Module 4

Question 1

What is western biomedicine?

Answer 1

The system of clinical medicine based on the principles of natural sciences. It relies on scientific proof and test testing.

Question 2

What treatments are included in western biomedicine?

Answer 2

Treatments include diets or supplements but are only accepted if there is strong research evidence showing they work

Question 3

What is alternative medicine?

Answer 3

It’s used instead of western biomedicine.
Includes healing practices, passed down, culturally outside of modern western medicine

Question 4

What does alternative medicine include?

Answer 4

It may use food, herbs, spiritual practices, manual therapies, like (massages), or exercise exercises, like yoga

The effectiveness may not always be backed up by scientific evidence, but it’s valued in communities due to long-standing cultural use and observed benefits

Question 5

What is an example of alternative medicine?

Answer 5

Choosing herbal remedies or special diets instead of prescribed medication

Question 6

What is traditional medicine?

Answer 6

Knowledge skills and practises passed down within a culture (often orally)

Includes healing practises that existed before modern western biomedicine

Question 7

What are some examples of traditional medicine?

Answer 7

Traditional Chinese medicine, (acupuncture), yin-yang balance

Question 8

What is complementary medicine?

Answer 8

Complementary medicine is used alongside western biomedicine, but not instead of it

Question 9

What is an example of complementary medicine?

Answer 9

A cancer patient receiving chemotherapy, but also using acupuncture for nausea or drinking ginger tea to ease digestion problems

Question 10

What is integrative medicine

Answer 10

A blend of conventional biomedicine and complementary practises designed to treat the whole body (mind, body spirit)

These are evidence based conventional medical therapies with complementary therapies to address the patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs

Question 11

What kind of approach does integrative medicine use?

Answer 11

A whole person approach: it considers the entire individual, including their lifestyle, relationships, and environment, not just through disease or symptoms

It integrates medical treatments, such as drugs and surgery with complementary practices, like acupuncture, yoga and meditation 

Question 12

What is the difference between complementary medicine and integrity medicine?

Answer 12

Complementary medicine is additive, it complement standard care, but is not fully integrated into the treatment plan

Integrative medicine is a whole person approach that combines western bio medicine and evidence based complementary therapies into a single coordinated treatment plan

Question 13

What is an example of interrogative medicine and complementary medicine?

Answer 13

Integrative medicine: using medication, nutritional counseling, acupuncture, and mindfulness together as a part of a treatment plan for chronic pain

Complementary medicine: acupuncture for pain, relief along side surgery

Question 14

What is herbal medicine?

Answer 14

A specific type of traditional folk practice that uses plants and plant extract for healing

Herbs may be taken as tease capsules, powders, or in food

Question 15

What is an example of herbal medicine?

Answer 15

Turmeric for inflammation or peppermint for digestive relief

Question 16

How do societies use food as medicine?

Answer 16

Almost all societies use dietary practises to maintain health or treat illnesses

Question 17

How does evidence for effectiveness differ between western biomedicine and traditional/folk medicine?

Answer 17

Western biomedicine relies on scientific evidence while traditional/folk evidence may rely on historical use, anecdotal evidence, and cultural beliefs

Question 18

Define evidence based biomedicine

Answer 18

Clinical medicine based on natural sciences (biology, physiology, biochemistry) using scientific evidence to guide treatment

Question 19

Define alternative medicine

Answer 19

Systems outside, conventional biomedicine, using therapies such as food, herbs, spirituality, and manual exercise exercises to maintain health or treat illness

Question 20

What does Ayurveda mean?

Answer 20

It’s from Sanskirt, Ayus = life, Veda = knowledge

Question 21

What are the main principles of Ayurveda?

Answer 21

Holistic medicine; emphasizes body mind, spirit, and emotions; focusses on prevention, lifestyle, practices, and herbal remedies

Question 22

What is a sattvic diet?

Answer 22

Foods considered pure and balanced like: dairy vegetables, fruit, fruits, grains, beans, seeds, nuts

Avoidance of foods like: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fermented, foods, mushrooms, stale food, and alcohol

Question 23

What are the three doshas in Ayurveda?

Answer 23

Vatta, pitta, kapha

These are energies that govern physiological and psychological characteristics. Balance of doshas is key to health.

Question 24

What is ayurveda

Answer 24

It’s not just about treating diseases, but preventing illnesses and promoting overall health

Question 25

How does ayurveda recommend dietary treatment for dosha imbalance

Answer 25

Avoid foods that aggravate dominant doshas, eat food foods that restore balance Ex: pitta dosha is associated with fire and heat in the body, spicy and hot foods can increase this even more which can lead to imbalance like inflammation or irritability so people who have a higher pitta dosha should focus on cooling fluids like cucumbers, melons dairy to help reduce excess pitta in body and restore balance

Question 26

What is prana?

Answer 26

Life force energy in Indian medicine that flows through the body, similar to qi in traditional Chinese medicine

Question 27

What is the traditional Chinese medicine perspective on food?

Answer 27

Foods have energetic properties: hot, cold, or neutral; they affect body balance, and health

Question 28

What do Yin and Yang represent?

