Complementary Therapies in UK Medicine

Complementary Therapies in UK MedicineThere is an increase intake of complemental therapies and completing and alternative medicine (CAM) nowadays, and its use has steadily increased everywhere the last ten to fifteen years in United Kingdom (UK) (Ernst and White 2000 35). A more specifically data obtained within the UK has shown that on that point is a rapid increase in the use of complementary therapies and CAM with an estimated 15 million users nationwide (Andrew 2003 337 House of Lords Select Committee 2000).It is estimated that this sector in the UK is rapidly expanding 1.6 one million million million pounds per annum industry, with around 60,000 practitioners, over 170 professional associations and around 5 million patients (Budd and Mills, 2000). The use of complementary therapies and CAM widely based in specific disease entities such(prenominal) as malignant neoplastic disease, cystic fibrosis and asthma, in clinical settings such as obstetrical cargon and paediatric o ncology and by international geographic locations (Yeh et al. 2000 56).The concept of holism, which is an appreciation of the inter-relationship betwixt body, mind and spirit, and recognition of the socio-cultural factors are fundamental to complementary therapies and medicine (Tiran 2006 341). A number of definitions for complementary therapies and medicine begin been proposed by different researchers.One of the definitions give is a broad domain of healing resource that encompasses wellness systems, modalities and entrusts and their accompany theories and beliefs, separate than those intrinsic to the dominant health system of a particular alliance or culture in a given historical period (Snyder and Lindquist 2001 6). gibe to Uzun and Tan (2004 239), complementary therapy is defined as therapy used in alinement with conventional therapy.Existing studies on complementary therapies and medicine focus mainly on two things. One is the focus on the specific mechanisms of action s such as particular herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines and prerequisite oils, often with regard to assessing their safety and efficacy the other one is focusing on specific therapies and medicine modalities such as herbal medicine, homeopathy and aromatherapy, as if they are st adequate or not, uniform and constant forms of health care practice (Williams 2000 163).CURRENT ISSUES IN THE complementary color THERAPY AND CAMThere is a steady increase in the use of complementary therapies and CAM by the general public in the last two decades (Ernst and White 2000 32). This is replicate to their increased used in health care settings, including the UK NHS (Richardson 2001). In 1998, only 10% from 22 million visits to complementary therapy practitioners in England were though NHS contacts, highlighting a clear shoot for the provision of equitable and appropriate access to these services (Thomas et al. 2001 8).Cancer patients are amongst the main users of complementary therapies in the UK, with up to a trine of patients having received one or more complements therapies (Wilkinson 2002 68). Due to the increase in demand, the UK government has commissioned a House of Lords Select Committee Report on complementary therapies (House of Lords Select Committee 2000).In order to have a clearer and better understanding of the complementary therapies, the report recognised the urgent need for the contemporaries of high quality research evidence to support the complementary therapy and CAM use (House of Lords Select Committee 2000).The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) has also recognised the need to combine the best of complementary therapy with conventional health care (Robert et al. 2005 116). In order to deliver a good quality of complementary therapy, FIH has produced national guidelines for their use within the field of supportive and palliate care (FIH 2003).For application by the managers and commissioners of complementary therapy services within the field, the guidelines is used to inform service development and management, and practice development (Roberts et al. 2005 116).REGULATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES OF complementary THERAPYThe number of people using complementary therapies and CAM in the K continues to grow (Thomas et al. 2001 2). Unfortunately, a high proportion of complementary therapies and CAM practitioners in the UK are unregulated and due to the increased in demand, there is a need of certain mechanisms to protect the public against skilled practitioners (Mills 2001 158).At present, a worldwide Practitioner (GP) can only delegate treatment to complementary therapists, and the GP are responsible for the treatment provided and their effect (Walker and Budd 2002 8). Two therapies which have achieved statutory self-regulation are osteopathy and chiropractors (Walker and Budd 2002 8).Regulations and victor Bodies of AromatherapyAromatherapy was introduced in the UK during 1960s and is one of the fastes t growing complementary therapies with number of registered therapists increase from 2500 to 6000 mingled with 1991 and 2000 (Walkman and Budd 2002 13).The Aromatherapy Organisation Council (AOC) is an umbrella body represented by members from 13 established professional associations and claims to be the governing body for the aromatherapy profession in UK (AOC 2000).The AOC (2000) have welcomed and supported the findings of the select committee report, even though there is no statement vehemenceing on the need for statutory regulation for aromatherapy but AOC will continue with their process under the Health Act 1999 towards statutory self-regulation to verify public safety.Regulations and Professional Bodies of Osteopaths and ChiropractorsThe osteopathic and chiropractic professions have struggled for many years to be recognised as part of mainstream medicine (Walker and Budd 2002 12). In May 2000, the