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Audrey Thomas

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Mrs. Zimmerman
AP Literature
3 November 2015
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Why it Should be Integrated
Conventional medicine simply doesnt cut it anymore, and millions of Americans are
recognizing it. Of course, Western medicine is highly effective in treating patients, but to believe
that there are no faults within the system would mean that the impersonal methods utilized by
general physicians are being overlooked. In a world where the number of ailments far outweighs
the number of people who are licensed to treat them, doctors specializing in general medicine
have acquired a routine that consists of prescribing cocktails of pharmaceuticals to treat the
complication, without much regard for the human being behind it. For this reason, patients are
increasingly turning to alternative treatments and are relying on medical centers that view the
body from a holistic perspective. Disease cannot solely be described as an anatomical defect, but
also as one of the mind and spirit, which is why a number of treatments that stray from
conventional medicine such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, yoga, energy healing, and
herbalism are being implemented all over the country. The problem with this implementation,
however, is that it coexists with conventionalized medicine, and is not yet fully integrated. With
thousands of alternative practices functioning in the US, people often take it upon themselves to
take advantage of both conventional and alternative care without communicating with their care
providers. The dangers of this action far outweighs the benefits that both treatments have the
potential to bring, which is why complementary and alternative care must be integrated into the
Westernized medicine system. Patients in the United States should have the option of receiving
both conventional and alternative care, and the only way to safely obtain both methods is to
integrate them into one flexible system.

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To understand the integration of alternative medicine, one must have a working
knowledge of the two branches of medicine: conventional medicine and complementary and
alternative medicine, commonly abbreviated CAM. Each branch of medicine consists of different
philosophies, care objectives, care methods, primary and secondary treatment options, and
diagnosis methods (Ivker). The more common of the two in the United States is undoubtedly
conventional medicine, sometimes referred to as Western or allopathic medicine.
Conventional medicines primary objective is to cure a patients disease or ailment by means of
drugs and/or surgery (Ivker). This branch of medicine is widely accepted and used in the United
States because of the scientific evidence used to support it (Hall). In contrast, alternative
medicine aims to promote optimal health in order to prevent disease (Ivker). Described as
alternative, this medicinal practice consists of a broad range of healing philosophies,
approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western medicine does not commonly use, accept,
study, understand, or make available (What is Integrative Medicine and Health). Because of
their substantial differences, it would be challenging to adequately compare the two methods,
which both have very apparent strengths and weaknesses. A major attribute of conventional
medicine is that its highly effective and widely available. It, however, does not always provide a
cure and can be costly. Many Americans are beginning to prefer an alternative approach because
of the preventative properties that Western medicine commonly overlooks, but unfortunately it is
rarely capable of treating diseases once already established (Ivker).
Under the spectrum of complementary and alternative medicine fall an array of different
treatment options including but not limited to massage, acupuncture, yoga, energy healing,
herbal medicine, and aromatherapy. While these healing techniques are not specifically designed
to treat disease, they tend to focus on the well being of the mind, body, and spirit of the patient.

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This focus illustrates one of the major differences between conventional medicine and CAM, as
many believe that conventional medicine is disease-driven, while complementary and alternative
medicine is driven by the individual needs of the patient (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Because of
the holistic approach taken by complementary and alternative medicine, it is a popular option for
patients whose medical conditions such as joint pain, allergies, fatigue, arthritis, headaches,
mental problems, and digestive issues often seem to affect their everyday lives (Mann, Gaylord,
Norton). Of course, complementary and alternative treatment options vary on the patient and
their malady, and some treatment options are regarded higher than others. For example, yoga and
massage are two CAM therapies that are widely accepted among those primarily reliant on
Western medicine, but some therapies, such as energy healing and homeopathy, tend to be
regarded with skepticism due to lack of evidence (Comarow). Regardless of if a specific therapy
has proven benefits or not, all alternative treatment options seem to be growing in popularity due
to the individualized approach they provide (What is Integrative Medicine and Health).
Complementary and alternative medicine use has risen considerably since the mid1990s. Prior to the 90s, when CAM started to receive federal and foundation funding from the
NCCAM and the National Cancer Institute, most academic centers disregarded it and found it
unworthy of their time (Comarow). However, as soon as the funding began, respect from the
medical community followed. As complementary and alternative care proved to be worthy of the
time and funding necessary to harness the full benefits of it, patients and clinics all over the
nation began taking notice. Its growth over the years has been flooring, as shown by the 11%
increase in hospitals CAM use from 1998 to 2001 (Institute of Medicine). While the funding of
CAM may have acted as a catalyst to its spread, there are many reasons as to why people are
interested in the alternative treatment, and why many doctors want to implement it into their

