Posted: April 24th, 2025
Alternative medicine
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Do you have a positive view of people who use complementary and alternative medicine or are you somewhat suspicious of them?
Do you think using complementary and alternative medicine is a good idea? If so, under what circumstances? If not, why not?
1
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Considering Alternative
Approaches
[Author Name], [Book Title], [#] Edition. © [Insert Year] Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to
a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter Objectives
(1 of 4)
After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
• Define the terms conventional medicine, alternative medicine, complementary
medicine, and integrative medicine and give an example of each
• Contrast the assumptions that underlie the practice of conventional medicine in the
United States with those that underlie
• Compare the philosophy that is the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine with
Ayurvedic medicine
• Contrast natural products and drugs by describing of the origins of each
• Contrast natural products and drugs by evaluating the effectiveness of each
3
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter Objectives
(2 of 4)
• Contrast natural products and drugs by evaluating of risks of each
• Analyze the recent popular diet plans (i. e., Atkins, DASH, etc.) designed to improve
health, focusing on the effectiveness and safety of these diets
• Contrast transcendental and mindfulness meditation, pointing out the similarities as
well as the differences
• Contrast the practice of yoga with the practice of tai chi, explaining the origins,
popularity, and types of movements involved in each
• Explain how gaining control over autonomic processes could be beneficial to
individuals who experience chronic stress, high blood pressure, and migraine
headaches
4
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter Objectives
(3 of 4)
• Trace the increase of CAM usage in the United States over the past 20 years
• Analyze the influence of culture and geography in the acceptance and use of CAM
• Describe two personal factors that increase the likelihood of CAM use
• Describe the challenges that CAM researchers face in establishing the effectiveness of
alternative medicine treatments
• Evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of meditation, movement-based practices,
and acupuncture as treatment for stress and anxiety
• Evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of meditation, acupuncture, massage,
chiro-practic treatments, biofeedback, and hypnosis as treatments for pain
5
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter Objectives
(4 of 4)
• Describe three limitations to the use of CAM
• Explain how integrative medicine attempts to create a system with “the best of both
worlds.”
6
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 6
8.1
7
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine originated in China about 2,000 years ago. It states that a
vital force called qi (pronounced “chee” and occasionally written as “chi”), animates the
body. Qi flows through channels in the body call meridians which connect parts of the
body to each other and to the universe as a whole.
Keeping qi balanced is important. If it is blocked or out of balance it can lead to disease.
8
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The first component of TCM to gain widespread publicity in the west was Acupuncture
around 1971.
About 1.5% of people in the United States have reported that they have used
acupuncture.
It consists of inserting needles into specific points of the body and continually stimulating
them by either turning them or using electricity.
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Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Similar to acupuncture in that it focuses on the same points in the body, but instead of
using needles, it uses pressure to achieve similar results.
Both Acupuncture and Acupressure are used to unblock the flow of qi to help balance the
body.
Acupressure also makes use of a massage technique called tui na. This can be used to
stimulate or subdue qi, depending on what is required. Traditional Chinese Medicine
holds that this process regulates the nervous system, boots immune function, and helps
flush wastes out of the system.
10
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system that arose in India.
The goal of is to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit.
Patients may receive direction to change behaviors to reduce worry and increase
harmony. Yoga is part of this element.
Less than 1% of Americans have sought out Ayurvedic medicine.
11
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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and Diets
8.2
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Alternative Products
Supplementing the diet to improve health is ancient. Currently, millions take vitamin and
mineral supplements to stay healthy. While some of these are recommended by current
doctors, there are other alternative treatments out there.
In the United States many of these products are not regulated by the FDA and are
considered a food item, meaning that no studies of effectiveness have been done, but
they do have to be safe.
Some examples of alternative supplements are echinacea for cold and flue, glucosamine
for osteoarthritis, melatonin to promote sleep, and more.
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Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
A proper diet will help promote a healthy body and keep the immune system strong.
Some people use specialized diets to reach a particular goal, such as diets for weight
loss, vegetarian diets that avoid meats, vegan diets that avoid all animal products, and
others.
The American Heart Association and American Cancer Society both recommend limiting
meats for health reasons.
Vegetarians and vegans must carefully plan meals to make certain they are receiving all
the necessary protein and calcium they require.
14
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 14
8.3
15
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chiropractic Treatment was founded in 1895 by David Palmer.
It’s based on the idea that manipulating the spine was the key to curing and preventing
illness as well as aligning bone structures to better manage pain or repetitive motion
disorders.
Chiropractors may prescribe exercise, dietary changes, and dietary supplements.
While there was a rivalry between medical doctors and chiropractors early on, that has
been diminishing and now medical doctors may recommend chiropractic treatment for
certain conditions.
