International Journal of Dental and Health Sciences Review Article Volume 02,Issue 06

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: A REVIEW Chandan Kumar1, Parvathi Devi.M2, Apoorva Gupta3, Ravindra S.V4 1.Post Graduate Student,Department Of Oral Medicine And Radiology Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College & Research Centre,Moradabad 2.Professor And Head, Department Of Oral Medicine And Radiology Teerthankeer Mahaveer Dental College & Research Centre, Moradabad 3.Post Graduate Student, Department Of Oral Medicine And Radiology Teerthankeer Mahaveer Dental College & Research Centre, Moradabad 4.Reader, Department Of Oral Medicine And Radiology Teerthankeer Mahaveer Dental College & Research Centre, Moradabad

ABSTRACT: Natural products have been used for several years in folk medicine. Holistic or biologic dentistry is an age old alternative approach that is based on the assertion that the whole body is one unit and any changes in one part of this unit can have an impact on the whole unit. Over the last decade herbal medications in both prophylaxis and treatment of various diseases turned to be a popular form of therapy throughout the world. Although this concept and practice has brought about a tranquil revolution but some of the complementary methods followed by holistic dentists are under criticism. Keywords: , holistic approach, oral health

INTRODUCTION

“The art of medicine consists in amusing several years in folk medicine. Over the the patient while nature cures the last decade herbal medications in both disease” stated by Voltaire. The sole prophylaxis and treatment of various purpose of any branch of medicine is to diseases turned to be a popular form of strive to make human life happier and therapy throughout the world.[3] Taking healthier. From time immemorial, we care of the whole human body healing have been using our natural resources to and treating the underlying causes of attain the state of well-being. Alternative diseases is one of the major advantages medicines is defined as therapeutic seen having the holistic approach in practices that are based on natural and treating a disease. Alternative medicine traditional methods.[1] Health sector has improves the individual’s health and undergone tremendous advancement in quality of life.[1] Complementary and the recent past and has seen the rise of alternative medicine [CAM] is any many new trends.[2] Many side effects medical system, practice, or product that associated with traditional medicines is not thought of as standard care. have been averted by using herbal Standard medical care is the one that is medicines and thus they are safer to use. based on scientific evidence. Alternative Natural products have been used for medicine is used in place of standard

*Corresponding Author Address: Dr Chandan Kumar Email: [email protected] Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 medical treatments. Terms such as CLASSIFICATION “natural,” “holistic,” “home remedy,” or “Eastern medicine” are referred to National Centre for Complementary and CAM.[4] Alternative Medicine has developed one of the most widely used classification HISTORY systems for the branches of complementary and alternative The origin of holistic dentistry dates back medicine. It classifies complementary to 1800, when the National Dental and alternative therapies into five major Association recognized the harmful groups[1,4] [figure 1]. They are: effects of amalgam restoration and mandated that the members of the 1. Mind-body interventions: These are association should not use it on their based on the belief that your mind is patients. This was followed by many able to affect your body. countries that have banned the use of mercury. Holistic dentistry rose further a) Meditation: Focused breathing or in between 1870 to 1948 with Weston A repetition of words or phrases to Price. He conducted research and came quiet the mind to the conclusion that degenerative b) Biofeedback: Using simple diseases like heart problems, kidney and machines, the patient learns how to bladder disorders, arthritis, rheumatism, affect certain body functions that mental illness, lung problems and many are normally out of one’s awareness other bacterial infections arise from root (such as heart rate) canal therapy and endodontic treatments. His concept was widely c) Hypnosis: A state of relaxed and known as “”. focused attention in which the Support of Price's theories continued patient concentrates on a certain further from a dentist named Melvin feeling, idea, or suggestion to aid in Page. He coined the phrase "balancing healing body chemistry" and considered tooth decay an "outstanding example of d) Yoga: Systems of stretches and systemic chemical imbalances." He poses, with special attention given marketed a mineral supplement with to breathing claims that widespread mineral e) Imagery: Imagining scenes, pictures, deficiencies were an underlying cause of or experiences to help the body heal several health conditions, including goitre, heart diseases, tuberculosis, and f) Creative outlets: Such as art, music, diabetes. These medications are widely or dance used today as a safe approach towards overall health.[2]

