Traditional and Complementary Medicine
06.09.2022

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TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Traditional and complementary medicine, based on the beliefs and theories of different cultures, are all of the knowledge, skills and practices used for the maintenance of health, such as protection from physical and mental illnesses, diagnosing and treating diseases. It is a method used complementary to traditional medicine for providing balance between energy and autonomic and hormonal system, strengthening immune system and has scientific basis. Traditional and complementary medicine methods are important especially for prevention from and treatment of chronic diseases and maintanance of health.

Inverventions can be applied in centers and units authorised by ministry of health by trained and certified physicians and also by dentists in dental diseaes. Health personnel with a basic training can assist certified physicians during applications in centers and units. In our center the physician takes anamnesis and makes physical examination of the patient, than patient is evaluated by results of required tests and examinations. After these procedures the appropriate traditional and complementary medicine method for the patient is chosen and applied. The rooms in our center are created hygienic, modern and match criterions identified by ministry of health.


Treatments used as traditional and complementary medicine;

  1. Acupuncture

  2. Hirudotherapy

  3. Mesotherapy

  4. Hypnosis

  5. Cupping Therapy

  6. Phytotherapy

  7. Reflexology

  8. Homeopathy

  9. Osteopathy

  10. Ozone Application

  11. Apitherapy

  12. Prolotherapy

  13. Application of Larva

  14. Music therapy

Acupuncture, mesotherapy, ozone application, prolotherapy, cupping therapy and music therapy are applied in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Traditional and Complementary Medicine Center.


Acupuncture

It is a treatment method applied by immersing gold, silver and steel needles to certain points in the body in order to prevent or treat diseases for 5000 years. Today the World Health Organization has accepted acupuncture as a reliable treatment method. It is also applied by certified physicians in our country.

Acupression, moksa, laser and electrical stimulation can be applied to the points other than needles. The stimuli, which begin with the immersion of the acupuncture needle into the acupuncture point, reach the central nervous system and respond with the release of various neurotransmitters.It has analgesic, sedative, immune strengthening, homeostatic and psychological effects. It also has the effect of reducing appetite and regulating metabolism. The points are 70-80% similar to the trigger points. Although acupuncture can be applied to the ear and body regions, needle sizes vary according to the region to be applied. The length of the needles is between 0.5 and 8 cm. Their thickness varies between 0.16 and 0.5 mm. Needles are usually disposable.

It contributes to the treatment of the origin of many diseases. It’s indicated in the treatment of musculoskeletal system pain, neurological diseases (migraine, facial paralysis), psychiatric diseases (depression, insomnia, anxiety disorder) hormonal disorders (infertility, goiter, diabetes), gastrointestinal diseases (constipation, diarrhea, colitis, gastritis), respiratory diseases (pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis), obesity, etc.

The patient is positioned according to the area to be applied in acupuncture application (lying on face, lying on back, sitting). After the area is disinfected with alcohol, the needle is immersed in a sterile way. Bleeding, pain, bruising, numbness and increased complaints may be observed in the applied area as side effect.


Ozone Therapy

Ozone is the three atom (O3) form of the Oxygen (O2) molecule, which is necessary for us in every moment of our lives to sustain our life. Ozone, which is formed as a result of various natural phenomena from airborne oxygen in nature, can be produced with the help of special devices for medical use. Since the oxygen concentration in atmospheric air is variable, medical ozone is produced from pure medical oxygen. Ozone was first found and used by the Germans 40 years ago in medical treatment.

Ozone stimulates the production of white blood cells, increases the elasticity of red blood cells, is antineoplastic, oxidizes arterial plaques, increases the oxygen capacity of the blood and is antioxidant.

It is used in arterial circulatory disorders, immune deficiency, viral diseases (especially hepatitis C), inflammatory diseases (rheumatic diseases), skin diseases (decubitus ulcers, wounds, gangrene, burns, acne) and joint degeneration.

It is contraindicated in pregnant women, those with glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency (favism), severe anemia, severe myasthenia and ozone allergy.

Some blood is taken into the ozone tube by entering the patient's vein with a sterile needle. Then the blood is mixed with a certain amount of ozone gas according to the disease. Ozone blood mixture is given to the patient from the vein in a closed and sterile environment. This is called "Major Ozone" application.

2-4 cc blood is taken from the patient's vein and mixed with pure medical ozone and injected to the patient intramuscularly. This is called "Minor Ozone" application. In addition, local applications (intrarectal, intraarticular, on wounds) can be done. In diabetic foot wounds, ozone can be applied by bagging.


Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an injection method that consists of the words "proliferation" and "therapy" in Latin, which provides regeneration, strengthens and increases the functionality of damaged, worn, weakened ligaments and tendons. Prolotherapy has been practiced in the USA since the 1930s.

