As you embark upon your health journey in life, it is important to know all aspects of health and medicine options. As Americans, we are traditional known to practice conventional medicine; however, there are other options to add or supplement to that. Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices are becoming more popular options upon the healthcare world! Learn all about it here!

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COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE PRACTICES
Many community members have utilized complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) practices for thousands of years
in the quest of health and well-being. They include dietary
supplements and botanicals, traditional, acupuncture, mind-
CAM PRACTICES
Week 1
15 June 2015
6-7:30 pm
Mind-Body
Medicine
Week 2
22 June 2015
6-7:30 pm
Manipulative and
Body-based
Practices
Week 3
29 June 2015
6-7:30 pm
Biologically Based
Practices
Hosted by
Nikki Avery, LMT,
Wellness Coach
Davis Island
Community
Center
143 Davis Blvd
813-555-2727

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body medicine, and therapeutic massage. Come join me for a 3 week FREE course to learn
more about these practices and benefits they have to your life!

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COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Syllabus
Course Overview
Many community members have utilized complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) practices for thousands of years
in a quest of health and well-being. CAM therapies and
medical systems are widely used and available in the United
States. They include diverse products and practices such as
dietary supplements and botanicals, traditional Chinese
medicine, acupuncture, mind-body medicine, and therapeutic
massage. Complementary medicine is highly recommended to
be used together with mainstream medical care.
Audience
During these lectured based courses, community members
will explore the field of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM), thus becoming familiar with understanding
CAM, its practices, benefits and a video demonstrations.
Community members will have the opportunity to partake in
wellness quizzes and meditation techniques.
Course Materials
 Hand-outs will be provided
Course Outcomes
By the end of these lecture sessions, member should be able
to:
 Thoroughly define complementary and alternative medicine.
 Compare the various classifications of CAM practices.
 Observe and understand various methods of CAM.
 Self-identify personal wellness level and areas of
improvement.
 Partake in mini-meditation session
Instructor
Necola Avery,
LMT, Esthetician,
Wellness Coach
Phone
813-555-2727
Email
Necola27
@gmail.com
Office Location
143 Davis Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606
Davis Island
Community
Center
Office Hours
3 week course
15, 22, 29 June
2015
6-7:30 pm

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Quizzes
 Members are encouraged to participate in course quizzes and live method
practices in order to have a better understanding of CAM practices. If member,
would prefer a one on one session, please inform the instructor. Pen/Pencils
will be provided.
Attendance
 Attendance is voluntarily. However, members who participate and attend all
three courses will be awarded a completion certificate upon full attendance of
courses.
Classroom Rules of Conduct
 Cell phone use prohibited during courses.
 Please no food and drink permitted during class.
 Feel free to take notes as needed!
 Please be courteous to other participants during lectures.
Participation
 Members are highly encouraged to ask questions!
 Have fun and enjoy the course.
Emergency Procedures
 Evacuation procedures -- see instructions posted in the classroom.
 First aid kit -- located in Room 112. All instructors have a key to the room.
 Emergency ambulance -- from any instructor's office, phone "9" to get an
outside line, then "911." There are also phones on other floors and at the
bookstore and nurse's office on the ground floor.

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COURSE CALENDAR
Week 1
Mind-Body
Medicine
Intro
to CAM
Define
Mind-
Body
Medicine
Techniques Video
Demonstration
Practice
Discussion
Questions
Week 2
Manipulative
and Body-
based
Practices
What is
Manipulative/Body
Practices
Massage Bodywork Video
Demonstration
Discussion
Week 3
Biologically
Based
Practices
Introduction Do’s and
Don’ts
Safety
Tips/Herbal
Remedies
Wellness Quiz Open
Discussion

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CAM LECTURE NOTES
WEEK 1
 Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine
1. What is it?
2. How does it compare to conventional medicine?
3. How many American’s utilize this option?
4. Examples
 Mind-Body Medicine
1. What is it?
2. Benefits
3. Practices
 Play video demonstration of meditation
1. Discussion
2. Questions
WEEK 2
 What is Manipulative/Body-based practices?
1. Definition
2. Pros and Cons
 Massage
1. Benefits
2. Kinds
 Bodywork
1. Benefits
 Video Presentation of Massage
 Discussion
WEEK 3
 Introduction to Biologically-based practices
1. What is it?
2. Do’s and Don’ts
3. Safety Tips
4. Common Herbal Supplements
5. Wellness Quiz
6. Discussion

