Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

When pro golfer Morgan Hoffman was diagnosed, at age 27, with incurable muscular dystrophy in 2016, he left the elite PGA Tour and disappeared into the depths of the Costa Rican jungle.

This week, after five years in the wilderness literally where he treated himself by experimenting with eating 800 grapes a day to drinking his own urine, Hoffman, 32, will make his long-awaited return to the PGA Tour. On Thursday, he tees up for the RBC Heritage tournament at Hilton Head, SC.

The once conservative-looking preppy has evolved into a barefoot, shirtless fan of hallucinogens think Tarzan with a 2-iron.

Hoffman is not your average golfer. Born and raised in New Jersey, he was, before his diagnosis, the games next big thing. Tall, slim and handsome, he was a collegiate golf star at Oklahoma State University, where he played alongside PGA Tour star Rickie Fowler.

When he turned professional in 2011, Hoffman quickly found himself pursued by sponsors and equipment manufacturers dangling checks. He signed up with Polo Ralph Lauren, Mastercard, Breitling and Titleist. With all that money in the bank, he also got his pilots license, buying a Piper Mirage plane to fly himself to tournaments.

He was also pursued by women lots of women.

Each week there would be three or four new girls. Id get their numbers while I was playing. Id have my caddie give them balls with my number on it, go out every night, he recalled in a recent interview with Golf Digest magazine.

At the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills, Colo. a typical tournament for him Hoffman finished strongly, taking third place and a check for $544,000. I had a BMW i8 that week. They were just givin us that st, he said. We went out to strip clubs; wed pick up chicks. I had three chicks in that two-seat car. Life has changed.

Thats an understatement.

It was during his final year at OSU that Hoffman first noticed that something wasnt quite right with his health. Though he was experiencing no pain and his golf game was in great shape, he noticed a loss of muscle mass in his chest.

Three years went by. By then, he was an established PGA Tour player, but his weakening pectoral muscles were now slowing down his golf swing. One expert speculated it was a trapped nerve. The Cleveland Clinic was stumped, as was the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He had CT scans,electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiograms (EKG), but no answers.

In 2016, Hoffman finally got a diagnosis: facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, an incurable, muscle-wasting disease. The best he could expect, said the doctors, was trying to maintain his mobility for as long as possible.

Im like, What do I do? He tells me I can do some therapy, but thats about it, said Hoffman. Its just going to get worse. Im like, Thats it?

In 2018, however, Hoffman took matters into his own hands. Desperate to find a way to manage his illness, he traveled to Nepal and lived off-grid for three months. Thats where he discovered urine therapy, experimenting with deep-cleansing diets where he consumed no water or food for 10 days and, instead, only drank a cup of his own urine twice a day.

From Nepal, Hoffman and his wife, Chelsea, headed to theNicoya Peninsula in western Costa Rica, a region where people live some of the longest and healthiest lives in the world. There, with the help of local shaman, he underwent a four-day Amazon treatmentusing ayahuasca, the heady psychoactive brew containing the hallucinogen DMT, an experience that he said opened his eyes to what could be achieved through alternative medicine.

Amid visions of vivid geometric patterns, gentle elephants and giant butterflies, Hoffman felt as though nature being was being pumped into me like gasoline It was beautiful, he said. It felt like the disease was coming out of me.

This week, Hoffman was asked about the experience at a press conference at Hilton Head. A lot of people call some of the things that Ive embarked upon as hallucinogenic, but the way I see them is so much different, he said. I think its like a backdoor or side door to different dimensions or different planes. I dont really have it down yet; Im still questioning and trying to figure it all out.

The Hoffmans bought a mountainside house in the jungle in Novara, Costa Rica, with views of the ocean but no doors or glass windows (there are screens to keep insects at bay). His next-door neighbor, the golfer said, is a Spanish kung-fu expert who rides around on a horse, dressed in a robe, with a sword in his hand and a joint in his mouth.

Hoffmans healing continues; breathwork, meditation, yoga his days are like one never-ending retreat. He has given up all animal products and often tries raw diets. Once, over a 17-day period, he ate nothing but grapes, consuming more than 800 some days.

Hoffman has also been working on his strength and, for the first time in years, can flex his pectoral muscles. My right pec was the worst it kind of got down to my ribs, where all you could see is bone and now when I put my hand here and I flex, I can feel it again, he said. Its very, very exciting.

His progress has been such that hes determined to help others benefit from what he has learned on his journey. Henow has theMorgan Hoffman Foundation and plans to build his own wellness center in Costa Rica, the working name being Nekawa awaken backward.

Hoffman has three starts left on a medical extension to his PGA Tour card that must be used this year and hope to perform well enough in those events to retain his playing rights for next year. He then intends to commute to a limited number of tournaments from Costa Rica, the idea being that any money earned will help to fund the new center.

It can be deemed as crazy, he said this week, but I think thats kind of what most people see me as anyway.

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This golfer drank urine, did hallucinogens and ate 800 grapes a day to fight disease - New York Post

Deemed traditional for lack of data support and short of defined dosages, herbal medicine has been relatively shunned in urban settings though all partake to varying degrees. The advent of the pandemic in 2020 has put traditional and herbal remedies to the fore. Supported by policy and governmental recognition, the field is slowly growing as a business and alternative health care, writes EBRs Trualem Asmare.

A few months after the Covid pandemic hit Ethiopia, Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, went on national TV to inform the nation on promising developments of a herbal medicine to tackle the virus. Giving a press conference alongside Hakim Abebech Shiferaw, a famous herbal medicine Expert, Lia went as far saying the remedy was on the verge of being recognized by her ministry.The announcement was received with both delight and concern for Ethiopians. Global health leaders such as Senait Fisseha, Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) director, were quick to condemn the announcement while average Ethiopians were having their moment of pride.

Even though herbal medicine is not openly supported or opposed, the practice is slowly setting a foothold as an organized business.

Solomon Adamu, self-acclaimed Traditional Healer, got his expertise while in Gojam and Gonder in the State of Amhara. In an attempt to support his knowledge with evidence-based learning, he also attended Medco Bio-medical College and graduated as a health officer.

Solomon now owns St. Michael Traditional Clinic in Bole District after founding it in 1997 with an investment capital of ETB250,000 and five employees. Now with a capital of ETB800,000, the clinic provides treatment to anyone under 60 years of age. All types of men and women go to his clinic looking to be treated for various illnesses.

We focus on diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, and wrinkles, Solomon told EBR. Most of our treatments are provided in the form of lubricants. About 30 patients visit the clinic on a daily basis.

