COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE HEALING MODALITIES Flashcards
o An approach to health that focuses on the use of
science in the diagnosis and treatment of health
problems.
o Conventional medicine
o Biomedicine
o Allopathic medicine
Western medicine
Greater emphasis on prevention, natural healing
* Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
o As many as 1,800 other therapies practiced all
over the world over thousands of years
o Based on ancient medical systems
o Evolution in the U.S.
▪ Bioelectromagnetic therapy
▪ Chiropractic therapy
o On frontier
▪ Some mind–body approaches
Eastern medicine
o CAM in place of conventional medicine
- Complementary
o CAM together with conventional medicine
- Alternative
Assumption that one’s own culture or ethnic
group is superior to others
Ethnocentrism
Has prevented Western health practitioners from
learning new ways to promote health and prevent
illnesses
Ethnocentrism
o Indian system of medicine
Ayurveda
is a Sanskrit word that means “science
of life” or “sciences of life span.
Ayurveda
emphasizes the interdependence of the health of
the individual and the quality of societal life.
Ayurveda
State of imbalance among body systems
Ayurveda
o Imbalance or interruption in the flow of qi
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Spirituality and medicine are inseparable.
o Values each individual’s uniqueness
o Healers use medicine objects and ceremonial
treatments.
▪ Sweat lodge, music, dancing,
drumming, and chanting
▪ Herbs
o Harmony between mind and body
- Native American Healing
Therapeutic use of essential oils
o Extracted from plants
o Massaged into skin, inhaled, placed in baths,
used as compresses, or mixed into ointments
o To calm, stimulate, improve sleep, change eating
habits, or boost immune system
o Do not ingest
▪ Can be fatal
Aromatherapy
o Cultural healing found in Latin America and
Latinos in United States
o Traditional healing system with Western
biomedical beliefs, treatments, and practices
o Curanderos (men); curanderas (women)
o Herbalists, midwives, counselors, spine and joint
workers, massage therapists
o Religious rituals, cleansing rites, prayers
Curanderismo
Self-healing system
o Law of similars
▪ claims that a natural substance that
produces a given symptom in a healthy
person cures it in a sick person. If taken
in large amounts, these natural
compounds will produce symptoms of
disease.
o Remedies stimulate self-healing capacity
Homeopathy
o System of medicine and a way of life
o Emphasis on responsibility, health maintenance,
and disease prevention
o Do not provide emergency care or major surgery
o Rarely prescribe drugs
o Treat clients in private practice and outpatient
clinics
Naturopathy
Scientific manipulation of soft tissue of the body
o Aids ability of the body to heal itself
o Aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-
being
Massage
o focuses on the relationship between the body’s
structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning.
o Third largest independent health profession in
Western world
o Practitioners believe health is state of balance,
especially of nervous and musculoskeletal
systems.
o Used to reduce or eliminate pain
o Correct spinal dysfunction
Chiropractic
A form of acupressure most commonly
performed on the feet but the hands or
ears may also be manipulated.
o Reflexology
o Apply pressure or stimulation to specific points on
body
o Treatments rooted in traditional philosophy about
qi, or life energy
o Blocked or congested energy causes pain,
frustration, irritability
Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Reflexology
o Ethical models for behavior and mental and
physical exercises
o Producing spiritual enlightenment
yoga
o Includes Therapeutic Touch (TT), healing touch,
and Reiki
o Use of hands on or near with intention to heal
o Goal of care
▪ Accelerate person’s own healing
process
o Facilitate healing of body, mind, emotions, spirit
Hand-Mediated Biofield Therapies
o Relaxing the body
o Easing the mind
o Application of hypnosis in wide variety of medical
and psychological disorders
o Not surrender of control
o Advanced form of relaxation
hypnotheraphy
refers to two-way communication
between conscious and unconscious mind and
involves whole body and senses.
Imagery
is a state of focused attention
that encourages changes in attitude, behavior,
and physiological reactions
Guided Imagery
o Learn to control certain physiological responses
of the body
o Electronic equipment for visible and audible
responses
Biofeedback
is a Chinese
discipline consisting of breathing and mental
exercises combined with body movements.
Qi gong
arose out of qi
gong and is a discipline that combines physical
fitness, meditation, and self-defense.
T’ai chi
method of physical movement and exercise
designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the
body, in particular the core or center including the
abdominal region.
o Stretching
o Strength
o Balance
- Pilates
