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Complementary and alternative medicine and HIV/AIDS. Part I: Issues and context
R C MacIntyre1, W L Holzemer, M Philippek
1Samuel Merritt College, Oakland, CA, USA.
The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC
|January 1, 1997
Summary
This review explores Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) definitions and usage, particularly in HIV/AIDS care. It examines CAM's impact on Western medicine and discusses host-virus factors from both perspectives.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health
- Medical Anthropology
Background:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) encompasses practices outside the dominant healthcare system.
- Understanding CAM's role is crucial, especially in managing complex conditions like HIV/AIDS.
- The integration of CAM with conventional medicine presents unique challenges and opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and adopt a social definition of CAM.
- To examine CAM usage patterns in general and HIV/AIDS populations.
- To analyze the impact of CAM on Western medicine and allied health professions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of CAM definitions and usage.
- Analysis of host-virus factors in HIV/AIDS from Western and CAM viewpoints.
- Exploration of methodological and historical debates in HIV/AIDS care.
Main Results:
- CAM is socially defined as non-dominant health practices.
- CAM is utilized across general and HIV/AIDS populations.
- CAM influences Western medicine and health professions, prompting examination of host-microbe interactions.
Conclusions:
- A social definition of CAM provides a framework for understanding its diverse practices.
- CAM's integration into HIV/AIDS care requires evaluating both Western and alternative approaches.
- Further research is needed on the interplay between host-virus dynamics and integrated care models.
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