Five or six years ago, our society did not have a good understanding of traditional medicine. It was despised as one that causes more harm than good, Solomon told EBR. Now, more people seem to understand the benefits of it, evidenced in the number of visitors we get every day.

Solomon also has written a book entitled Tibebin Bemankia, which translates into Wisdom with a Spoon. Among other things, the book aims to teach people how to self-treat themselves at home to remedy certain diseases and avoid going to hospitals for easy health challenges. Solomon also hopes people who read his book will question the kind of treatment they get at hospitals.

Traditional medicine, well supported by evidence-based research, can play a significant role in healing people, just like in other countries, Solomon argues. Traditional and modern medicine must go hand-in-hand and we must stop despising the former.

Most people are wary of the remedies. One such person is Lulit Melaku, a 28-year-old mother of two, who lives in the same district as Solomons clinic. Most of the time, Lulit would take her children to the hospital or clinic whenever they get sick. However, one day, one of the kids couldnt get better even after a hospital visit. The prescribed drugs just wouldnt work. It was then that her father recommended a traditional clinic. She did just that and her boy returned to his health.

I paid only ETB600, She told EBR. Now, I wouldnt mind visiting traditional clinics for my children when they get sick. I have also become generally cautious of just flying off to hospitals before trying remedies at home.

Gizaw Bekele is Owner of Green Care Herbal Clinic. He studied herbal medicine for 13 years and was first licensed to operate in Canada. He provides treatments in drinkable liquid form which has taken him six years to prove it is without side effects. After coming to Ethiopia in 2010, he set up his business with an initial investment of ETB60,000. He now has four employees and 20 suppliers or plant and other products of nature.

The products he uses include carrot, orange, and coffee oils as well as onion, rosemary, argon, aloe vera, and moringa among others. He then prepares his medications without any added chemicals. The most expensive treatment at Gizaws clinic is ETB4,000, while the least is ETB500. He treats ailments of hair, face, migraine, diabetes, cancer, and others. He feels societys response to his services is rather positive and even has customers from Canada, the USA, and Arab countries.

It is full of challenges, Gizaw reflects. Many people come to me after losing hope following a series of other treatments.

Gizaw and his colleagues are now working to grow the capital to ETB40 million with plans of opening a facility featuring both traditional and modern treatment in Bahir Dar, for which the design is finalized.

If professionals in both lines of business can collaborate, the landscape of medical treatment will greatly change, Gizaw argues. From saving hard earned foreign currency to improving the treatment itself, we can record significant results through collaboration.

The sentiment seems to be well shared by leaders of public health institutions. Tegbar Yigzaw, former President of the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA), sees the potential in traditional medicine as it is indigenous knowledge used for centuries to treat health challenges. For Tegbar, the collaboration between science and traditional medicine practice is an important element that is still missing.

The practice of traditional medicine has been recognized at the policy level in Ethiopia. Yet, it is not well supported by science, he argues. Our training should involve both sides of the health treatment.

Despite the growing spread in the services of conventional medicine, Ethiopians still heavily rely on the traditional and herbal. Modern health services are still highly limited to urban areas of the nation and fail to keep up with the staggering population. Traditional medical practitioners mostly implement herbs, spiritual healing, bone-setting, and minor surgical procedures to treat disease. Ethiopian traditional medicine is vastly complex, diverse, and varies greatly among ethnic groups. Traditional remedies rely on an explanation of disease that draws on both the mystical and natural causes of an illness and employ a holistic approach to treatment, according to a 1991 study by Bishaw M. published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

As traditional medicine is culturally entrenched, accessible, and affordable, up to 80Pct of the Ethiopian population relies on it as a primary source of health care, according a 2006 study by K.D. Kassaye and colleagues at Jimma University. The influence of traditional medicine is also seen in Ethiopian migrant populations with the presence of practitioners and herbal remedies.

Globally, China is a nation that has been praised for its herbal medicine treatment environment. Ancient in its beginnings, Chinese herbal medicine has a focus on potions. It is believed that its theoretical foundation came sometime between the second century BCE and second century CE, but the focus was more on acupuncture than on herbs. However, just like in Ethiopia, the remedies mostly lack theoretical basis.

The advent of Covid-19 has put extra focus on the medicine industry. As a pandemic is defined by absence of remedies, the majority of Ethiopians turned to herbs and other plants to augment their immune system. With that momentum, traditional medicine is now on a trajectory of featuring more and more in the medicine industry.

EBR 10th Year Feb 2022 No. 104

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Relief From the Woods Growing Herbal Medicine Business - Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News | Your right to know!

Ministry of Health should work closely with relevant biomedical industry players such as manufacturers and suppliers of vitrification kits

The Singapore government recently announced that from 2023 onwards, non-medical egg freezing for fertility preservation will be made available to all women aged between 21 to 35 years of age, regardless of marital status. This elective procedure is wisely restricted to women who are 35 years old or younger, due to strong medical evidence of a sharp drop in female fertility above this age.

This will undoubtedly optimize chances of future reproductive success for patients, while avoiding false hope and wastage of money for older women. Additionally, compulsory pre-procedure counseling will also be implemented as a safeguard to ensure that prospective patients are well-informed of the medical risks, success rates and finances of elective egg freezing, before undergoing the procedure.

While such steps are indeed wise and prudent, there is still much more that can be done to encourage and promote best clinical practice of social egg freezing in Singapore. These are as follows:

Enhanced training and accreditation of embryologists carrying out egg freezing procedure, together with rigorous monitoring of success rates

The freezing (cryopreservation) of unfertilized eggs is much more technically demanding and require much higher quality control standards compared to embryo freezing. This is because unfertilized eggs, being a single large cell, tend to survive the freezing process less well than embryos, which consist of several small cells. If ice crystallization during the freezing process were to damage just one or two cells of a multi-celled embryo, it can still survive after thawing. The same cannot be said of an unfertilized egg that is composed of just one large cell. Moreover, the genetic material (chromosomes) of the unfertilized egg is spread out in a spindle-like structure (Metaphase II spindle), making it much more vulnerable to ice crystallization damage compared to the genetic material of embryos that is usually tightly-packed together. Hence, the latest egg freezing protocols utilize vitrification technology that avoids ice crystallization altogether, by using high solute concentrations to draw out as much water from the unfertilized egg as possible, together with rapid flash-freezing in liquid nitrogen.