Osteopathic Act was set up and enforced, making it a criminal offence for th ose who are not on the General Osteopathic Council register to call them osteopathic (GOsC 1999).On the other hand, Chiropractors Act was enforced in June 2001 and the conditions are the same as Osteopathic Act whereby those failing to join the General Chiropractic Council statutory register are considered as a criminal offense (Copland-Griffths 1999 5).Regulations and Professional Bodies of HerbalistsIn 1993, the European Herbal Practitioners Association (EHPA) was formed and the Medicine Control Agency (MCA) and Department of Health have been working with EHPA on legislation aimed at protecting public safety and the rights of herbalists to prescribe herbs (Walker and Budd 2002 12).Regulations and Professional Bodies of AcupuncturistsThe main regulatory body of acupuncturists in the UK is the British stylostixis Council (BAcC) with 2200 members and was formed in 1995 (Walker and Budd 2002 12). British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) was also being set up and well-established for educational standard(Walker and Budd 2002 12), and Regulation Action Group was set up too to carry out an mention consultation exercise which include regional group meetings and discussing options for regulations (BAcC 1999).WHO USES COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY AND CAM?According to the bailiwick carried out by Fox et al. (2010 95), the prevalence rate for visits to complementary therapies practitioners in UK increased from 20% in 1998 to 27% in 2002. The practitioners virtually frequently visited in UK (reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and so forth) are similar to other findings done by other researchers (MacLennan et al. 2002 170).UK complementary therapies and CAM users are more likely to be well educated, affluent, middle-aged and employed especially those suffering from panic, anxiety and depression, and the findings are similar to international findings (Fox et al. 2010 95). According to Risberg et al. (2004 532), females showed more positive view towards complementary therapies and CAM than males.Consistent with the above findings of the complementary therapy and CAM, studies have found that a range of non-life threatening but long-term inveterate conditions to be the most (Willison and Andrews 2004 83). Wellman et al. (2001 18) found that older CAM users typically presented with chronic non-life threatening conditions such as musculoskeletal problems (50%) and emotional problems (10%).Andrews (2002 360) found that 59% of complementary therapies and CAM users were encountering musculoskeletal problem (including 11.3% for arthritis and 20% for chronic back pain) and 11% for emotional and mental health problems.On the other hand, Fautrel et al. (2002 2438) were more specific and found use of complementary therapy and CAM on thyroid disease and arthritis. In the research carried out by Williamson et al. (2003 25), complementary therapy and CAM users were found to use the treatments for moderate pain relief (54.8%) and in name of gener al well-being, health fitness improvement purpose (45.2%) and life quality improvement (40.5%).FACTORS OF USING COMPLEMENTARY THERAPYAND CAMIn the study carried out by Wellman et al. (2001), he found out that consumers pathway to use complementary therapy had consulted a doctor or specialist but subsequently turned to complementary therapy and CAM because the physician or specialist failed to help them.Similarly, Andrews (2002 361) found dissatisfaction with orthodox medicine lead them opt for complementary therapies and CAM. On the other study, two Wellman et al. (2001) and Andrews (2002 361) concluded that advice from families members and friends influence both their choice to use CAM and which complementary therapy to select.A study conducted by Lewith et al. (2002 104) has found that 32% of patients indicated they were currently receiving some form of complementary therapies, suggesting a trend is increasing in usage of complementary therapies over recent years. An earlier sur vey showed that 70% of National Health Service (NHS) Hospitals in England and Wales were offering one or more complementary therapies in the management of cancer care, with relaxation and aromatherapy being the most commonly available (Scott et al. 2005 132).AROMATHERAPYDefinitionAromatherapy involves the therapeutic use of essential whole caboodle oils and has existed for 5000 years (Barclay et al. 2006 141). It is increasing being used in the cancer care and dermatology settings (Fellowes et al. 2004).Ways of ApplicationEssential oils are applied to the skin by discordant method, such as ingested or inhaled, and they bring no harm unless it is used incorrectly (Steflitsch and Steflitsch 2008 76). Aromatherapy massage is the most widely used complementary therapy in care for practice (Macmillan Cancer Relief 2002).Who Uses It and Effects of AromatherapyAccording to Kimber (2002 22), aromatherapy massage helps to improve self-image during pregnancy and whitethorn aid acceptance o f physical changes in mother. The relaxation effects generated also extend to the foetus (Diego et al. 2002 404).Besides that, massage is found to be able to stimulate production of endorphins and decrease blood pressure, through its effect on the parasympathetic nervous system (Casar 2001 11). Aromatherapy massage facilitates the absorptions of essential oils via the skin (Buckley 2002 277), and aromatherapy is one of the primary therapy used to treat anxiety (Long et al. 2001 182).In addition, essential oils are able to stimulate areas associated with smell in the limbic system of the brain and evidence that odours affect emotions and cognition (Alexander 2002 54). Study conducted by (Steflitsch and Steflitsch 2008 78) found that cancer patients receiving aromatherapy significantly change quality of life and anxiety.According to Burns (2000 