RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Herbal Course
Ashley Harris
Kaplan University
July 14, 2015
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RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Course
Course Syllabus
General Information
Instructor: Ashley Harris
Email: ashlea1908@yahoo.com
Course Meetings: Online, Wednesday @ 6pm CST
Credit Hours: 3
Course Description
This course introduces the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). An
introduction to CAM, an introduction to herbs, the interactions herbs have with other
medicines, and information on how to select a qualified a CAM practitioner are all are
presented in this course.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Objectives
1. To understand the basics of complementary and alternative medicine.
2. To learn what herbs are.
3. To understand the good and bad of herbs in conjunction with medicine.
4. To learn side effects and interactions of herbs.
Required Course Materials
Internet Access
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RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
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Recommended Course Materials
Duke, J. (1987). Handbook of medicinal herbs. CRC Press. Retrieved from
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0849336309/ref=as_sl_pd_tf_lc?tag=umaatantra20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0849336309
&adid=1NX8906KB3RT7MV42S6T&&ref-refURL=http://acameducation.com/about-a-cam/recommended-reading/
Grading Timetable
All assignments will be due by midnight Tuesday of each unit. Grades will be posted
within four days of assignment due date. Late work not accepted after day seven without
prior arrangements with instructor.
Grading Criteria
Grades will be administered on a 4.0 grade point scale.
RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Handout Material
Phase I
Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Definition

Difference between complementary versus alternative

Different types of CAM
Phase II
Introduction to Herbal aspect of CAM

What are herbal remedies in relation to CAM

Positive and negatives of herbal supplements

Finding the right supplement to fit individual needs
Phase III
Finding the right CAM practitioner
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RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
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Lecture
Phase I summary: Phase I defines what Complementary and Medicine is as well as the
difference between complementary and alternative. Phase I concludes with different
types of CAM.
Phase I details
Complementary and alternative medicine, also often referred to as CAM, is a
specific type of medicine that includes a variety of treatment approaches that are outside
the scope of what we consider traditional medicine. Per National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health, more than 30 percent of adults and about 12
percent of children use health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western,
or conventional, medicine. When describing these approaches, people often use
“alternative” and “complementary” interchangeably, but the two terms refer to
different concepts:

If a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it’s
considered “complementary.”

If a non-mainstream practice is used in place of conventional medicine, it’s
considered “alternative. (NIH, 2015).
Complementary versus alternative differences
Complementary medicine is when traditional medicines are used parallel to
healing practices. For example, a person may be diagnosed with cancer and is being
treated with chemotherapy. However, the person may have extreme nausea and
vomiting. The person may opt for meditation, aromatherapy, or acupuncture to relieve
nausea symptoms in conjunction with chemotherapy.
RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
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Alternative medicine is the opposite. Instead of using the medicine in conjunction
with traditional medicine, it is used as a replacement for traditional medicine. A perfect
example is a person who decides to go vegan and eat raw fruits and veggies only to fight
the cancer instead of using chemotherapy.
Different Types of CAM
According to NIH, there are several alternatives available that fall under CAM.
Mind and body practices such as acupuncture, yoga and tai chi are very popular.
There is also homeopathy, Chinese medicine practices, etc. Herbs are another CAM
method that will be discussed in this lecture.
(2014 National Health Center)
RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
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Phase II Summary: Phase II defines herb and the pros/cons of taking herbs.
Phase II Details
Herbs
Medline Plus defines an herb as a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or
therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are one type of dietary supplements. They are
sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. People use
herbal medicines to try to maintain or improve their health.
Herbal medicines contain some form of herbs whether it is preparation of herbs or
the end result of a product. This could be in the form of a plant, materials from a plant,
or a combination of both. Herbs are used as therapeutic activity and have proven to be
successful in regards to diagnosis, treatment of illnesses, and prevention of illnesses.
Herbs have also been proven to reduce symptoms of illness, and regulate the physical and
mental status of the human body.
Herbal supplements are not meant for everyone. Complication can arise if a
persona suffers from allergies or is taking medication that will have an adverse reaction
to the two combined. It is highly recommended to consult with a CAM practitioner or
physician before starting an herbal regimen.
Phase III Summary: Choosing the right CAM practitioner is key to successful
alternative treatments. It is recommended to ask for credentials and references when
selecting a CAM practitioner.
RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
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Phase III Details
CAM Practitioners come a dime a dozen. In order to receive the most successful
treatment and optimize results, it is imperative one finds the right practitioner to fit one’s
needs. The following needs to be taken into consideration when searching for the proper
practitioner:

Licenses

Certifications

Education
Do not be afraid to ask for qualifications, proof of certifications, referrals, etc. Ask a
traditional physician for a referral if necessary. NIH has excellent tips on how to select a
proper provider (details below):
1.
If you need names of practitioners in your area, first check with your doctor or
other health care provider. A nearby hospital or medical school, professional
organizations, state regulatory agencies or licensing boards, or even your health
insurance provider may be helpful. Unfortunately, the National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) cannot refer you
to practitioners.
2. Find out as much as you can about any potential practitioner, including education,
training, licensing, and certifications. The credentials required for
complementary health practitioners vary tremendously from state to state and
from discipline to discipline.
Once you have found a possible practitioner, here are some tips about deciding
whether he or she is right for you:
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3. Find out whether the practitioner is willing to work together with your
conventional health care providers. For safe, coordinated care, it’s important for
all of the professionals involved in your health to communicate and cooperate.
4. Explain all of your health conditions to the practitioner, and find out about the
practitioner’s training and experience in working with people who have your
conditions. Choose a practitioner who understands how to work with people with
your specific needs, even if general well-being is your goal. And, remember that
health conditions can affect the safety of complementary approaches; for
example, if you have glaucoma, some yoga poses may not be safe for you.
5. Don’t assume that your health insurance will cover the practitioner’s
services. Contact your health insurance provider and ask. Insurance plans differ
greatly in what complementary health approaches they cover, and even if they
cover a particular approach, restrictions may apply.
6. Tell all your health care providers about all complementary approaches you use
and about all practitioners who are treating you. Keeping your health care
providers fully informed helps you to stay in control and effectively manage
your health. (NIH, 2015).
Lecture Wrap UP
RUNNING HEAD: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
References
Duke Integrative Medicine. (n.d.). What is integrative medicine? Retrieved from
http://www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/about-us/what-is-integrative-medicine
Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: What’s in a name?. (2015, March ).
Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health
Herbal medicine . (2015, July). Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herbalmedicine.html
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