El valor de la acupuntura en la práctica de la medicina tradicional complementaria en el sector salud de México / The value of acupuncture in the practice of complementary traditional medicine in Mexico's health sector

Introduction: Complementary traditional medicine acquires an essential value from the diversity and pluralism of care and therapy. In this logic, it is up to people to search for alternatives when it comes to caring for and improving their own health. Specifically, acupuncture has had rapid growth, largely due to processes derived from globalization, migration and cultural exchange, which in some way force countries to modify their health system towards one that takes into account the transculturality of its population and treatment preferences. Development: With the establishment of a comprehensive health model, physicians can assess the person as a homeodynamic process (information exchange process between environment and man, to keep an internal and external homeostasis to the individual) and pandimensional (spiritual and energetic care) that allows to identify the health problem's origin and thus determine an intervention more in line with the person's needs during the health-disease, life-death processes, with the corresponding conventional or non-conventional therapy. Conclusions: The value and interest of acupuncture in the population derives from the degree of development of a country, its origin and the incorporation of the West as part of the diagnostic and therapeutic arsenal, in order to respond to the population needs by incorporating low-cost complementary treatments with proven effectiveness, without ceasing to consider its unquestionable cultural heritage.

Introducción: la medicina tradicional complementaria adquiere un valor imprescindible desde la diversidad y el pluralismo de la asistencia y la terapéutica. En esa lógica, corresponde a las personas la búsqueda social de alternativas cuando se trata de atender y mejorar la propia salud. En específico la acupuntura ha tenido un rápido crecimiento, en gran parte debido a la globalización, la migración y el intercambio cultural, que de alguna forma obligan a los países a modificar su sistema de salud hacia uno que tome en cuenta la transculturalidad de su población y las preferencias de tratamiento. Desarrollo: con el establecimiento de un modelo de salud integral, los médicos pueden valorar a la persona como un proceso homeodinámico (intercambio de información entre el ambiente y el hombre para mantener una homeostasis interna y externa del individuo) y pandimensional (cuidado espiritual y energético) que permita identificar el origen real del problema de salud y determinar una intervención más acorde a las necesidades de la persona durante los procesos de salud-enfermedad, de vida-muerte, con la terapia convencional o no convencional que corresponda. Conclusiones: el valor e interés de la acupuntura en la población se deriva del grado de desarrollo de un país, de su origen y de la incorporación de occidente como parte del arsenal diagnóstico y terapéutico, para responder a las necesidades de la población al incorporar tratamientos complementarios de bajo costo y con efectividad demostrada, y sin dejar de considerar su herencia cultural incuestionable.

Referentes históricos de la medicina natural y tradicional para la formación del residente de medicina interna / Historical references of natural and traditional medicine for training the internal medicine resident

Durante la última década, en numerosos países, entre ellos Cuba, se revisan los enfoques y las metodologías que se han utilizado para formar a los médicos especialistas. Al respecto, en el presente artículo se evalúan los referentes histórico-lógicos que fundamentan el uso de la medicina natural y tradicional para el desempeño profesional del residente de medicina interna. Asimismo, se describen las diferentes etapas por las que ha transitado la implementación de las terapias naturales y tradicionales en Cuba y cómo se ha fortalecido dicho arsenal terapéutico desde el punto de vista teórico-práctico.

During the last decade, diverse countries among them Cuba, are reviewing approaches and methodologies being used to train the specialist doctors. On this regard, historical and logical references which give bases to the natural and traditional medicine are evaluated in this work, for the professional skills of the internal medicine resident. Likewise, the different stages through which the natural and traditional therapies have developed in Cuba, and how this therapeutic group have been strengthen from the theoretical and practical point of view are described.

Ethnomedicinal Survey of Botanicals Used by Herbal Practitioners in Yagba East Local Government of Kogi State, Nigeria.

Despite the great values and importance of ethnobotany to the lives of men, a large percentage of distribution and utilization are yet to be identified and appropriately documented. This survey aims at identifying and documenting the medicinal plants as well as their methods of formulation for use among the people of Kogi State, Nigeria. A combination of semi-structured open ended questionnaires and guided interactive survey techniques were used to obtain information as a total of 70 respondents were interviewed. Guided direct field observation method was used for collection of cited specimen which was identified in accordance with standard taxonomic practices. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. A total of 53 medicinal plant species belonging to 36 families were identified among others as reported in this survey with the Fabaceae family being the most abundantly utilized. Leaves (47.8%), fruits (19.5%) and stem bark (10.8%) are most frequently employed and the remedies are administered mostly as decoction (s) and infusion. Ailments such as gynecological disorders, mental and nervous malfunctioning, GIT infection and disturbances, and fever, are mostly reported as commonly treated. The survey provides a veritable source of information and a reliable documentation of medicinal plants from flora of Nigeria and their uses. A further study is suggested on pharmacological evaluations of reported activities and pharmacological acceptable packaging of these medicaments.