The problem is that even if there is a slight procedural deviation or lapse in the quality control of egg freezing, ice crystallization readily occurs that will irreversibly damage the unfertilized egg, rendering it unusable after thawing. Hence IVF laboratory staff (embryologists) that carry out the vitrification protocol would need a much higher level of training and accreditation compared to embryologists that just carry out embryo freezing. To date, the biomedical industry has developed various different brands of vitrification kits that can be concurrently used for freezing of both eggs and embryo. Cheaper and lower quality vitrification kits that work well for embryos may not yield optimal results for unfertilized eggs. The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore should therefore rigorously assess these various kit brands based on published scientific data on unfertilized eggs, and approve only the best of these for use in Singapore. Additionally, MOH should work together with biomedical companies producing or supplying such high-quality kits, to ensure rigorous training and accreditation of embryologists doing egg freezing. To ensure that high standards for egg freezing are being maintained, MOH should also closely monitor and track IVF success rates with frozen eggs.

Pre-procedure fertility enhancement programs

Due to busy work schedule and time constraints, many career women hastily undergo egg freezing almost immediately after preliminary fertility screening to assess their suitability for the procedure. This does not always yield optimal results. Given that so much money and time have to be invested in the procedure, prospective egg freezing patients would be well-advised to undergo pre-procedure fertility enhancement programs, to optimize their chances of future reproductive success. This involves a multi-faceted approach focusing on exercise, weight control, healthy diet, fertility supplements and complementary/alternative medicine to improve and optimize egg quality before freezing.

Exercise and weight control

Being overweight or underweight have been well-documented to reduce female fertility and IVF success rates. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is crucial for ensuring optimal egg quality for freezing.

Diet and fertility supplements

Before starting an egg freezing cycle, patients would be well-advised to maintain a healthy diet rich in folic acid, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc. Currently on the market, there are various commercially-available products that combine various vitamins and dietary supplements into one package to specifically improve egg quality prior to IVF or egg freezing. These include:

Complementary and alternative medicine

For women with pertinent health problems that could reduce their chances of successful egg freezing, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), irregular menstrual cycles, aberrant hormone levels and low ovarian reserves, they might consider complementary or alternative medicine to boost their fertility before starting an egg freezing cycle. These would include herbal therapy based on traditional chinese medicine, ayurveda and acupunture. While anecdotal evidence suggests that some patients do experience marked improvements after undergoing such therapies, the current scientific evidence is not clear-cut, and rigorous clinical studies are lacking. Hence prospective patients should exercise caution and make a conscious effort to gather more information, before deciding on such treatments.

Financial assistance schemes for egg freezing patients

The high costs of egg freezing may make it unaffordable to many prospective egg freezing patients, particularly younger women with less savings, but at the peak of their fertility. Hence, the Singapore government should consider various financial assistance schemes to help such younger women with optimal egg quality for freezing. In this case, direct government subsidies cannot be justified because elective egg freezing for non-medical reasons is non-essential for sustenance of either health or life. Nevertheless, there are various other options that can be considered. Perhaps, it may be wise to set an even younger age limit for such financial assistance to egg freezing patients, for example 30 years of age. This could serve as an incentive to push and encourage women to freeze their eggs even younger for their own benefit, thus boosting their chances of future reproductive success.

Utilizing Central Provident Fund Medisave for egg freezing

In Singapore, the compulsory pension plan that all public and private sector employees must subscribe to is the Central Provident Fund (CPF), the medical component of which is known as Medisave. At present, CPF Medisave can be utilized to fund IVF treatment of married patients who have trouble conceiving. Perhaps, the government should also consider allowing the utilization of CPF medisave for non-medical egg freezing.

Medical fee subsidy for egg freezing in return for egg donation - Freeze and Share

In some countries such as the USA and UK, Freeze and Share programs, in which the medical fees of egg freezing patients are heavily subsidized in return for donation of some of their eggs, have already been operating for several years. The advantage of such a scheme is that there are no additional costs to government coffers, as subsidies come directly from IVF patients receiving egg donation. Moreover, Freeze and Share programs can also overcome the persistent shortage of egg donors for IVF patients in Singapore.

Government-funded low interest-rate loans for egg freezing patients

Yet another option is for the Singapore government to provide loans to younger women freezing their eggs, with low interest rates equivalent to current government loans for university tuition fees and public housing.

Employer-sponsored egg freezing

Perhaps some companies in Singapore might consider sponsoring elective egg freezing for their female employees as a corporate perk, to attract and retain human capital. Indeed, this is already being practiced by tech giants such as Apple, Google and Facebook within the USA.

Refund of medical fees for donation of unused frozen eggs

The Singapore government can also consider allowing women who donate their unused frozen eggs to be refunded medical fees by recipient IVF patients. In this case, ethical problems associated with undue financial inducements, and commercial egg trading are not applicable, because these women are just being reimbursed medical fees that they had already spent.

Improved facilities, audit, insurance and compensation schemes for storage of frozen eggs

Currently, the cryostorage facilities in many local IVF laboratories are rather rudimentary, and focused on short-term storage of frozen embryos and sperm, often comprising of just small-volume liquid nitrogen tanks that need to be regularly topped-up. This is because most IVF patients often quickly utilize their frozen embryos and sperm for treatment within a few weeks or months. Nevertheless, there are much larger and better-equipped facilities in Singapore dedicated to long-term cryostorage over several years or even decades, such as private cord blood banks and tissue/cell banks based in public hospitals. The staff at such specialized cryostorage facilities are dedicated full-time to maintaining the low-temperature storage of tissues and cells, and there are often various additional quality control and fail-safe measures such as emergency power generators to facilitate this. By contrast, IVF laboratory staff (embryologists) have many other duties besides ensuring proper cryostorage of frozen eggs. Certainly, this situation is far from ideal. Hence, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with private cord blood banks and public tissue/cell banks, should attempt to establish centralized well-equipped cryostorage facilities for frozen egg banking, rather than just relying on individual IVF laboratories. Additionally, to better serve the interests of egg freezing patients, rigorous audit and inspection procedures should also be implemented to ensure proper cryostorage of frozen eggs. This is not a trivial issue, given that there have been several high profile cases of cryostorage failure reported in the news media, resulting in irreversible damage to frozen eggs and embryos, for example through leakage of cryostorage tanks, or through negligence of laboratory staff who forget to top-up with liquid nitrogen. Consequently, such unfortunate incidents have led to high-profile lawsuits being filed by patients. Hence, the government should also consider implementing insurance or compensation schemes to cover accidental loss of frozen eggs due to cryostorage failure.

