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Online Companion: Fundamentals of Nursing Standards and Practice 2E
In Chapter 14, the intriguing topic of alternative/complementary modalities of treatment (CAM) is explored. The beliefs and ideas about health, illness, and healing in ancient and Eastern traditions are described. The authors discuss the renewed interest in these traditions in the last forty years during which the concept of holism, an acceptance of the connection of mind, body and spirit has gained recognition. The use of CAM focuses on healing as a process of becoming whole by activating the individual's inner forces. This concept is contrasted to Western medicine' focus on curing by using external agents such as drugs and surgery to rid the body of disease. Increasing numbers of consumers are using CAM to promote health, relieve pain, treat chronic illness and for spiritual growth. Nursing and holism are natural partners in that they both emphasize caring for the whole person in all expressions of self. In the nurse-client relationship, the nurse can assist the client as a guide, a change agent or instrument of healing. Nurses are in an excellent position to incorporate health promotion strategies using integrative therapy, an approach that combines Western allopathic perspectives with techniques from the Eastern tradition. Alternative/complementary modalities are categorized as mind-body, body-movement, energetic-touch, spiritual, nutritional, and other types. These interventions share a common belief that the whole person must be considered in healing and that the individual has a life force that can be used to heal. Relaxation is one of the self-regulatory techniques that is used in the mind-body type of intervention. Relaxation has been shown to reduce stress and pain. Individuals with phobias, fear and depression can benefit from using relaxation techniques. The nurse can teach relaxation techniques to clients in a variety of clinical situations. Therapeutic massage is a technique of energetic-touch therapy. Massage can be used with all age groups and is especially beneficial for the immobile client to promote relaxation, to relieve muscular pain and stiffness and to promote circulation. The techniques of basic massage include effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration that are used in a prescribed order at specific points on the body. Nutritional therapy is another category of CAM in which nutraceuticals and antioxidants are used for the beneficial effects in preventing cancer and heart disease. The use of herbal therapy for allergies, menstrual and menopausal symptoms and for digestive problems is a powerful and popular CAM. There are benefits and risks to the use of herbal remedies. The standardization of the products and the potential for interactions between herbal products and medications are concerns in this therapy. Chapter 15 provides information about other CAM categories and offers indications and checklists for their use. Some modalities require specialized training and certification by the practitioner who uses them in clinical situations.
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