Contrasting with biomedical treatments that emphasize disease states and interventions, complementary practices consider all aspects of health holistically and promote overall wellbeing.
Your regular doctor can assist in helping you decide if alternative therapy will benefit you without interfering with any medications you’re currently taking, and ensure your therapist is qualified, registered, and insured.
Dietary approaches to medicine
Alternative complementary therapies refer to medical and health systems and practices not considered part of conventional medicine, yet are considered by some to be safer and more effective than standard healthcare services. Such practices include herbal and dietary supplement usage as well as physical manipulations and mind-body therapies – some treatments have proven themselves helpful while others may even cause serious adverse side effects in certain instances.
Dietary approaches to medicine are among the most prevalent types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), dietary supplements are the most frequently utilized CAM treatment in America – almost half of Americans consume herbal dietary supplements at some point during their lives, often as an alternative medicine option. Unfortunately, some herbs can interact with conventional medications and cause side effects in some individuals; it is important for patients to notify their physician of any dietary supplement usage they engage in.
Not only can complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include nutritional supplements, but other forms include mind/body therapies and whole medical systems such as acupuncture, meditation and yoga; some studies have demonstrated the efficacy of such methods in relieving pain; other research indicates they could also improve mood and quality of life for their users.
Alternative therapies have grown increasingly popular over recent years and people are seeking advice online regarding them. Unfortunately, this advice may be inaccurate or biased and this could lead to patients forgoing conventional cancer treatments without knowing any evidence for efficacy – for instance one study discovered that most of the 13 most visited websites devoted to complementary cancer treatments recommended therapies with no proof of efficacy while three of these sites actually encouraged people to discontinue taking prescribed medication altogether!
There is an array of dietary supplements on the market today, and they may interact with various medications. Furthermore, some may even be dangerous when combined with certain conventional medicines; furthermore some are not as safe as advertised while some could even be illegal in some countries – this is why it is vitally important to receive impartial information from experts in health and wellness.
Energy therapies
Energy therapies rely on the idea that humans possess a vital life force known as chi, prana or qi that circulates throughout their bodies and may lead to physical problems when imbalanced; various cultures have developed complex healing systems around this concept and imbalances of this energy can cause physical issues. Most therapies in this category have not been thoroughly researched so their benefits cannot be easily measured.
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) are considered mind-body treatments. Both techniques focus on relieving negative emotional patterns that cause disease or discomfort, with proponents believing that by targeting root causes a person can overcome their health issues.
Reiki and Therapeutic Touch are among the many energy modalities designed to manipulate energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate a person’s body, using light touch from practitioners to influence these fields. They have been shown to benefit conditions like pain, sprains and strains, headaches, nausea, inflammation wound healing premenstrual syndrome diarrhea among many other things.
Nurses trained in energy modalities often incorporate them as part of their nursing care for patients, consistent with a holistic philosophy that encompasses mind, body and spirit as interdependent components. While Western biomedical treatments such as trauma care or surgery tend to be the preferred solutions for acute health issues like trauma and surgery, chronic illness sufferers have expressed discontentment with what their current health care system offers in terms of options available to them.
Although evidence of energy therapies’ efficacy exists, they must only be utilized under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Nurses should be aware of potential harm that may result from incompetent practitioners practicing alternative medicine; to mitigate such dangers they can require that all alternative therapists complete appropriate medical education and possess full medical competency to ensure the public benefits as much as possible from their practices.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has quickly become a staple in many self-care regimens and wellness trends. Contrary to popular perception, hypnotherapy is not some unsettling pseudoscience practiced by eccentric doctors; rather it’s a natural state most of us experience daily such as falling asleep or daydreaming while driving. Studies have proven its efficacy for relieving pain, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as helping with weight loss, smoking cessation and overcoming phobias.
Nearly half of GP practices in England now offer complementary therapies, either at no additional fee or through the NHS. NHS Choices allows users to enter their postcode to see which therapies are available nearby.
Complementary therapies come in many different forms, and some have been subjected to rigorous scientific trials. Meditation has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety for some patients while other therapies such as acupuncture or massage have provided pain relief in others; however, their results remain inconclusive.
Before beginning any complementary therapies, it’s advisable to discuss them with your GP first. While most are generally safe, certain may cause serious side effects. Also important when searching for practitioners: make sure they are licensed or regulated by law or professional bodies – conduct thorough research into them and ask about qualifications/training before choosing your practitioner.
Many complementary therapies are founded on the belief that illness occurs when body systems become out-of-balance, and healing occurs when all aspects of an individual are addressed. This differs greatly from Cartesian philosophy that was prominent throughout Western medicine for centuries, which considered mind and body separate entities with little interaction between them; recent psychoneuroimmunology research, however, shows how interdependent they really are.
Massage
Massage refers to any practice that involves pressing, rubbing and manipulating skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments for therapeutic or relaxation purposes. Massage therapy may help relax and relieve stress; in hospital settings it’s often known as medical or therapeutic massage – administered by licensed professionals – used to treat certain medical conditions and alleviate muscle aches and pains as well as reduce anxiety levels or ease tension-based issues. Recent research indicates its benefits in relieving muscle aches and pains, anxiety and stress management as well as ease conditions exacerbated by muscle tension-based issues.
Many individuals with chronic health conditions have expressed discontent at being provided solely with Western biomedical therapies that only address physical symptoms, rather than looking beyond. Many feel healing should encompass spiritual, social and psychological dimensions as well; alternative complementary therapies provide one way of filling this void in healthcare delivery systems.
Nurses have long been at the forefront of research into various complementary therapies and have conducted significant studies pertaining to them. Nurses are an invaluable source for communicating to both their community and peers that a holistic, caring philosophy has long been part of nursing, while leading interdisciplinary complementary therapy research teams.
Before trying a complementary therapy, it’s essential that you consult with a traditional healthcare provider. They can give insight into its safety and efficacy; may recommend it, and help locate scientific information regarding its technique – and suggest where you can access this data.
An ideal place to begin is the NCCIH Clearinghouse website, which offers reliable information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including an easily searchable database of published studies. In addition, this resource can direct you towards practitioners specializing in your chosen therapy type.
When looking for alternative complementary therapies, make sure that any practice you visit is licensed by either state or national regulatory agencies. Also be wary if any practitioner tries to sell you expensive products or encourages you to book multiple sessions in advance or “bulk buy” their services; in such cases it is wise to avoid therapies linked with harmful side effects like fibromyalgia and osteoporosis as these may present additional health risks.
