Complementary, Integrative, and Alternative Therapies

Complementary health approaches, or CHAs, are non-medical therapies that can be used alone or together with traditional medical care.

When CHAs and traditional medical care are combined, it’s called integrative medicine. Most CHAs can be categorized as either mind and body therapies or natural products.

Okay, so, mind and body therapies are practices where patients use their mind to impact body functions, with the goal of lessening undesirable physical and emotional symptoms, like pain or anxiety.

Meditation is a type of therapy where patients decrease their attention on extraneous stimuli and focus on a sensation, like their breathing, or repeating a word, sound, or positive phrase.

The goal is to bring about a restful state, promote a mind-body connection, and improve emotional and physical wellness.

Next, guided imagery involves assisting patients to create a positive image in their mind, like thinking of a peaceful scenario such as sitting on the beach or walking in a forest.

With biofeedback, patients receive specialized training to enhance awareness of their mind-body connection while learning to control certain physiological functions that typically occur involuntarily like pain, anxiety, and headaches.

For instance, a patient’s respiratory rate and depth is monitored by placing electrodes on the skin to observe their physical responses.

With practice, patients can use physical and mental techniques to bring about the desired physical changes Now, acupuncture, which is a component Chinese medicine, uses fine needles inserted into certain parts of the body to balance the flow of energy to help with problems like pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression.

There’s also chiropractic therapy, where a patient’s spine is manipulated to bring it into proper alignment and relieve pain.

It is often used in conjunction with other therapies like application of ice or heat, as well as massage, which involves soft tissue manipulation, including kneading and vibration, to promote comfort and reduce tension.

In addition, your patient may practice yoga, which combines controlled breathing, holding postures, and mental focus to promote overall physical and mental health.

There are also creative outlets like music therapy, such as listening to or playing music, or art therapy, like painting and drawing, which can help patients express their feelings or distract from uncomfortable symptoms.

Lastly, dance therapy is a practice that promotes the use of conscious and unconscious body movement to connect the mind and body to support physical and psychosocial health.

Natural products include foods, herbs, and other natural products that are used to promote health and wellness. First, herbal medicines are plant-based products used to treat certain illnesses and maintain health.

Some common herbal medicines include kava to promote sleep; ginger, to treat nausea and vomiting; and St. John’s wort to treat depression.

Next, dietary supplements are products used to complement nutritional intake of essential vitamins and minerals. For example, a calcium supplement can be used by patients at risk for developing osteoporosis and is often taken along with vitamin D3 to aid calcium absorption.

There’s also aromatherapy where plant-oils are inhaled or applied to the skin. Commonly used oils are lavender to promote rest and relaxation or peppermint to relieve ailments like a headache or cough.

Now, as you collaborate with the registered nurse as you care for your patients, begin by gathering information about your patient’s use of CHAs.

For patients who are planning to use a mind-body therapy, herbal remedy, or dietary supplement be sure to encourage them to speak with their health care provider prior to starting therapy.

You should also reinforce education regarding these therapies so they can make informed health care decisions about their use.

Remind them that some natural products can interact with their prescribed medications and cause serious side effects, including ginkgo biloba, which can increase the risk of bleeding in patients who are also taking anticoagulants; and St.

John’s wort, which can reduce the effectiveness of digoxin. Likewise, remind your patients about potential issues associated with some types of therapies.

For instance, patients with certain skin conditions should be cautious when using acupuncture because it can introduce bacteria into the skin; and some patients are at increased risk for headaches, fatigue, or pain as a result of spinal manipulation with chiropractic therapy.

Finally, you can support your patient’s use of mind and body therapies, as appropriate, while providing care. Alright, as a quick recap .

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Complementary health approaches, or CHAs, are non-medical therapies that can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional medical care and include mind and body interventions and natural products.

As the nurse, you will promote the safe use of CHAs by gathering information and reinforcing education. interventions and natural products As the nurse you will promote the safe use of CH by gathering information