Login / Register Submit Your Article
cover
Article Menu

Journal Browser
Vol. 6 (2024)
Vol. 5 (2023)
Vol. 4 (2022)
Vol. 3 (2021)
Vol. 2 (2020)
Vol. 1 (2019)
Open Access Journal Article

Integrative Medicine Approaches for Chronic Pain Management in the Pacific Islands

by Michael Smith 1,*
1
Michael Smith
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
AMJ  2022, 27; 4(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220318
Received: 20 January 2022 / Accepted: 16 February 2022 / Published Online: 18 March 2022
View Full-Text
Download PDF

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic pain in the Pacific Islands is a significant public health concern, with limited access to conventional healthcare resources often leading to undermanagement and increased suffering. This paper explores the application of integrative medicine approaches for chronic pain management in the Pacific Islands. Integrative medicine combines conventional Western healthcare practices with evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies, aiming to address the holistic needs of patients, including physical, emotional, and mental aspects. The review discusses the potential benefits of various integrative medicine strategies, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, mindfulness meditation, herbal medicine, and yoga, which are particularly relevant to the cultural and environmental context of the region. It highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and sustainable practices to ensure effective and safe treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the need for further research to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of integrative medicine approaches in the Pacific Islands, as well as to address the challenges of implementation and training of healthcare providers. Despite the existing gaps in knowledge and resources, the integration of complementary therapies into chronic pain management programs in the Pacific Islands offers a promising pathway to improved patient outcomes and enhanced overall quality of life.

Keywords: Chronic pain, Integrative medicine, Pacific Islands, Complementary and alternative therapies, Cultural sensitivity.;
Copyright: © 2022 by Smith. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Share and Cite

ACS Style
Smith, M. Integrative Medicine Approaches for Chronic Pain Management in the Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 2022, 4, 27. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220318
AMA Style
Smith M. Integrative Medicine Approaches for Chronic Pain Management in the Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal; 2022, 4(1):27. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220318
Chicago/Turabian Style
Smith, Michael 2022. "Integrative Medicine Approaches for Chronic Pain Management in the Pacific Islands" Asia-Pacific Medical Journal 4, no.1:27. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220318
APA style
Smith, M. (2022). Integrative Medicine Approaches for Chronic Pain Management in the Pacific Islands. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 4(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20220318

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

References

  1. Burbules, N. C., & Callister, T. A. (2000). Watch IT: The Risks and Promises of Information Technologies for Education. Westview Press.
  2. Micozzi, M. S. (2019). Foundations of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  3. Menzies, R. (2009). Pacific Healing: Integrating Cultural Literacy and Traditional Medicine in the Pacific. ANU e Press.
  4. White, A. R., & Maudsley, G. (2001). Acupuncture for chronic low back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD001279.
  5. White, A. R., Ernst, E., & Foster, C. E. (2007). Acupuncture for chronic knee pain: a systematic review. The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 89(4), 327-331.
  6. White, A. R., Ernst, E., & Foster, C. E. (2001). Acupuncture for chronic low back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD001279.
  7. Lunde, K., & White, A. R. (2005). Acupuncture and chronic pain: is there a plausible physiological mechanism? Pain Research and Management, 10(4), 193-195.
  8. Cherkin, D. C., Sherman, K. J., Kahn, J. R., & Wellman, R. D. (2001). A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, massage, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 161(12), 1801-1810.
  9. Jarden, A., & Thomsen, H. B. (2006). Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: a systematic review of the evidence. European Journal of Pain, 10(1), 31-43.
  10. Hölzel, B. K., Steenbergen-Lange, B., Vago, D. R., & Ott, U. (2012). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36-43.
  11. Miller, A. J., & Cherniack, M. P. (2006). Complementary and alternative medicine for chronic pain management in the Pacific Islands. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 31(3), 197-207.
  12. Saper, R. B., & DiNolo, T. E. (2000). Yoga and integrative medicine. In Yoga in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Yoga and Its Effect on Physical and Mental Health (pp. 23-34). Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  13. Cohen, S., Miller, A. J., & Gopinath, P. (2004). Effects of yoga on chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. Spine, 29(16), E354-E362.
  14. Thomas, S. B., Witt, C. M., & White, A. R. (2007). Complementary and alternative medicine for chronic pain: What works? Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 21(2), 339-358.