Views of Alternative Medicine

Get a foundation in alternative and completmentary medicine by learning different views of alternative medicine.

1. Issues in complementary and alternative medicine from The Open University explores why people turn to alternative medicine, and looks at different health traditions.
2. Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) from the National Institutes of Health defines complementary and alternative medicine and looks at cases studies that illustrate its role in modern medicine.
3. Introducing Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a PDF from Liebert Online, which provides a look at a possible method of teaching alternative medicine. Includes basic terminology and applications of different complementary techniques.
4. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine from UTMB provides a PowerPoint presentation about alternative medicine, its uses and terminology.
5. Curriculum in Integrative Medicine presents helpful information on alternative therapies and how they can be integrated with current Western medical techniques.
6. The Duty of Oriental and Western Medicine provides an interesting look at the underlying philosophies of many alternative therapies, and how it differs from traditional Western medical thought.

Western Medicine Basics

While not alternative medicine per se, these open courseware classes can help you learn about the body and get a feel for how physiology works. From there, you can use this knowledge to improve your alternative medicine practice.

7. Human Growth and Development from Tufts University offers an excellent introduction to the way we grow and develop as humans — from birth to death.
8. General Human Anatomy from the University of California Berkeley provides useful information about how the body is organized. Complements what you learn about alternative medicine practices.
9. Behavioral Endocrinology is a podcast series from Johns Hopkins University. It is a fascinating look at how the brain and hormones affect behavior. Underlying principles of alternative medicine can be identified.
10. Introduction to Biology from MIT will give you a foundation for how the body works, as well as how it might be influenced by a number of factors.
11. General Biology from Johns Hopkins University is a great complement to the MIT course, and can further help your understanding of biological systems in the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes a number of health practices based on ancient Chinese medical beliefs and traditions. This includes acupuncture, some herbalism and philosophies about the flow of energy through the body. You can learn more about TCM and practice by studying open courseware.

12. An Introduction to Acupuncture from the National Institutes of Health offers a great overview of how acupuncture works, and how it can be used in medicine practices.
13. Chinese Medicine Basics from Acupuncture.com looks at the entire field of Chinese medicine and its uses, as well as looking at how acupuncture fits into that picture.
14. Acupuncture Point Location is a helpful study of specific points on the body that are used acupuncture.
15. The Zang-Fu Theory from TCM Basics offers a helpful overview of the function of organs in the body from a traditional Chinese standpoint.

Holistic Medicine

In holistic medicine, the idea is to treat the “entire person”. This includes the mind and the spirit, as well as taking into account external and internal factors that may be causing a lack of balance in the body. Homeopathy and Ayurveda are examples of holistic medicine.

16. Developing a Personal Plan for Health and Well-Being from the University of Minisota helps you create a plan, using holistic principles, to improve your health.
17. Homeopathy Elementary Course from hpathy.org looks at how homeopathy works, and provides resources and materials that can help you begin applying these principles.
18. Holistic Pediatrics from UTMB goes through the ways you can use holistic medicine to complement health practices with children.
19. First Aid with Homeopathic Medicine from Homeopathic.com takes you through first aid procedures, and how you can use a holistic homeopathic approach.
20. An Introduction to Ayurveda from Healty.net describes Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical practice, and its basic principles. A helpful introduction to this form of treating one’s entire health.

Herbalism

Herbalism focuses on the use of herbs to keep the body healthy and ease ailments. Learn about herbs and how they can be used with open courseware. Includes courses that address dietary supplements and nutrition as well.

21. Herbs and Other Dietary Supplements from the National Institutes of Health provides an overview of how herbal dietary supplements interact with body and can enhance health.
22. Studying the Effects of Natural Products is anoher
23. Critical Analysis of Popular Diets and Dietary Supplements from Johns Hopkins University offers a balanced view of herbs and what they can accomplish.
24. Botanical Medicines from the University of Minnesota focuses on the way naturally occuring plants and minerals can provide treatment help.
25. Pharmacology Part I from Tufts University provides a look at medicines and pharmacy. Includes a section on herbal medications. Provides a helpful look at how certain substances react in the body.

Physical Manipulation

Some complementary medicine, like chiropractic, makes use of physical manipulation. Manual therapies include massage therapy and energy therapies like Reiki.

26. Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies: Chiropractic and Spinal Manipulation from the National Institutes of Health focuses on the basics chiropractic medicine and spinal manipulation. This is one of the main manipulative alternative therapies.
27. Massage from the University of Minnesota looks at how massage can help with a number of ailments. Massage is considered one of the main complementary manual therapies.
28. Osteopathy from the University of Minnesota provides information on osteopathy, which deals with the musculoskeletal system and its manipulation.
29. Free Reiki Attunements from xehupatl.com offers an email course in using different Reiki energies to help heal your body. Also includes study notes and links to additional resources. Reiki is an alternative medicine practice that focuses on energy manipulation.
30. Healing Touch from the University of Minnesota explores how you can use touch to manipulate energy centers in the body and help others heal.

Mind-Body Connection

The connection between the mind and the body is a vital one in alternative medicine. This means that understanding these connections is important. Complementary medicine open courseware can help you learn about using the connections between mind, body and spirit to enhance treatment.

31. Overview of Meditation from the University of Minnesota takes you through proper meditative practice, and explores how it can help your health.
32. Challenging ideas in mental health from The Open University looks at ways that alternative medicine views of the mind’s connection with the body might help from a mental health perspective.
33. Buddhist Psychology from the University of California Berkeley focuses on how the Buddhist way of thinking — involving the mind-body connection — can help enhance your health and well-being.
34. Health and Sprituality from the National Institutes of Health provides insight into how spirituality connects with our ability to heal and enjoy better health.
35. Medicine, Religion and Politics in Africa and the African Diaspora from MIT addresses how health practices have changed in Africa since the introduction of Western medicine. This course also looks at the African beliefs relating to the body and the mind and the concept of holistic health.

Alternative Treatments

Learn about using alternative and complementary means to treat different diseases and ailments.

36. Breast Cancer from Suite 101 deals with keeping breasts healthy and includes some alternative treatments for breast cancer.
37. Natural Health Strategies for Depression from Homeopathic.com provides insight into how it is possible to use natural remedies to deal with depression.
38. Alternate Approaches to Healing from the University of Washington covers the way different complementary practices can help ease a number of diseases and ailments.
39. Introduction to Clinical Pain Problems from Tufts University addresses chronic pain and different strategies — including alternative healing — to ease suffering.
40. Clinical Aromatherapy from the University of Minnesota looks at how the alternative practice of using properly chosen smells can help aid in the treatment process.