Clear and coherent directives for storage period, disposal, donation and export of frozen eggs

Because the medical risks of pregnancy complications increase with maternal age, it would be prudent to place a time limit on the storage duration of frozen eggs based on the patients age. For example it can be mandated that patients are allowed to store their frozen eggs until 55 years of age, after which their frozen eggs must either be disposed or donated to research or treatment of other patients. A time limit based on the patients age also has the advantage of ensuring that the patient has adequate remaining lifespan to raise the child to adulthood. Additionally, clear and coherent directives for the disposal, donation and export of frozen eggs should also be set. Safeguards should be put in place to prevent unauthorized use of disposed frozen eggs for training of new laboratory staff without the patients consent. Additionally, safeguards are also necessary for managing the donation of unused frozen eggs to other patients. For example, mandatory counseling and informed consent of the husband should be required if the donor is married; as well as recipient patients being made aware that IVF success rates with frozen eggs are significantly lower than fresh eggs. Finally, there is also the controversial issue of allowing patients to export their frozen eggs to foreign IVF clinics for procedures banned in Singapore, such as surrogacy and single motherhood with donor sperm.

Conclusions

In conclusion, achieving best practice of egg freezing in Singapore would require the Ministry of Health to work closely with various public and private IVF centers, together with relevant biomedical industry players such as manufacturers and suppliers of vitrification kits, as well as providers of cryostorage facilities such as cell/tissue banks. It is hoped that whatever have been discussed would be taken into account to ensure best practice of egg freezing in Singapore for the ultimate benefit of patients.

------------

Dr Alexis Heng Boon Chin

(Associate Professor, Peking University, China)

Dr Alexis Heng Boon Chin is a Singapore citizen, who is working as an Associate Professor of Biomedical Science at Peking University, China. He had previously worked in the field of human clinical assisted reproduction research in Singapore, and has authored 50 international journal publications on ethical and legal issues relating to new reproductive technologies, in addition to also having published more than 260 scientific journal articles.

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How can Singapore optimize chances of future reproductive success with egg freezing- What more should be done? - BSA bureau

Due to his decision not to get fully vaccinated and Canadas regulations, 76ers wing Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play in Toronto during Philadelphias first-round playoff series against the Raptors.

Thybulle, via Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

Im not fully vaccinated, Thybulle said. This was a decision I made a long time ago. I thought a lot about what Id say here. Essentially, I made this choice and I thought I could keep it to myself, I could keep it private, but people are always going to wonder why.

I was raised in a holistic household where anti-vax is not a term that was ever used. Its a weird term that has kind of been thrown around to just label people. But we grew up with Chinese medicine and naturopathic doctors. With that upbringing, coming into this situation I felt like I had a solid foundation of medical resources that could serve me beyond what this vaccine could do for me.

As things escalated and as this situation has played out, Ive obviously had to reconsider and look at it differently. To that point, it got to the point last year during the playoffs where I did actually consider getting vaccinated and went through with getting the first shot, the first dose. At that point, I was under the impression that getting vaccinated meant that I could not get the disease and transmit it to other people. And I felt like if Im going to be a part of society, in the position Im in, I need to do whats right for the greater good. That argument of the greater good held a lot of weight for me. As things progressed, as this virus has changed many different ways, it just showed through the science that that wasnt the case anymore that even while being vaccinated, you could still spread the disease.

So for me and my reasoning, it felt like getting vaccinated was not something that I needed to do to protect other people. With that being considered and the holistic background of my upbringing and just the way I view medicine in general it felt like I was secure in treating myself not treating myself, but going to the doctors that I have to treat COVID if I did get it. And in the case that I did, I was able to go about it in my holistic way, and Im able to sit here today healthy and OK because of it.

One of the things my dad taught me growing up is youre free to do whatever you want as long as youre willing to accept the consequences of it, Thybulle said. Like I said, I considered deeply all the different avenues. And of course Ive accepted that this could hurt money, contracts, reputation. But I felt like this was the right thing that I needed to do for myself.

That was really hard, he said of discussions with teammates. I made this decision a while ago where this situation Im facing right now was not a factor. It wasnt a part of any of the decision-making, because at the time I would be available for my team and not restricted in any way to do my job. Having had the stance Ive had for almost a year now, I just felt like it couldnt be something that I could be forced to do because of rules or regulation changes. It just seemed like the right thing for me to just see it through.

What does he see as the downsides of receiving a second vaccine dose (which would wipe away those repercussions)?

My reasoning for getting it or not getting it wasnt really the downsides, Thybulle said. I just didnt feel like it would benefit me. I didnt see any benefits outweighing what I could seek from alternative medicine.

One big benefit to getting fully vaccinated that alternative medicine doesnt provide: Thybulle could have played Games 3 and 4 (and if necessary, 6) in Toronto.

Vaccinated people are less likely to contract and therefore spread coronavirus. Those reductions in likelihood became less pronounced as the omicron variant became predominant. But they still existed.

Perhaps Thybulle felt the reductions in likelihood werent significant enough to offset his inclination toward alternative medicine. That might be an understandable choice, especially if he held natural immunity from a prior coronavirus case. Theres room to debate where to draw the line on vaccine mandates, especially with coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths relatively low. The players union fought off a vaccine mandate from the NBA under the premise people should have some right to make their own medical decisions.

But Canadas rules exist. Thybulle cant pretend they dont. So fair or not, anticipated or not he and his team are facing a big downside from his decision.

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Thybulle on not getting fully vaccinated: I didnt see any benefits outweighing what I could seek from alternative medicine - NBC Sports

Veterinarians to Learn How Integrative and Conventional Medicine can be Combined to Treat Patients with Life Impacting Disease

ORLANDO, Fla., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acupuncture, herbal medicine and other non-traditional options are growing in popularity for treating pets with cancer, chronic renal failure, severe pain associated with chronic arthritis and other ailments, even extending life for geriatric patients and improving quality of life.

A cat undergoes electroacupuncture treatment.

With acupuncture, the animal maintains a high quality of life and we can often extend life another three to five years.

Acupuncture for geriatric patients, cancer treatments that start with herbs and nutrition, and alternative treatments for common neurologic conditions are among the topics veterinarians from around the world will learn about from veterinary experts during the "Level Up: Integrative Medicine" virtual summit, presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 and 21.

"As many people are open to integrative medicine to treat illness in humans, the same approaches are now being applied to help our pets live longer and enjoy a better quality of life," said Dana Varble, DVM, CAE, NAVC's Chief Veterinary Officer. "The Level Up virtual summits are another example of how the NAVC is opening the door for veterinary professionals everywhere to learn about advances in animal healthcare that can be used immediately in their practices."

