Chapter 12

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

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Complementary and Alternative Therapies

 Increasing access to global perspectives has

resulted in greater exposure to healing
philosophies from many cultures, which has led
to many new ideas about health and healing to
consumers and health care providers.

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 Complementary and Alternative
Therapies (Cont.)
 Terms include: alternative, complementary,
integrative, nontraditional, unconventional,
holistic, natural, and unorthodox
 Currently, the most frequently used term is
complementary and alternative therapies (CAT).

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 Complementary and Alternative
Therapies (Cont.)
 According to Health Canada (2012), complementary
therapies are therapies that accompany traditional North
American health practices.
 Alternative therapies are used instead of traditional
health practices.
 Most therapies are developed outside the mainstream of
conventional biomedical approaches; they are generally
available without medical authorization.

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 Complementary and Alternative
Therapies (Cont.)
 Complementary and alternative therapies are
harmonious with many of the values of nursing.
 View individuals as holistic beings
 Emphasis on healing
 Recognition that the professional–client relationship is
a partnership
 Focus on health promotion and illness prevention

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 Complementary and Alternative
Therapies (Cont.)

 Canadian Holistic Nurses Association (CHNA0)

 Established to foster holistic nursing as a specialty
 Practice guidelines
 Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Research (INCAM)
 To foster excellence in complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) research

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 Complementary and Alternative
Therapies (Cont.)
 The National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has classified
CAT into specific groups
 Natural products
 Mind–body medicine
 Manipulative and body-based practices
 Other CAM practices

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 Alternative Medical Systems
 Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
 Ayurveda
 Indigenous health care
 Homeopathy
 Naturopathy

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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
 Interventions include
 Acupuncture, acupressure
 Chinese herbal medicine
 Moxibustion
 Supping
 Chinese massage
 Meditative physical exercise
 Nutrition counselling

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Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) (Cont.)

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Clinical Applications of Acupuncture
 Clinical studies have indicated that acupuncture
is effective in
 Reducing pain
 Fighting inflammation
 Accelerating wound healing
 Promoting nerve regeneration

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 Acupressure

 Acupressure is a natural, hands-on healing

therapy based on the same principles as
acupuncture.
 Acupressure works by accessing and releasing
blocked or congested energy in the body.
 Can be used for many conditions
 Postoperative nausea
 Chemotherapy-induced nausea
 Headaches

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 Mind–Body Medicines
 Behavioural, psychological, social, and spiritual
approaches to health
 “Mainstream”
 Psychotherapy
 Client education
 Biofeedback
 Imagery
 Hypnosis
 Support groups

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 Mind–Body Medicines (Cont.)
 Relaxation breathing
 Meditation
 Biofeedback
 Yoga
 Guided imagery
 Music therapy
 Hypnotherapy
 Art therapy

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 Mind–Body Medicines (Cont.)
 Music therapy
 Herbal therapy
 Nutraceuticals
 Nutritional therapy
 Aromatherapy
 Probiotic therapy

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 Natural Products
 Herbal therapy
 More than 73% of Canadians now consume
natural health products in the form of traditional
herbal products, vitamins and mineral
supplements, and homeopathic preparations.
 Health Canada (2011) advises Canadians to use
only herbal products that have been approved
for sale under the Natural Health Products
regulations.

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 Commonly Used Herbs
 Aloe
 Black cohosh
 Echinacea
 Evening primrose
 Feverfew
 Garlic
 Ginger
 Ginkgo biloba

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 Commonly Used Herbs (cont.)
 Ginseng
 Hawthorn
 Kava
 Milk thistle
 St. John’s wort
 Zinc

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Commonly Used Dietary Supplements
 Chondroitin sulphate
 Coenzyme Q10
 Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids
 Glucosamine
 Melatonin
 Probiotics (live bacteria or yeast)

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Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
 Chiropractic therapy
 Pressure-point therapies
 Massage
 Hand-mediated biofield therapies

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Manipulative and Body-Based
Practices (Cont.)

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 Hand-Mediated Biofield Energies
 Therapeutic touch
 Method of detecting, balancing, and repatterning the
human energy field
 Healing touch
 Employs the gentle placement of the nurse’s hands
on or near the client’s clothed body

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Other Complementary and Alternative
Medicine Practices
 Spiritual therapies
 Prayer
• One of the mind–body interventions used most commonly by
all cultures
• Prayer includes meditative prayer, ritualistic prayer, colloquial
prayer, and intercessory (or petitionary) prayer

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 Age-Related Considerations
 Safety concerns
 Age-related changes
 Polypharmacy
 Herb–drug interactions
 Vulnerable population

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 Nursing Management
 Assessment
 Serving as a resource and promoting safety
 Providing holistic self-care and holistic nursing
practice
 Conducting research

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 Assessment Questions

 What are you doing to maintain or improve your

health and wellness?
 How involved are you in planning and carrying
out your health-related care?

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 Assessment Questions (Cont.)

 What is your view of the ideal relationship

between you and your health care provider?
 Do you have any conditions that have not
responded to conventional medicine? If so, have
you tried any other approaches?

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 Assessment Questions (Cont.)

 Are you using any vitamin, mineral, dietary,

herbal supplement, or energy-based therapies?
 Are you interested in obtaining information about
alternative or complementary approaches?

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 Providing Holistic Self-Care and
Holistic Nursing Practice

 Accepts clients as they are

 Care is based on holism (mind–body–spirit).
 Nurse serves as a facilitator.

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 Providing Holistic Self-Care and
Holistic Nursing Practice (Cont.)
 Incorporates self-care and self-responsibility
 Practice is guided by holistic education and
research.

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 Serving as a Provider
 Nurses have been very involved in providing
complementary therapies.
 The nurse must
 Have specific training in the use of the therapy
 Be aware of the evidence base that addresses the
conditions for which the therapy is indicated and the
effectiveness of the therapy
 Know the potential for adverse outcomes or
synergistic effects

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