COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

The word "complementary" means "in addition to". Complementary medicine is treatment
and medicine that you use in addition to your doctor's standard care.
Complementary medicine and alternative medicine (CAM) includes various healing
approaches and therapies that originate from around the world and that are not based on
conventional Western medicine. These therapies are called alternative medicine when they are
used alone and complementary medicine when they are used with conventional medicine.
Although the distinction between conventional and alternative medicine is not always easy to
determine, a basic philosophic difference exists. Alternative medicine often defines health as a
balance of body systems physical, emotional, and spiritual involving the whole patient that is the
approach of holistic. Conventional medicine generally defines health is the absence of disease,
disease is usually thought to result from isolated factors and treatment often involves drugs and
surgery. Patients are most likely to seek alternative medicine for conditions such as chronic low
back pain, stress, migraine headache, menopausal symptoms, cancer, and arthritis. Some patient
seeks alternative medicine when conventional medicine offers little hope, especially at the end of
the life.

DEFINITION
Complementary medicine and alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care
system, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.

USE OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Complementary therapies are widely used in Australia. A survey conducted by NPS medicine
wise in 2008 revealed that 65 percent of Australians had used one or more complementary
medicines in the previous 12 months.
Complementary therapies are often based on traditional knowledge, which is why there is
something less scientific evidence available about their safety and effectiveness.
However, the increasing use of complementary therapies has begun to trigger scientific research
and some complementary therapies now have some scientific evidence about their safety and

effectiveness, as well as a history of traditional use. Sometimes, they are less invasive and more
cost-effective than conventional medical treatment. Nonetheless, its still important to ask both
potential benefits and potential harms of any therapy. Natural and complementary medicines can
be bought without prescription; however, they may still have side effects or interact with other
drugs, or they may not be the most effective treatment for you. Its important to considered
seeking advice from a qualified professional before using a complementary medicine, and to let
your health professionals know about all medicines herbal and conventional- that you are
taking.

PHILOSOPHIES OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Complementary therapies tend to share a few core beliefs, including:

Illness occurs if the body is out of balance

The body can heal itself and maintain a healthy state if given the right conditions.
The whole person should be treated, not just the disease or the symptoms.
The gentlest therapies must be tried first before harsher ones.
There is no quick fix, since healing and balance take time.
Natural products are preferable to synthetic ones.

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS REGARDING COMPLEMENTARY

MEDICINE:

Cleveland Clinic recommends that you consult a doctor before starting any
nonconventional form of treatment.
Do not stop taking any prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor.
Tell your complementary practitioner about any prescribed medication you are taking,
and any other complementary treatments you are receiving.
Tell your doctor about any complementary treatments or remedies you are taking.
Do not start on a vigorous exercise program without first consulting a doctor.
Advise your practitioner if you have any sexually transmitted disease.
See your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.

TYPES OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Complementary medicine are mainly five types1. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE SYSTEMS
2. BIOLOGICALLY BASED TREATMENT
3. MIND BODY TECHNIQUES
4. MANIPULAGTIVE AND BODY BASED METHODS
5. ENERGY THERAPIES

1) ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these
systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the
United States. Examples of alternative medical systems include:

Acupuncture - Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be
traced back at least 2,500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that
there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions
of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized,
correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable path physiological (disease) conditions in
American medicine was rare until the visit of President Richard M. Nixon to China in 1972.
Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in the United States and Europe in the
application of the technique of acupuncture to Western medicine.
Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the
skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in
American acupuncture that incorporates medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other
countries. The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs
penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by
electrical stimulation.
After reviewing the existing body of knowledge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
removed acupuncture needles from the category of "experimental medical devices." The FDA
now regulates acupuncture needles, just as it does other devices such as surgical scalpels and
hypodermic syringes, under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.

