Integrative Medicine

Nutritional Implications

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM):

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): alternative, adjunctive health care practices: not presently an integral part of conventional medicine; includes botanical use, mind-body approaches, musculoskeletal manipulation, energy medicine, nutrition-diet interventions
Thomson in Krause, p. 470

CAM Therapies Include

Alternative medical systems, such as naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, and homeopathy Mind-body therapies, such as meditation, prayer, art or music therapy Biologically based therapies such as herbs, whole foods diets, and supplementation Manipulative therapies such as massage, chiropractic medicine, osteopathy, yoga Whole medical systems based on energy therapies such as qi gong, magnetic therapy, and reiki

Integrative medicine

Integration of these approaches into conventional medicine; nutritional care is a primary therapy in this model Focused on combined use of conventional and CAM approaches Evidence-based Includes wellness and prevention
Thomson in Krause, p. 471

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Part of the National Institutes of Health
Investigates and evaluates alternative therapies and their effectiveness

Theoretical Basis of Holistic Therapies

Health as a vital, dynamic state; more than the absence of disease The healing force of nature Self-healing power of living things; organisms have inherent self-defense mechanisms against illness Includes naturopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy, traditional Oriental medicine, acupuncture, phytotherapy

Integrative Therapies
Health is more than the absence of disease. The body can heal itself.

Naturopathy Homeopathy Traditional Chinese medicine Acupuncture Phytotherapy

Naturopathy

Practitioners diagnose and treat at the primary care level Train in 4-year postgraduate institutions Most states require licensure Uses natural methods of healing (light, heat, air, water, and massage) Training includes pathology, microbiology, physical and clinical diagnosis, pharmacognosy, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, nutrition, Treatments include phytomedicines, electrotherapy, physiotherapy, minor surgery, mechanotherapy, nutrition, nutritional supplements, and natural forces

Chiropractic Concepts

Body has the ability to heal itself; Practitioners role is to assist The structure and condition of the body influences how well it functions The mind-body relationship is important in maintaining health and promoting healing Locate and eliminate subluxations, musculoskeletal problems that interfere with the bodys ability to maintain health Primary therapy is manual manipulations,

Chiropractic Practitioners

Do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery Licensed and regulated in all 50 states and 30+ countries Practitioners must graduate from 4year accredited college of chiropractic and pass a nationally-administered exam

Chiropractic

The most widely-used of the complementary and alternative treatments, particularly for low back pain, neck pain, and headache Effectiveness is being studied by the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research, a consortium of chiropractic schools and universities, established by NCCAM

Homeopathy

Law of similars: Substances in large doses that produce symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure the same symptoms when administered in very dilute amounts Remedies become potentized through repeated dilution and succussion (shaking)

Homeopathy

Results of research on the effectiveness of homeopathy have been contradictory Appears to have more than a placebo effect, but scientific basis unclear Generally regarded as safe (many homeopathic remedies are so dilute that the healing substance is nondetectable by chemical means

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Based on the concept of body life force chi (Qi) Forces that must be balanced
Yin and yang and blood

Invisible energy circuits called meridians carry chi and blood throughout the body

Nutrition in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Components: Food as a means of obtaining nutrition, food as a tonic or medicine, fasting Foods classified by taste (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, salty) and property (cool, cold, warm, hot and plain) Regulate yin, yang, chi, blood

Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Acupuncture: Use of thin needles, inserted into points on the meridians, stimulating the bodys energy or chi Moxibustion: application of heat along meridian acupuncture points, affecting chi and blood, balancing substances and organs Treat disharmony in the body

Acupuncture as Anesthesia

Has been used to produce regional anesthesia Appears to act through needle stimulation, triggering the release of opioids Research has been mixed Has been shown to be efficacious in adult postop management, chemotherapyinduced nausea, postoperative dental pain

Traditional Chinese Herbs

Includes herbs and minerals as well as animal products Pharmacopoeias published as early as the third century BC Most medicinals include multiple substances

Phytotherapy

Science of using plant-derived substances to treat and prevent illness Botanicals: come as bulk herbs, tinctures, capsules and tablets; includes herbs and other plant materials Sometimes the active ingredient has been identified; sometimes not Have a long history of research and use in Europe

