Complementary medicines

The number of products registered with the TGA is approximately 60 000 items (including prescription drugs, OTC medicines, complementary medicines and medical devices). Only approximate data for human pharmaceutical products are shown here. 

Do not take non-prescription medications or herbal/alternativa/complementary medicines without notifying your physician, pharmacist, and/or health care team members. 

This volume covers topics including cultural perspectives in psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacotherapy, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropics, pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations, ethnic variations in psychotropic responses, complementary medicines in mental disorders, attitudes towards psychotropic medications, prescribing practices in Asia-Pacific countries, pharmaco-economic implications, integrating theory and practice, and... 

Just as TCM, all of the other complementary medicines work mainly in those areas where modern medicine can not produce remarkable or immediate efficacy, such as immunological disease, degenerative diseases, cancer, and mental disorders. Few people will seek alternative resolutions for diseases in which effective treatment is already available, even in the places where complementary medicine is very popular. 

Patients tend to believe that medications from nature are non-toxic, non-addicted, and non-invasive. Therefore complementary medicines are usually used in common, less severe, and chronic mental disorders such as sleep disorders, neurasthenia, and anxiety disorders. It is also applied in incurable conditions, for example dementias, autism, and schizophrenia, when doctors and families have tried desperately all means and finally turned to complementary medicine as the last hope. 

There are some principles in complementary medicine that have lessons for Western medicine. 

The holistic concept complementary medicines such as TCM do not take symptoms or signs as isolated phenomenon. It is considered that all disorders are induced by the dysfunction of the whole body. 

Complementary medicine can co-exist with modern medicine. Before a cure is found for mental disorders, complementary medicine can provide additional hope or relief of psychic pain and discomfort for patients and their families in expectation of possible improvement. In those societies where modern medicine... 

In the interest of patients whose wellbeing is the physician s paramount priority, an understanding and recognition of the possible, appropriate, and useful role complementary medicine may play in the relief of their suffering, can contribute to a more holistic and comprehensive outcome. 

Zakay-Rones, Zichria, Ph.D., Varsano, Noemi, M.Sc., Zlotnik, Moshe, M.D., Manor, Orly, Ph D., Regev, Liora, Schlesinger, Miriam and Mumcuoglu, Madeleine, Ph.D., "Inhibition of Several Strains of Influenza Virus in Vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by an Elderberry Extract, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 1, Number 4, 1995, pages 361369. 

Alternative medicine includes all of the approaches and techniques that until the past few years were not taught in medical schools and residencies. Alternative medicine is also referred to as complementary medicine, unconventional medicine, or holistic medicine. Some of the categories of alternative medicine... 

Phytotherapy A branch of complementary medicine also known as herbal medicine. 

Mix JA and Crews WD (2000). An examination of the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on the neuropsychologic functioning of cognitively intact older adults. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 6, 219-229. 

Medical Devices GMP Codes Parliamentary Secretary s Working Status Document Party on Complementary medicines Medical Releases Publications Site map Related Sites... 

Some regulatory authorities have foreseen the future impact of TM and set up appropriate guidelines. The European Union has legislation for traditional herbal products. Another example is the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia, which has set up a complementary medicine section that controls the regulatory practices for TM. 

The term therapeutic goods includes prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines, complementary medicines and medical devices. The TGA also develops and implements national policies and controls for chemicals, gene technology, blood and blood products. 

Complementary medicines (also known as traditional or alternative medicines) include vitamin, mineral, herbal, aromatherapy and homoeopathic products. They maybe registered or listed on the ARTG, depending on their ingredients and the claims made. Most complementary medicines are listed. 

In April/May 2003 the TGA forced the recall of approximately 1600 complementary medicines at retail level throughout Australia, due to concerns about the quality of their manufacture. The recalled products were manufactured in Australia by Pan Pharmaceuticals, principally as a contract manufacturer for other companies. The resultant publicity impacted around the world and highlighted the importance of effective implementation of GMP standards for all therapeutic products. In view of the issues raised by this massive recall, and to restore community confidence, an Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health System was established to consider a wide range of matters relating to complementary medicines. Their report was published in September 2003 and is available from the TGA website. 

Complementary medicines are most frequently listed rather than registered, but this depends on the ingredients and claims made. The document Guidelines for Levels and Kinds of Evidence to Support Indications and Claims was developed to assist sponsors in determining the appropriate evidence to support indications and claims made in relation to complementary medicines, sunscreens and other listable medicines, and is available from the TGA website. The Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC) provides scientific and policy advice relating to controls on the supply and use of complementary medicines, with particular reference to the quality and safety of products and, where appropriate, efficacy relating to the claims made. 

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (http nccam.nih.gov/) has created a hrik to the National Library of Medicine s databases to facilitate research for articles that specifically relate to medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and complementary medicine. To search the database, go to the following Web site http /ywww.nlm.nih.gov/nccan camonpubmed.htinl. Select CAM on PubMed. Enter medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (or synonyms) into the search box. CHck Go. The following references provide information on particular aspects of complementary and alternative medicine that are related to medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency ... 

Clinical pharmacology plays no less significant a role in primary health care. That includes emphasis on essential drugs, safe and rational use of essential medicines including their side effects and outcomes, drug data transmission and analysis, and training with emphasis on prevalent diseases. Interactions between orthodox and traditional (complementary) medicines are carefully considered. Cost-benefit analysis is made possible. 

This is the infrastructure that makes it possible for the clinical pharmacologist is to advise government and to provide leadership in drug policy, clinical trials, ethics of clinical studies, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, drug regulation, the scientific basis of drug development, traditional medicines, and complementary medicines. 

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