Complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) are practices not included within the conventional biomedical healthcare system, yet may still provide valuable services. They can be used alongside or instead of standard medical treatments.
Manipulative and body-based complementary and alternative medicine practices include chiropractic, osteopathy, massage therapy, Tai Chi and therapeutic touch – these therapies require special training.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient treatment involving inserting thin needles at specific points on the body. Research supports its efficacy for treating chronic pain such as backache and osteoarthritis as well as headaches. Furthermore, acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting associated with surgery or chemotherapy treatments and is recommended by the National Institutes of Health as part of cancer care services.
Acupuncturists use single-use, sterile needles that are thinner and solid rather than hollow for treatment. Patients typically lie down during the 20-60-minute procedure and may feel a short prick when the needles are inserted before experiencing either tingling or dull ache at their points of needle insertion.
An acupuncturist typically begins each session by asking their patient to describe their symptoms in detail, using various techniques including traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), French energetic acupuncture focused on meridien patterns, Korean hand acupuncture and ear, face, and scalp acupuncture.
Nurses providing complementary and alternative therapies must possess extensive knowledge about these modalities, with some strategies requiring special training or not suitable for all health conditions. Furthermore, nurses providing such treatments should realize they should not replace standard medical care; it should always be discussed with a physician or RN/NP beforehand as complementary and alternative therapies use different healing philosophies and life systems than those found within mainstream care.
What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a form of manual therapy in which pressure is applied to various areas on feet, hands and ears that correspond to organs and body systems. Reflexologists believe this therapy may have significant effects on health and wellness as it has the ability to exacerbate tension or imbalance within these body parts that might impact on overall wellness.
Reflexology sessions typically start by gathering your health history and discussing any concerns or issues you have. After this is completed, a relaxing environment may include soft music, dimmed lights and aromatherapy; your practitioner will then start working on your feet; depending on their condition they may ask you to sit or lie down while they perform this procedure.
Reflexology works on the principle that all parts of the body are represented on feet in some way, creating pathways between these points – similar to acupuncture meridians found in traditional Chinese medicine.
Research indicates that reflexology may provide relief for some mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. More high-quality studies are necessary to verify these benefits; additionally, it’s advisable to talk with your primary healthcare provider prior to engaging in any complementary therapies, especially if you are currently being treated for serious illnesses – this will ensure they won’t interfere with any conventional medical treatments you might already be receiving.
What is massage?
Massage refers to manipulating soft tissues of your own body for relaxation, wellbeing, and relief from physical pain. Massage has been practiced across cultures for centuries; today it falls under complementary and alternative medicine as defined by the National Institutes of Health: “a group of diverse healing philosophies, approaches, practices, and products which do not typically fall within conventional medical practice”.
Effleurage massage techniques are one of the most commonly employed in massage. They involve using one hand to gently stroke over a client’s body at various tempos in one direction to increase blood flow, stretch tissues and aid with waste product disposal as well as relax them. Massage may also help improve nervous and lymphatic systems while relieving anxiety and depression symptoms.
Note that little or no high-quality research has been conducted on most complementary and alternative therapies, making it hard to know if they work or may even be harmful. Before considering trying any complementary therapy yourself, always speak to a healthcare provider first – they can assess if it’s safe and make sure it won’t interfere with any treatments you are currently receiving as well as ensure the therapist is appropriately qualified and insured.
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that integrates physical poses and breathing exercises to promote mental and emotional well-being. Today, its use has been integrated into various therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help manage stress more effectively.
CBT involves teaching someone how to identify and change negative thoughts that lead to harmful behaviors or emotions, like stress. A key element of CBT is mindfulness practice – something yoga also addresses through mind-body integration – making this therapy ideal.
Yoga offers many advantages whether practiced from your home, an ashram in India, or Times Square itself. Yoga has many health benefits: as an effective form of exercise it can reduce stress and anxiety levels while relieving some forms of pain such as neck, knee and back problems. Furthermore, research suggests it increases sleep quality as well as improving balance, mood and mental/emotional health.
Some complementary and alternative therapies have been shown to be safe and effective when used alongside conventional treatments, though not all have been scientifically validated. Before trying a new therapy, consult with your physician first – particularly if taking medications or complementary therapies like yoga; they can assess if they will interfere with current therapies or cause side effects.
What is meditation?
Meditation covers an expansive range of practices and it can be hard to pin down what qualifies as “meditation.” Broad definitions could encompass anything which alters neurophysiology and neurochemistry – dancing, praying, CrossFit training or simply washing dishes mindfully could all fall under its umbrella.
Meditation is typically a slow long-term exercise designed to reorganize the mind over months and years. Meditation retrains attention, optimizes distraction filters and strengthens focus in order to lower stress levels while increasing resilience for pain management, illness management and other life challenges.
Nurses should have a thorough knowledge of all available complementary and alternative therapies as part of an integrative health care framework, including their evidence base and potential use as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. Furthermore, nurses/NPs must understand which patients may benefit from these therapies as well as any risks involved with using them.
CAM, as defined by the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH/NCCAM), encompasses “healing philosophies, approaches and therapeutic modalities not typically studied, accepted or made available within traditional Western medical systems”1. This encompasses whole medical systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda as well as individual techniques like acupuncture massage yoga meditation etc.
What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback may sound like something from science fiction, but biofeedback is an invaluable health tool that allows individuals to take control over involuntary physiological functions such as breathing, heart rate and skin temperature; brainwave activity (electroencephalography or EEG); bladder or sexual function issues such as urinary or fecal incontinence or bladder or bowel dysfunction; headaches or anxiety symptoms – to name just some examples from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic studies.
Biofeedback sessions typically involve applying electrode patches to your body and monitoring its results through an electronic monitor. The monitor then converts these measurements into either audio signals with variable pitch or visual displays such as tones that change on a computer screen and meters that show lines moving across grids, and your therapist then guides mental exercises intended to change whatever body function is being monitored.
Biofeedback techniques are divided into two groups according to their intended action – either global physiologic reactions or specific muscle actions. Common targets for biofeedback techniques are urinary, fecal, and abdominal incontinence as well as abdominal sphincters; because biofeedback is considered training rather than treatment it requires active participation by both patient and practitioner in between sessions and regular practice in between. Unfortunately not covered by all health insurance plans and state regulations regarding practitioners differ; for more information contact your insurer before beginning.
