SEMINAR ON

COMPLEMENTARY AND

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Presented by

Premnath R

I year MScNursing

CNK

Definition:

Complementary and alternative

therapies (CAT) are interventions for

improving, maintaining and promoting

health and wellbeing, preventing disease or

treating illness that are not a part of the

standard North American System Of Health

Care or Disease Prevention.

Complementary and alternative

medicine is a group of diverse medical and

health care systems, practices, and products

that are not generally considered part of

conventional medicine.

Alternative therapies are therapies

used in place of traditional allopathic

therapies.

Complementary therapies are

therapies used in conjunction with

traditional allopathic therapies.

CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGIES

1. Balance

2. Energy

3. Healing

4. Holism

5. Humanism

6. Spirituality

Balance :

• A situation in which different things exist in

equal, correct or good amount.

• The concept of balance consists of mental

physical emotional and environmental

components.

• Physical aspect includes optimal functioning of

all body systems.

• Emotional aspect include the ability to feel and

express the entire range of human emotions .

Balance• Mental aspect include feeling of self-worth, a

positive identity, a sense of self accomplishmentand the ability to appreciate and create.

• Spiritual aspects involve moral values, ameaningful purpose in life and a feeling ofconnectedness to others and a divine source.

• Environmental aspects include physical biologiceconomic social and political conditions.

• Being in balance is a learned skill and one thatmust be practiced regularly to engage in theprocess of healthful living.

Energy :

The ability to put effort and enthusiasm

into an activity, work etc. Energy is viewed as

the force that integrates the body mind and

spirit; it is that connects everything.

Healing

The process of returning to normal

function after a period of disease or

injury.

Holism

• The idea that the whole of the sick person, including their body, mind and the way of life, should be considered when treating them, and not just the symptom of the disease.

• Combined mental emotional spiritual relationship and environmental components are referred to as holism, are considered to play crucial and equal roles in a person’s state of health.

• Interventions are individualised within the entire context of the person’s life.

Humanism

A system of thought that considers the

solving of human problems with the help of

religious beliefs. It emphasizes the fact that the

basic nature of humans is good.

• The humanist perspective includes the

propositions:

• Mind and body are indivisible

• People have the power to solve their own

problems

• People are responsible the patters of their own

lives.

• Wellbeing is a combination of personal

Spirituality

• Spirit is the liveliness, richness, and beauty of

one’s life.

• Spirituality includes the drive to become all

that one can be and is bound to intuition,

creativity, and motivation it is the dimensions

that involves relationship with oneself, with

others, and with a higher power.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

• The body has the ability to heal itself.

• Health and healing are related to harmony of

mind, body and spirit

• Basic good health practices build the

foundation for healing.

• Healing practices are individualized.

• People are responsible for their own healing.

ETHICAL ISSUES

• Issues of safety and effectiveness, as well as the expertise and qualifications of the practitioner.

• Communication between the CAM therapist and the traditional health care providers.

• Symptoms relieved by CAM therapies may mask signs of serious illness causing delays in conventional treatments.

• Potential for drug interaction and possible side effects.

• Lack of regulation of herbal products for purity and potency.

NCCAM's classification for

alternative and complementary

medicine• Alternative

medical system

• Mind body interventions

• Biologically based therapies

• Manipulative andbody basedmethods

• Energy therapies

ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL SYSTEMS

• Ayurveda

• Siddha

• Homeopathy

• Unani

• Naturopathic

medicine

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a

system of traditional medicine native to

the Indian subcontinent and a form

of alternative medicine.

The oldest known ayurvedic texts are

the Suśruta Saṃhitā and the Charaka Saṃhitā.

These Classical Sanskrit encyclopedias of

medicine are among the foundational and

formally compiled works of ayurveda.

"THE SCIENCE OF EIGHT COMPONENTS” IN AYURVEDA.

• Kaya-chikitsa: "cure of diseases affecting the body"(general medicine)

• Kaumara-bhṛtya "treatment of children"(paediatrics)

• Shalya-chikitsa Surgery, "removal of any substancewhich has entered the body (as extraction of darts,of splinters, etc.)"

• Salakya-tantra "cure of diseases of the eye or earetc. by sharp instruments" (ophthalmology/ENT]

• Bhuta-vidya "treatment of mental diseases supposedto be produced by demoniacal influence"(demonology / exorcism/psychiatry)

• Agada-tantra "doctrine of antidotes" (toxicology)

• Rasayana-tantra "doctrine of elixirs

• Ayurveda empowers the individual to takecontrol of their own health and wellbeing.

• For example terminalia arjuna is useful inalleviating pain of angina pectoris and treatingheart failure and coronary artery diseases,hypercholesterolemia.