Ayurveda Ayurvedic medicine is a system of Hindu traditional of Vedic tradition native to

the Indian subcontinent, and a form of alternative medicine. Some of the oldest known Ayurvedic
texts include the Surutha Sahit, Charaka Sahit. These Sanskrit texts are among the
foundational and formally compiled works of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is well integrated into the Indian National health care system, with state hospitals for
Ayurveda established across the country.
There is no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of
any disease. Concerns have been raised about Ayurvedic products; U.S. studies showed that up to

20% of Ayurvedic U.S. and Indian-manufactured patent medicines sold through internet
contained toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.
In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act which aimed to standardise qualifications for
Ayurveda practitioners and provide accredited institutions for its study and research was passed
by the Parliament of India. In India, over 180 training centers offer degrees in traditional
Ayurvedic medicine. The Indian government supports research and teaching in Ayurveda through
many channels at both the national and state levels, and helps institutionalise traditional medicine
so that it can be studied in major towns and cities. The state-sponsoredCentral Council for
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has been set up in order to do extensive research on
the subject. To fightbiopiracy and unethical patents, the Government of India, in 2001, set up
the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library as repository of 1200 formulations of various systems
of Indian medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. The library also possesses 50
traditional Ayurveda books in a digitised form, made available online.
The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) a statutory body established in 1971, under
the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homoeopathy(AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, monitors
higher education in Ayurveda. Many clinics in urban and rural areas are run by professionals who
qualify from these institutes.

Homeopathy - Homeopathy also spelled homoeopathy; from the Greek: like" and
"suffering is a system of alternative medicine created in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann based on
his doctrine of like cures like, where by a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in
healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people. Homeopathy is considered
a pseudoscience. It is not effective for any condition, and no remedy has been proven to be more
effective than placebo.
Hahnemann believed the underlying causes of disease were phenomena that he termed iass,
and that homeopathicreedies addressed these. The remedies are prepared by repeatedly
diluting a chosen substance in alcohol or distilled water, followed by forceful striking on an
elastic body. Dilution usually continues well past the point where no molecules of the original
substance remain. Homeopaths select remedies by consulting reference books known
as repertories, and by considering the totality of the patient's symptoms, personal traits, physical
and psychological state, and life history.

Homeopathy lacks biological plausibility, and its axioms are contradicted by scientific facts. The
postulated mechanisms of action of homeopathic remedies are both scientifically implausible and
not physically possible. Although some clinical trials produce positive results, systematic
reviews reveal that this is because of chance, flawed research methods, and reporting bias.
Continued homeopathic practice, despite the evidence that it does not work, has been criticized
as unethical because it increases the suffering of patients by discouraging the use of real
medicine with the World Health Organisation warning against using homeopathy to try to treat
severe diseases such as HIV and malaria. The continued practice, despite a lack of evidence
of efficacy, has led to it being characterized within the scientific and medical communities as
nonsense, quackery, or a sham.
The British House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has stated: "In our view, the
systematic reviews and meta-analyses conclusively demonstrate that homeopathic products
perform no better than placebos. The Government shares our interpretation of the evidence.
Homeopathy achieved its greatest popularity in the 19th century. It was introduced to the United
States in 1825 by Hans Birch Gram, a student of Hahnemann. The first homeopathic school in
the U.S.A. opened in 1835, and in 1844, the first U.S. national medical association, the American
Institute of Homeopathy, was established and throughout the 19th century, dozens of
homeopathic institutions appeared in Europe and the United States. By 1900, there were 22
homeopathic colleges and 15,000 practitioners in the United States. Because medical practice of
the time relied on ineffective and often dangerous treatments, patients of homeopaths often had
better outcomes than those of the doctors of the time.
According to Paul Ulrich Unschuld, the Nazi regime in Germany were fascinated by
homeopathy, and spent large sums of money on researching its mechanisms, but without gaining
a positive result. Unschuld further argues that homeopathy never subsequently took root in
the United States, but remained more deeply established in European thinking.
In the United States the Food, Drug, and Cosetic Act of 1938 (sponsored by Royal Copeland,
a Senator from New York and homeopathic physician) recognized homeopathic remedies as
drugs. In the 1950s, there were only 75 pure homeopaths practicing in the U.S. However, by the
mid to late 1970s, homeopathy made a significant comeback and sales of some homeopathic
companies increased tenfold. Some homeopaths give credit for the revival to Greek
homeopath George Vithoulkas, who performed a "great deal of research to update the scenarios
and refine the theories and practice of homeopathy" beginning in the 1970s, but Ernst and Singh
consider it to be linked to the rise of the New Age movement. Whichever is correct, mainstream
pharmacy chains recognized the business potential of selling homeopathic remedies

