Kozier & Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts, Process, and Practice

LESSON 2: Complementary and Alternative Healing Modalities

INTRODUCTION

●​ Western medical
-​ Conventional medicine
-​ Biomedicine
-​ Allopathic medicine

●​ Eastern medicine
-​ Greater emphasis on prevention, natural healing

●​ The differences between Western and Eastern medicine are not about
geographic location
●​ Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
-​ As many as 1,800 other therapies practiced all over the world over
thousands of years
-​ Based on ancient medical systems
-​ Evolution in the U.S.
a.​Bioelectromagnetic therapy
b.​Chiropractic therapy

●​ Complementary
-​ CAM together with conventional medicine

●​ Alternative
-​ CAM in place of conventional medicine

●​ Integrative
-​ Treatments from conventional medicine
-​ CAM for which there is high-quality evidence of safety and
effectiveness
BASIC CONCEPTS

1.​Holism
2.​Humanism
3.​Balance
4.​Spirituality
5.​Energy
6.​Healing Environments

●​ Holism
-​ Paradigm of whole systems
-​ Belief that people are more than physical bodies
-​ Combined mental, emotional, spiritual, relationship, and environmental
components
-​ Interventions individualized within the entire context of a person's life
●​ Humanism
-​ Mind and body are indivisible.
-​ People have the power to solve own problems.
-​ People are responsible for patterns of their lives.
-​ Well-being is combination of personal satisfaction and contributions to
larger community.

●​ Balance
-​ Consists of mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and environmental
components
-​ Each component has to be balanced.
-​ Equilibrium needed among component.

●​ Spirituality
-​ Relationship with oneself, others, and a higher power
-​ Gives people meaning and purpose in lives
-​ Involves significant meaning in all of life, including illness and death

●​ Energy
 -​ Force that integrates body, mind, and spirit
-​ Grounding
a.​Connection with the ground
b.​Contact with reality
c.​Stability, security, independence
d.​Living in the present rather escaping to dreams

-​ Centering
a.​Focusing one's mind on the center of energy
b.​Allowing one to operate intuitively with awareness
c.​Channeling energy throughout the body

●​ Healing Environments
-​ Created by providing knowledge, skills, and support
-​ Synthesis of medical-curing and nursing-healing approach
-​ Created when time is taken to be with clients in deeply caring ways
-​ Nurses need to create their own healing environments.
-​ Nurses need healthy balance between technology and compassion
 -​ Nurses create healing environments when they take the time to be with
clients in deeply caring ways.
-​ Nurses must also create their own healing environments

HEALING MODALITIES

●​ Ethnocentrism
-​ Assumption that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others
-​ Has prevented Western health practitioners from learning new ways to
promote health and prevent illnesses

●​ Consumer demand for broader range of options, we must open our minds to
the idea that other cultures and countries have valid ways of preventing and
curing diseases.
●​ Cultural traditions and healing practices are part of medical mainstream in
other cultures.
●​ Nurses should inquire about healing modalities client may have used
previously.
SYSTEMIZED HEALTHCARE PRACTICES
1.​Ayurveda
2.​Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
3.​Native American Healing
4.​Curanderismo

●​ Ayurveda
-​ Indian system of medicine
-​ State of imbalance among body systems
-​ Mentally healthy people
Good memory, comprehension, intelligence, reasoning ability
-​ Emotionally healthy people
Balanced emotional states, sense of well-being or happiness
-​ Physically healthy people
Proper functioning of senses, digestion, elimination
-​ Individualized diet and exercise program is based on Dosha type and
dosha imbalance
 -​ Herbals
a.​For preventive or regenerative purposes
b.​Treatment for specific disorders
-​ This ancient system has adapted to modern science
-​ Exercise program
a.​Yoga
b.​Breathing exercises
c.​Meditative techniques

●​ Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

-​ Developed 3000 years ago
-​ Imbalance or interruption in the flow of qi
-​ Mind, body, spirit, and emotion are never separated.
-​ Treatments include:
a.​Acupuncture
b.​Acupressure
c.​Herbal medicine
d.​Massage
e.​Heat Therapy
 f.​ Qigong
g.​T'ai chi

●​ Native American Healing

-​ Spirituality and medicine are inseparable.
-​ Values each individual's uniqueness
-​ The only healer is the One who created all things.
-​ Healers use medicine objects and ceremonial treatments.
a.​Sweat lodge
b.​Music
c.​Dancing
d.​Drumming
e.​Chanting
f.​ Herbs

