chapter 9: alternative and complementary treatment modalities

Question 1

complementary and alternative medicine

Answer 1

• not all treatments for mental health issues are based on Western (conventional) practice
• many patients do not accept western medical practices and beliefs
• personal choice in treatment modalities is influenced by education, experience, economic status, belief system, and culture
• provide options to conventional medicine

Question 2

integrative medicine

Answer 2

• integrative medicine combines the best of all worlds
• integrative medicine combines both conventional and less traditional methods that have proven effective

Question 3

holistic medicine

Answer 3

• most common alternative alternative and complementary treatments recognize the mind body connection
• referred to as holistic medicine

Question 4

mind body connection

Answer 4

• the ways in which people’s minds and bodies connect stretch beyond the obvious physical world in which people live
• the brain is an organ directly connected to the body by tissue such as nerves and blood vessels
• the mind represents the cognitive, emotional, and logical responses that make people individual human beings

Question 5

mindfulness

Answer 5

an awareness of what is going on at the time and realizing the mind body connection

Question 6

beliefs

Answer 6

• important to the effectiveness of any type of treatment are the pts beliefs
• nurses and other health practitioners must respect the beliefs of each pt
• beliefs are based on the individual’s model of the world
• to a large extent, pt beliefs determine the success of any given tx
• nurses must remain open, nonjudgmental, and accepting of different areas
• for ex, a placebo can be as effective at relieving symptoms as the medication it replaces, based on client belief and expectations
• the nurse is still accountable and must follow their state guidelines inusing complementary and alternative treatments

Question 7

common complementary and alternative treatments

Answer 7

• biofeedback teaches the client to recognize symptoms of stress and respond with relaxation
• clients who believe they can influence their own health have the best success
• aromatherapy uses our emotional response to smell as well as the physical effects of fragrant botanicals
• many scented products are available to trigger positive feelings, such as lavender and rosemary for relaxation
• nutritional and herbal supplements are becoming more popular
• must be used with caution; relative “safety” of these products may be misunderstood

Question 8

traditional chinese medicine (TCM)

Answer 8

• the underlying principle of TCM is that balance is essential to maintain optimal health
• uses herbs as well as many therapies
• acupuncture is one popular TCM therapy; others include cupping, massage, and moxibustion, the application of heat on or near the body’s energy meridians and acupuncture points

Question 9

ayurveda

Answer 9

• based on the principle of healthy balance
• practitioners assess three energies: vata, pitta, and kapha which exist in different proportions in each person and regulate the body
• these energies are formed from earth, fire, water, air, and space
• when an imbalance in a person’s energies occurs, this manifests as illness

Question 10

common herbs

Answer 10

herbal
gingko biloba
saint john’s wort
kava

Question 11

another popular modality is massage

Answer 11

swedish
rolfing
shiatsu
reflexology

Question 12

reiki

Answer 12

focus is on unblocking energy paths to allow the life force to flow freely
- can be used with other techniques to enhance e effects

Question 13

hypnotherapy and neurolinguistic programming

Answer 13

modalities that focus on empowering change in a person’s thought patterns to address disease

Question 14

hypnotherapy

Answer 14

• trance is a state of focused attention
• normal to human awareness
• therapeutic hypnosis is very different from entertainment
• many misconceptions about hypnosis exist
• Milton Erickson, MD (1901-1980) recognized the therapeutic possibilities of modern hypnosis; was a master of observation
• had many disabilities: partial paralysis, dyslexia, tone deafness, color blindness, and heart problems

Question 15

neurolinguistic programming

Answer 15

• depends on clients playing an active role in their treatment
• centers on a set of rules or presuppositions
• enables the client to use their own resources for change