Acupuncture offers an alternative treatment option for geriatric patients where conventional treatments may be difficult. During the session "Integrative Approach to Geriatric Patients," Huisheng Xie, BSvm, MS, PhD, professor of the Chi University, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Florida and the China Agricultural University, will discuss how acupuncture can relieve pain, alleviate other illness and extend an animal's life with a better quality of life.

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"Quality of life in geriatric animals is one of the top concerns for pet owners and their veterinarians. Acupuncture works on the whole body by stimulating multiple internal systems that help the body respond to help with pain and even repair damaged tissue," said Dr. Xie. "What we achieve with acupuncture is that the animal maintains the highest quality of life as long as possible before the end of life which we can often extend another three to five years."

"Level Up: Integrative Medicine" summit attendees will also learn about integrative treatments for common neurologic conditions observed in general veterinary practice. Deanne Zenoni, DVM, CVSMT, CVMRT, CVA, an associate veterinarian at Tops Veterinary Rehabilitation and Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital as well as an instructor at the Healing Oasis, will lead an in-depth discussion about how exercise and hydrotherapy can be used to treat patients with degenerative myelopathy, a disease affecting the spinal cord which can lead to lameness, difficulty with stairs or reluctance to do certain activities.

"Just like in people, we target weak areas and work to help the dog maintain or regain independent mobility. Hydrotherapy is a whole body strengthening due to the resistance of the water but the buoyancy and warmth helps with improved weight bearing and range of motion of the pet," said Dr. Zenoni. "Exercises are something that can be done at home as part of the daily routine as well."

Additionally, summit attendees will learn how herbal medicine and diet can help a pet with a cancer diagnosis. Nicole Sheehan, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, MATP, owner of Whole Pet Animal Hospitals, will present a two-part lecture that addresses how herbs and nutrition are used, in addition to conventional treatments, to improve quality of life, maximize survival times, and provide practical strategies for pet owners to contribute to the healing process at home.

"Level Up" is a new series of virtual events developed by the NAVC and hosted on their virtual education platform, VetFolio, to help veterinary professionals take their careers to the next level. Registrants can receive up to four hours of continuing education. Click here to register.

About the NAVC The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world's leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world's largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry's largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC's products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.

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ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBS: A RECIPE TO HELP GERIATRIC PETS AND THOSE WITH CANCER - Yahoo Finance

Happiness can be evasive given the negative news of political and economic hardships as well as lifes pressures in todays world but at the Happiness Centre, run by Indian entrepreneur and healthy lifestyle expert, Akshay Jain, the feeling of peace and harmony can be achieved through alternative medicine and meditation, reports Vanessa Obioha

In the latter part of 2021, Akshay Jain, an Indian entrepreneur who has taught happiness and is associated with the Art of Living Foundation set up a health and wellness centre: Happiness Centre.

The name of the centre often conjured activities that are associated with the state of happiness such as getting freebies or playing games with friends but the facility situated in a quiet neighbourhood in Victoria Island, Lagos offers therapies and techniques that can ease mental relaxation.

These therapies according to Jain who is the Managing Director of the centre, if wholly embraced will help Nigerians enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

Having lived more than a decade in Lagos, Jain is not a stranger to the hurly-burly of the city. Therefore, the Happiness Centre is designed in such a way to give one a state of peace and harmony. Its environment is surrounded by trees and plants to give room for interactions with nature.

Happiness means different things to people but is essentially about having a positive state of mind.

Happiness is a state of mind. It is the nature of the mind, Jain said in a recent encounter. When the mind is stressed, it shrinks your consciousness, but when you are happy, it is expanded. So stress is a major culprit here. It takes away from your nature and then all the negative emotions such as anxiety, and anger now affect you.

Indeed, in the world today, happiness can be evasive given the negative news of political and economic hardships as well as lifes pressures. While there are many ways one can achieve happiness on a short term basis such as indulging in drinking and smoking, Jain believes that one can be connected back to a state of happiness if one intentionally practises mind relaxation. This he said is the objective of the Happiness Centre.

Everyone knows that drinking and smoking are bad for ones health but people indulge in it because of the short term relief it provides. It is a form of escapism from this stressed world. Happiness however connects you to your inner self to give you peace.

The organisation behind this centre which is Art of Living has achieved great success all over the world in spreading peace and happiness. The mission of the organisation is to bring peace to eradicate violence and to bring smiles on everybodys face.

Elaborating more on short term happiness, Jain said that anything external or material can bring happiness but because its short-lived, it leads one to a new quest for happiness.

So we then tend to live life in pursuit of happiness. You do something for a day or two or whatever time, then next, youre looking for something else. So your happiness is somewhere in the future. But if you realise that your nature is happiness, you can be happy and still achieve what you want.

Contrary to the popular belief that religion plays a vital role in ones happiness, Jain argued that it can be attained through ones mental state and lifestyle. Yoga, he said, is one way to have a positive state of mind.

Yoga is a way of living. It means the union of mind, body and spirit. It is attained by the certain knowledge of life. It is done with means of physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation. A combination of these helps us to relax and focus positively because when the mind relaxes, that is the beginning of the experience of positivity.

The way Jain sees it, we feel negative emotions when our mind and nerves are too tight and the ripple effect causes our body to be stiff. Therefore, at the Happiness Centre, one is first taught the techniques to relax the mind and followed by emotional control.

There are courses and programmes tailored to achieve these. For instance, the level one programme is called the Happiness programme where breathing techniques and mind relaxation are taught. Jain emphasized that the programme is time tested and taught with the new insights researched and validated.

Another means Jain and his team of professionals help people achieve a healthy lifestyle is through alternative medicine known as Ayurveda. Ayurveda, meaning science of life, is an alternative medicine system that has been in existence for over 5, 000 years originating from India. It is acclaimed to be one of the best traditional medicine systems in India. It is heavily practised both in India and Nepal.

Relatively new in Nigeria, Jain said the practice is now formalised and has universities in India teaching aspiring doctors Ayurvedic medicine. At the centre, there is an Ayurvedic doctor that attends to patients with different ailments such as people suffering from diabetes or arthritis.

Jain however shrugged off critics who question the credibility of Ayurvedic medicine. Having been introduced to the alternative medicine in 2004 and seeing its benefits, as far as he is concerned, western medicine is constantly researching to find solutions to problems. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted that research is continuously done to find the best vaccine to deal with the capricious coronavirus.

