Orthodox Medicine or Alternative Therapy: A Perspective

2014 ◽  
pp. 79-107
Author(s):  
Eric Ayemere ◽  
Lucky Ehimen Enakemere

The authors are of the view that based on the good services provided by genuine trado-medical practitioners; this form of healing art should be encouraged under a strict regulatory regime in order to avoid the dangers prevalent where there is a lack of effective regulations. The article analyses the legal and institutional framework of trado-medical practice in Nigeria and examines the constitutionality of the extant National and some States legal regime if any and its impact in effectively and positively facilitating tradomedical practice in Nigeria. This article also contends that presently, there is no comprehensive regulation due to the absence of specific National legislations on the trado-medical practice. Governments all over the world are increasingly embracing and recognizing Trado-medical practice which been propelled by the fact that many diseases which have prove resistant to orthodox medicine requires attention from alternative therapy. The challenge of adopting trado-medical practice into the mainstream health care sector is that it is not backed with a specific legislation regulating its practice and practitioners. This paper finally conclude that unless there is an urgent and positive change in the attitude of Government coupled with a vigorous political will to strengthen the present legal and institutional framework, patronage of traditional medicine in Nigeria will not be guaranteed as to the safety of the patient and trado-medical practice which is rooted in our culture and heritage will be lost.


Author(s):  
Mikail Hudu Garba ◽  
Mohammed Mamman

Hypnosis is a state of mind that is characterized by focused attention and heightened receptivity for suggestions. It is either established by compliance with instructions or achieved naturally; the critical nature of the mind is bypassed during hypnosis and acceptable suggestions are delivered. Misperceptions about hypnosis by clinical practitioners and their clients have been shaped through years of inaccurate but interesting portrayals of hypnosis in books, plays, and movies. Part of the misperceptions is that individuals with seemingly magical powers to manipulate the unsuspecting innocent with their authoritative voice commands and penetrating eyes are depicted as hypnotists. This chapter will review the traditional and conventional approaches used in hypnosis, their advantages and disadvantages as well as where hypnosis is used as a complementary or alternative therapy to the modern day orthodox medicine. Despite the pejorative image display of hypnosis and misconceptions surrounding it, hypnosis still has numerous applications in contemporary medicine. Hypnotherapy conducted by a trained therapist is considered as a complementary or safe alternative to present day orthodox medication for numerous ailments.


1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (03) ◽  
pp. 102-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. U. Nitzsche ◽  
J. J. Laubenberger ◽  
Almut Einert ◽  
E. Moser ◽  
G. H. Simon

SummaryMedullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare tumor. Its prognosis is mainly linked to surgery, because there is no valid alternative therapy to improve patients outcome. In this report, we discuss the recurrence of such a tumor in a 64-year-old female, focusing on magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography evaluation of this tumor.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-238
Author(s):  
Adam Mohr

The 1918–19 influenza pandemic killed between 30 and 50 million people worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, as Terence Ranger points out, the pandemic left an indelible mark, including the unforeseen emergence of anti-medical religious movements. None were as significant as Faith Tabernacle Congregation, the Philadelphia-based divine-healing church that spurred a massive revival in West Africa – and a network stretching from Ivory Coast to Nigeria – without ever sending missionaries. They evangelised through personal letters exchanged across the Atlantic, and Faith Tabernacle literature sent from Philadelphia to various leaders in West Africa. The 1918–19 influenza pandemic was the spark that led to the church's massive growth, from one small branch before the pandemic began in 1918 to 10,500 members and nearly 250 branches of Faith Tabernacle in West Africa at its zenith in 1926. After the church's rapid demise between 1926 and 1929, leaders of Faith Tabernacle established most of the oldest Pentecostal Churches in the Gold Coast and Nigeria – such as the Apostolic Faith, the Apostolic Church, the Christ Apostolic Church and the Assemblies of God (Nigeria). Classical Pentecostalism, therefore, is Faith Tabernacle's legacy in West Africa, while abstinence from orthodox medicine continued to be debated within these Pentecostal circles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Diah Evawanna Anuhgera ◽  
Eka Fitria Panjaitan ◽  
Desika Wali Pardede ◽  
Desika Wali Pardede ◽  
Nikmah Jalilah Ritonga ◽  
...  