1597

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 1. Biologically based practices: These a) Ayurvedic medicine: A system from things are found in nature, eg India emphasizing balance among Vitamins, Herbs, Foods, Special diet body, mind, and spirit

2. Manipulative and body based b) Chinese medicine: Based on the practices: These are based on view that health is a balance in the working with one or more parts of body of two forces called yin and the body. yang. a) Massage: Manipulation of tissues c) is a common practice with hands or special tools in Chinese medicine that involves stimulating specific points on the b) care: A type of body to promote health, or to lessen manipulation of the joints and disease symptoms and treatment skeletal system side effects; c) : Using pressure points d) : Uses very small doses in the hands or feet to affect other of substances to trigger the body to parts of the body. heal itself;

3. medicine: It involves the e) Naturopathic medicine: Uses belief that the body has energy different methods that help the fields that can be used for healing body naturally heal itself. and wellness. Therapists use pressure or move the body by 1. Mind body interventions: These are placing their hands in or through based on the belief that our mind is these fields. able to affect our body. They enhances the mind's capacity to a) Tai Chi: Involves slow, gentle affect bodily function and movements with a focus on the symptoms. There are various breath and concentration; therapies which can be used in dentistry as mind-body b) : Balancing energy either from a interventions. Cognitive therapy distance or by placing hands on or includes behavioural therapy, near the patient; meditation, prayer, mental healing, c) : Moving hands yoga and other therapies that uses over energy fields of the body. creative outlets such as art, music or dance, Relaxation is a state of 4. Whole medical system: These are altered consciousness, a slowing of healing systems and beliefs that breath and heart rate, Meditation is have evolved over time in different a process of training one’s mind to cultures and parts of the world. be attentive, to focus in a non-

1598

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 analytical way or an attempt to as sound) and electromagnetic refrain from rumination, Hypnosis is forces, including visible light, induction of trance states by magnetism, monochromatic therapeutic suggestions. Other radiation (such as laser beams), and therapies which can be included are rays from other parts of the imagery, autogenic training, electromagnetic spectrum. They , biofeedback, involve the use of specific, psychotherapy, counselling, yoga, measurable wavelengths and dance and exercise movements.[1] frequencies to treat patients. [figure 2. Biologically based practices: It uses 3]. The putative energy fields have substances found in nature- herbs, defied measurement by foods, and vitamins, dietary reproducible methods. Therapies supplements, herbal products, and involving putative energy fields are the use of other so-called natural based on the concept that human but as yet scientifically unproven beings are infused with a subtle therapies. [table 2][1] form of energy. Therapists claim 1. Manipulative and body based that they can work with this subtle practices: System of therapies that energy, see it with their own eyes, use either manual manipulation or and use it to effect changes in the movement of one or more parts of physical body and influence health. the body to address structural or Reiki and Johrei from Japanese systematic imbalances of the bones origin, gong which is a Chinese and joints, the soft tissues, and the practice, healing touch in which the circulatory and lymphatic systems. therapist is purported to identify For example , massage imbalances and correct a client's therapy.[1][Figure 2] energy by passing his or her hands 2. : Energy medicine over the patient and prayer involves the belief that the body has specifically for health purposes-- energy fields that can be used for such as intercessory prayer, in which healing and wellness. Therapists use a person intercedes through prayer pressure or move the body by on behalf of another are some of placing their hands in or through the examples of biofields.[5] these fields.[4] A healer is able to channel healing energy into the 1. Whole medical system: person seeking help by different

methods: hands-on, hands-off, and 1.: distant (or absent) where the 1. Herbal medicines are drugs of patient and healer are in different plant origin used to treat diseases locations.[1] The veritable energies or to attain or maintain a employ mechanical vibrations (such condition of improved health.