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HANDOUTS
Preface
As noted by the Medaus Pharmacy (2008), “Around the time of the Revolutionary War
(1775-1783), medical doctors were not considered to fulfill major societal roles. In
fact, the practice of medicine was seen as more of a part-time avocation due to the
fact that the majority of citizens labeled as "doctors" also took on full-time
occupations such as judge, magistrate, farmer, or merchant” (Medaus Pharmacy,
2008). In turn, this era left little room for private or hospital practice. As a result, lay
practitioners took care of most medical matters including births, injuries, and illness
through the use of herbal medicines and teas, salves, emetics, and purgative
medicines (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008).
Fast forwarding, by the beginning of the 19th century, conventional medicine was
beginning to grow (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008). “Despite the growing popularity of the
medical profession, patients often labeled conventional medical practices as
expensive, imprecise, and dangerous” (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008). As a result, a
number of citizens formed the Popular Health Movement (PHM) during the 1830s and
1840s (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008).
As a team, PHM supporters sought to alter conventional medical practices by
incorporating and emphasizing some of the ideas that midwives and lay practitioners
had long used to heal their patients (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008). Needless to say, these
“included herbal remedies, proper nutrition, clean water, exercise, disease
prevention, the body's innate ability to heal itself, and health education” (Medaus
Pharmacy, 2008).
Due to this, Samuel Thompson and Wooster Beach (herbalists), influenced state after
state to repeal their conventional medical licensing laws and allow for certain
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to be part of everyday
health care (Medaus Pharmacy, 2008). In view of that, today 69% of the U.S.
populace reports using at least one form of CAM in any given year (Medaus
Pharmacy, 2008).

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WEEK 1
What Encompasses Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
 At some point in your health journey in life, you have seen the words
“complementary,” “alternative,” and “integrative,” but what do they
really mean? As defined by the Everyday Health, Complementary and
alternative medicine, or CAM, is a category of medicine that includes a variety
of treatment approaches that fall outside the realm of conventional medicine
(Calabro, 2015).
 So what are the differences between conventional vs complementary?
1. Complementary medicine refers to healing practices and products that
work in conjunction with traditional medicine (Calabro, 2015).
2. Alternative medicine differs in that it is not used as a complement to, but
rather as a substitute for traditional therapy (Calabro, 2015).
 The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
recently surveyed Americans on their use of complementary and alternative
medicine. The information was collected from more than 20,000 adults and
nearly 10,000 children. The results noted that about 40 percent of adults and
12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative
medicine (Calabro, 2015).
 Out-of-pocket spending on herbal supplements, chiropractic visits,
meditation, and other forms of complementary and alternative medicines
(CAM) was estimated at $34 billion in a single year (Boyles, 2009).
 The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
recognizes five main categories of complementary and alternative medicine:

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 Mind-body medicine
Mind-body medicine includes treatments that focus on how our mental and
emotional status interacts and affects the body's ability to function. These
include meditation and therapies expressed through art and music (Calabro,
2015).
 Whole medical systems
Refers to complete systems of medical theory and practice. These include
traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, a therapy that originated in India.
Whole medical systems from the West include homeopathy and naturopathy
(Calabro, 2015).
 Manipulative and body-based practices
These require the physical manipulation of the body, this practice is intended
to improve specific symptoms and overall health. These practices include
chiropractic. Massage, yoga and osteopathy (Calabro, 2015).
 Energy medicine
This form of medicine uses energy fields to promote healing. It has been noted
that these Biofield therapies affect energy fields that are said to encircle the
human body. These are conducted in the practices of Reiki and qi gong
(Calabro, 2015).
 Biologically based practices
These practices focus on herbs, nutrition, and vitamins, dietary supplements
and herbal medicine. Although these are a growing interest kinds of therapies,
more research is still being conducted and tested (Calabro, 2015).
Mediation
 “Meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for
increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance,
coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being. Mind and
body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body,
and behavior” (National Institute of Health, 2014).
 Research suggests practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, irritable
bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, insomnia (National Institute of Health,
2014).
 There are many types of meditation, but most have four elements in common:
1) a quiet location with as few distractions as possible 2) a specific,
comfortable posture 3) a focus of attention (a specially chosen word or set of
words, an object, or the sensations of the breath) and 4) open attitude (letting
distractions come and go naturally without judging them) (National Institute
of Health, 2014).

