scholarly journals Proceedings of the Strategy Meeting for the Development of an International Consortium for Chinese Medicine and Cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 814-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. White ◽  
Hongsheng Lin ◽  
Libin Jia ◽  
Roy S. Wu ◽  
Stephen Lam ◽  
...  

On November 3, 2014, in Bethesda, MD, the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Cancer Institute held a meeting to examine the potential utility and feasibility of establishing an international consortium for Chinese medicine and cancer. There is significant interest in the West in using components of Chinese medicine (CM) —such as botanicals and herbal medicines, acupuncture and acupressure, and qigong—in the field of oncology, as potential anticancer agents, for symptom management, and to improve quality of life. The proposal for a consortium on CM came from the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, with the aims of improving scientific communications and collaborations and modernizing the studies of CM for cancer. The US National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine agreed to work with Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to explore the feasibility of establishing an international consortium for Chinese medicine and cancer. At the meeting, participants from the United States, China, Canada, Australia, and Korea discussed issues in CM and cancer research, treatment, and management, including potential mechanisms of action, proof of efficacy, adverse effects, regulatory issues, and the need for improving the quality of randomized clinical trials of CM treatments and supportive care interventions. Presented in these proceedings are some of the main issues and opportunities discussed by workshop participants.

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-173
Author(s):  
Marc Brodsky ◽  
Ka-Kit Hui

Musicians are increasingly seeking out complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to relieve suffering that results from playing-related pain conditions. Using an innovative patient-centered model, an approach has been developed that can incorporate various medical systems and therapeutics to offer safe, effective, affordable, and accessible health care for musicians. A case discussion explores how musicians, through combining different traditions of medicine in orchestration, can optimize their quality of life while meeting their needs of prevention and rehabilitation of occupation-related conditions.


Author(s):  
Mayuree Tangkiatkumjai ◽  
Win Winit-Watjana ◽  
Li-Chia Chen

A clinical decision on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) should be made based on evidence-based medicine (EBM) together with practitioner's knowledge and experiences. This chapter describes the process of EBM, including how to address a clinical question, do a systematic search for appropriate evidence with key search terms, appraise the evidence and make a clinical decision on CAM applications. An effective literature search should be performed by using a structured search strategy in searching biomedical and CAM databases, such as the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM Citation Index). Few standard tools are recommended to evaluate the quality of CAM studies, i.e. the CONSORT extension for herbal interventions and STRICTA for RCTs of acupuncture. Additionally, some guidelines for designing RCTs in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) can also be adopted to critique CAM literature. A clinical decision on choosing optimal CAM for patient care should be based on the current best evidence emerged from the EBM process.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 994-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca I Ortiz ◽  
Kelly M Shields ◽  
Kevin A Clauson ◽  
Patrick G Clay

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Hispanics in the US and highlight the modalities most likely to be unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners. DATA SOURCES: A search of the literature published in English and a subsequent bibliographic search were conducted using MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, EMBASE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System (1980– March 2007). Primary search terms included, but were not limited to, Hispanic, Latino, complementary and alternative medicine, and dietary supplements. Studies that assessed or evaluated the use of CAM in the Hispanic population were reviewed. Articles that included both Hispanics and non-Hispanics were also included. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: The literature search yielded 42 articles focused on the use of CAM by Hispanics. Survey was the most common method used in these studies, although some hybrid interviews were also conducted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Hispanics were identified homogenously in some studies and more correctly as a heterogeneous population in others. Some trials examined overall CAM use, whereas others looked at specific dietary supplements and herbs. Most reports found a higher than expected rate of CAM use in Hispanics (50–90%). A number of products potentially unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners, such as linden, sapodilla, and star anise, were reported as commonly used in several studies. Many studies were limited by the sample size or use of only one Hispanic subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics use a wide range of CAM therapies, including several that may be unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners. Understanding the rationale, motivations, and history of Hispanics' use of CAM will enhance the cultural competence of healthcare professionals and help address these patients' medical needs. TRASFONDO: El uso de terapias de medicina complementaria y alternativa (CAM) es común entre los pacientes y se cree que la etnicidad influye en la frecuencia y extensión de su uso. Los pacientes de origen Hispano son una sub-población en rápido crecimiento. Con el fin de proveer efectivamente cuidado a este grupo de pacientes, es importante entender el papel de las terapias CAM en los tratamientos de esta población.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. S205-S206
Author(s):  
S. Nahon ◽  
P. Lahmek ◽  
A. Buisson ◽  
A. Olympie ◽  
C. Poupardin ◽  
...  

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