16
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Whereas Chiropractic treatment focuses on the spine and joints, massage focuses on the
tissues that connect all the bones and joints.
Massage is now recognized as an alternative therapy used to control stress and pain.
Writings about massage go back to 2,000 BCE, and mentioned by Hippocrates and
Galen.
There are different types of massage that are used for various ailments.
Massage has appeared in ancient times across multiple cultures and traditional
medicines, like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.
17
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 17
8.4
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Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Meditation and Yoga
(1 of 2)
Mind-body medicine refers to a variety of techniques based on the notion that the brain,
mind, body, and behavior interact in complex ways.
Most meditative approaches originated in Asia as part of religious practices. The mind-
body approaches to meditation typically have no religious connotations. Various types of
meditation exist.
Transcendental Meditation – originated in the Vedic tradition in India. Focusing on and
repeating a single word while sitting with eyes closed and relaxed muscles helps one’s
head remain clear of distracting thoughts.
Mindfulness Meditation – Rooted in ancient Buddhist practices, it has recently become
a modern stress reduction practice.
19
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Guided Imagery – While it shares some elements with mediation, people conjure up a
calm, peaceful image and concentrate on that for the duration of an unpleasant
experience.
Yoga – Yoga has its origins in India but is now part of mind-body practice. It includes
physical postures, breathing, and meditation to help balance the body, mind, and spirit.
Hatha Yoga is the most common in the United States and Europe.
Meditation and Yoga
(2 of 2)
20
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Qi Gong involves the practice or cultivation of the qi by postures and simple movements
that channel vital energy and restore balance. Researchers have investigated the
physical existence of qi, with claims that the practice of qi gong creates measurable
changes in thermal and electrical energy.
Tai Chi is one category of qi gong form, which has evolved from a martial art with a long,
but disputed history. It is now used to cultivate the balance between the yin and the yang
and thus promote health. It is also used in balance training and fall prevention and can
hep manage chronic conditions like pulmonary disease and cardiac conditions.
21
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Biofeedback is the process of providing feedback information about the status of
biological systems.
Attempt to control physiological responses, such as lowering heart rate
Electromyograph feedback is used to help people control low back pain and
headaches by helping to decrease muscle tension
Thermal biofeedback uses a temperature-sensitive resistor on the skin’s surface
that signals changes in temperature, providing information for control
22
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Modern hypnosis is usually traced to the last part of the 18th century, when Austrian
physician Franz Anton Mesmer conducted elaborate demonstrations in Paris.
It is currently a topic of debate. Brain imaging studies tend to support the view that
hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, but a study that compared hypnotic to
nonhypnotic suggestion, both types were comparably effective.
23
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Research has been validating the extent to which mind-body medicine lives up to its
name.
Brain imaging studies have helped to clarify what happens when a person relaxes and
meditates. There is some proof that meditation may have the capability to delay or even
reverse some of the brain changes that occur through aging.
Additionally, stress reduction through mindfulness meditation and qi gong improves
several immune system components, demonstrating routes through which meditation and
qi gong might improve health.
24
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 24
Who Uses Complementary and
Alternative Medicine?
8.5
25
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has grown in popularity over
the past several decades, but it’s use is widely varied across countries, genders, and
cultural beliefs.
Recent immigrants are less likely to use CAM than immigrants who have been living in
the United States for years.
Asian immigrants use CAM more than non-Hispanic European Americans, and Asians in
Canada use CAM more frequently than the Canadian population in general.
In all ethnic groups, women tend to be the ones more likely to make use of CAM.
26
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Research suggests that people use CAM when the techniques are compatible with their
personal worldviews and concerns about health. Young men with strong beliefs in
science were less likely to use CAM than others.
People with less faith in conventional medicine and stronger beliefs in the role of attitude
and emotion in health are more likely to try CAM.
When conventional medicine has not produced results, they may turn to alternative
medicine.
It is more likely that people use CAM in addition to conventional medicine.
27
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 27
How Effective Are Alternative
Treatments?
8.6
28
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Alternative treatments lack sufficient evidence to prove their effectiveness. A great deal of
controversy exists concerning fair evaluation of alternative medicine.
Proponents of conventional medical science believe the only way to effectively evaluate
is through a double-blind study.
Unfortunately, many alternative treatments do not lend themselves to placebo control and
blinding as easily as drug treatments do.
29
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Alternative Treatments for Anxiety, Stress,
and Depression
A systematic review of meditation for stress and stress-related health problems indicated
benefits large enough to have clinical significance.
Transcendental meditation and yoga also show clinically significant findings to
demonstrate that they are also effective treatments for managing anxiety and depression.
In addition, Acupuncture and qi gong have shown to help with depression.
