Posted: July 7th, 2023

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

The profession of nursing has advanced beyond the Western biomedical model to incorporate many healing tools used by our Asian, Latino, Native American, African, and European ancestors. We are rapidly rediscovering that these ancient principles and practices have significant therapeutic value. Some see this movement as a “return to our roots.” Others believe it is a response to runaway health care costs, growing dissatisfaction with high-tech medicine, and increasing concern over the adverse effects and misuse of med- ications. The growth of consumer empowerment also fuels this movement.

As nurses, how do you begin to assimilate thousands of years of healing knowledge? How do you begin this journey of integrating practices into your own lives? In your professional practice, how do you model healthful living? How do you help clients choose their own healing journeys? How do you break down the barriers between conventional and complementary and alter- native medicine (CAM)? Learning about CAM practices, like anything else, is a slow process involving a steady accumulation of bits of information and skills that eventually form a coherent pattern called knowledge. Although it is possible to learn a great deal about healing practices from reading, thinking, and asking questions, you must in the long run learn about healing through participation. Without hands-on experience, you can be a good student, but you can never be a great nursing practitioner of the healing arts. I trust this book will be one step in a lifelong exploration of and experiences with healing practices.

Consumers do not wish to abandon conventional medicine, but they do want to have a range of options available to them including herbs and nutri- tional supplements, manual healing methods, mind–body techniques, and spiritual approaches. Some CAM practices, such as exercise, proper nutrition, meditation, and massage, promote health and prevent disease. Others, such as herbs and homeopathic remedies, address specific illnesses. Many other CAM practices do both. The rise of chronic disease rates in Western society is increasingly motivating consumers to consider self-care approaches. As recently as the 1950s, only 30% of all disease was chronic, and curable—largely infectious—diseases dominated, for which medical interventions were both appropriate and effective. Now, 80% of all disease is chronic. Western medi- cine, with its focus on acute disorders, trauma, and surgery, is considered to be the best high-tech medical care in the world. Unfortunately, it is not responding adequately to the current epidemic of chronic illnesses.

Ethnocentrism, the assumption that one’s own cultural or ethnic group is superior to others, has often prevented Western health care practitioners from learning “new” ways to promote health and prevent chronic illness. With consumer demand for a broader range of options, we must open our minds to the idea that other cultures and countries have valid ways of preventing and curing diseases that could be good for Western societies. COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR NURSING PRACTICE

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x Preface

Although the information may be new to us, many of these traditions are hun- dreds or even thousands of years old and have long been part of the medical mainstream in other cultures.

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ADDITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
ADDITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

ADDITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Nursing has progressed beyond the Western biomedical model to include numerous healing modalities employed by our Asian, Latino, Native American, African, and European forefathers. We are rapidly rediscovering the therapeutic efficacy of these old beliefs and practices. This movement is seen by some as a “return to our roots.” Others feel it is a reaction to rising health-care expenses, growing disillusionment with high-tech medicine, and increased concern about bad consequences and medication misuse. This movement is also being fueled by the rise of consumer empowerment.

How do nurses begin to absorb thousands of years of therapeutic knowledge? How can you get started on the path of incorporating practices into your life?

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