• Black pepper and long pepper are combinedwith ginger to form the traditional trikadumixture in Ayurveda. This mixture increasesappetite, promotes the secretion of digestivejuices, and cures certain gastric disordersparticularly achlorhydria, andhypochlorhydria.

SIDDHA MEDICINE

It is assumed that when the normal equilibrium of

three humors (vata, pitha, and kapha) is disturbed,

disease is caused.

• The factors, which assumed to affect this equilibrium

are environment, climatic conditions, diet, physical

activities, and stress.

• According to siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle

play a major role not only n health but also in curing

diseases.

• Treatment is classified into three

categories:

1. devamaruthuvum (Divine method)

2. manuda maruthuvum (rational method)

3. asura maruthuvum (surgical method).

• In Divine method, medicines

like parpam, chendooram, guru, kuligai made

of mercury, sulfur and pashanams are used.

• In the rational method, medicines made of

herbs like churanam, kudineer, or vadagam are

used.

• In surgical method, incision, excision, heat

application, blood letting, or leech application

are used.

According to therapies the treatments of siddha

medicines could be further categorized into

• purgative therapy

• emetic therapy

• fasting therapy

• steam therapy

• oleation therapy

• physical therapy

• solar therapy

• blood-letting therapy

• yoga therapy etc.

HOMEOPATHY

• According to

homeopathy, a

substance that causes

the symptoms of a

disease in healthy

people will cure

similar symptoms in

sick people.

• Underlying causes of disease were phenomena

that he termed miasms

• The remedies are prepared by repeatedly

diluting a chosen substance in alcohol or

distilled water, followed by forceful striking on

an elastic body, called succussion.

• Homeopaths select remedies by consulting

reference books known as repertories.

UNANI- TIBB MEDICINE

This system observes the influence ofsurroundings and ecological conditions such asair, food, drinks, body movement and repose,psychic movement and repose, sleep andwakefulness and excretion and retention onthe state of health.

• Unani believes that it is this dominance whichgives a man his individual habit andcomplexion.

• Unani practitioners not only cure bodilydiseases but also act as an ethical instructor.

Treatment in unani medicine are,

• Regimental therapy – It includes venesection, cupping,

diaphoresis, dieresis, Turkish bath, massage,

cauterization, purging, emesis, exercise and leeching.

• Dietotherapy – It deals with certain aiments by

administration of specific diets or by regulating the

quantity and quality of food.

• Pharmacotherapy – It deals with the use of naturally

occurring drugs mostly herbal drugs of animal and

mineral origin.

NATUROPATHY

It is a system of therapy based on

preventive care, and on the use of heat,

water, light, air, and massage as primary

therapies for disease.

Therapies considered to be of primary

importance in the naturopathy are,

• Nutrition and dietetic

• Fasting

• Structural adjustment

• Hydrotherapy

• Healthy lifestyle

• education

MIND BODY THERAPIES

Mind-body techniques are based on the

theory that mental and emotional factors can

influence physical health. Behavioral,

psychologic, social, and spiritual methods are

used to preserve health and prevent or cure

disease.

MIND BODY THERAPIES

• Meditation

• Hypnotherapy (hypnosis)

• Biofeedback

• Relaxation techniques

• Guided imagery

Meditation

• In meditation, people regulate their attention or

systematically focus on particular aspects of

inner or outer experience.

• Meditation usually involves sitting or resting

quietly, often with the eyes closed. Sometimes

it involves the repetitive sounding of a phrase

(a mantra) meant to help the person focus.

Guidelines for meditation

– Create a special time and place for meditation.

– Sit either cross –legged on the floor or upright in a straight

backed chair, keeping the spine straight and body relaxed.

– Support the palms on the thighs and close the eyes.

– Follow deep breathing or progressive relaxation exercise

– Focus attention completely on either breathing or a chosen

mental image. If using a mantra, repeat the word or phrase

either aloud or silently while exhaling.

– Practice this procedure daily for 10-20 minute periods.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques are practices

specifically designed to relieve tension and strain.

The specific technique may be aimed at reducing

activity of the nerves that control the stress

response (sympathetic nervous system), lowering

blood pressure, easing muscle tension, slowing

metabolic processes, or altering brain wave

activity.

GUIDED IMAGERY

GUIDED IMAGERY

Guided imagery involves the use of

mental images to promote relaxation and

wellness, reduce pain, or facilitate healing

of a particular ailment, such as cancer or

psychological trauma.

HYPNOTHERAPY

HYPNOTHERAPY

In hypnotherapy (hypnosis), people are

guided into an advanced state of relaxation

and heightened attention. Hypnotized

people become absorbed in the images

suggested by the hypnotherapist and are

able to suspend disbelief.