Bruce Hood has argued that the increased popularity of homeopathy in recent times may be due
to the comparatively long consultations practitioners are willing to give their patients, and to an
irrational preference for "natural" products which people think are the basis of homeopathic
remedies.

Native American healing practices - Most Native American tribes have traditions about
health and illness. These traditions are not based on western science. Instead, they come from the
tribe's beliefs about how individuals fit in the web of life. This web includes the tribe, all
humanity, the earth, and the universe. Many healing traditions focus on harmony. Healing occurs
when someone is restored to harmony and connected to universal powers. Traditional healing is
"holistic". It does not focus on symptoms or diseases. Instead, it deals with the total individual.
Different people with HIV disease may get different treatments. Healing focuses on the person,
not the illness. Certain people in each tribe are recognized as healers. They receive special
teachings. Healing traditions are passed from one generation to the next through visions, stories,
and dreams. Healing does not follow written guidelines. Healers work differently with each
person they help. They use their herbs, ceremony and power in the best way for each individual.
Healing might involve sweat lodges, talking circles, ceremonial smoking of tobacco, shamans,
herbalism, animal spirits, or "vision quests". Each tribe uses its own techniques. The techniques
by themselves are not "traditional healing." They are only steps towards becoming whole,
balanced and connected. Traditional healing can be very powerful for Native Americans dealing
with HIV. It can restore a sense of connection to their tribe and culture. This promotes spiritual,
psychological, emotional, and physical healing. Some traditional healers only work with
members of their own tribe. Others will work with outsiders. Some people who are not Native
American believe that working with a traditional healer has helped them. Most healers work in
their local tribal communities. A few participate in public conferences. If you are not a tribal
member, it is very difficult to know if someone is really a traditional healer. Many people use the
techniques of traditional healing. However, there is a big difference between traditional healing
and using traditional techniques. Participating in a sweat lodge might help almost anyone.

Naturopathic medicine - Naturopathy deals with the healing power of nature since it
believes that all healing powers are within your body. This means that within every human
organism there is a healing energy, which includes our immune system in the fuller sense of both
the physical and the psyche, which is responsible for our wellness and our ability to heal and
maintain health. Since we fall ill only when we go against Nature, the cause of diseases (toxins)
is expelled from the body to cure it. Fasting has been described as Nature's way to recover. A
thorough rest, which includes fasting, is the most favorable condition in which an ailing body

can purify and recoup itself.

