In a recent survey from UCLA and the University of California, San Diego, researchers measured medical students’ attitudes and beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and found that three-quarters of them felt conventional medicine would benefit by integrating CAM therapies.
• 77 percent of participants agreed that patients whose doctors know about CAM in addition to conventional medicine benefit more than those whose doctors are only familiar with conventional medicine.
• 74 percent agreed that a system that integrates conventional and CAM therapies would be more effective than either type of medicine provided independently.
• 84 percent agreed that CAM contains beliefs, ideas and therapies from which conventional medicine could benefit.
• 49 percent indicated that they have used CAM.
“CAM is receiving increased attention in light of the global health crisis and the significant role of traditional medicine in meeting public health needs in developing countries,” says study author Ryan Abbott, a UCLA researcher. “Integrating CAM into mainstream health care is now a global phenomenon, with policymakers at the highest levels endorsing the importance of a historically marginalized form of health care.”
CAM includes therapies such as acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine, and yoga. Its emphasis is on maximizing the body’s inherent healing ability, getting patients involved as active participants in their health care and preventive care. While interest in these fields has increased dramatically in the United States in recent years, information about such therapies has not yet been widely integrated into medical education.
“Even with the high prevalence of CAM use today, most physicians still know little about nonconventional forms of medicine,” says Michael Goldstein, a UCLA research scientist. “Investigating medical students’ attitudes and knowledge will help us assess whether this may change in the future.”
Acupuncture & Massage College’s Community Clinic offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy and massage for a wide range of health conditions as well as overall wellness. To schedule an appointment call (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs ask for Joe Calareso, Admissions Director.
Interesting blog you got here but I can’t seem to find the RSS button.
Great article. Thank you posting it. I used to be skeptical about accupuncture. I have chronic back pain and a friend applied some accupuncture to the affected region. I felt amazing afterwards.
Slowly but surely the tide is turning in favor of CAM. The aging “Baby Boomer” generation (born 1945-55ish) is going to tip the balance in favor of CAM therapies.
It is easy to have tunnel vision and bias based on what you have been taught. I’m glad to see that both sides are starting to see that they can benefit from each other. Nobody has all of the answers, and the more paradigms introduced will be able to reveal more options. Great post.
Acupuncture is based on learning that the man, like everything alive, full of life energy that circulates through our body certain ways, or meridians. Unimpeded flow of vital energy is a prerequisite for energy balance and mental and physical health of the organism.
whay not?