Integrative Medicine: English 132 research paper: April 2012

Why This? Why Now?

Today, medicine is becoming more "single minded." It works for only a number of people and is not specified for individuals. East World Philosophy incorporates yoga practices, natural herbs and remedies, and meditation.

Abstract

West World Medicine, also known as Western Medicine and modern medicine, is a clinical medicine put through trials over a period of time to test its effectiveness. This type of medicine was designed to work for the whole and not for individuals. Eastern Medicine, or nontraditional and alternative medicine, is a medicine that uses a process of trial and error which is designed to work for each individual. This essay will discuss the effectiveness of both separately and interactively. To illustrate this, this essay will discuss how each medicine techniques are used in Cancer patients. To prove how Western Medicine and Eastern Medicine is best used with Cancer treatment, this essay refers to Family Doctor Khasala and books such as “Supportive Cancer Care with Chinese Medicine” written by William C. S. Cho. The purpose of this essay is to explain the integration of Eastern Medicine into modern medicine is the most effective approach to treating cancer patients because it recognizes the mind-body network of communication, it focusses on the patients’ health, and offers relief from pain from post-surgery treatment

Thesis Statement

Integrating Eastern Medicine into Modern Medicine is the most effective approach to treating cancer patients because it recognizes the mind-body network of communication, it focuses on the patients’ health, and offers relief from pain from post-surgery treatment.

Integrative Medicine

Integrative Medicine is a therapeutic and preventive health practice which is intended to be used alongside clinical medicine (UKessays 2011). Therefore in the treatment of Cancer, it is designed to be used alongside clinical Cancer treatment practices such as surgery, chemotherapy, and medicine. Integrative Medicine can also replace either of these Cancer treatments, or be used to cure the harsh side effects of clinical Cancer treatment (Deng 2009).

Practices of Integrative Medicine have been around since the beginning of civilization (UKessays 2011) and since it is traditional medicine that does not advance with new technology, it has varied little time. However, over time new techniques have been recognized and become more popular by different civilizations (UKessays 2011). Ancient Chinese techniques include acupuncture and yoga (Shen 2011), while the Europeans adapted herbs and minerals for medicine (Nemingha 2011). Each of these techniques can be found in Cancer treatment based on research. Integrating Eastern Medicine into modern medicine is the most effective approach to treating cancer patients because it recognizes the mind-body network of communication, it focusses on the patients’ health, and offers relief from pain from post-surgery treatment. Although Integrative Medicine does have one flaw, time, it is still the best option for Cancer treatment.

The Mind-Body Network

The human body is a system made up of muscles, bones, organs, other physical features, and a communication network where each group of the body will communicate with another signaling low oxygen and blood levels, and movement of major muscles (Cho 2010). This function must work at a homeostatic level constantly or it can cause one’s body to become an unbalanced, unhealthy state. Such a thing that could cause this unbalanced state is Cancer. Cancer can be defined as: a development in which transformed cells acquire the ability to disregard the constraints of its environment and the body normal control mechanisms (Cho 2010). A Cancerous tumor can be very detrimental to what Dr. William C. S. Cho calls, the mind body network, seeking balance in the body and mind correspondingly. This is because a tumor can disturb the natural flow of blood, hormones, and other bodily movements, because the tumor demands it to survive.

Integrative Medicine Recognizes Mind-Body Network of Communication:

Yoga Stimulates Mind-Body Network

One method that effectively stimulates mind-body flow is the practice of yoga (Khalsa 2012). Dr. Khalsa explains that a major part of yoga is breathing in an interview by a yoga practicing blogger. She describes how learning to breathe correctly gives the patient a sense of control over his or her destiny. Khalsa also states, “wellness and health doesn’t come from a bottle, doesn’t come from a potion, but it can come from within, and in our affirmations, and the food we put into the body,” (Christina Feb 2011). The practice of yoga has proven to work for Dr. Khalsa and her patients in creating a healthy and stable mind-body network.

http://www.theverve360.com/wellness-services/yoga/

Integrative Medicine Focuses on Health

The first step to focusing in on the patient’s health is by creating the mind-body network (Cho 2011), which is explained in “1.2 Recognizing the Mind-Body Network”. After this network has been established, the patient then can monitor their health with exercise and diet.

“Give one percent and let the patient run with it. I have given one percent and the patient has taken that one percent and made huge milestones… This is not a one way street. I am only here to help and guide and show and educate. I can’t go home with every patient… no one would want me in their home doing this, walking with them through the grocery store…patients can take what I have to say and apply it to their lives as is applicable” ~ Dr. Khalsa

Other forms of Chemotherapy

Scientists have found natural substances that can have the same Cancer diminishing effects without harming other cells (Types of Chemotherapy 2005). These natural substances are plant alkaloids which are cell specific. This means that they will attack cancerous cells during the stage of cell’s life (Types of Chemotherapy 2005).

Periwinkle

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/99165-noodlers-periwinkle/ http://threatsummary.forestthreats.org/threats/threatSummaryViewer.cfm?threatID=152

Pacific Yew

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/tabr2.htm http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=

May Apple

http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/podpe.htm http://www.restoringthelandscape.com/2012/02/native-plant-of-week-mayapple.html

Integrative Medicine Offers Relief From Pain:

Acupuncture can offer relief from pain

In a recent study, ninety cancer patients were treated with acupuncture to get rid of their pain. After two months of undergoing treatment, all patients’ pain intensity had decreased by 36 % (Deng 2009).

http://doctornalini.com/can-acupuncture-help-cancer-patients/

Anxiety is very prevalent among Cancer patients because Western techniques for treatment generally evoke distress and emotional anguish (Deng 2009). Patients may experience fear, feelings of death, and depression.

Natural Anxiety Treatments