Acupuncture as a Form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Essay

Integrative medicine has been on the rise, and it makes it easier for patients. Many patients prefer the use of integrative medicine because it is a type of medication that takes into consideration biological, physical as well as spiritual realms of a patient (Quezada, Briscoe and Cross, 2016). In this study, I will analyze a research paper that talks about some modalities in the use of integrative medicine. Some factors usually associated with the use of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) which is on the rise. One of these modalities discussed in the paper is the use of acupuncture for pain.The use of Acupuncture is in the form of taking care of pain in an individual today. The paper which is a Ph.D. dissertation by Elizabeth Susan McGrady talks about the use of Cam as a form of medication as opposed to modern medicines. Elizabeth notes that not many people in the United States of America have been able to try the use of acupuncture. She puts the figure at 4%. In her dissertation, she reviews the factors that are usually associated with the use of acupuncture as a form of CAM by people with pain conditions. In the paper, she discusses the factors that are related to the use of acupuncture for people who have pain.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

First, she notes that according to studies that have been carried out there is efficiency in the use of acupuncture to cure pain. Although not many people have adopted the use of acupuncture in the US, there is still a massive growth in its use. This, therefore, means that many people are turning towards the use of CAM as the best ways to cure their bodies. The method of CAM and integrative medicine has taken over the health care system, and it's always good to look at the forms of the Cam. In the paper, Elizabeth decides to look at why the use of acupuncture is not used frequently although it is an excellent form of CAM.

She seeks information about people have not yet adopted the use of acupuncture, especially for pain conditions. She looks at the predisposing characteristics that make to be used by a few people. She also looks at whether there is in any way a difference concerning mental health among people who have used acupuncture or other forms of CAM and those who use conventional medicine in the US. What creates the need to use the acupuncture and are acupuncture users satisfied with it? With the escalation of the medical costs, there is a need for cheaper alternatives of the conventional medicine.

This Complementary Alternative Medicine is usually very cost effective. What is a puzzle according to the paper is how to make the use of these CAMs like acupuncture and make their entry into contemporary medicine. She notes that the policymakers can use the factors that have been used to predict the usage of acupuncture and make its adoption increase among the United States population. The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) made its strategic plan, and it had the objective of adopting acupuncture into the mainstream medical care. Thus, they would do by identifying as well as develop methods that can be used to overcome barriers that limit the integration of the safe and effective use of CAM.

There was also the need to enhance the communication and partnership that would be of essence between the institutions that use conventional medicine and those that use the Complementary Alternative medicine. With this enhancement into the use of the CAM, methods will be significantly improved. One thing that would be beneficial would be having an integrative approach in this issue where there is the integration of conventional medicine together with the CAM. Achievement for all these can be by enhancing research in Cam and acupuncture.

If they can predict the factors that make people use acupuncture as compared to conventional medicine. It will be of great help as it will push the use of acupuncture. The purpose of CAM alongside conventional medicine can be of help. Because of its cost, the use of acupuncture can be beneficial to Western medicine (Huntley, 2016). The ever-rising cost of conventional medicine is a factor that needs to be looked at, and many people can adopt the use CAM which is usually affordable to many people.

Looking at the cost-effectiveness in the use of acupuncture for pain relief can be of help, and this might also include the introduction of clinical trials. There is also the need to provide more information regarding treatment pathways for the pain that may consist of how acupuncture can be accessed and the process of acupuncture treatment.

By combining both the CAM and conventional medicine, we can have excellent alternative medicine which people can be able to access at an affordable cost. The use of these CAMs needs the introduction into insurance covers that can make it possible for one to seek Cam treatment with an insurance cover. It will make sure that their use is in the mainstream Medicare.

References

Huntley, A. L. (2016). Complementary and alternative medicine. In Gynecological Drug Therapy (pp. 93-98). CRC Press

Quezada, S. M., Briscoe, J., & Cross, R. K. (2016). Complementary and alternative medicine. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 22(6), 1523-1530

*This is an analysis of the CAM methods especially the Acupuncture and the notes have been drawn from "ACUPUNCTURE USE FOR PAIN AS COMPARED TO OTHER COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE " a dissertation by Elizabeth Susan McGrady. A copy of the same is attached.