Answer 28

Yin = negative energy, cooling, dark, moist. Yang= positive energy, warming, bright, dry Health requires balance between Yin and yang

Question 29

What happens when Yin and Yang are imbalanced

Answer 29

Imbalance can lead to illness; treatment involves eating foods with the opposite property to restore balance

Question 30

How do northern versus southern Chinese diets differ?

Answer 30

Northern China has a colder climate so people eat more hot and spicy foods like chilies, garlic, onions, to improve circulation, and fight cold Southern China has a warmer climate, so people eat more cooling mild foods like fruits, watery vegetables, to reduce heat and dryness

Question 31

What do long noodles symbolize in Chinese culture?

Answer 31

A long life

Question 32

Why is soup considered important in Chinese diet?

Answer 32

It’s considered nourishing and functional; often used as tonics, postpartum recovery, or to support health

Question 33

What is “Yi xing bu xing”

Answer 33

It means by using any shape or part of the animal, the same part of the human body can be replenished and strengthened Ex: eating monkey brain for wisdom

Question 34

What foods are avoided during pregnancy in China and why?

Answer 34

Cold foods like (mung beans, bananas, watermelon) to prevent miscarriages Seafood may be avoided to prevent rashes Herbal drinks may be used to protect or detox the baby

Question 35

Why do Chinese women avoid ice chips during childbirth?

Answer 35

Cold disrupts the bodies hot/cold balance, warm water is preferred

Question 36

What is the sitting month in postpartum care?

Answer 36

First one to three months after childbirth; women avoid cold foods, cold exposure, beef, and seafood to restore strength and balance. Since after birth women are thought to being in a cold stage due to blood loss. Beef and seafood are believed to slow healing so they are especially avoided after a C-section

Question 37

What are the main components of traditional Arab Islamic medicine (TAIM)

Answer 37

Fasting, medicinal plants (herbs, teas, syrups), certain foods with prophetic indications, and cupping therapy

Question 38

What is black seed? (Nigella sativa)

Answer 38

Known as the blessed seed, believed to have healing properties for most illnesses

Question 39

What is wet cupping?

Answer 39

Medicinal bleeding via suction from a small incision, associated with detoxification

Question 40

How does alternative medicine differ from biomedicine regarding disease?

Answer 40

Biomedicine: disease is a malfunction of organs/biochemical processes Alternative: disease is imbalance of body, mind,spirit

Question 41

How does alternative medicine differ in treatment?

Answer 41

Biomedicine: uses evidence based treatments (drugs, surgery, therapy) Alternative: restores balance, strengthens bodys defences

Question 42

What is the concept of life force in alternative medicine?

Answer 42

A free flowing energy, connecting mind and body (qi in TCM, prana in Ayurveda)

Question 43

How is balance important in alternative medical systems?

Answer 43

Health is the optimal balance of physical, emotional spiritual systems; illness arises from imbalance

Question 44

What are some examples of traditional systems based on balance?

Answer 44

Islamic medicine, Mexican folk medicine, Greek humoral roots, Ayurveda, TCM, indigenous Canadian medicine

Question 45

What are the Greek humors?

Answer 45

Blood: hot/wet Yellow bile: hot/dry Black bile: cold/dry Phlegm: cold/wet

Question 46

How does indigenous medicine in Canada approach health?

Answer 46

Holistic health, emphasizing balance among physical, spiritual, intellectual emotional aspects, and harmony with community/environment

Question 47

What is the “ principle of opposites” in alternative therapies

Answer 47

Imbalances (hot/cold), (wet/dry) are treated by giving foods/medicines of opposite quality to restore balance

Question 48

Example of TCM nutrition for kidney Yang deficiency

Answer 48

Eat strengthening/warming foods; avoid cold/cool foods, ice water, raw foods, especially in winter

Question 49

How is evidence evaluated in biomedicine?

Answer 49

Scientific method, hierarchy of evidence: expert opinions-case reports-randomized control trials (best quality)

Question 50

Why is evidence based dietetics sometimes limited?

Answer 50

Foods are complex; cofounding factors (exercise, medical care, education); ethical/practical limitations for randomized control trials

Question 51

What is the quality of evidence for alternative therapies?

Answer 51

Often low; systematic reviews show limited conflicting efficiency (acupuncture for chronic pain)

Question 52

Why might alternative therapies appear effective?

Answer 52

Placebo effect; lack of rigourous testing

Question 53

Can alternative therapy be harmful?

Answer 53

Yes, some are harmful; many have unknown effects. Example: pregnant woman in India, avoiding meat, eggs, and certain emotions for postpartum health.

Question 54

How do biomedicine and alternative medicine differ in reliance on evidence?

Answer 54

Biomedicine: relies on scientific evidence, alternative medicine: relies on traditional use and theory

Question 55

How do biomedicine and alternative medicine differ in origin?

Answer 55

Biomedicine: originated from Europe, past 500 years Alternative medicine: originate from ancient systems (Greece, China, India, Middle East, Africa)

Question 56

How do alternative and biomedicine differ in life force concept?

Answer 56

Biomedicine: internal physical/biochemical processes Alternative: free flowing energy qi, prana)