Alternative medicine

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ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE IN
MENTAL HEALTH-I

INTRODUCTION
An alternative approach to mental health care is
one that emphasizes the interrelationship between
mind, body, & spirit. Although some alternative
approaches have a long history. The national center
for complementary & alternative medicine at the
National Institutes of Health was created in 1992 to
help evaluate alternative method of treatment and to
integrate those that are effective into mainstream
healthcare practice.
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DEFINITION
“Alternative medicine
includes all such practices
and ideas which are
outside the domain of
conventional medicine in
several countries and
defined by its users as
preventing or treating
illness or promoting health
and wellbeing.”
www.enwikipedia.org.
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OBJECTIVES
 To establish, organize and render
comprehensive community healthcare systems
including preventive, curative and primitive
aspects of healthcare for the benefit of one and
all specially women and children in rural and
tribal communities.
 To work for the eradication and prevention of
diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, Cancer through
all streams of medicine. Also to associate with
foreign institutions, hospitals to promote
research and development in India. 4

PRINCIPLESI. THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE:
Alternative medicines are founded on a deep belief in the
healing power of nature. Alternative medical providers accept
that within us is a natural ability to heal.
II. PATIENT CENTERED RATHER THAN PHYSICIAN
CENTERED:
Alternative medicine is patient centered in which
the feelings, beliefs and the opinions of the patient
are essential elements in the treatment and decision
making process.
III. RESULTS GENERALLY TAKE LONGER:
One primary goal of alternative medicine is to stimulate the
body`s natural healing response & to let nature take its
course. Due to this reason the rate of healing is slower.
CONTD… 5

CONTD…
IV.USE OF NATURAL AND WHOLE SUBSTANCES:
Many alternative treatments use natural substances i.e.
Herbs, Botanicals, Homeopathies, Nutritional Supplements,
And Whole Foods.
V. HIGHER STANDARD OF HEALTH:
Other factors ranging from the strength of a person`s vital
energy to how happy the persons is in his or her personal and
professional life are also considered. Even a person`s religious
and spiritual concerns are all carefully addressed when
assessing health & wellbeing.
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TYPES
1.HERBAL
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The use of plants to heal is probably as old as
human kind. Virtually every culture in the world has
relied on herbs & plants to treat illness.
Many people are seeking a return to herbal
remedies because they perceive these remedies as
being less potent than prescription drugs and as being
free of adverse side effects.
Several organizations have been established to
attempt regulation & control of the herbal industry like
The `American Herbal Association` and the `American
Botanical Council`.
Herbal remedies come from plants. Plants
remedies are not always safer, All of them can have

USES IN MENTAL HEALTH
 Dementia
 Anxiety
 Sleep disorder
 Depression
 Bipolar disorder
 Psychotic state
 Addictions
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EXAMPLES
1. SAGE: - Sage produces oils which are used
in aromatherapy. It is use to improve
concentration and memory & has been
suggested as a treatment of depression and
anxiety.
HOW DOES IT WORK? It may:
 Increase some brain transmitters.
 Have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.
HOW GOOD IS IT? There is some evidence for
improved memory of volunteers. One study
found that it improved mood alertness, and
calmness. It may help concentration in
people with dementia.
CONTD…
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CONTD…
SIDE EFFECTS: Although safe
when used in amounts. Some
types when taken orally can
cause convulsions. Sage may
also lower blood sugar, it should
not be used in pregnancy and
breast feeding.
DRUG INERACTIONS WITH:
 Drugs for diabetics.
 Drugs for epilepsy.
 Sedatives.
CONTD… 10

CONTD…
2. PASSION FLOWER: - It is used to treat
anxiety; it has also been suggested as a
treatment in alcohol craving & opiate
withdrawal.
HOW GOOD IS IT? Very few studies have been
conducted one trial found it to be as
conventional tranquilizers.
SIDE EFFECTS: Isolated reports of severe
toxicity even at normal doses. It can cause
dizziness, confusion, heart problems, and
inflammation of blood vessels. Toxicity may
depend on the preparation.
DRUG INTERACTION WITH:A. Wafarin; B.
Heparin.
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2. SIDDHA
It is one of the oldest systems of medicines in
India. The term siddha means
achievements and siddhars were saintly
persons who achieved results in medicine.
Eighteen siddhars were said to have
contributed towards the development of
this medical system. Siddha literature is in
Tamil & it is practiced largely in Tamil
speaking part of India & abroad. The
siddha system is largely therapeutic in
nature.
This system believes that all objects in the
universe including human body are
composed of 5 basic elements namely
Earth, Water, Air, Fire, And Sky. 12

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR & ITS
REMEDIES
Siddha medicines defined
physical disease as ‘Pinni’ as
well as psychological disease as
‘Noi’. The ‘Kirukai No.164’ of
Agasthiar note worthy book of
siddha medicine. Kirukai No.1
describes about 18 psychiatric
diseases. The siddhars accept
the abnormal behavior of the
human beings as the modern
psychologists. PPTAD: REP PHYSIO : CONTRART 13

SYMPTOMS OF ABNORMAL
BEHAVIORS
Standing with upper limbs,
restlessness, singing
meaninglessly, dancing,
laughing, changing postures,
sleeplessness, embracing
others, loose talking,
murmuring, spitting on others,
sexual aggression, rolling on the
floors, standing naked, removal
of the clothes.
PPTAD: REP PHYSIO : CONTRART 14

REASON OF THE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
Siddhars believed that the root causes
of the abnormal behaviors are: - evil
desires, disordered thoughts, passions,
morbid imaginations, excessive fear,
envy, anger, and immoral activities.
Chronic disease are mainly caused by
the man`s previous actions. The law of
‘karma’ describes that a man`s sin
actions. Sin actions of man are the root
cause of the present life. Present life is
guided by our karma. Siddhars believe
that the mental abnormalities are
caused by the evil karma of the man or
his/her ancestor’s karma.
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REMEDIES IN SIDDHARSThey recommend several medicines for
mental abnormalities. They prescribed
‘Aviztham’ (medicines) as well as
‘Manthiram’ (psychotherapy). Common
medicines:
 Vedivuppu (Potassium nitrate)
 Rasam (Mercury)
 Navcharam (Ammonium chloride.
In ‘CONCLUSION’ the modern psychiatrical
theory has been developed only in the last
2 centuries. But our siddha medicines
system is the one of the oldest system of
medicine.
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PPTAD: REP PHYSIO : CONTRART 17

Alternative medicine

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