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 Let’s practice one now! This will be a guided meditation which is a form
of meditation where an individual is verbally guided into a state of
consciousness either by a person's live voice or by a recording of a voice. It’s
about 10 minutes long.
http://www.fragrantheart.com/cms/free-audio-meditations/relaxation/blue-
sky-inner-stillness-and-silence
QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION
WEEK 2
What is Manipulative/Body-based practices?
“Manipulative and body-based practices encompass a system of therapies that use
either manual manipulation or movement of one or more parts of the body to
address structural or systematic imbalances of the bones and joints, the soft
tissues, and the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Practices include Chiropractic
and Osteopathic manipulation, therapeutic massage, and a variety of other
"bodywork" therapies” (Raby Institute, 2011).
What Conditions Can Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies Treat?
 Accident and
sports injury
 Anxiety and stress
 Arthritis / Joint
pain
 Asthma
 Chronic fatigue
syndrome
 Infertility
 Low back pain
 Migraines
 Neck pain/shoulder pain
 Overuse or misuse of the body
 Sinusitis
 Visual problems
(Raby Institute, 2011)
When Should I Avoid Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies?
When you experience: (Raby Institute, 2011)
 Acute raised intracranial pressure
 A recent cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
 A recent fracture of the skull or pelvis
There are two main therapies involve the movement or realignment of parts of the
body:
 Massage Therapy
 Bodywork

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Massage
 “Massage is the rubbing of soft tissues of the body, such as the muscles.
Massage may be helpful in reducing tension and pain, improving blood flow,
and encouraging relaxation. Massage therapists usually apply pressure with
their hands, but they can also use their forearms, elbows, or feet” (WebMD,
2015).
Types
 Swedish massage is very gentle and is often used to promote relaxation,
improve blood flow, and relieve muscle tension (WebMD, 2015).
 Deep tissue massage is more active and intense. It is used to treat long-lasting
muscle tension. The therapist applies slow strokes (with the fingers, thumbs,
and elbows) using intense pressure to reach deeper layers of the muscles than
those reached with a Swedish massage technique (WebMD, 2015).
 Trigger point massage is less gentle and can sometimes be uncomfortable.
The therapist applies firm pressure to knots or tight, tense muscles that have
been overused or injured, continuing until the muscles relax (WebMD, 2015).

12. CAM Practices June 2015 Page 12
Bodywork
 Bodywork and manual therapy are general terms that refer to body
manipulation therapies used for relaxation and pain relief. The aim of
bodywork is to realign and reposition the body to allow natural, graceful
movement. Bodywork, along with identifying possible contributing causes of
unnatural movement and posture, is thought to reduce stress and ease pain
(WebMD, 2015).
 The Alexander technique focuses on proper alignment of the head, neck, and
trunk. It emphasizes improving health by increasing awareness of proper
posture (WebMD, 2015).
 The Feldenkrais method is a gentle form of bodywork that increases flexibility
and coordination. These exercises increases a person's awareness of body
movement and develop new patterns of movement (WebMD, 2015).
 The Trager approach is used to help you relearn natural movements and
exercises so your bodies can function better. Practitioners teach gentle,
rhythmic motions to improve flexibility and promote relaxation and dancelike
exercises to increase awareness of body movement (WebMD, 2015).
Now, let’s watch this short video on a massage session:
http://www.psychetruth.net/free_hd_massage_videos/full-body-massage-video-
for-back-relaxation/
QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

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WEEK 3
Introduction to Biologically-Based Practices
 This practice includes the use of dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
These treatments use ingredients derived from nature. Some of the ingredients
include but not limited to herbs such as ginseng, ginkgo and echinacea;
examples of other dietary supplements include selenium, glucosamine sulfate
and SAMe. In addition, herbs and supplements can be taken as teas, oils,
syrups, powders, tablets or capsules (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
 On the flip side, herbal supplements haven't been subjected to the same
scientific scrutiny and aren't as strictly regulated as medications. Therefore, it
is critical to investigate potential benefits and side effects of herbal
supplements before you buy (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
 Herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA, but not as drugs or as foods
(Mayo Clinic, 2015). They fall under a category called dietary supplements,
thus Manufacturers don't have to seek FDA approval before putting dietary
supplements on the market (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
Do
 Ask your doctor or pharmacist they should be able to point you to the latest
medical guidance about its uses and risks (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
 Look for scientific research findings two good sources include the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the Office of
Dietary Supplements websites (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
 Contact the manufacturer. If you have questions about a specific product,
ask to talk with someone who can answer questions (Mayo Clinic, 2015).
Don’t
 If you're taking prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications some
herbs can cause serious side effects when mixed with prescription and OTC
drugs, such as aspirin, blood thinners or blood pressure medications (Mayo
Clinic, 2015).
 You're pregnant or breast-feeding the medications that may be safe for you
as an adult may be harmful to your fetus or your breast-feeding infant (Mayo
Clinic, 2015).
 If you're having surgery some may decrease the effectiveness of anesthetics or
cause dangerous complications, such as bleeding or high blood pressure (Mayo
Clinic, 2015).