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clinics. Most people that use CAM do not rely on it solely, but instead use CAM treatments in
addition to conventional medicine. Users feel as if complementary and alternative medicine
provides a more personalized treatment, a holistic perspective, cultural sensitivity, and has less
side effects (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Many doctors have similar views. As they see their
patients growing interest in CAM, they desire to learn more about the treatment options in order
to ensure the best care possible (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Additionally, many members of the
medical field feel that conventional medicine is too fast paced and pharmaceutical based, and
they are interested in finding treatments for ailments not well treated by Western medicine
(Mann, Gaylord, Norton).
Although complementary and alternative medicine is steadily growing, its growth is
confined to a limited group of users. Various data suggests that complementary and alternative
medicine is generally more accepted among certain races, genders, and socioeconomic groups.
For example, one study showed that CAM use is far more common among people that have an
annual income of 50,000 dollars or more (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). This limitation can be
attributed to the lack of insurance coverage for alternative treatment (Mann, Gaylord, Norton).
In fact, most CAM therapies are paid for out of pocket, making it very hard for people that are
not financially secure. Another study in 1998 found that the gender and race of general
physicians impacted their views on alternative medicine implementation (Institute of Medicine).
The study reported that female physicians are more partial to complementary and alternative
medicine than males and noted that white physicians have a greater interest in CAM than
African American physicians (Institute of Medicine). While it is true that finance obstacles and
physician biases do hold a high degree of relevance in the complementary and alternative

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medicine community, the growth of alternative treatment has yet to stagger. Complementary and
alternative medicine is becoming more and more commonplace with each passing year.
While the term integrated medicine is closely related to complementary and alternative
medicine, the two appoaches have a substantial difference. While CAM describes the healing
philosophies, approaches, and therapies that Western medicine typically doesnt accept,
integrative medicine is a clinical approach that combines the strengths of conventional medicine
and alternative medicine to effectively treat disease in a more holistic manner (Institute of
Medicine). Although complementary and alternative medicine is nowhere near being fully
integrated, hospitals all over the nation are exploring the benefits of combining the two treatment
options. The combination truly is beneficial, as all of the hospitals on the US Newss best
hospital list have taken steps toward integration and provide some sort of CAM service
(Comarow). Recently, CAM treatments have been very popular among cancer patients, and
various treatment centers around the nation have worked to integrate alternative medicine. Some
of the highly acclaimed cancer treatment centers that now offer an integrative medicine center
include the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The University of Texas M.D Anderson
Cancer Center, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Institute of Medicine). One of the main
reasons that complementary and alternative medicine is often used in cancer treatment is because
of the severe pain that accompanies the disease. While plenty of conventional pharmaceuticals
may treat physical cancer pain, there are other pain components that are best treated alternatively.
Of course, cancer pain often includes nausea, weakness, and fatigue, but the pain is also
neuropathic, psychological, spiritual and social, and the mental aspect of cancer pain is what
often reduces the quality of life for a patient (Chaturvdi, Singh). In fact, about 50-70% of cancer
patients suffer from uncontrolled pain associated with anxiety and depression (Chatvurdi,