An alternative supplement that has shown clinical significance in the fight against
depression is St. John’s Wort, which can be just as effective as antidepressants for mild
to moderate depression with fewer side effects.
30
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
CAM treatments for pain may include tai chi, guided imagery, qi gong, massage and
acupuncture have all shown clinical response to lower pain.
Acupuncture is a better established as a pain treatment over others.
Massage has been shown as a good way to reduce all pain except cancer pain.
Chiropractic manipulation also has a good record when it comes to pain management.
Recent research into biofeedback and hypnotic treatment have shown some
applications in controlling pain, though not all types of pain.
31
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.© 2018 Cengage
32
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
One of the primary limitations is the lack of information on the effectiveness of the
treatments.
The most common types of CAM in the United States are TCM, Ayurvedic medicine,
naturopathy, and homeopathy.
Herbal supplements may interfere with prescription and over the counter medications.
As herbal supplements are considered food and not medicine, they are only checked for
safety, not effectiveness.
Not all alternative therapies are effective for everybody.
33
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Integrating conventional and alternative medicine is what an increasing number of
practitioners of alternative and conventional medicine envision for optimal health.
This approach is most people attempt when they choose techniques and products from
both conventional and alternative medicines.
Many use alternative treatments without consulting their doctors, which makes doctors
suspicious. This can lead to supplement and medication interactions which could cause
problems.
More and more, however, we see certain CAMs being integrated by conventional
doctors, and even recommended by them.
34
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
• What types of CAM practices were the most challenging for you to
understand?
• What types of alternative medicine practices are of most interest to
you? Which might you consider for yourself or recommend to
others? Why?
• What do you think of the various complementary practices? Which
might you consider for yourself or recommend to others? Why?
35
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 35
36
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary
(1 of 4)
Now that you’ve completed this chapter, you should be able to:
• Define the terms conventional medicine, alternative medicine, complementary
medicine, and integrative medicine and give an example of each
• Contrast the assumptions that underlie the practice of conventional medicine in the
United States with those that underlie Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Compare the philosophy that is the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine with
Ayurvedic medicine
• Contrast natural products and drugs by describing of the origins of each
• Contrast natural products and drugs by evaluating the effectiveness of each
37
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary
(2 of 4)
• Contrast natural products and drugs by evaluating of risks of each
• Analyze the recent popular diet plans (i. e., Atkins, DASH, etc.) designed to improve
health, focusing on the effectiveness and safety of these diets
• Contrast transcendental and mindfulness meditation, pointing out the similarities as
well as the differences
• Contrast the practice of yoga with the practice of tai chi, explaining the origins,
popularity, and types of movements involved in each
• Explain how gaining control over autonomic processes could be beneficial to
individuals who experience chronic stress, high blood pressure, and migraine
headaches
38
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary
(3 of 4)
• Trace the increase of CAM usage in the United States over the past 20 years
• Analyze the influence of culture and geography in the acceptance and use of CAM
• Describe two personal factors that increase the likelihood of CAM use
• Describe the challenges that CAM researchers face in establishing the effectiveness of
alternative medicine treatments
• Evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of meditation, movement-based practices,
and acupuncture as treatment for stress and anxiety
• Evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of meditation, acupuncture, massage,
chiropractic treatments, biofeedback, and hypnosis as treatments for pain
39
Brannon, Updegraff & Feist, Health Psychology, 10th Edition. ©2022 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary
(4 of 4)
• Describe three limitations to the use of CAM
• Explain how integrative medicine attempts to create a system with “the best of both
worlds.”
-
Chapter 8
- Chapter Objectives�(1 of 4)
- Chapter Objectives�(2 of 4)
- Chapter Objectives�(3 of 4)
- Chapter Objectives�(4 of 4)
- Meditation and Yoga�(1 of 2)
- Meditation and Yoga�(2 of 2)
- Who Uses Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
- How Effective Are Alternative Treatments?
- Alternative Treatments for Anxiety, Stress, and Depression
- Summary�(1 of 4)
- Summary�(2 of 4)
- Summary�(3 of 4)
- Summary�(4 of 4)
Alternative Medical Systems
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Acupressure
Ayurveda
Alternative Products and Diets
Alternative Products
Alternative Diets
Manipulative Practices
Chiropractic Treatment
Massage
Mind-Body Medicine
Qi Gong and Tai Chi
Biofeedback
Hypnotic Treatment
Physiology and Mind-Body Medicine
Culture, Ethnicity, and Gender
Motivations for Seeking Alternative Treatment
Effectiveness of CAMS
Alternative Treatments for Pain
Alternative Treatments for Other Conditions
Limitations of Alternative Therapies
Integrative Medicine
Self Assessment
Summary
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