Alternative medicine may be described as any treatment that is supposed to aid in the positive progression of ones heath but is not the standard of treatment/ medicine that the general population, within ones society, would typically use. In contrast, complementary medicine will implement the use of alternative medicine along with the use of typical or regular medicines and medical treatments (Lippincott Advisor for Education, 2022).
Examples of alternative medicine may consist of but are not limited to; acupuncture, herbal remedies and dietary supplements, homeopathy, massage therapy, mind-body techniques, special diets, and reiki and other energy therapies.
In Acupuncture, a client will have thin sterile needles inserted into their skin. The procedure should have minimal to no pain at all. The belief is that the needles will stimulate the central nervous system and thereby, stimulate the bodys natural healing abilities.
Herbal remedies may include substances and/or liquids that are naturally found in plants. It should be noted however, that just because these remedies may stem from natural sources, they can have major adverse effects when mixed with other herbal remedies or more mainstreams medications. Patients should always be assessed for any and all medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies that they are taking, especially before the prescription of a new medication/ treatment therapy. Some examples of herbal remedies would be, St. Johns worth, Kava, and Ginger and gingko. Dietary supplements will consist of things such as vitamins, minerals, and other substances that are advertised as improving certain body functions or may lower the risk of certain diseases.
Homeopathy is an interesting and uncommon approach to curing certain illnesses that implements the use of small amounts of substances that in larger amounts, would be extremely toxic. Such substances may include but are not limited to arsenic and mercury. The belief is that the same substance that caused the illness may very well be the cure to the illness. The concoction would always be diluted with water and shaken upon administration.
Mind body techniques includes practices such as hypnosis, meditation and guided imagery. It has been proven in numerous scientific and medical literature that these practices calm and have the ability to alleviate pain associated with many illnesses.
Massage therapy consists of practices such as massage rubs, kneading motions and applying pressure to the patients body in order to calm, relax, and alleviate pain.
Reiki and other energy therapies focus in the flow of energy. These alternative forms of therapy focus on directing energy towards the person who is in need of treatment.
Special diets may be implemented for those who are struggling with certain diseases/ illnesses such as cancer. These diets may contain no meat or require patients to incorporate specific supplements into their diets (Lippincott Advisor for Education, 2022)..
I think that alternative and complementary supplements have a place in medicine but I do not believe that patients should rely too heavily on such treatments. They have their benefits but I would encourage patients to weight all of their treatments choices carefully. However, I would be happy to find a common ground and be flexible in the care that I give to patients because at the end of the day, nurses are there to help out patients gain and maintain a strong sense of independence while still being an efficient advocate in their plan of care.
References:
Advisor for Education, L. (2022). External User Login – Lippincott Advisor for Education. Lww.com. https://advisor-edu.lww.com/lna/document.do?bid=19&did=1105944&searchTerm=alternative%20medicine&hits=medicines,medicine,alternative,alternatives,alternatively
to Katherine
Place this order or similar order and get an amazing discount. USE Discount code “GET20” for 20% discount