Botanical Formulations

Teas: weak concentration prepared by steeping fresh/dried herbs for a few minutes in water Infusions: more concentrated than teas; steeped for 15 minutes Decoction: Most concentrated of beverages; botanical is boiled for 3060 minutes

Botanical Formulations

Extracts: herbs are extracted with an organic solvent to dissolve the active components; concentrated form Tincture: extract in which solvent is alcohol Glycerite: extract in which the solvent is glycerol or mixture of glycerol, propylene glycol, and water; more suitable for children

Botanical Formulations

Capsules: Herbal material enclosed in a hard shell made from gelatin or cellulose Tablets: herbal material is mixed with filler to form the hard tablet; may be coated or uncoated Lozenges (troches): active components are released in the mouth when chewed or sucked Soft gels: used to encase liquid extracts, such as omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin E Essential oils: fragrant, volatile plant oils used for aromatherapy, bathing; not to be used internally unless specifically directed

American Herbal Products Assoc Botanical Safety Rating System

Class 1: herbs that can be safely consumed when used appropriately Class 2: herbs for which restrictions apply, e.g. for external use only, not to be used during pregnancy, nursing, etc Class 3: herbs labeled To be used only under the supervision of an expert qualified in the appropriate use of this substance. Class 4: insufficient data for classification

Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)

Defined dietary supplements as a product intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combinations of these incredients Reclassified botanicals as dietary supplements, distinct from food or drugs

Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)

Plant extracts, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, hormonal products available without prescription may carry structure-function claims Cannot claim to prevent or cure specific conditions Must display disclaimer, This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Required Labeling of Dietary Supplements under DSHEA

Name (echinacea, for example) Ingredient information Disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." Supplement Facts panel, which includes serving size, amount and active ingredient. Name and address of manufacturer, packer or distributor.

Supplement Facts Panel

Dietary Supplement Claims

Health claim: describes the relationship between a substance and a disease condition; FDA does not approve, but must be notified Qualified health claim: based on emerging scientific evidence; must be approved by FDA Structure-function claim: most common; does not claim to prevent disease, but a physiological effect is noted, e.g. increases blood flow to the heart.

Labeling Under DSHEA

Allowed This product helps to increase blood flow to the heart. This product promotes urinary tract health This product improves absent-mindedness. This product reduces stress and frustration Not Allowed This product prevents heart disease This product prevents urinary tract infections. This product reduces risk of Alzheimers Disease. This product improves depression.

Regulation of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are not subject to the same standards as prescription or over-thecounter drugs Manufacturers do not have to prove their products are safe or effective before they put them on the market FDA can pull supplements proven to be dangerous, but only after the fact; it is up to the FDA to make its case

Regulation of Dietary Supplements: Medwatch

The FDAs Medwatch system can be used to report possible adverse reactions to dietary supplements
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/hcp.htm

Examples of FDA Warnings

January, 2004: FDA warns consumers not to feed their babies Better than Formula Ultra Infant Immune Booster 117" being sold over the internet as a dietary supplement February, 2002: Consumers warned to stop using the products PC SPES and SPES capsules because they contain undeclared prescription drug ingredients that could cause serious health effects

Examples of FDA Warnings

November, 2001: consumers warned to immediately stop use of LipoKinetix, a weight loss product; implicated in a number of serious liver injuries. March, 2002: consumers advised of risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements to ease stress and anxiety. February, 2004: issues final rule forbidding sale of ephedra-containing weight loss products; associated with significant adverse health effects including heart attack and stroke

Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act 12/06

Requires manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and OTC drugs to report all serious adverse events to FDA Requires manufacturers to keep all adverse event records, serious and non-serious, for six years; allows FDA to inspect these records. Sets a 15-day time limit for manufacturers to give FDA the serious reports they receive.

Cautions Regarding Dietary Supplements

There may be a discrepancy between the ingredients on the label and whats inside This is especially true of herb mixtures, such as Chinese herbs The dosage of the active ingredient in herbals can vary widely depending on the variety of plant, where its grown, climate, etc.

Read the Dietary Supplement Label and Verify.

Complete botanical name of the product (make sure it is the right botanical) The part of the plant used to make the product; it should be the part that contains the active components The concentration of the botanical and if it is appropriate, neither too weak or two strong

Debusk, RM. A practical guide to herbal supplements for nutrition practitioners. Top Clin Nutr 16:53, 2001

Read the Dietary Supplement Label and Verify.

