Complementary and alternative medicine. What Experience its users have?

Introduction: The increasing use of CAM is due to its reported effectiveness and low side effects. Nevertheless there is not enough research on possible complications and interaction with conventional medicine. Objective: Describe the experiences of women who have used complementary and alternative...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Velasco Lozano, Edwin Alexis, Gusman Morales, Eduardo, Ordoñez Monroy, Ana Lorena, Torres Razo, Daniel, De la Garza Castañón, Nohemí, Álvarez Martínez, Christopher, Guillén Cadena, Dulce María
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2018
Country:México
Institution:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repository:Cuidarte ?El arte del cuidado?
Language:Spanish
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/69140
Online Access:https://revistas.unam.mx/index.php/cuidarte/article/view/69140
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:terapias Complementarias
Herbolaria
Emociones
Medicina alternativa
Experiencia
complementary therapies
Herbal
Emotions
Alternative medicine
Experience
Description
Summary:Introduction: The increasing use of CAM is due to its reported effectiveness and low side effects. Nevertheless there is not enough research on possible complications and interaction with conventional medicine. Objective: Describe the experiences of women who have used complementary and alternative medicine. Methodology: Qualitative descriptive phenomenological research. Data collection derived from in-depth interviews with a semi structured guide related with the studied phenomenon, observation and field notes. The data was analyzed with Krueger ́s proposal: reading, transcription, codification, formation of topics and subtopics, criteria of scientific rigor and the informed consent was applied. Findings: From the analyzed interviews, the main reason which they opted for alternative medicine was by recommendation from relatives or friends and it ́s affordability. The interviewees admitted to have used 1 or more alternative methods, from which the herbalist stands out, to treat both specific pathologies and general symptoms. Regarding their emotions and feelings that caused them to use the CAM stand out the confidence and well-being that this makes them feel. A belief about the safety of herbal remedies was found due to their belief that they ́re harmless. Conclusions: The participants experience with CAM were mostly positive and none of them reported negative effects by its use. This perceived wellbeing sensation make people feel great confidence on its healing effects.