viruses also have an electrostatic charge and are killed on contact as NasalGuard has an ingredient called Lysine which is proven to kill off these bacteria and viruses. NasalGuard can be used as a Complimentary treatment and sometimes an Alternative treatment. What does complementary medicine and alternative medicine mean? The terms "complementary medicine" and "alternative medicine," although often used to mean the same thing, actually have quite different implications. Complementary medicine refers to medical practices used together with conventional medicine while alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of complementary medicine is the use of hypnotherapy together with pain medications to reduce anxiety and enhance relaxation in people recovering from severe burns. Following a special diet rather than taking medications to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an example of alternative medicine. What is integrative medicine? The term "integrative medicine" is often used interchangeably with CAM, but it has a subtle and very important different meaning. Professionals who practice integrative medicine blend appropriate CAM therapies with mainstream medicine rather than simply adding one complementary therapy (such as herbs, for example) to a standard medical treatment. For example, an integrative treatment for Alzheimer's disease may include a combination of the following: 1. Medications that increase certain brain chemicals, 2. Antioxidants (such as vitamin E and ginkgo biloba) that scavenge free radicals, 3. Changes in lifestyle (such as walking programs and relaxation training) to reduce anxiety and improve behavior. 4. Music therapy to bolster the immune system. More and more Americans are becoming familiar with the term "integrative medicine," and studies have found that this blended approach to healthcare is safe and effective for a growing number of medical conditions. What are the basic principles of CAM? Although CAM therapies vary widely, several themes can be traced through them all: - The focus is on the whole person -- physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. - Prevention of illness is a primary concern. - Treatments are highly individualized. - Treatments are aimed at the causes of illness rather than at its symptoms. - Treatments are designed to support the natural healing processes of the body. Bob Paulson is the CEO of Hanginwaves.com For more information and traditional, Complementary and Alternative Health please visit http://www.hanginwaves.com For more information on how to prevent colds and or allergies please visit http://www.allergyblocker.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Paulson Allergy - How Antihistamines Work For millions of us allergy sufferers, antihistamines ease the annoying discomfort accompanying allergic reactions. Being an allergy sufferer myself, through the decades I have taken both over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines, some of which have been discontinued. Allergic reaction symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, headache, and itching indicating sensitization to certain allergens such as pollen, mold, dust, or insect venom. Repeated exposure results in allergic reactions due to antigen-antibody interactions. First, antigens come into contact with lung, gastrointestinal tract, and/or skin tissue, and enter into the bloodstream. Next, mast cells and white blood cells misidentify these as invaders and inappropriately respond by releasing histamines causing tissue injury. The severity of the allergic reaction is directly proportional to the amount of histamine released. Histamines dilate small blood vessels and capillaries, but contract smooth muscles. Responses include decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn and nausea, and proteins and fluids leaking from capillaries. Nasal mucous membrane capillaries leaking, result in nasal congestion. Skin capillaries leaking produce hives and swelling resulting in pain and itching. Thankfully all antihistamines block most of histamines effects by competing at histamine receptor sites thereby preventing them from producing an effect on the tissues. Antihistamine drugs prevent, but can't reverse, histamine responses. Some of the general uses of antihistamines include relief from nausea and vomiting, relief from motion sickness, and relief from coughs. Usually antihistamines are administered orally since they are well absorbed in the intestinal tract, or topically, although a few can be given intravenously. To maintain a therapeutic dose, these medicines are given two to four times per day because the liver rapidly metabolizes them. First generation antihistamines, which can be used interchangeably, include chloropheniramine (Chlortrimeton?), diphenhydramine (Benadryl?), and promethazine (Phenergan?). Some of the side effects include nose and mouth dryness, and drowsiness. Some antihistamines are also used as local anesthetics because they depress sensor nerve activity. When taking these antihistamines, it is advisable to not drive or perform hazardous tasks, and not to use alcohol or other drugs. Second generation antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec?), and Loratidine (Claritin?), and third generation antihistamines include fexofenadine (Allegra?), claim to be more selective for histamine receptors and cause less drying or sedating. However, these are contraindicated in patients with hepatic dysfunction, and when taking certain antifungal, antibiotic, and serotonin release inhibitors due to unfortunate deaths. My personal experience with these antihistamines is I did not find the relief I needed. Because of the sedative effect, antihistamines are used in sleep aids like Nytol?, or Tylenol PM?. Because of the drying effect, antihistamines are found in over?the?counter skin ointments/sprays/creams, cold remedies, and cough syrups. However, people with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, urinary retention, increased intraocular pressure, narrow-angular glaucoma, peptic ulcer, or prostatic hypertrophy should not use antihistamines. They are also contraindicated in dehydrated children, nursing mothers, newborn or premature infants. Nonetheless, antihistamines are widely used successfully by millions. In conclusion, antihistamines work by providing us allergy sufferers much needed: relief. ? Debby Bolen