Special Issue

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nervous System Conditions

Submission Deadline: September 10, 2018 (Closed) Submit Now

Guest Editor

James D. Adams, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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Research Interests: California Indian healing; traditional healing; medicinal plants; phytochemistry; pharmacology; pain; stroke

About This Topic

The peripheral and central nervous systems are involved in many diseases, such as pain, hypertension, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Standard medicine does not adequately treat many of these conditions. Traditional medicine can offer complementary and alternative treatments that may be helpful.

Pain is usually treated with dangerous oral medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. These drugs have major adverse reactions and kill many patients. Acupuncture and other skin centered therapies are more effective at treating pain, with fewer adverse reactions.

Hypertension is, in part, caused by excessive sympathetic activity that can be blocked with sympathetic antagonists. These drugs all have major adverse reactions and do not cure hypertension. Patients must stay on these drugs for the rest of their lives, like an addiction. The chances of patients suffering drug toxicity is probably 100% over their lifetimes. Traditional medicine offers the concept of balance that can help prevent and cure hypertension through avoiding toxic lifestyles.

Stroke results in paralysis of the limbs in many patients. Standard medicine is inadequate at helping with stroke recovery and paralysis. Traditional medicine offers medicines and physical therapy techniques that can greatly aid stroke patients. This issue will help expose the standard healthcare community to traditional medicines that can be helpful in treating nervous system conditions. Patient centered healthcare should emphasize prevention through avoiding toxic lifestyles and avoiding the use of standard drugs as much as possible.

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