The daily dosage needed to obtain the desired effect The list of ingredients used to identify fillers, potential allergens Lot number Expiration date Recognized seal of approval (Good Housekeeping, USP, Consumerlab) Compare prices: prices vary widely

Debusk, RM. A practical guide to herbal supplements for nutrition practitioners. Top Clin Nutr 16:53, 2001

Evaluating Dietary Supplements

Obtain unbiased evaluative information from resources like Supplement Watch and Consumer Lab www.consumerlab.com Encourage patients to purchase supplements from well-known manufacturers

ConsumerLab Study of 20 Multivitamins

Vitamins that failed: The Vitamin Shoppe Multivitamins Especially for women: Contaminated with lead Hero Nutritionals Yummi Bears: Had twice the labeled amount of vitamin A Nature's Plus Especially Yours for Women: Took twice as long as allowed to disintegrate AARP Maturity Formula: Took nearly twice as long as allowed to disintegrate Eniva VIBE: Only 54 percent of claimed vitamin A Pet-Tabs Complete Daily Vitamin-Mineral Supplement for Dogs: Contained lead
Accessed at MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16655168/ Released 1/2007

ConsumerLab Study of 20 Multivitamins

Vitamins that passed: Centrum Silver Member's Mark Complete Multi One A Day Women's Flintstones Complete

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16655168/ January, 2007

Tips for Picking a Multivitamin from CSPI

Choose well-known mainstream brands by companies that have a lot at stake. Buy from large, trusted retailers, not unknown sellers on the Internet. Look on the bottle for a stamp from USP, NSF or ConsumerLab.com. While the stamp doesn't guarantee the product is safe and effective, it does indicate that the manufacturer has submitted the product for testing to show that it contains what is stated on the label. Dont spend a fortune on vitamins. Pricey products toting all sorts of "extras" aren't necessary and may be trouble.

Center for Science in the Public Interest accessed at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16655168/ 1/07

Evaluating Dietary Supplements

United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP) Certification mark (USP) indicates that the product contains the dietary supplement listed on the label in the stated amount and that the product is manufactured properly Does not speak to the safety or efficacy of the ingredients, only to good manufacturing practices

CAM Providers: MDs/DOs

Over 1/3 of medical schools offer instruction in alternative medicine More than half of family physicians in the US regularly prescribe alternative treatments or have used themselves

CAM Providers: RDs

Nutrition in Complementary Care DPG, a subunit of the American Dietetic Association http://www.complementarynutrition.org/ Some RDs are incorporating counseling about CAM into their practices

CAM Providers: Other

RNs RPh ND: naturopath provider DC: chiropractor OMD: oriental medical doctor Accupuncturist Massage Therapist Hypnotherapist Herbalist

Tips for Patients: Evaluating CAM Providers

Check for licensing, education, accreditation of provider Check for complaints (BBB, Board of Health, Attorney Generals office, patient support groups) Speak with the practitioner in person, evaluate facilities and neighbors

Trends in Use of CAM by US Adults 1997-2002

The number of Americans using CAM remained stable at 72 million 50% in use of herbal supplements, from 12.1% in 1997 to 18.6% (38 million). Yoga increased 40%, from 3.7% to 5.1% (10 million adults)

Tindle HA, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Eisenberg DM. Trends in the use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; 1; 1: 2005.

Trends in Use of CAM by US Adults 1997-2002

Use of CAM therapies including acupuncture, biofeedback, energy healing, hypnosis remained essentially unchanged Use of homeopathy, high-dose vitamins, chiropractic, and massage therapy declined slightly Increased use of herbal medicine practitioners among those who use herbs (5% to 15%)

Commonly Used Botanicals

Echinacea Garlic Ginger Gingko biloba Ginseng

Hawthorn Milk thistle Saw palmetto St. Johns wort Valerian

Echinacea

Source: Indication: Action:

Cautions:

Purple cornflower Stop or moderate colds or flu Macrophages and their secretions Avoid if immune system is hampered and do not use continually

Garlic

Source: Indication: Action:

Cautions:

Garlic plant Lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides Chewing or crushing activates several sulfurcontaining compounds Allergies, GI symptoms, interaction with anticoagulant drugs

