Choose 2 medical conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, stress, etc….)
Choose a type of CAM that you would be interested in using to treat those conditions or use as an integrative medicine along with conventional medicine treatment. Choose 1 CAM per condition. Don’t use the same CAM for both conditions. (See example). If you are opposed to using any forms of CAM, pretend that a close family member or friend is adamant about integrating an alternative medicine into their conventional medicine treatment, and choose something you think may work best (or least harmful).
For example: (2 conditions, 2 CAMs)
· Migraines – aromatherapy
· Chronic back pain – chiropractic
For each condition/CAM treatment:
1. Briefly discuss current conventional medical treatment for each chosen condition. (Currently treated with pharmaceuticals, surgery, phyical therapy, etc.) (20 points)
2. Discuss why you think that your chosen CAM may be useful for that condition (main points of how it works (or may work), why you think this is an effective choice of CAM for this condition. (25 points)
3. Discuss the main points of some research articles supporting your choice of CAM for this condition. (You can use articles from previous discussion boards and papers – use scientific evidence not anecdotes; watch websites/articles – they should pass the CRAAP Test) (40 points)
4. Discuss risks involved in using this CAM in general and any particular risks involved with the specific chosen condition. (10 points)