An Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1890504149 ISBN 13: 9781890504144

Publisher: Oncology Nursing Society, 1999

Synopsis

Practical reference guide to complementary and alternative therapies.

About this title

About the Author

Georgia M. Decker, MS, RN, CS-ANP, AOCN is Founder and Advanced Practice Nurse, Integrative Care, Albany, NY

From the Back Cover

With the number and variety of complementary and alternative therapies available today, consumers and healthcare professionals alike face a mind-boggling array of questions concerning their usage-and their safety. An Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies is a practical reference guide that offers concise descriptions of some of the most commonly used complementary and alternative therapies as well as lesser-known treatments. Featuring seven chapters written by nursing professionals, this book explores the potential uses of such therapies as mind-body interventions, pharmacologic and biologic therapies, herbal therapies, nutrition and lifestyle modifications, bodywork techniques, and traditional healing methods. The convenient, user-friendly format makes this book an essential tool that empowers both healthcare professionals in daily clinical practice and individuals considering the use of these therapies to make sound decisions on what may be beneficial and what may be potentially harmful.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Wheatgrass Diet. The wheatgrass diet is one of the oldest therapeutic diets, tracing its roots back to Hippocrates (Rosenfeld, 1996). Modern-day supporters of the diet believe that wheatgrass contains an enzyme that detoxifies the intestines. Ann Wigmore (who died in 1994) was fascinated by watching animals nibble on grass when they are ill and then appear to feel better. She theorized that the chlorophyll in wheatgrass has curative properties and believed that the wheatgrass must be juiced and consumed fresh to obtain its benefits. Wigmore and her followers believed that wheatgrass stimulates the immune system. The diet also includes nuts, seeds, raw vegetables, and sprouts and eliminates all animal products. The regimen incorporates regular use of enemas and high colonics to "detoxify" the body (Rosenfeld). Analysis of the dietary program highlights its lack of vitamins and other essential nutrients. It places patients at risk for a vitamin B12 deficiency, and the use of enemas may cause infection and perforation of the bowel (Weil, 1997).

[continued]

Auriculotherapy. Auriculotherapy is the process of stimulating points on the outer ear (auricle) to affect corresponding areas of the body. The ear is believed to mirror the shape of a fetus in the womb, with the earlobe representing the fetus' head. By superimposing the shape of the fetus onto the ear and stimulating the desired points, the corresponding parts of the body can be treated. Opinions differ as to the number of acupuncture points on the ear, ranging from 200 to more than 300. Auriculotherapy primarily is used for pain management in terminal illness and for the pain associated with labor and delivery (Bradford, 1997). It also has been used for treating substance abuse, allergies, and some respiratory disorders. The safety and efficacy is dependent upon the practice of a qualified practitioner. The use of disposable needles and the proper disposal of used needles is imperative.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oncology Nursing Society
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1890504149
• ISBN 13: 9781890504144
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 262
• Editor: Decker Georgia M.