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Singh). Complementary and alternative medicine is effective for the non-physical type of cancer
pain because it examines the patient through a holistic viewpoint. Instead of examining the parts
of the body that are affected by pain, it sees the body as a whole, including a patients mind and
spirit (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Certainly, highly advanced Western medicine must be
implemented when treating a disease as detrimental as cancer. Complementary and alternative
treatments work well to give a patient more control of their bodies and relieve pain, but to ignore
conventional medicine can be life threatening (Hall). Instead of solely relying on one approach,
many cancer centers have been able to ensure their patients quality of life by combining CAM
and conventional medicine and integrating the two under one roof.
Although many patients and medical professionals from all over the globe have seen the
benefits of CAM and its integration, there are still many skeptics of complementary and
alternative medicine, with admittedly sound reason. First and foremost, there is no general
consensus on what CAM treatments are effective and what arent, and there is much less
evidence to support complementary and alternative medicine than there is to support
conventional medicine practices (Hall). Actually, many people feel as if its the evidence that
determines the line between alternative and conventional care. Skeptics of all things alternative
believe that when CAM methods are proven to work, they become conventional, and that the
separation between CAM and conventional medicine is a false one (Hall). An example of these
boundaries can be shown by the diet and exercise debate. Because complementary and
alternative treatments involve anything that helps to heal the body without the use of
pharmaceuticals or surgery, it can even include proper diet and exercise. This preventative health
care measure is proven to be effective, so questioners of CAM often argue that an alternative
treatment isnt working, but a conventional one is (Hall). The problem with complementary and

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alternative medicine in the eyes of its skeptics is that there is no hard evidence. CAM
effectiveness is highly dependent on the person being treated, so it is hard to tell exactly what
works and what doesnt under the complementary and alternative branch of medicine. This
dependency is an additional issue for alternative medicine doubters. The classic placebo effect
has been proven to occur among some CAM users in various fake versus real acupuncture tests,
resulting in the belief that complementary and alternative therapy is only effective if the patient
believes it to be (Comarow).
While skepticism and lack of evidence for many CAM therapies does contribute to the
separation of alternative and conventional medicine, there are other influences that work to
prevent the full integration of the two medicinal approaches. Unfortunately, there are political
and economic factors that play a large role in the development and growth of medicine, and too
often they do not work in the favor of integration. Currently, Western medicine is unchanging
because of the barriers placed on it by insurance and pharmaceutical companies (Mann, Gaylord,
Norton). The barriers work to strengthen the market economy of health care by providing
insurance for conventional treatment, which often results in the prescription of expensive
pharmaceuticals. Many believe that the only way complementary and alternative medicine can
break through the barriers is by being proven more effective than conventional care, which
defeats the purpose of its integration, as the differences between the two are meant to be
embraced and work together (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Insurance undoubtedly plays a large role
in health care, so it is unsurprising that one of the biggest blocks to institutional change is lack of
insurance coverage for CAM (Institute of Medicine). This lack of coverage is often supported by
CAM users that do not want their treatments to undergo carrier restrictions and lose quality, but
the majority of people feel as if integrating CAM with conventional medicine will result in the

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insurance coverage needed for CAM therapies to live up to their full potential (Institute of
Medicine). It is true that alternative medicine is steadily growing and thriving among
conventional medicine, but until the two medicines are fully integrated into one, their
coexistence can be dangerous. Research has consistently proved that mixing conventional drugs
with natural supplements can cause serious problems, especially among children, the elderly,
heavy drug users, and pregnant or breastfeeding women (Mix-Ups Risk). Patients often use
both conventional and alternative treatments without knowing if the two work cooperatively
together, which potentially puts their health and safety at risk (Mann, Gaylord, Norton).
Undoubtedly, integration is the much safer option.
The field of complementary and alternative medicine will surely continue to grow, and it
is clear that in order to avoid health risks and legal issues, integration of alternative and
conventional medicine is necessary. Of course, Western medicine seems to be unchanging as of
now, but if the boundaries that separated alternative and conventional medicine were broken, the
easiest way to integrate is through education on the subject. The biggest obstacle in
implementing successful complementary and alternative medicine programs is that 63% of
physicians have a resistance to do so (Institution of Medicine). However, would they have that
resistance if they were educated on complementary and alternative medicine? Its true that CAM
research is federally funded, but the reason that alternative medicine and conventional medicine
stay separate is because less than 40% of the research is disclosed to physicians (What is
Integrative Medicine and Health). Another reason for the separation is because of the lack of
education of complementary and alternative medicine in medical schools. Alternative and
conventional medicine differ in the fact that many alternative treatments focus on preventative
measures, while conventional medicine works to treat disease and illness once its already struck.

