Description

The seminar will be a basic and wide-range exploration of healing practices originating around the world and often understood as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the USA.  We will be exploring several traditional systems of medicine as they contibute to the development of integrative medicine.  We will attempt to examine the variety of medical practices in a critical and balanced way.

The study of the CAM will include four aspects: (1) the local knowledge and theories of healing and illness; (2) the philosophical, historical, and political dimensions; (3) a review of some plausible psychobiological mechanisms that may underlie many CAM practices; and (4) a review of the clinical efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines provided by the Western biomedical sciences.

At the end of the seminar students would gain a critical and balanced understanding of the benefits and limitations of complementary and alternative healing practices, which is very important considering the enormous popularity of alternative medicine today.

Students are also asked to participate in experiential activities within the class (e.g. Heart-Math), as well as experiencing some aspect of the healing method chosen for their research.

Heart-Math is the name of an institute that is exploring the role of the heart in human performance.  They have devised a series of techniques that allow the practitioner to control heart rate variability and achieve "entrainment" or synchronization of mind, breath and heart rhythms.  This entrainment state leads to lower stress and enhanced performance physiologically and mentally.  While Heart Math is not an alternative medical practice as systemic knowledge from another culture, it nevertheless focuses on the interrelationship of the heart-mind that is fundamental to many cultural practices.  Furthermore, the Institute is researching the relationship from a western scientific perspective and provides both a practice and an intellectual research design component that will help to elucidate a number of issues raised in the course.

 There is a brief training to learn the Heart-Math technique.  Students are asked to practice on a regular basis and to keep a record of their progress -- computer generated data as well as impressions and experiences.

A three page essay, reflecting on one's own experience with Heart-Math will be required at the end of the semester.

Please read, Science of the Heart pp. 3-26  www.heartmath.org

Recommended: D. Childre, H. Martin, The Heart Math Solution

Supplementary Activities

Guest healers, guest speakers, films, and healing demonstrations will supplement the lectures, readings, and class discussions.   Students are strongly advised to attend the public events on CAM.

Available at Huntley book store

• Briggs J and Peat DF. The Turbulent Mirror. Harper, 1990.

• Dossey L. Reinventing Medicine. Harper, 1999.

• Harrington A. ed. The Placebo Effect - An Interdisciplinary Exploration.  Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1997.

• Kuhn TS. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. University of Chicago Press, 1996.

• Malidome Some. Of Water and the Spirit

• Canizares R. Cuban Santeria: Walking with the Night.

Introduction.

January 23

Science: Paradigms and Changing "Reality."
Reading:  Kuhn TS, Structure of Scientific Revolutions (selections); Vickers A, Research Paradigms in Mainstream and Complementary Medicine. In Ernst E. Complementary Medicine -  An Objective Appraisal.

Medicine, Science and Culture
An introduction to the "Theories of Illness."
Readings: George P. Murdock. Theories of Illness - A World Survey. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1980.
  Trudy Griffin-Pierce. "When I am Lonely The Mountains Call Me": The Impact of  Sacred Geography on Navajo Psychological Well Being. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research.
   Aronowitz, Making Sense of Illness, Science Society and Disease, (selections).

Types of Research Designs: Descriptive Studies, Cross-Sectional, Comparative Studies (Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Experimental Studies, Quasi-Experimental Studies).
Reading: Wissow L and Pascoe J.  Types of Research Models and Methods.  In DeAngelis C. An Introduction to Clinical Research. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. p. 38-72.
   Kaptchuck, "The double-blind reandomized, placebo controlled trial; gold standard or golden calf?" Journal of Clinical Epistemology, 2001.
   Kaptchuck, "Complementary Medicine: Efficacy beyond the placebo effect," Complementary Medicine, An Objective Appraisal, (chp. 4), 1996.

Understanding Changing Practices in Medicine: Neurosciences & Alternative Medicine.

Second Reflection Paper Due

Notice
The sequence of the units below and guest healers could change. 

Reading: Hintz, Youst, Kader, Schwartz, Hammerschlag and Shen, "Bioenergy Definitions and Research Guidelines," Definitions and Standards in Healing Research a supplement to Alternative Therapies, May/June 2003.
   Michael Cohen, Beyond Complementary Medicine, Chapter 6, "Energy Healing: An Emerging Enigma."
   Co, Healing Handsa."
   Klee, Energy Medicine

Video on African Healing Traditions
Readings: Malidoma Some, Of Water and The Spirit, Intro, Chp. 1, 2, 3, Chp. 12, 14-15, 17, 18

 Amerindian Medicine.

Student Research Reports