Patients frequently ask me about herbal medicine as a form of complementary or alternative therapy. Herbal medicine is the use of certain plants to treat illnesses, maintain healthful weight, and improve general body wellness. The use of plants for curative or medicinal purposes has its origin in ancient cultures (Li & Weng, 2017). For instance, the ginkgo biloba is an herb native to China that is believed to treat a multitude of ailments including memory loss, glaucoma, sexual dysfunction, vertigo, and cognitive disorders. I tell my patients to conduct sufficient research before taking herbal medicine. This is because some of them contain extremely strong active ingredients. Additionally, others may interact with medicine that the patient is already taking. I also caution my patients to buy herbal medicine from reliable herbal therapists. The market is infiltrated with unregulated products that may contain dangerous quantities of chemicals such as mercury and lead. Therefore, I tell patients to consult their physician before they undertake this complementary or alternative course of treatment.
Another form of complementary therapy that I receive a lot of questions about is naturopathy. This is an approach to wellness that stresses on healthy diet, sunlight, adequate water, and exercising. According to this form of complementary medicine, a person can achieve wellness through natural and noninvasive methods. Patients ask whether it is possible to cure or manage diseases using proper diet, active lifestyle, and other forms of naturopathy. I tell them that although naturopathy is not evidence-based, it is helpful to practice body mindfulness. For instance, exercising, maintaining healthy weight, getting enough sunshine, and taking a nutritious diet are helpful principles behind this complementary medicine. However, it would be dangerous for a patient to completely forego prescribed medication in favor of naturopathy. I advise patients to utilize it in combination with other medical practices. I refer them to licensed naturopathy professionals for more information. Similar to all alternative or complementary therapies, I emphasize the importance of speaking to their doctor before using it.
Case 1
The patient displays prominent symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is a disease that effects the endocrine system. Some symptoms of the illness include fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin, inability to tolerate cold, and reduced heart rate (Chaker et al., 2017). Since she has many of these symptoms, the patient most likely has hypothyroidism. Additionally, the laboratory tests shows that she has an elevated serum cholesterol level, low blood pressure, and a low T4 level. Hypothyroidism is a disease that hinders the functioning of the thyroid hormone. This hormone is responsible for the body’s metabolic rate including digestion, temperature regulation, and heart rate. For this reason, the condition manifests through weight increase, fatigue, and slow reflexes.
The thyroid gland is an organ found at front of the neck and its primary role is to secrete thyroxin (T4), which is then converted into triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland needs iodine to secrete the thyroid hormone. The uptake of iodine in the body is controlled by the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), whose production is stimulated by the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Therefore, a deficiency of iodine or either of these hormones results in hypothyroidism (Chaker et al., 2017). Primary hypothyroidism is caused by iodine deficiency and is the most common form of the disease. Secondary hypothyroidism results from a disease in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. For instance, the disease may arise from insufficient production of TSH by the pituitary gland or inadequate TRH release by the hypothalamus. Hypothyroidism is curable with the right treatment or the inclusion of adequate iodine in a person’s diet.
Case 2
A lot of patients ask about complementary therapies such as acupuncture. You are in a position to speak from the perspective of a healthcare provider a well as from experience working with your father. Many people have heard of acupuncture but do not know what it is exactly. It is our responsibility as caregivers to give them more information on this form of treatment. Such information includes what acupuncture is, how it works, its effectiveness, and the risks. Acupuncture is an effective therapy when used complementarily with conventional medical practices (Birch, 2019). It can be used to treat nausea resulting from cancer chemotherapy, back pain, migraines, osteoarthritis, and menstrual pain. Although it was traditionally used in private field, acupuncture is gaining a wider acceptance.
While nurses can provide information about acupuncture, patients should seek more information from specialists. The professional will determine if acupuncture is the right course of treatment for the patient. Additionally, acupuncture should only be practiced by a licensed expert (Birch, 2019). It is a highly technical field that requires special skills to achieve desired results. When done by a non-specialist, the patient could suffer pain, bleeding, and bruising. It is essential to inform people of both the benefits and risks associated with acupuncture. Finally, we should advice patients to speak to their doctor on issues such as whether to combine acupuncture with their current treatment. Some patients stop taking medication when they take complementary medicine. I believe alternative and complementary medicine may be beneficial but only if used appropriately.
References
Birch, S. (2019). Treating the patient not the symptoms: Acupuncture to improve overall health–Evidence, acceptance and strategies. Integrative medicine research, 8(1), 33-41.
Chaker, L., Bianco, A. C., Jonklaas, J., & Peeters, R. P. (2017). Hypothyroidism. Lancet, 390(10101), 1550–1562.
Li, F. S., & Weng, J. K. (2017). Demystifying traditional herbal medicine with modern approach. Nature plants, 3(17109), 1-7.