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In most medical schools, there is much more of a focus on disease management than disease
prevention, so graduates leave without being educated on complementary and alternative
medicine (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). Fortunately, by 1997 approximately two thirds of the
nations medical schools offered elective classes on CAM, but those classes are, of course,
optional, and CAM education remains a very small part of medical training (Mann, Gaylord,
Norton). Ultimately, the easiest way to integrate conventional medicine and CAM is to educate
medical students from the beginning or to consistently inform conventional clinicians about new
research regarding alternative medicine. It is important for members of the medical field to be
knowledgeable of both conventional medicine and CAM in order to give their patients the best
treatment options that incorporate both sides of the medicinal spectrum, as well as side effects
(Mann, Gaylord, Norton).
Although complementary and alternative medicine is not as well researched as Western
medicine, it continues to appeal to many people who are interested in the benefits of it that
conventional treatment does provide. Regardless of the limited scientific evidence to support
some of the alternative therapies that are gaining popularity, people who use and work with
CAM feel as if society should be open to it, as they can see it working (Comarow). Conventional
medicine has a wide array of benefits that should be certainly be taken advantage of, but it is
often considered too fast paced and does not take the well-being of the whole patient into
consideration (Mann, Gaylord, Norton). By combining conventional medicine and CAM and
integrating the two approaches under one system, a complete and effective treatment is created.
Within this treatment, conventional medicine works to treat the disease, while alternative
therapies work to treat the mind, body, and spirit of the patient in question. Never before has
there been a treatment plan that takes the patient as a whole into consideration, which is why

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integration is necessary. It is time for the medical field to provide the well-rounded health care
approach that patients deserve by integrating complementary and alternative medicine into the
conventional medicine system.

Works Cited
Comarow, Avery. "Embracing Alternative Care. (Cover Story)." U.S. News & World Report
144.2 (2008): 31. MAS Complete. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.
Hall, Harriet. "The Skepdoc." Skeptic 20.3 (2015): 7. Science Reference Center. Web. 7 Oct.
2015.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Use of Complementary And Alternative Medicine
by the American Public. Integration of CAM and Conventional Medicine. U.S. National
Library of Medicine, 2005. Web. 08 Oct. 2015
Ivker, Robert. "AHHA: Comparing Holistic and Conventional Medicine." AHHA: Comparing
Holistic and Conventional Medicine. American Holistic Health Association, 1 June 2010.
Web. 2 Nov. 2015.
Mann, Douglas J., Susan A. Gaylord, and Sally K. Norton. "Integrating Complementary &

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Alternative Therapies with Conventional Care."Integrating Complementary &
Alternative Therapies with Conventional Care (2004): 1-42. University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.
"Mix-Ups Risk." NATURAL VERSUS, CONVENTIONAL. Sunday Times, The (Perth) (2012):
39. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 8 Oct. 2015
Singh, Priyanka, and Aditi Chaturvedi. "Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Cancer
Pain Management: A Systematic Review." Indian Journal Of Palliative Care 21.1
(2015): 105-115 11p. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 8 Oct. 2015
"What Is Integrative Medicine and Health?" Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. University
of California, San Francisco, 2012. Web. 08 Oct. 2015.

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