Prolotherapy is the treatment method based on natural healing with the injection of irritant and proliferative substances into painful and injured joints, tendons, ligaments, enthesis areas and the resulting physiological inflammation. Inflammations caused by microorganisms result in infection and must be treated with antibiotherapy. Inflammation created by prolotherapy is the sterile and in a limited area, but it is the main logic of treatment.

Prolotherapy is used effectively and safely in disc lesions seen in the spine for various reasons, in strain in tissues such as ligaments, tendons and muscles, especially in the joints of the elbow, hand, knee and foot and painful musculoskeletal diseases due to osteoarthritis. The main diseases are mechanical pain in the low back, back and neck, disc lesions (herniation), sports injuries, osteoarthritis, meniscus lesions in the knee, plantar fasciitis in the foot, ankle sprain, lateral or medial epicondylitis in the elbow, tendinopathy, ligament and tendon strain.

After the person is evaluated, anti-inflammatory drugs should be discontinued if they are using it. Anticoagulants should be continued or discontinued by the doctor's control. Since the process is irritant and painful, lidocaine is added to the dextrose solution used.

Although the patient's pain is expected to increase after treatment, drugs containing paracetamol should be used as pain reliever, and NSAIDs or steroids should not be used. The applied area s

hould not be forced and the massage should be applied with warm water if necessary.

Cupping therapy

The cupping therapy, which is thought to have a 5000 year history, was frequently applied in Islamic and the Ottoman period. Cupping therapy is a method applied on the skin by means of the vacuum effect created with cups. While dry cupping application is based on stimulating the skin by vacuuming, wet mug therapy involves sucking some blood through epidermal incisions into the skin with a dry surgical blade. The negative pressure created by the application of the cupping improves microcirculation by expanding the local blood vessels, normalises the patient's functional status by accelerating healing of capillary endothelial cells and granulation and angiogenesis in the related area. Besides local theory, there are gate control theory, neural theory, hematological and immune system theories. Its efficacy has been determined in musculoskeletal diseases (myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, spondylosis), hematological diseases (increased hemoglobin levels, iron overload), neurological diseases (migraine), cardiovascular diseases (hypertension), autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis), dermatological diseases (urticaria), gastrointestinal diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, constipation), respiratory system diseases (asthma) and some psychiatric diseases (depression, as a sedative in schizophrenia, insomnia). The sizes of the cups vary according to the size of the application area and each cup is disposable. Skin traces and bruises appear as a side effect after cupping.

In the cupping application, first anatomically suitable areas are selected. A strict sterilization is done initially. The skin is vacuumed, scratches are discarded, the skin is vacuumed again, and finally a strict sterilization is applied again.

Phytotherapy

Medicinal plants have been used by folk medicine practitioners for centuries and date back to 5000 years. They are widely used in many European countries. It is a treatment method used in the treatment or prevention of diseases with traditional herbal medicinal products and herbal medicines according to certain quality, safety and efficacy standards. Phytotherapeutic products are available in tablet, capsule, cream and tea forms. Due to the side effects of synthetic drugs, the trend towards phytotherapy products is increasing all over the world. Many conventional pharmaceuticals have been produced from plants, by pharmaceutical companies examining plants pharmacologically. Examples include aspirin (willow bark), morphine (opium flower), quinine (cinchona bark), and digoxin (foxglove).

During the licensing process of phytotherapy products, they can be applied within the indications determined by taking the opinion of the scientific commission. Phytotherapeutic products can be used in immune system diseases, locomotor system diseases, upper respiratory tract diseases, urogenital system diseases, regulation of gastrointestinal functions, hormonal dysfunctions.

Before use, the patient's blood values should be carefully examined. The patient should be warned, as it does not have a rapid effect like a medical drug and has a long half-life.


Mesotherapy

French Dr. Michel Pistor named the intradermal injections he made with local anesthetic as mesotherapy in 1952. It is the intradermal injection application of herbal or pharmacological drugs aiming the improvement of organ pathologies originating from mesoderm, with regional small doses, special needles and special techniques.The same drugs used orally are applied in mesotherapy in small amounts. It is preferred that the drugs themselves be effective, other than the metabolites of the liver. The content of the solution may vary depending on the treatment area, the patient and the disease, and is individual. The effect provided by the injection of the needle and the pharmacodynamic effect of the drugs constitute the analgesic and immune response. Mesotherapy is the best way to deliver the drug to the target organ, which has a pathology.

The drug, reaching the capillaries in the middle layer of the skin, quickly shows its effect. Locomotor system, vascular system, neurovegetative system and immune system pathologies are treated by adding the relevant drug. Although there are many indications, the main indication is pain. In addition, it can be used in sports injuries (tendon, muscle and connective tissue), dermatological diseases (baldness, acne, cellulite), vascular system pathologies (varicose veins, arteritis) and locomotor system pathologies.

It is not recommended for patients with end-stage heart failure, kidney failure, drug allergy, anticoagulant (coumadin) use and pregnant women.