I am not saying that western medicine is bad. It has its own twist. If you fall, if you break your hand, you have to go and get operated on. But there are certain types of diseases or certain lifestyle-related disorders, which can be fixed by natural needs and Ayurvedic products and which is much more healthy.

He stressed that there has been evidence at the centre of people treated via Ayurveda.

We have seen so many cases of diabetes being reversed. Very simple lifestyle changes. You start exercising and you have the right type of food and at the right time, you sleep well. You see how deeply impacted the product is.

He continued: There is a reason to satisfy the logical mind by evidence but human beings are such a complex structure where you dont have answers for everything today. We should be open to the traditions that have been passed on to us. The good thing is that it does not have adverse effects.

Committed to spreading the gospel of happiness in Nigeria, for the first time, the Happiness Centre marked the UN International Day of Happiness in Nigeria. The event was attended by the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and representatives from the office of the First Lady of Lagos State as well as professor of political economy Pat Utomi who sits on the board of the centre.

It was a good occasion to spread awareness, information on how we can have a better life with the knowledge of meditation and breathing techniques which affects everyday life and lengthens your life. And secondly to understand and live a healthy life through Ayurveda, he concluded.

QuoteHaving lived more than a decade in Lagos, Jain is not a stranger to the hurly-burly of the city. Therefore, the Happiness Centre is designed in such a way to give one a state of peace and harmony. Its environment is surrounded by trees and plants to give room for interactions with nature

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Achieving Healthy, Happy State of Mind through Alternative Medicine, Yoga - THISDAY Newspapers

Content sponsored by Dr. Brijesh Chandwani, DMD

The pandemic left many people tossing and turning at bedtime because of an increase in anxiety as well as screen time. It also sparked an interest in melatonin as a sleep aid. So what is this hormone of darkness?

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, located in the center of the brain, which regulates the bodys sleep cycles or what is also called the circadian rhythm (body clock).

During the day, light switches off the production of melatonin (reference: http://www.natap.org). When the sun sets, production of this hormone is ramped up, giving the brain a signal that its time to sleep. It also plays other important roles in the body such as improving muscle recovery and inhibiting cancer.

However, certain lifestyle and other factors can impact the bodys natural melatonin generation (estimated to be between 10-80 micrograms per night). One is exposure to artificial light such as the increased use of devices long past the bodys normal bedtime or regular night shifts. Other factors that reduce melatonin production are age and obesity.

Melatonin supplements are now commonly used to treat sleep disorders, mainly circadian rhythm sleep disorders and sleep disorders experienced by shift workers. Some use it to reduce symptoms of jet lag. But it is also emerging as a beneficial therapy for certain people with migraines.

Migraines are a neurophysiological disorder within the trigeminal nerve (a major nerve for face, jaw and brain meninges) and other structures of the body. Quite debilitating, they can be triggered by poor sleep, stress, bright lights, loud noises, certain medications, altered sleep-wake cycles, etc. Melatonin supplementation can reduce migraines by improving sleep quality. Melatonin may also deactivate the hypothalamus which is implicated in the mechanism of migraine.

Melatonin can replace traditional medications if the major factor is sleep (think migraines in the middle of the night or morning or someone who has a circadian rhythm disorder). Additionally, melatonin supplementation could increase the efficacy of migraine medications.1

But its important to know when to take it because that can affect the outcome. For migraine and TMJ disorders, melatonin should be started at the dose of 3 mg two hours prior to bedtime and it can be increased up to 10 mg.2

Risk factors to consider

Mild side effects from melatonin include headaches, dizziness, nausea and daytime sleepiness.

About Dr. Chandwani

Dr. Chandwani is a board certified specialist in Orofacial pain (TMJ specialist) in Fairfield County. With his background in acupuncture and alternative medicine, he integrates western and eastern medicine in his practice.

Dr. Chandwani has offices in New York City and in Norwalk. He can be reached at (203) 842-8658 or (347) 494-4618.

For more information, visit tmdtmj.comInstagram: nyctmj.com

1Kurdi MS, Patel T. The role of melatonin in anesthesia and critical care. Indian J Anaesth. 2013;57(2):137-144. doi:10.4103/0019-5049.111837.

2Gelfand, A. A., & Goadsby, P. J. (2016). The Role of Melatonin in the Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders. Headache, 56(8), 12571266. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.12862.

3Grigg-Damberger MM, Ianakieva D. Poor Quality Control of Over-the-Counter Melatonin: What They Say Is Often Not What You Get. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Feb 15;13(2):163-165. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6434. PMID: 28095978; PMCID: PMC5263069. Copy Download .nbib

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Melatonin: What It Is, What It Does - Weston Today

Understand the influence of COVID-19 on the AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market with our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe. Request Now

AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market Overview | 2022 2028

The AYUSH and Alternative Medicine market report is a perfect foundation for people looking out for a comprehensive study and analysis of the AYUSH and Alternative Medicine market. This report contains a diverse study and information that will help you understand your niche and concentrate of key market channels in the regional and global market for AYUSH and Alternative Medicine. To understand competition and take actions based on your key strengths you will be presented with the size of the market, demand in the current and future years, supply chain information, trading concerns, competitive analysis and the prices along with vendor information. The report also has insights about key market players, applications of AYUSH and Alternative Medicine, its type, trends and overall market share.

AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.

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Major Companies:Baidyanath, Himalya Herbals, Ganga Pharmaceuticals, Patanjali, Hamdard

The global, regional, and other market statistics including CAGR, financial statements, volume, and market share mentioned in this report can be easily relied upon in light of their high precision and authenticity. The report also provides a study on the current and future demand of the Global AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market.

Major Types of the Market are:Ayurvedic MedicinesHerbal MedicinesAroma TherapyHomeopathyReflexologyOthers

Major Applications of the Market are:WomenMenKids

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Regional Analysis For AYUSH and Alternative MedicineMarket

North America(the United States, Canada, and Mexico)Europe(Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy)Asia-Pacific(China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia)South America(Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.)The Middle East and Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)

Research Methodology

The report has been consolidated using three research methodologies. The first step centers around exhaustive primary and secondary researches, which includes an extensive collection of information on the Global AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market and the parent and peer market. The next step involves validating the market size, estimations, findings, and assumptions with further accurate information from industry experts. The report obtains a complete estimation of the market size with the help of bottom-up and top-down approaches. Finally, the report obtains the market estimation of all the segments and sub-segments using data triangulation and market breakup procedures.