-​ Harmony between mind and body

It is believed that most illness begins in the head and people must
get rid of ideas that predispose illness.
 ●​ Curanderismo
-​ Cultural healing found in Latin America and Latinos in United States
-​ Traditional healing system with Western biomedical beliefs, treatments,
and practices
-​ Curanderos (men); curanderas (women)
-​ Herbalists, midwives, counselors, spine and joint workers, massage
therapists
-​ Religious rituals, cleansing rites, prayers

BOTANICAL HEALING
-​ Used by 80% of the world's population

1.​Herbal Medicine
2.​Aromatherapy
3.​Homeopathy
4.​Naturopathy
●​ Herbal Medicine
-​ Many prescription drugs derived from plants
-​ Most herbal medicines present no danger if taken appropriately.
-​ Some can cause serious side effects if taken in excess or over a
prolonged period.
-​ Caution when combining with prescription and over-the-counter
medications
-​ Caution about becoming dependent on herbal remedies
-​ Caution pregnant and breast-feeding women not to take herbs
-​ Examples of herbal remedies that have been synthesized into modern
drugs are:
a.​reserpine from the Indian snakeroot plant
b.​digoxin from foxglove
c.​aspirin from willow tree bark
d.​morphine from opium poppy
e.​atropine from deadly nightshade
 HERB TRADITIONAL USES SELECTED WARNINGS
Echinacea May boost immune system, May reduce the effectiveness
enhance wound healing of immunosuppressants.
Feverfew Relieves migraines, headaches, May increase the anticoagulant
arthritis, stimulates digestion effects of aspirin and
anticoagulant medications.
Garlic Reduces high blood pressure May increase the anticoagulant
and cholesterol; antibiotic and effects of aspirin and
anti-inflammatory anticoagulant medications.
Ginger For digestive relief, nausea, May increase the anticoagulant
motion sickness, dizziness, and effects of aspirin and
indigestion anticoagulant medications.
●​ Aromatherapy
-​ To calm, stimulate, improve sleep, change eating habits, or boost
immune system
-​ The chemicals found in the essential oils are absorbed into the body,
resulting in physiological or psychological benefit
-​ Example: Tea Tree Oil, Lavender
-​ Carrier Oils: Sunflower oil, Grapeseed oil, Soy oil

●​ Homeopathy
-​ Self-healing system
-​ Law of similars - Like cures like
-​ Remedies stimulate self-healing capacity
-​ Examples:
a.​Amica Montana used for bruises. muscle pain and trauma
b.​Nux vomica (Poison nut) used for digestive issues and imtability
-​ The homeopathic belief is that the more the substance is diluted, the
more potent it becomes
●​ Naturopathy
-​ System of medicine and a way of life
-​ Emphasis on responsibility, health maintenance, and disease prevention
-​ Do not provide emergency care or major surgery
-​ Rarely prescribe drugs
-​ Treat clients in private practice and outpatient clinics
-​ In Philippine setting: Healing Galing Centers
-​ Treatment:
a.​Restoration of health and normal body functions
b.​Customized to client
c.​Primary consideration for some
- Least invasive method
-​ Therapy
• Consumption of specific diets or supplements to prevent or treat
illnesses
• Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, other botanical and
miscellaneous substances
• Not considered medications
 • Nurses assess for dietary supplement use and teach about
benefits and risks.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
-​ Includes supplements, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fish oils
-​ Major concerns:
a.​Efficacy
b.​Consistency
c.​Safety

MANUAL HEALING METHODS

1.​Chiropractic
2.​Massage
3.​Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reflexology
4.​Hand-Mediated Biofield Therapies
●​ Chiropractic
-​ Third largest independent health profession in Western world
-​ Practitioners believe health is state of balance, especially of nervous
and musculoskeletal systems.
-​ Used to reduce or eliminate pain.
-​ Correct spinal dysfunction:
a.​Reestablish shock absorption, leverage, and range of motion
b.​Muscles and ligaments strengthened
c.​Spinal rehabilitative exercises
-​ Preventive maintenance to ensure problem does not recur

●​ Massage
-​ Scientific manipulation of soft tissue of the body
-​ Aids ability of the body to heal itself
-​ Aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being
●​ Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Reflexology
-​ Apply pressure or stimulation to specific points on body
-​ Treatments rooted in traditional philosophy about qi, or life energy
-​ Eastem philosophy that qi, or life energy, flows through the body along
pathways known as meridians
-​ Blocked or congested energy causes pain, frustration, irritability
-​ Goal of care: Recognize and manage disruption before illness or
disease occurs