1599

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 Herbs with medicinal properties a) Toothbrush or ‘datun’: A soft brush are a useful and effective source can be made by biting and chewing of treatment for various disease the tips of fresh stems of ‘Akra’, processes. The word ‘Ayurveda’ ‘Catechu’, ‘Banyan’, ‘Karanja’ or is derived from ‘Ayu’ meaning ‘Arjuna’. The stems should be ‘life’ and ‘veda’ meaning healthy, soft, straight, without any ‘knowledge’. In its true sense, leaves and knots and picked from a Ayurveda literally means the tree growing in a clean surrounding. science that imparts all the Fresh twigs of the following trees knowledge of life. are used as Datun: neem, babul, mango, guava, roots of pillu and Basis of Ayurveda: The body of man dandrasa. Vata is predominant in and all the objects in the universe are the monsoon and summer seasons, composed of some base elements Pitta in monsoon and autumn and namely earth, water, energy, air and Kapha in spring and winter season. space. ‘Vata’, ‘Pitta’ and ‘Kapha’ So, one should select the stem molecules are the three biological suited to the season. elements which constitute the cells and tissues of all the living organisms in the b) Toothpowder and toothpaste: One universe. The biological combination of can use powders of triphala Earth and Water gives rise to ‘Kapha’, (amalaka, haritaki and bibheetaka) Water and Energy to ‘Pitta’ and Air and or trijataka (cinnamon, cardamom Space to ‘Vata’. Kapha molecules make and tamal patra) with honey and up the main structural units of the body. saindhava salt for persons with Pitta molecules represent the various Kapha and Pitta constitutions. enzymes and hormones and are Toothpowder consisting of equal responsible for digestion and release of quantities of ginger, pepper, pippali, energy impulses and all the movements cinnamon, cardamom, tamalpatra, of the body. When quantitatively and tejovati, triphala, catechu and qualitatively normal, these three saindhava salt, which can be used as (namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha) a paste after mixing with til oil constitute the three pillars which maintains them in a healthy state. stabilize life. But in a state of imbalance, Contraindications for brushing teeth the same three elements are responsible with Stems: fever, cough, for disease, or even death. Ayurveda has breathlessness, diseases of lips, imparted a lot as far as dental health is tongue, teeth, mouth and palate, concerned. Ayurveda is an evolved indigestion, constipation, trushma system of medicine in India and it is a (diseases characterized by excessive rich reservoir for Dental Science. thirst), diseases of eyes, head and neck, facial palsy, diseases of heart,

1600

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 bleeding disorders and syncopic metastasis and enhance episodes. chemotherapy, exhibiting anti- cancer potential.[7] c) Gargling of the mouth or ‘Mukh 3. Acupuncture: The pathogenesis of Prakshalan’: One should use disease according to Traditional cold/hot water, til oil or cold milk for Chinese Medicine [TCM] is pictured gargling. Gargling with hot water in figure 4. exerts cleansing action on the According to TCM theory, the mouth, teeth, gums and the tongue. location of acupuncture points is It imparts a light and fresh feeling to found along meridians which are the mouth. Gargling with cold milk unlike tangible anatomical has a cooling and cleansing action structures like blood vessels or on the mouth and is useful in nerve trunks. Some of the dental stomatitis. Gargling with til oil exerts applications by TCM therapy include a cleansing and strengthening action i. Managing Dental Pain, Analgesic on the tongue, gums, teeth etc. It Effect and Postoperative Pain Relief: also prevents stomatitis and is According to TCM theory, local helpful in curing hypersensitivity of acupuncture points on facial regions the gums to sour foods. It also such as ST6 jiache, ST7 xiaguan and improves the sense of taste. distant points like LI4 hegu can be Contraindications for gargling are used to treat dental pain. They bleeding disorders, belong to the stomach and large unconsciousness, poisoning, general intestine meridians which converge weakness, conjunctivitis and at the facial region and link up with miasmic persons. the maxillary and mandibular teeth, respectively. The role of d) Tongue cleaning: A thin plate of acupuncture in dentistry may not gold, silver, copper, a leaf or a thin involve removing the cause of wooden plate may be used to clean dental pain, but rather, as an the tongue. It should be soft and adjunct in achieving anaesthesia smooth with rounded edges. Its during dental procedures as well as length should be about equal to ten providing postoperative pain relief. fingers.[6] ii. Management of 2. Chinese medicine: It is based on Temporomandibular disorders and Yinyangism the combination of Five orofacial pain: While acupuncture Phases theory with Yin-yang theory therapy may not be useful in which was later absorbed by eliminating the cause of TMD if it is Daoism. Chinese herbs inhibit due to structural anomalies like disc proliferation, induce apoptosis, displacement and degenerative suppress angiogenesis, retard changes, it may help to relieve the