84), an analysis of 8058 mothers who had received aromatherapy between 1989 and 1990 indicated that more than 50% of mothers found it helpful to release stress and relaxing.Ballard et al. (2002 556) conducted a double-blind study involving insanity patients with clinically significant agitation treated with Melissa oil from eight NHS nursing homes in UK and concluded that those treated with Melissa group showed a higher significant improvement in reducing aggression than the control group by the fourth week.Besides that, aromatherapy is believed to have beneficial effect in reducing back pain and periarticular pain and Dolara et al. (2000 357) had proven that aromatherapy exerts a strong anaesthetic effect that able to block the sodium current and thus fasten pain.Besides that, Friedman et al. (2002 1555) concluded that essential oils have specific antibiotics and antifungal properties, and have significant beneficial effect on the urinary tract infection.BENEFITS AND OUTCOMES OF OTHER COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AND CAMThe role of complementary therapy and CAM is mainly focusing on imposing the patients quality of life (R oberts et al. 2005 119) which includes psychological, social, spiritual and practical (Kaasa 2000).In one cancer clinical survey of trial patients carried out by Sparbe et al. (2000 627), respondents informed that complementary therapies helped to enhance patients quality of life by improving the capability of coping with stress and decreasing the discomfort of treatments.Boon et al. (2000 2518) found that most of the breast cancer patients use complementary therapy to boost their immune systems. Some patients claimed that complementary therapy is playing an essential role in ameliorating and curing conditions including chronic problems (Luff and Thomas 2000 256).DRAWBACK IN THE COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AND CAMComplementary therapies and CAM are progressively being integrated into conventional health care through their provision in the UK NHS and independent hospice movement (Macmillan Cancer Relief 2002). However, there has been little effective evidence to support these development s in UK and this suggests that most complementary therapies and CAM services development over the last 10 years were in creeping developments (Roberts et al. 2005 117).In conjunction to this matter, there is a need for the foundation garment of more scientific research to investigate several(prenominal) complementary therapy and CAM (Wilkinson 2002 468). In addition, there is also a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the provision of complementary therapy and CAM as an integrated NHS service, across acute and primary care (Roberts et al. 2005 117).Many researches have been using randomised control trials in the study of the effectiveness of the individual complementary therapy and CAM interventions (House of Lords Select Committee 2000).However, such approach does not allow for a more complex multi-dimensional analysis of the effectiveness of service provision as a whole (Roberts et al. 2005 118). Besides that, it is also difficult to determine the effect of short-term versus l ong-term use of complementary and CAM therapies (Jones et al. 2010 151).Currently there are unsounded a limited numbers of real complementary therapy and CAM professionals (Furnhan 2002 44). Health professionals such as doctors and nurses also highlighted their overlook of knowledge on complementary therapy and CAM consumption (Salmenpera et al. 2003 360).Physicians have been reported to be indifferent or opposed to complementary therapy and CAM uses (Risberg et al. 2004 530). This may be due to lack of understanding by clinicians, through a lack of appropriate education and doubts about the benefits offered by complementary therapy (Corbin-Winslow and Shapiro 2002 1178).The issue of physicians emphasis on scientific evidence and their lack of understanding may contribute to the lack of effective explanation to the patients of the purpose of complementary therapy interventions (Tasaki et al. 2002 217).CONCLUSIONAromatherapy has shown in various studies to overcome anxiety and pani c, back pain, fungal and virus infection, dementia and pregnancy stress. In conjunction with this, the future clinical application of aromatherapy will probably have a place to be integrated in clinical medicine, especially in the hospitals, clinics and health care centres.However, more future research needs to be carried out in order to identify the beneficial reflexion and it effects of different essential oils. This is because essential oils exhibit pharmacological, antimicrobial, physiological and psychological properties. It is a waste if there is no much research to explore the Brobdingnagian beneficial potentials hidden in the essential oils in order to determine its clinical potential in healing.The finding indicating physicians expressed more negative office towards complementary therapy and CAM compared to other health professionals such as doctors and nurses in UK is essential.This is because from this moment a better training and attitude can be provided to the physic ians and other health care professionals so that they can have a better understanding on the importance and potentials of these therapies and medicine.In fact, it might also improve the understanding and cooperation between the health care professionals and the practitioners so that the practitioners can get a better confident, service and treatment from the health care professionals and physicians in the future.Besides that, quantitative and soft research on short-term and long-term effects of the therapies and CAM must be emphasised more in order to obtain more accurate and specific data proving the reliability, consistency and accuracy of the research. This is also to allow the public to have a wider choice in selecting the best treatment for their health.