BIOFEEDBACK

BIOFEEDBACK

Biofeedback is a method of bringing

unconscious biologic processes under conscious

control. Biofeedback involves the use of

electronic devices to measure and report back to

the conscious mind information such as heart

rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and brain

surface electrical activity.

PILATES

It is a method of physical movement and

exercise designed to stretch, strengthen,

and balance the body, in particular the core

centre including the abdominal region. It is

based on the principle of yoga and

meditation.

BIOLOGICALLY BASED TREATMENTS

• Herbal Medicine

• Nutritional Therapy

MANIPULATIVE THERAPIES

• Yoga

• Chiropractice

• Tai chi & Qi-gong

YOGA THERAPY

Yoga is one of the most helpful and healthy

forms of experience to manage the influence of

thinking by turning psychological and physical

force into spiritual energy. Its daily practice is

often seen as a way of gaining control over

your health.

CHIROPRACTICE

In chiropractice, the relationship

between the structure of the spine and

function of the nervous system is thought

to be the key in maintaining or restoring

health. The main method for achieving

balance is spinal manipulation.

TAI CHI & QIGONG

TAI CHI & QIGONG

It has recently been considered as an

alternative method for lowering the blood

pressure levels.

• This discovery has big implications for patients

who are suffering from chronic hypertension.

• Knowing this makes it possible for such people to

avoid negative effects of continuous intake of

prescribed anti-hypertension drugs.

ENERGY THERAPIES

• Massage therapy

• Acupuncture

• Reflexology

• Hand mediated bio field therapies

Massage therapy

Body tissues are manipulated to promote

wellness and reduce pain and stress. The

therapeutic value of massage for many

musculoskeletal symptoms and stress is

widely accepted.

ACUPUNCTURE

Specific points on the body are

stimulated, usually by inserting thin

needles into the skin and underlying

tissues. Sometimes additional

stimulation is added by using a very low

voltage electrical current, by twisting

the needle, or by warming the needle.

REFLEXOLOGY

A variant of massage therapy, relies on

manual pressure applied to specific areas of

the foot; these areas are believed to

correspond to different organs or body

systems via meridians.

HAND MEDIATED BIO-FIELD THERAPIES

Therapeutic touch (TT) is a mostly

secular variant of faith healing, started by Dolores

Krieger in the early 1970s.

The TT practitioner moves his hands

over the patient’s body, specifically the affected

area, without actually touching the patient. TT

adherents claim that this directs the flow of chi so

that the patient can heal.

OTHER THERAPIES

• Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Curanderismo

• Aroma Therapy

• Spiritual Therapy

• Faith and prayer

• Music therapy

• Humour and laughter

• Bio electromagnetic therapy

• Photoenergy therapy

OTHER THERAPIES

• Detoxification therapy

• Astrology

• Alexander Technique

• Autogenic_Training

• Auto-Urine Therapy

• Holotropic Breath work

• Bach Flower Remedies

• Cellular Therapy

OTHER THERAPIES

• Chromotherapy (Colour

Therapy)

• Colon Therapy

• Chelation Therapy

• Cupping

• Craniosacral Therapy

• Dance/Movement

Therapies

• Dentistry,

• Holistic

• Ear Candling

• Electropathy

• Fasting Therapy

• Feng Shui

• Flower Essences

OTHER THERAPIES

GemTherapy

Heliotherapy

Holistic Medicine

Hydrotherapy

Iridology

Kinesiology

Lymph Drainage Therapy

Midwifery/Childbirth Support

OTHER THERAPIES

• Natural Products

• Ohashiatsu

• Oriental Diagnosis

• Osteopathic Medicine

• Physiotherapy

• Radionics

• Reconstructive Therapy/Prolotherapy

• Reiki

• Rolfing

• Shiatsu

• Sound Therapy

OTHER THERAPIES

• Vision Therapies

• Wellness Restoration

• Feldenkrais Method

• Flower Essences

• Tibetan Medicine

• Animal Assisted Therapy

• Horticultural therapy

NURSING MANAGEMENT• Nurse must be aware of & sensitive to patients interpretation

about health , illness, promotion & prevention aspects.

• Unique health practices &beliefs must be identified &

respected.

• Nurses needs to knowledgeable about cultural beliefs &

alternative practices.

• Deliver effective individualized holistic care.

• Nurses need to be knowledgeably about CATs & their

complication ,contraindications ,potential benefit & adverse

effects

Use of special prayers, special foods are integrated into

the plan of care whenever possible.

Success may be small(cultural food ,relaxation exercise)

but their cumulative effect can be powerful.

Suggest to the patients to keep a daily log of therapy used

and document symptom improvement & side effects.

Help patients explore CAT therapies that are suitable for

them.

It is important for patients to know how to access &

evaluate safe & competent practitioners.

THANK YOU