Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Integrated parasitic veterinary control strategy and holistic vision is a sanitary program which aims at reducing the usage of drugs, protecting animal welfare, ecological balance and farmers’ income. Internal parasitic diseases of ruminants constitute one of the most important health issues in extensive livestock farming. Despite the environmental toxic effects, anti-parasitic chemical pharmaceuticals are frequently used. In order to limit the employment of these drugs, it is necessary to establish an integrated control strategy, including managerial and agronomic activities, as well as non-conventional medicine. A monitoring plan of action of the farm must be implemented, whereby parasitological, clinical, productive and environmental indicators are evaluated. Considerations emerging from such an analysis would inevitably require a scheme of interventions, with the intent of maintaining equilibrium between parasite and host. This objective may include all agronomical activities, managerial actions and the application of alternative medication. Homeopathic medicine is particularly indicated thanks to the absence of drug residues in food animal products, the drug-resistance phenomenon, the low costs and the easy administration of remedies.

Vaccinium macrocarpon is characterized by the presence of type A proanthocyanidins (PACs) thought able, by interacting directly with type-P fimbrial structures found in uropathogenic strains, to prevent recurrent cystitis. According to clinical evidence the PAC dose needed seems to be 36 mg, when analyzed with a method called DMAC. Due to the use of different types of analytical method, most of European products whose labels read 36 mg PACs/dose actually give values lower than stated, lacking of reproducibility. Moreover the “36 mg” issue, entericcoating, limiting the environmental oxidative stress over the PAC fraction of cranberry and avoiding the PACs to interact with gastric H. pilori, optimizes efficacy of cranberry extract as demonstrated in clinical trials carried out in patients at risk for developing cystitis during pelvis radiotherapy, in patients with a diagnosis of recurrent cystitis and in patients with episodes of acute cystitis. In conclusion the real efficacy of a Vaccinium macrocarpon preparation can be assessed only after applying to the extract proper standardization and dosing procedures and taking into consideration the need of coating the finished product in order to protect PACs

Osteochondral defects are a frequent cause of knee pain in the population. The majority of the diagnosed cases of osteochondral defects (OCD) are treated with surgical procedures. However, there are emerging alternative and integrative medicine options which have appeared on the horizon. These alternative treatment options are minimally invasive with a significant cost reduction and the potential for an earlier return on function due to a shorter rehabilitation period. The focus of this report will be to demonstrate the efficacy of Ultrasound (US) guided Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Autologous Stem Cell Injections in the treatment of osteochondral Defects.