Spending colostrum in post-cesarean section mothers is difficult in the first week postpartum. Efforts to overcome colostrum disruption can use non-pharmacological methods, namely breast care and endorphin massage. This study aims to determine the expenditure of colostrum by giving breast care and endorphin massage to post-cesarean mothers. This research is a quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent design posttest control group design. This research was carried out in the midwifery room of the second floor of Grand Medistra Lubuk Pakam Hospital during the June-July 2019 period. There were 48 participants selected using purposive sampling, with 18 assigned in breast care, endorphin massage and combination of breast care and endorphin massage. The time of spending colostrum expenditure is assessed every day while the amount of colostrum expenditure is assessed after intervening. Analysis of the data used is one-way Annova. The results showed that the combination of breast care and endorphin massage was the most effective action in the time of spending colostrum and the amount of colostrum with a value of p = 0,000. The combination of breast care and endorphin massage could be applied as an alternative therapy post-cesarean mothers    


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awinita Barpujari ◽  
Michael A Erdek

Aim: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used to clinically manage and/or treat several chronic pain etiologies. A limited amount is known about the influence on patients' use of opioid pain medication. This retrospective analysis evaluated SCS effect on opioid consumption in patients presenting with chronic pain conditions. Materials & methods: Sixty-seven patients underwent a temporary trial device, permanent implant or both. Patients were divided for assessment based on the nature of their procedure(s). Primary outcome was change in morphine equivalent dose (MED), ascertained from preoperative and postoperative medication reports. Results: Postoperative MED was significantly lower in patients who received some form of neuromodulation therapy. Pretrial patients reported an average MED of 41.01 ± 10.23 mg per day while post-trial patients reported an average of 13.30 ± 5.34 mg per day (p < 0.001). Pre-implant patients reported an average MED of 39.14 ± 13.52 mg per day while post-implant patients reported an average MED of 20.23 ± 9.01 mg per day (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between pre-trial and pre-implant MED, nor between post-trial and post-implant MED. Of the 42 study subjects who reported some amount of pre-intervention opioid use, 78.57% indicated a lower MED (n = 33; p < 0.001), 16.67% indicated no change (n = 7) and 4.76% (n = 2) indicated a higher MED, following intervention. Moreover, SCS therapy resulted in a 26.83% reduction (p < 0.001) in the number of patients with MED >50 mg per day. Conclusion: Spinal cord stimulation may reduce opioid use when implemented appropriately. Neuromodulation may represent alternative therapy for alleviating chronic pain which may avoid a number of deleterious side effects commonly associated with opioid consumption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 720
Author(s):  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Ruenn Chai Lai ◽  
Wei Kian Sim ◽  
Andre Boon Hwa Choo ◽  
Ellen Birgit Lane ◽  
...  

Severe psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease is increasingly being effectively managed by targeted immunotherapy but long-term immunotherapy poses health risk and loss of response. Therefore, there is a need for alternative therapy strategies. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) exosomes are widely known for their potent immunomodulatory properties. Here we investigated if topically applied MSC exosomes could alleviate psoriasis-associated inflammation. Topically applied fluorescent exosomes on human skin explants were confined primarily to the stratum corneum with <1% input fluorescence exiting the explant over a 24-h period. Nevertheless, topically applied MSC exosomes in a mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ) psoriasis significantly reduced IL-17 and terminal complement activation complex C5b-9 in the mouse skin. MSC exosomes were previously shown to inhibit complement activation, specifically C5b-9 complex formation through CD59. Infiltration of neutrophils into the stratum corneum is characteristic of psoriasis and neutrophils are a major cellular source of IL-17 in psoriasis through the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We propose that topically applied MSC exosomes inhibit complement activation in the stratum corneum and this alleviates IL-17 release by NETS from neutrophils that accumulate in and beneath the stratum corneum.


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