1601

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 pain and discomfort associated with local and distal sites can regulate the conditions, especially if they are the flow of qi in the meridians, muscular in origin. Relaxing the harmonise qi-blood balance and lateral pterygoid muscles can reduce strengthen the body’s resistance to the anterior displacing force on the external wind pathogens. It may also meniscus of TMJ and help to help to increase the excitability of minimise TMJ clicking. There are nerves and to promote the several case reports and case series regeneration of nerve fibres. in Chinese literature on successful v. Management of Dental anxiety and acupuncture treatment for patients gag reflex: A recent Cochrane with trigeminal neuralgia. These Review showed that 31% of adults acupuncture points seem to are fearful of dental treatment. The coincide with the distribution of the use of acupuncture may provide an nerve branches. alternative treatment modality for iii. Management of Xerostomia: The anxiety without possible adverse use of acupuncture as an alternative drug reactions. The use of treatment modality for xerostomia acupuncture points like PC6 neiguan has been documented in the and CV24 chengjiang have been Western medical field since the reported to significantly reduce gag 1980s. Observational studies have reflex. Auricular acupuncture has demonstrated that acupuncture also been suggested for treating treatment may increase salivary severe gag reflex. According to TCM flow in healthy volunteers, patients theory, the acupuncture point PC6 with Sjogren’s syndrome and neiguan, located on the palmer side patients who have undergone of the forearm — two inches above radiotherapy in the head and neck the transverse crease of the wrist, region. Johnstone and co-workers belongs to the pericardium found that acupuncture treatment meridian, which has the effect of may provide relief for pilocarpine “calming the heart which houses the resistant xerostomic patients spirit”. It is often used to treat heart following radiotherapy for head and palpitation, nausea and vomiting.[8] neck malignancies. 2.Homeopathy: iv. Management of Bell’s palsy: According to TCM concept, Bell’s It is a form of alternative medicine in palsy is caused by the invasion of which the practitioners treat patients external wind pathogens into the using highly diluted preparations that meridians of the face. The use of are believed to cause healthy people to acupuncture to treat Bell’s palsy is exhibit symptoms that are similar to based on the TCM concept that those exhibited by the patient. The basic needle manipulation at both the principle of homeopathy, is known as the "law of similars", which means "let like 1602

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 be cured by like. Homeopathic Roman physician Galen proposed 4 medicines such as Belladona, Hepar element concept, i.e, earth, air, sulphuris calcarum, Silica, Myrisilica, water, and fire are the four Calendula are widely used in acute cases elements, cold, hot, wet, and dry of periapical and periodontal abscesses. are the four natures, blood, phlegm, Gelsenium, Aconile, Coffee cruda, yellow bile, and black bile are the Chamonilla are used for apprehensive or four humours.[1] fearful patients. Phosphorus and arnica can stop the bleeding while extraction, ADVANTAGES Belladona, Ruta gravcalcus and calendula  Alternative medicines are aesthetic, are used in “dry socket” cases. relatively non-toxic, biocompatible Chamonilla can be used in children at the approach of treatment. time of teething, Belladonna, Magnesia phosphorica, Coffee cruda, Chamonilla  The proponents of alternative are used as “painkillers”. Arnica, dentistry believe in treating the root hypericum, ledum, staphysagria, cause of the problem rather than chamonilla and magnesia phosphorica just treating the symptoms. are used in wide range if dental traumas and also as post-operative remedies.[3,9]  Holistic dentistry is a clean dentistry, i.e., it rejects the use of any 3. Naturopathic medicine: materials or treatments which could be toxic. It is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief ivitalism, which posits that a  Holistic dentistry is a holistic special energy called vital energy or vital solution as it considers every aspect force guides bodily processes such as of the human body, not just the oral metabolism, reproduction, growth, and cavity. adaptation .it includes procedures like acupuncture, ,  Holistic dentistry does not uses botanical medicines, colour therapy, quick fixes and takes time to decide nature cure, nutrition, and ozone on the best long-term approach to therapy. treating our patients and ensuring they are in the best health possible 4. Unani: for as long as possible. Unani in Arabic, means Greek  Besides all, Herbal medicines are Medicine, and is a form of very cheap widely practiced in South Asia, which is  These medicines can be consumed based on the teachings of Greek without the aid of any kind of physician Hippocrates, and

