Integrative and alternative therapies: Nursing

Nurse Ken works in an outpatient oncology office and is caring for a client named Naveen who recently underwent a partial colectomy to treat stage 3 colon cancer. Naveen tells Nurse Ken, “I’ve been taking my prescribed medications, but I’ve been using my own remedies too.” Nurse Ken responds, “Naveen, I want to gather some more information to ensure I understand the treatments you’re using.”

Naveen goes on to explain that he’s been taking his antibiotics as prescribed; however, he’s using acupuncture and meditation to address his pain instead of taking his prescribed pain medication. He also mentions that he’s now taking a probiotic every day and he’s developed a special diet with his nutritionist which limits his intake of gluten and dairy.

Nurse Ken says, “I’m glad to hear you’re taking such a proactive approach to your health. Let’s work together to safely incorporate these into your plan of care.” Nurse Ken will use what he knows about integrative and alternative therapies to provide support and empower Naveen in making health care decisions.

Okay, so allopathic therapy, also called biomedicine, is what we know as conventional Western medicine, such as the use of medications, chemotherapy, and surgical procedures like Naveen’s partial colectomy procedure and prescribed antibiotics.

Then there’s integrative therapy, also known as complementary therapy, which is when an allopathic treatment is combined with a non-conventional treatment, such as massage therapy, chiropractic medicine, or biofeedback. Naveen is using integrative therapy by taking his antibiotics while also using a probiotic supplement to complement his conventional treatment.

Next is alternative therapy, which is where non-conventional therapies completely replace a conventional allopathic treatment. For example, Naveen is using acupuncture and meditation instead of his pain medication so this is considered alternative therapy. Now that we know more about integrative and alternative therapies, it’s time to see why they’re used.

Although allopathic medicine is effective in treating diseases, it’s not always effective in treating the distressing symptoms that occur as a result of the disease or its treatments. Because of this, clients can seek out integrative and alternative treatments to reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life. Integrative and alternative therapies can be used for the therapeutic benefits of improving sleep and mood, as well as decreasing pain, anxiety, and nausea. For example, Kava is used by clients for its anxiolytic properties, and magnet therapy to help alleviate pain in clients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Now, the foundations of nursing practice are rooted in integrative care, meaning that nurses treat clients as a whole rather than simply focusing on their disease. Integrative nursing is a term used to describe the process of providing holistic person-centered care geared towards improving the health and well-being of clients and their families. Most nurses use integrative interventions that are in the nursing scope of practice already, such as therapeutic touch, guided breathing, and music therapy.

Now, there are several responsibilities nurses have in regard to integrative health care, including assessment, education, and evaluation. First, nurses can assess the use of and the need for integrative and alternative therapies for each client individually. For example, clients may not view certain herbal supplements as medications, but they may interact with prescribed medications. A common example is ginkgo biloba, a herbal supplement sometimes used for dementia, that can increase the risk of bleeding in clients who are also taking anticoagulants. Nurses can also recommend certain therapies for clients, such as massage for a client experiencing chronic back pain.