Table of Contents

Report Overview:The report overview includes studying the market scope, leading players, market segments and sub-segments, market analysis by type, application, geography, and the remaining chapters that shed light on the overview of the market.

Executive :The report summarizes about AYUSH and Alternative Medicine market trends and shares, market size analysis by region, and countries. Under market size analysis by region, analysis of market share, and growth rate by region is provided.

Profiles of International Players:This section also profiles some of the major players functioning in the Global AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market, based on various factors such as the company overview, revenue, product offering (s), key development (s), business strategies, Porters five forces analysis, and SWOT analysis.

Regional Study: The regions and countries mentioned in this research study have been studied based on the market size by application, product, key players, and market forecast.

Key Players:This section of the AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market report explains about the expansion plans of the leading players, investment analysis, funding, company establishment dates, revenues of manufacturers, and the regions served.

Get Full Report @ https://www.marketreportsinsights.com/industry-forecast/global-ayush-and-alternative-medicine-market-growth-2021-15418

Lastly, the AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market study provides essential information about the major challenges that are going to influence market growth. The report additionally provides overall details about the business opportunities to key stakeholders to expand their business and capture revenues in the precise verticals. The report will help the existing or upcoming companies in this market to examine the various aspects of this domain before investing or expanding their business in the AYUSH and Alternative Medicine market.

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AYUSH and Alternative Medicine Market 2022-Bring Opportunities To Grow In Future Bloomingprairieonline - Bloomingprairieonline

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Acta Med Indones. 2022 Jan;54(1):97-106.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread among patients with chronic disease despite lack of supporting evidence for most CAM types. Concerned regarding higher risk of COVID-19 for HIV-infected patients, probably increase the use of CAM during COVID-19 pandemic in this population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors related to CAM use among HIV-infected patients during COVID-19 pandemic, then identify drug- to-drug interaction (DDI) of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs with CAM that they used.

METHODS: The study was conducted in HIV Clinic Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in September-October 2021, specifically targeting adults HIV-infected patients routinely using ARV. Demographic and clinical data, including COVID-19 and vaccine history, were taken from clinic survey and hospital medical records data.

RESULTS: 554 of 1275 patients (43.5%) reported using any type of ingested CAM during COVID-19 pandemic, mostly vitamins and/or minerals. Factors related to CAM use were history of COVID-19 infection (aOR 2.28; 95% CI 1.65-3.14) and 2-5 years ARV duration compared to more than 10 years (aOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.02-1.91). Five known potential interactions involving 20 patients and two potential weak interactions involving 8 patients were found, but many of other interactions categorized as unknown. Only limited number of patients (3.8%) were aware about the drug interaction between ARV and CAM that they used.

CONCLUSION: CAM was commonly used by HIV-infected patients on ARV during the COVID-19 pandemics, but patient awareness related to CAM-ARV drug interactions was exteremely low.

PMID:35398830

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The Use of Complementary Alternative Medicine in HIV-infected Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Related Factors and Drug Interactions with...

How can this combination of treatments help create positive change for individuals struggling with addiction?

The use of opiates and resulting overdoses continue to grow.1,2 Research shows that medications can be useful for curbing cravings and preventing the misuse of narcotics.3 Even though medications have proven helpful, the lack of motivation to change and the incentives for diversion limit treatment compliance.4,5 Individuals inaccurate and unhelpful beliefs about themselves and about substances often interfere with positive change.6 Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been found to be helpful when used together with medication-assisted treatment (MAT).7-9

One of the problems individuals experience when misusing substances is the powerful immediate reinforcement they receive from taking the substance. Indeed, one of the primary reasons people use substances is the immediate reinforcement which, in the moment, is much more compelling than the long-term negative consequences of continued use. By the time most individuals voluntarily talk to an addiction specialist, they have likely experienced negative consequences, including diminished pleasure, negative side effects, and negative social consequences.

Key Techniques in CBT for Substance Use

Individuals who come to treatment are often conflicted. On one hand, they have experienced negative consequences; on the other hand, they are unable to imagine that their lives could be different or better. In CBT, we work with individuals to help them change the trajectory of their lives by placing a renewed focus on the things they value. We help them imagine how their own lives could improve if they were to pursue aspirations that are aligned with their personal values. When individuals place a renewed focus on their values and personal aspirations, they can connect the short-term and long-term consequences of their actions. Individuals find motivation to change their old habits and participate in healthier activities.

With a newfound desire to make changes in their lives, individuals need to make what are often difficult decisions. In CBT, we support individuals in making decisions by doing a cost/benefit analysis. The cost/benefit analysis helps elucidate the relative positive and negative elements of engaging and not engaging in a particular action. By conducting a cost/benefit analysis, individuals gain clarity about the things they value. Accordingly, individuals may make decisions about people with whom it is in their interests to associate, which places to frequent to further their goals, and what things they can do to help them move in a positive direction.

In the throes of addiction, individuals often lose their ability to manage their schedules. In CBT, we help individuals develop schedules with a focus on 2 types of activities. One type of activity increases their level of mastery of things they either need to do or want to do. These activities could include everything from basic hygiene to developing expertise in a profession. The second type of activity increases a persons experience of pleasure, without engaging in substance use. Individuals who suffer from addiction have often lost their ability to experience pleasure when not using drugs. A CBT therapist will help individuals select activities that match their interests and include them on a master schedule designed to include all the different activities they need to do. Having scheduled activities allows less time for the individual to seek out and use substances. The feelings of mastery and pleasure serve as positive reinforcement for engaging in the various activities.

When individuals are caught up in the dynamics of addiction, they often develop negative beliefs about themselves and their abilities. This can lead them to have negative expectations that become self-fulfilling prophesies when situations play out as they predicted. After a person engages in activities that increase their level of competence and pleasure, they gather evidence that contradicts their formerly held beliefs about themselves and about substances. The newly acquired evidence starts a cycle of reinforcement based upon positive assessment, statements, and feelings about themselves. Repeatedly engaging in activities that give them a sense of competence and/or pleasure, combined with positive experiences, lays the foundation for creating new beliefs about their capabilities and capacity for positive feelings.

The continuous use of substances over an extended period can cause a person to become numb to lifes events. Once an individual gives up using substances, the renewed experience of having feelings can be unnerving. Managing emotions can become an important target for therapy. Developing a routine sleep schedule, engaging in healthier eating, and moderating physical elements of emotions may all help an individual learn to better control their feelings. Relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, or other activities such as yoga, prayer, and meditation can be very effective ways of helping people tolerate and manage their experience of feeling emotions that they have not felt for a long time. These techniques can be used with people from all walks of life and with varying histories related to substance misuse.