1603

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 prescription and can be found very of this device has been reported to easily from a local drug store. cause the patient's teeth to move out of proper alignment.[12]  There is non-existence of side effects with the use of these CONCLUSION medications.[10,11] Alternative medicine improves the DISADVANTAGES individual’s health and quality of life. Patients are more interested in • Although several herbal products Alternative medicine for many reasons; have been tested, yet conclusive one of which is the high costs of results are still lacking conventional medicine; not all people can get access to medical treatment. • Patients, who were treated with Secondly conventional medicines can acupuncture, have experienced actually have mild to more serious side complications from unsterile effects ranging from nausea, vomiting, needles. and ulcers to anaphylactic reactions. • When correcting a "bad bite," CAM procedures may eventually become alternative dentists often place a standard practice after scientific plastic appliance. The long-term use verification of efficacy. FIGURES:

Figure 1: pictorial representation of classification Figure 3: Treatment by energy medicine

Figure 2: Chiropractic treatment

1604

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 Endogenous Pathogens

Exogenous Pathogens -7emotions -Wind -improper diet -Cold -maladjustment of work and leisure clinical presentation -Summer heat of disease based on -Dampness the 8 principals of -fire heat Constitution of Patient syndrome -pestilent pathogens -yin and yang balance differentiation -qi blood balance -exterior and interior -status og vital-qi -deficiency and excess -qi flow in the meridian - cold and hot -yin and yang

Secondary pathogenic factor -phelgm -stagnant fluid -stagnant blood

Figure 4: Pathogenesis of disease according to TCM philosophy

TABLE:

Herbal agent Active ingredient Properties Peppermint Menthol oil Analgesic Garlic Allicin Antiseptic Ginger Gingerols Analgesic Turmeric Cucurmin Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic Coconut oil Caprylic acid Analgesic, faster healing Clove Eugenol oil Analgesic Guava Guercetin Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory Aloe vera Alloins, mannols Induces healing emollient, anti- inflammatory, anti-bacterial Table 1: herbal agents used in dentistry

1605

Kumar C.et al, Int J Dent Health Sci 2015; 2(6):1596-1606 REFERENCES:

1. Desai V et al. Alternative Medicines 8. Li Beng Wong. Acupuncture in and Their Applications in Dentistry-A Dentistry: Its Possible Role and Brief Review. International journal Application. Proceedings of of pharmaceutical and chemical Singapore Healthcare 2012; 21(1). sciences 2013; 2(2). 9. Richard D. Fischer. Dentistry and

2. Thakur N et al. Holistic dentistry: Homeopathy: An overview. Natural approaches to oral health. J. 10. Dr. John Murphy. 3 Reasons You Int Oral Health 2011; 3(2). Should Consider Holistic Dentistry. 3. Ola Moustafa Omar. Alternative Holistic Dentistry. Natural and safe Medicine: Implications on dentistry. dentistry. Bray. Co. Wicklow Altern Integ Med 2013; 1(1). 11. Stan Tian. Advantages and 4. Thinking about complementary and disadvantages of . alternative medicine. A guide for Medicinal herbs 2015 people with cancer. NIH Publication 12. Encyclopedia of Alternative No. 04-5541. April 2005. medicine. Home page on Internet. 5. Energy Medicine: An Overview. http://www.altmd.com. (Cited on National center for complementary 8th Feb, 2010) and alternative medicine

6. Saurabh Lall. Alternative Medicine: Herbal Dentistry.2012; 11(57). 7. Robert L Park.Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2001; 15(4):715- 720

1606