Das medicinas tradicionais às práticas integrativas de saúde: caracterização dos recursos humanos nas práticas alternativas de saúde adotadas no Distrito Federal / From traditional medicines to integrative health practices: characterization of human resources in alternative health practices adopted in the Federal District

INTRODUÇÃO: A pesquisa intitulada - Das Medicinas Tradicionais às Práticas Integrativas de Saúde - Caracterização dos Recursos Humanos nas Práticas Alternativas de Saúde adotadas no Distrito Federal faz parte de uma das linhas de investigação do Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde (ObservaRH) que é vinculado ao Núcleo de Estudos de Saúde Pública do Centro de Estudos Avançados Multidisciplinares da Universidade de Brasília (Nesp/Ceam/UnB), e seu desenvolvimento é fruto da parceria com o Ministério da Saúde (MS) e com a Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/ Organização Mundial da Saúde (OPAS/OMS). O ObservaRH vem buscando desenvolver estudos e promover a difusão de informações relacionadas aos processos de regulação profi ssional, formação e gestão de trabalhadores de saúde, bem como de formulação e avaliação de políticas de recursos humanos no setor saúde no Brasil. O acompanhamento do mercado de trabalho na área da saúde e do percurso de seus recursos humanos levaram o ObservaRH a detectar o signifi cativo aumento da visibilidade social e da inserção das Práticas Alternativas na área da saúde, bem como a necessidade de aprofundar e ampliar estudos e informações sobre as características e a abrangência dessas práticas e dos recursos humanos que as adotam. OBJETIVO: Nesse contexto, foi planejada a presente pesquisa que teve como objetivo central a investigação dessa nova realidade e a consequente produção de conhecimento mais preciso e sistemático acerca dos aspectos essenciais que confi guram as Práticas Alternativas de Saúde, com destaque para o perfi l dos recursos humanos que as adotam e desenvolvem. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Tendo como alvo o setor público e o setor privado do DF, a investigação se iniciou em setembro de 2006, a partir de sua aprovação pelo 42 Observação Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da UnB (Anexo A), sendo concluída em março de 2007. Neste período foram realizadas as atividades previstas pelo projeto, organizadas em três fases: fase I. Pesquisa documental, fase II. Pesquisa de campo - entrevistas telefônicas, fase III. Pesquisa de campo - entrevistas presenciais.

Evaluación cualitativa y cuantitativa en los procedimientos de la medicina tradicional / Qualitative and quantitative evaluation in the traditional medicine procedures

Entre las tendencias de la medicina contemporánea, se destaca en los últimos años la incorporación de la medicina tradicional a la práctica profesional de enfermería, no como un método alternativo sino como una verdadera disciplina científica al alcance de todos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo con el objetivo de evaluar cualitativa y cuantitativamente los diferentes procedimientos que se aplicaron en el departamento de medicina tradicional del Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Amalia Simoni desde enero de 2004 a diciembre de 2005. La muestra estuvo constituida por 12 007 pacientes. Existió un predominio del sexo femenino con 8 234 casos (68,57 por ciento); el grupo de edades que más se registró fue el de 50 - 59 años con 3 477 casos (28,96 por ciento) y la cefalea fue el diagnóstico clínico de mayor prevalencia con 2 600 casos (21,65 por ciento). La acupuntura fue la técnica que más se aplicó en 7132 pacientes (33,59 por ciento). Se obtuvo resultados satisfactorios en el 93,14 por ciento de los casos atendidos (AU)

The incorporation of traditional medicine to the professional nursing practice stands out among the trends of contemporary medicine, not only as an alternative method, but as real discipline within reach of all. A descriptive retrospective study was undertaken aimed at evaluating from the qualitative and quantitative point of view the different.procedures used at the department of traditional medicine of Amalia Simoni Clinical and Surgical Hospital from January 2004 to December 2005. The sample was composed of 12 007 patients. There was a predominance of females with 8 234 cases (68.57 percent), and the age group 50-59 was the most registered with 3 477 cases (28.96 percent). Headache was the clinical diagnosis with the highest prevalence with 2 600 cases (21.65 percent). Acupuncture was the most applied technique in 7 132 patients (33.59 percent). Satisfactory results were obtained in 93.14 percent of the seen cases(AU)

Herbal treatment usage frequency, types and preferences in Turkey

Alternative treatment usage is increasing around the world although treatment methods are becoming more modern and more drugs are made available. Related to these global changes we aimed to determine the incidence of treatment with herbs, an alternative treatment method, in Turkey and the reasons for its usage. The study was carried out with a questionnaire on the Internet which 19,022 persons who had received preliminary information, completed. After the subjects were informed of the study, the analysis of medicinal plants by the participants between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, at the web site where they completed the questionnaire was recorded and evaluated. 75.9% of those participating in the study reported that they had used a herbal medication at least once. The main health problems leading to the usage of herbal medication for their treatment was hair loss - hair care, hemorrhoids, skin care, peptic ulcer - gastritis and infertility. The plants the participants were most interested in were nettle, St. John's wort, rosemary, garden sage and hawthorn. The main reason for interest in herbal treatments was "hoping to find a herbal medicine which could help treat their condition". Nettle, ole and er and thyme were the plants most commonly used to treat cancer patients. Turkey has a higher rate of alternative medicine usage than other countries where similar studies have been conducted and comprehensive and regular studies are required to show changes over time

La medicina popular (curismo) / Popular medicine (curism)

Se estudiaron 500 pacientes en la consulta externa del Hospital San Rafael del Municipio de Itagui, encontrandose que antes de llegar alli, los pacientes o sus acompananates habian acudido a la madre, al farmaceuta o a la automedicacion en un 66%. La medicacion recibida fue sintomatica, siendo los analgesicos, las drogas de mayor uso. La farmacopea herbologica aun ocupa lugar primario en nuestro floclor y su uso aun esta muy difundido en el tratamiento de las enteritis y diarreas principalmente, causa principal de morbimortalidad en los paises del tercer mundo. El nivel primario de prevencion, especialmente el fomento de la salud, orientado a las madres y farmaceutas, seria una medida positiva para lograr una correcta atencion primaria