An Illustrative Case Example

Maria was a 22-year-old college student when she was referred for treatment following her arrest for drug possession and distribution. Maria had excelled academically and in multiple sports during high school. She went to college on a softball scholarship and planned to become a physical therapist. Following her freshman year, Maria tore her rotator cuff. Initially, she thought it was a minor injury and continued to play and work out. The tear got worse and, despite surgery, ended her ability to play softball at the college level. The injury was devastating to Maria because not only could she no longer play sports, but she lost her scholarship, had continuous pain and disrupted sleep, and became depressed as a result. She struggled to keep up with her studies. Her greatest relief from the physical pain and emotional upset was the oxycodone she was given following surgery. Her depression made it difficult for her to fully engage in treatment, and although her doctor recommended ibuprofen and alternative treatments, she continued to request the medication. After several months, her doctors discontinued the opiate medication.

Maria, in the meantime, had connected with others who were able to provide street drugs to fill her increasingly greater need for relief. When she was cut off by her doctors, she turned immediately to her friends. Eventually, she expanded her network of people from whom she could acquire and with whom she would share drugs. This eventually led to her arrest. Marias relationship with her parents and her old friends suffered along the way, and her parents were very concerned about her. They expressed a desire to help her find solutions. Marias attorney referred her for CBT treatment after her arrest and before any court appearances.

Initially, Maria was friendly and expressed a desire to participate in treatment. She was quite clear, though, that she did not know how to get along without opioids. Maria felt responsible for getting herself into her current predicament and felt helpless; she thought her future was hopeless and that she had lost any measure of worth. Rather than reminding her of what she had lost or lecturing her about the consequences of her continued drug use, we started therapy by focusing on the things that were important to her before her injury. Sports, academics, family, and friends were always important to her. They all seemed intricately linked to one another, and her injury seemed to take away everything she cared about.

Acknowledging the losses and the difficulties she had experienced, we talked about what her life could be like if she was able to reclaim the things she valued. Her family and academics were still important to her, and although she could not play softball, she was still capable of exercising. In session, we had her imagine that she finished school, renewed her relationship with her parents, and engaged in tolerable levels of exercise. She did not believe that she could be a physical therapist and switched her major to occupational therapy. Her vision of her aspiration served as a strong motivator to get her life back on track.

Still, Maria could not consistently resist her cravings for drugs. We taught her relaxation exercises that she found helpful for her emotional state and calming her urges, but they were not universally effective. We talked about the possibility of medication to help with her cravings. She and her parents had concerns about relying on medications to resolve medication issues, but after doing a cost/benefit analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of trying the medication versus the advantages and disadvantages of not trying the medication, Maria decided to give it a try. The medication had both agonist and antagonistic properties that worked well for controlling her urges and, to some extent, helped with her lingering pain. With those benefits, we then discussed other alternative treatments for pain that included ibuprofen and physical therapy. When Maria gained control of her urges with medication, she felt stronger.

After receiving relief from physical pain and urges to use, Maria was better able to concentrate on achieving her desired life. Initially, she found it challenging to manage her time. We worked together on an activity schedule to make time for her classes and homework. For Maria, it was important that she have a schedule that made time for her parents and other supportive friends, exercise, a routine sleep schedule, and healthy eating. As she followed her schedule and became more active, she felt more confident and competent. She changed the way she thought about herself. Rather than thinking of herself as being helpless and worthless, she recognized the power she had to do many good things with her life and felt increasing more worthwhile as a person.

It had been 3 to 4 years after Marias rotator cuff injury when she was referred for CBT treatment. Simply stated, for a variety of reasons, she had deviated from her previously successful path in life. With about 12 months of CBT and medication, she was able to get her life back on course. At that point, she had been accepted into an Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) program of the court, had completed her bachelors degree, and was accepted into a masters program in occupational therapy. She was still taking her medication, but did not want to have to take it forever. She exercised, but did not get the same level of pleasure as she did from playing high-level competitive sports and was still working on accepting that she could not do what she did before. She was making new, supportive friends whom she liked, although when she saw her old teammates, she experienced sadness that she could not be one of them. Maria maintained her values in life and took major steps toward achieving her aspirations. One thing she recognized was the need for her to continue using the tools she learned to stay on her path of recovery.

Concluding Thoughts

Cognitive and behavioral strategies can be useful in treating opioid use disorder, either on their own or in conjunction with medication. Alone, or with medication, CBT can improve motivation, aid in important decision-making, jumpstart behavioral activation, and facilitate the development of new beliefs about drugs, oneself, and the future. Medication can help patients control their urges so they can better focus on the work of therapy.

Dr Miller is a seasoned clinician, trainer, and administrator who provides oversight to the training and clinical services at Beck Institute as the CBT program director. For more than 25 years, he held leadership positions in a large integrated health system, including roles as director of behavioral health at WellSpan Behavioral Health, as chair of psychology for a 580-bed acute care hospital, and as chief psychologist for an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology that he founded. As a clinician, Dr Miller has used CBT to help individuals of all ages with a myriad of presenting problems coming from forensic, community, educational, and medical settings. He has conducted workshops, written professional articles, and published several resource books for lay readers about personality, depression, anxiety, and stress.

References

1. Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Press Release. November 17, 2021. Accessed March 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm

2. Substance abuse and addiction statistics. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. February 19, 2022. Accessed March 24, 2022. https://drugabusestatistics.org/

3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. The effectiveness of medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder. In Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives. Eds. Mancher M, Leshner AI. National Academies Press. 2019.

4. Alfonsson S, Johansson K, Uddling J, Hursti T. Differences in motivation and adherence to a prescribed assignment after face-to-face and online psychoeducation: an experimental study.BMC Psychol. 2017;5(1):3.

5. Brown MT, Bussell JK. Medication adherence: WHO cares?Mayo Clin Proc. 2011;86(4):304-314.

6. Rezaeisharif A, Karimi A, Naeim M. Effectiveness of the cognitive restructuring approach on irrational beliefs and hopelessness in individuals with a substance abuse disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Addict Disord Their Treat. 2021;20(4):326-335.

7. Ray LA, Meredith LR, Kiluk BD, et nal. Combined pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with alcohol or substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(6):e208279.

8. Moore BA, Fiellin DA, Cutter CJ, et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy improves treatment outcomes for prescription opioid users in primary care buprenorphine treatment.J Subst Abuse Treat. 2016;71:54-57.

9. McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW. Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511-525.

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Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder - Psychiatric Times