Ginger

Source: Indication:
Action:

Cautions:

Root of ginger plant For nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and motion sickness; anti-inflammatory Volatile oils in the rhizome, called gingerols; may act on serotonin receptors in the ileum Interaction with anticoagulant, antihypertensive, glucose-lowering drugs

Gingko Biloba

Source: Indication:

Action:

Cautions:

Gingko tree Improved blood circulation; used to treat age-related mental function decline r/t cerebrovascular insufficiency Flavone glycosides have antioxidant effect, inhibit platelet aggregation Class 2d botanical; may potentiate MAO inhibitors; GI complaints, headache, allergy

Ginseng

Source: Indication: Action: Cautions:

Ginseng plant (radish-like herb) root General improvement from the steroidlike components Ginsenosides, enhanced immune function; studies mixed Class 2d botanicals; contraindicated in persons with hypertension; overstimulation, GI distress

Hawthorn
Native European tree; leaves, blossoms, fruit Indication: Improve blood flow in circulatory disorders Action: Dilates coronary vessels; strengthens heart contractions and rate Cautions: Class 1 botanical

Source:

Saw Palmetto

Source: Indication: Action:

Cautions:

Palm tree Reduce incidence of BPH Action unclear; research results mixed Contains phytoestrogens, could interfere with estrogen therapy, oral contraceptives, other phytohormonecontaining herbs

St. Johns Wort

Source: Indication: Action:

Cautions:

Perennial herb Mild to moderate depression Hypericin and hyperforin in flowering tops; reuptake of neurotransmitters Rated as 2d botanical; may potentiate pharmaceutical MAOIs; interact with other antidepressives; photosensitivity

Valerian

Source: Indication:

Action:
Cautions:

Perennial herb; active element in roots and rhizomes Minor tranquilizer and sleep aid; fewer side effects than medications Volatile oils (bornyl acetate and valerenic acid) mode of action GABA binding Class 1 botanical; abrupt withdrawal may precipitate symptoms

Milk Thistle

Source: Indication:

Action:

Cautions:

Herb in daisy family; seeds are highest in silymarin Hepatoprotective; used to treat liver damage in cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty infiltration Silymarin stimulates protein synthesis, antioxidant; shown to be moderately effective Class 1 botanical; mild laxative effect; allergies

Working with Clients who Use CAM

Most clients will not tell their allopathic (mainstream medicine) providers about CAM use, unless asked Establish a rapport with clients Be non-judgemental; assume role of coach Ask clients to bring all prescription, OTC, and dietary supplements with them to their visit

Debusk RM. Integrative medicine and phytotherapy. In Krause, p. 491-492.

For Each Supplement

Ask client what he/she hopes to achieve by taking it Discuss whether the formulation is appropriate to achieve the clients health goals Discuss whether dosage taken has been found to be safe and effective in clinical trials Review quality of the particular preparation and how to evaluate

Debusk RM. Integrative medicine and phytotherapy. In Krause, p. 491-492.

For Each Supplement

Discuss any known safety or contraindication concerns Review potential or known interactions between each supplement and prescription or OTC preparations, other dietary supplements, and foods Instruct client to use dosage commonly recommended and instructions for where to obtain credible information

Debusk RM. Integrative medicine and phytotherapy. In Krause, p. 491-492.

For Each Supplement

Recommend a low starting dosage, even lower than that commonly recommended and evaluate response Use this as an opportunity to teach consumers analytical skills that will be useful in managing their own health.

Debusk RM. Integrative medicine and phytotherapy. In Krause, p. 491-492.

Working with Clients Who Use CAM

It is the responsibility of health professionals to ask clients about use of CAM and to be familiar with commonly-used therapies Nutrition professionals can take the same evidence-based approach to CAM as to any other therapy or medical intervention

Links for Integrative Medicine Information

Intellihealth Index of Herbal Medicines and Supplements http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8 513/31402.html Herb Med: An interactive electronic herb database. http://www.herbmed.org/ Rosenthal Center Botanical Medicine Information Resources (Columbia University) http://www.rosenthal.hs.columbia.edu/Botanicals.ht ml National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Therapy http://nccam.nih.gov/

Summary

Identify use of herbs and botanicals. Monitor for side effects. Document for records. Discuss with physician.