●​ Hand-Mediated Biofield Therapies

-​ Includes Therapeutic Touch (TT), healing touch, and Reiki
-​ Use of hands on or near with intention to heal
-​ Goal of care:
a.​Accelerate person's own healing process
b.​Facilitate healing of body, mind, emotions, spirit
MIND-BODY THERAPIES
1.​ Yoga
2.​Meditation
3.​Hypnotherapy
4.​Guided Imagery
5.​Biofeedback
6.​Qi Gong and T'ai Chi
7.​Pilates

●​ Yoga
-​ Originated in India
-​ Ethical models for behavior and mental and physical exercises
-​ Producing spiritual enlightenment
-​ Typical yoga session lasts 20 minutes to an hour.
-​ May include breathing practices and meditations
●​ Meditation
-​ Relaxing the body, Easing the mind
-​ Process that anyone can use to calm themselves, cope with stress, and,
for those with spiritual inclinations, feel as one with God or the universe

●​ Hypnotherapy .
-​ Application of hypnosis in wide variety of medical and psychological
disorders
-​ Not surrender of control: Advanced form of relaxation
-​ Hypnotherapy can be used to help people gain self-control, improve
self-esteem, and become more autonomous.
-​ It can be used with nonmedical clients as well, in working through
problems of living or situations of performance anxiety, and in changing
bad habits

●​ Guided Imagery
-​ Imagery refers to two-way communication between conscious and
unconscious mind and involves whole body and senses. Worry as the
most common form.
 -​ State of focused attention that encourages changes in attitude,
behavior, and physiological reactions.
-​ Helps stop troublesome thoughts.
-​ Guided imagery can help us learn how to stop troublesome thoughts
and focus on images that help us relax and decrease the negative
impact of stressors.

●​ Biofeedback
-​ Learn to control certain physiological responses of the body
-​ Electronic equipment for visible and audible responses
-​ Everything that is measured in controllable

●​ Qi Gong and T'ai Chi

-​ Breathing and mental exercises combined with body movement
-​ Physical fitness
-​ Meditation
-​ Self-defense
 ●​ Pilates
-​ Stretching
-​ Strength
-​ Balance
-​ Developed by Joseph Pilates in prison camp during WW1

SPIRITUAL THERAPY

●​ Faith and Prayer

-​ Beliefs and expectations about life, ourselves, and others
-​ Belief in a Supreme Being
-​ Prayer
a.​Communication and fellowship with Deity or Creator
b.​Self-care strategy
c.​Provides comfort
d.​Increases hope
e.​Promotes healing, psychological well-being
MISCELLANEOUS THERAPIES
1.​Music Therapy
2.​Humor and Laughter
3.​Bioelectromagnetics
4.​Detoxification
5.​Animal-Assisted Therapy
6.​Horticultural Therapy

●​ Music Therapy
-​ Induces relaxation
• Quiet, soothing music without words
-​ Provides distraction

●​ Humor and Laughter

-​ Helpful when:
a.​Establishing relationships
b.​Relieving tension and anxiety
c.​Facilitating learning
 d.​Coping with painful feelings
-​ Can bring out positive emotions
-​ Highly personalized

●​ Bioelectromagnetics
-​ Emerging science
• Studies how living organisms interact with electromagnetic fields
-​ Every animal, plant, and mineral has an electromagnetic field.
●​ Detoxification
-​ Belief that physical impurities and toxins must be deared
-​ Types:
1.​Hydrotherapy
-​ Use of water as a healing treatment
-​ Uses body's response to heat and cold
-​ Used to:
a.​Decrease pain and fever
b.​Reduce swelling and cramps
c.​Induce sleep
d.​Improve physical and mental tone
 2.​Colonics
-​ Procedure for washing inner walls of colon by filling it with
water or herbal solutions and then draining it

3.​Chelation therapy
-​ Introduction of chemicals into bloodstream that bind with heavy
metals in the body.

●​ Animal-Assisted Therapy
-​ Specifically selected animals used as a treatment modality in health and
human service settings
-​ Resident animals
a.​Live at long-term healthcare facilities
b.​Gravitate to most isolated or depressed clients
-​ Companion animals
a.​Unconditionally loving
b.​Opportunities for affection
c.​Achievement of trust
 d.​Responsibility
e.​Empathy towards others
f.​ Reason to get up in the morning
g.​Source of reassurance

●​ Horticultural Therapy
-​ Adjunct therapy to occupational and physical therapy
-​ Gardening, healing garden
-​ Stimulates five senses
-​ Provides leisure activities
-​ Improves motor function
-​ Provides sense of achievement
-​ Improves self-esteem