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 If you're younger than 18 or older than 65 few herbal supplements have
been tested on children or have established safe doses for children (Mayo
Clinic, 2015).
Safety tips for using herbal supplements
Follow supplement instructions
Keep track of what you take
Be cautious about supplements manufactured outside the United States
Check alerts and advisories from the FDA and NCCAM
(Mayo Clinic, 2015)
Common Herbal Supplements
St. John’s Wort – Wild-growing with yellow flowers. Known to treat mild to moderate
depression (Holistic Health Library, 2015).
Saw Palmetto –may be helpful in the treatment of an enlarged prostate, a common
condition in men over age 50 (Holistic Health Library, 2015).
Hawthorn – Popularly used for several heart-related conditions and is supportive in
the treatment of angina, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and high blood
pressure (Holistic Health Library, 2015).
Green tea –used to combat fatigue, prevent arteriosclerosis and certain cancers,
lower cholesterol, reduce tooth decay, and aid in weight loss (Holistic Health Library,
2015).

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Ginseng – Used as a general tonic to increase overall body tone, ginseng is
considered helpful in elevating energy levels and resistance to stress (Holistic Health
Library, 2015).
Gingko Biloba –used for many conditions associated with aging, including poor
circulation and memory loss (Holistic Health Library, 2015).
Echinacea –used to strengthen the body’s immune system, echinacea is also
considered prevention against colds and flu (Holistic Health Library, 2015).
QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION
Wellness Quiz
Do you wake up with enthusiasm for the day ahead?
Do you have the high energy you need to do what you want?
Do you laugh easily and often, especially at yourself?
Do you confidently find solutions for the challenges in your life?
Do you feel valued and appreciated?
Do you appreciate others and let them know it?
Do you have a circle of warm, caring friends?
Do the choices you make every day get you what you want?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, yeah! You have identified areas in
your life that you may want to change.
QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

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Resources
Alternative Health
http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/the-basics.aspx
Mayo Clinic-Herbal Supplements
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-
depth/herbal-supplements/art-20046714
Medline Plus that can provide trusted information found at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/complementaryandalternativemedicine.html
NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine) found at:
http://nccam.nih.gov/
The whole-person solution for professional and personal well-being
www.healthy.net

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References
Boyles, S. (2009, Jul 30). Americans spend $34 billion on alternative medicine.
Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20090730/americans-spend-34-
billion-alternative-medicine
Calabro, S. (2015, June 13). Defining complementary and alternative medicine.
Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/the-
basics.aspx
Holistic Health Library. (2015, June 15). Common herbal supplements – uses and
tips. Retrieved from http://holistichealthlibrary.com/common-herbal-
supplements-uses-and-tips/
Mayo Clinic. (2015, June 13). Complementary and alternative medicine. Retrieved
from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-
depth/alternative-medicine/art-20045267
Mayo Clinic. (2015, June 15). How do you know if herbal supplements' claims are
true?. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-
and-healthy-eating/in-depth/herbal-supplements/art-20046714?pg=2
Medaus Pharmacy. (2008). The history of complementary and alternative medicine in
the united states and beyond. Retrieved from
http://www.medaus.com/index25fb.html?id=23:the-history-of-
complementary-and-alternative-medicine-in-the-united-states-and-beyond-
National Institute of Health. (2014, Nov). Meditation: What you need to know.
Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
Raby Institute. (2011). What are manipulative and body-based practices?. Retrieved
from
http://www.rabyintegrativemedicine.com/pages/manipulative_and_body_bas
ed_practices/43.php
WebMD. (2015, June 14). Bodywork and manual therapy - topic overview. Retrieved
from http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/bodywork-or-manual-
therapy-topic-overview