Holistic Medicine And Complementary 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which essential oil is most supported by clinical evidence for reducing preoperative anxiety when used via aromatherapy?
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) (Correct answer)
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Correct answer: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Multiple RCTs demonstrate that inhaled lavender essential oil significantly reduces preoperative anxiety scores compared to placebo, likely via linalool's GABA-ergic mechanisms.
Question 2: A holistic practitioner recommends a patient eliminate gluten and dairy simultaneously. What is the primary methodological problem with this approach for identifying food sensitivities?
- An elimination of multiple foods at once makes it impossible to identify which food caused symptoms (Correct answer)
- It will cause nutritional deficiencies within two weeks
- Cross-reactive antibodies make both eliminations unnecessary
- The patient cannot adhere to both restrictions simultaneously
Correct answer: An elimination of multiple foods at once makes it impossible to identify which food caused symptoms
An elimination diet should remove one food at a time to establish causality; removing multiple foods prevents identifying the specific trigger.
Question 3: In acupuncture, the 'De Qi' sensation that a practitioner seeks when needling a point is best described as:
- A heavy, aching, or distending feeling at the needle site (Correct answer)
- A sharp burning pain indicating tissue damage
- A cool spreading sensation along a meridian
- Visible muscle twitching in the target muscle
Correct answer: A heavy, aching, or distending feeling at the needle site
De Qi (arrival of Qi) is the characteristic sensation of heaviness, aching, fullness, or distension that indicates the needle has engaged the acupuncture point correctly.
Question 4: St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is contraindicated with many pharmaceuticals primarily because it is a potent inducer of which enzyme system?
- CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein (Correct answer)
- CYP2D6 and MAO-A
- UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
- CYP1A2 and CYP2E1
Correct answer: CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein
St. John's Wort strongly induces CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, dramatically reducing plasma levels of drugs like cyclosporine, antiretrovirals, and oral contraceptives.
Question 5: Which body-mind therapy specifically uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements or taps) to reprocess traumatic memories?
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (Correct answer)
- Somatic Experiencing
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Hakomi Method
Correct answer: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements — while the patient briefly focuses on traumatic memories to facilitate adaptive reprocessing.
Question 6: The Gerson therapy protocol, sometimes promoted as a cancer complementary therapy, primarily involves which core practice that poses significant medical risk?
- Frequent coffee enemas combined with high-dose juicing (Correct answer)
- Intravenous mistletoe (Iscador) injections
- Raw food fasting for 30+ days
- High-dose intravenous vitamin C infusions
Correct answer: Frequent coffee enemas combined with high-dose juicing
Gerson therapy relies heavily on coffee enemas, which carry serious risks including electrolyte imbalances, infection, bowel perforation, and deaths have been reported.
Question 7: In Ayurvedic medicine, which dosha is characterized by qualities of heaviness, slowness, coolness, and is associated with earth and water elements?
- Kapha (Correct answer)
- Vata
- Pitta
- Ojas
Correct answer: Kapha
Kapha dosha, composed of earth and water elements, governs structure, lubrication, and stability; its imbalance can cause weight gain, congestion, and lethargy.
Holistic Medicine And Complementary 3
Which essential oil is most supported by clinical evidence for reducing preoperative anxiety when used via aromatherapy?