Following this first premise is the second, that the therapies used to support and stimulate this
healing power of nature must be in "the gentlest, least invasive, most efficient manner possible".
The third Naturopathic premise is "to diagnose and treat the cause". Naturopaths do not simply
treat the manifestation of the disease but rather search for the cause and treat it. To accomplish
these goals, Naturopathic medicine incorporates many therapeutic modalities: herbal medicine,
homeopathy, nutrition, hydrotherapy, food, exercise therapy, physical therapy, manipulation of
the bony and soft tissues, lifestyle and counseling. Additionally, some Naturopaths elect to
continue their education to receive a license to practice natural childbirth.
Naturopathic medicine treats the patient from the preventive stage through to serious, chronic
and debilitating disease. Therefore, people can go to Naturopaths for colds, bronchitis, allergies,
as well as for heart disease, diabetes, and malignant diseases.
Naturopathy is fast gaining popularity around the world for its safe and effective healing. In
Indian homes, home remedies come before the trip to the doctor. All ailments are believed to be
caused by what you eat and what you don't eat. Hence, a traditional Indian doctor will first make
slight adjustments to your diet before he prescribes a medicine, which is the last resort.
There are several naturally found materials in India that offer economical natural treatments
through naturopathy. Some of these are the lemon, milk and salt. For cough, cold and fever,
lemon is very effective. Squeeze a lemon in a glass full of water and drink repeatedly. This will
cure all of the three ailments. But if the fever is high and makes one thirsty, boil the water. This
will bring down the fever and reduce the thirst. If the cold is severe, it can be added to the
required amount of honey in the above mixture.
When you want to get away from it all, even if you body hasn't begun to give you any alarm
signals yet, these are good places to just relax, rest and breathe in some unpolluted air.
Naturopathy procedures: Strictly vegetarian food is required to be consumed during treatment.
None of the centers allow patients to bring in food from outside. Alcohol, smoking, chewing
tobacco, and the consumption of tea, coffee, and non-vegetarian foods are forbidden in all the
centers. The visitor (patient) is required to stay on campus, for a duration that depends upon the
nature of his or her complaint.

Tibetan medicine - The Tibetan system of medicine has a long and honored history. Our
forefathers have met the challenge of combating diseases by developing a medical system,
which is of an equal standing with all the traditional systems of medicine. It is one of the oldest
medical traditions which still enjoy an unbroken lineage of practice. There are a number of
medical systems in the world, which are categorized as traditional, like a few, the Indian
Ayurveda system, the Siddha, the Chinese, the Native American, the African, the Greek with

which the Tibetan system, apparently, has a close relation. Although they have differences
among them in terms of practice, due to diverse social and religious environment, they share
many similarities.
Primitive inhabitants of Tibet, like other ancient people throughout the world, devised their
own natural remedies. Applying residual barley from Chang (Tibetan beer made from barley)
on swollen muscles or parts, drinking hot water in case of indigestion and using molten butter
to stop bleeding and hemorrhoids are some of the practical experiences that gradually formed
the basis for the development of Tibetan healing science.
Tibetan Medicine is one of the world's oldest healing traditions that have been practiced for
more than five thousand years in Tibet and the Himalayan region. It is a unique medical
science that provides holistic health care to the body, mind and soul. Tibetan medicine is
commonly known as "gSowa Rigpa" in Tibetan. "gSowa" means to heal or restore and "Rigpa"
means the knowledge or science. Tibetan medicine is also a science, art and philosophy that
provide a holistic health care to mankind.
It is a science because its principles are enumerated in a systematic and logical framework
based on an understanding of the body and the minds relationship to the environment. It is an
art because the Tibetan healers use diagnostic techniques based on the creativity, insight,
subtlety, love and compassion of the medical practitioner. And it is a philosophy because it
explains the key Buddhist principles of impermanence, altruism, karma and ethics.

Traditional Chinese medicine - With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is
fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human
body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the
treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.
The TCM approach treats zang--fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are
connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts
as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through jingluo system.
Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through
the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang
or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal
connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system,
then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the
zang-fu organs.
Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the
disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment
is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an

identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may
result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.
The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on
the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature
to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its
interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine,
and qigong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas
of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally, whileqigong tries to
restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These
therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of
assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe. Some
scientists describe the treatment of diseases through herbal medication, acupuncture,
and qigong as an "information therapy".

2) Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind's capacity to
affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered alternative in the
past have become main stream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral
therapy).
Other mind-body techniques are still considered alternative, including:

Art therapy - It may surprise you to learn that art can be an effective tool in mental health
treatment. What could art possibly have to do with psychotherapy? As an expressive medium, art
can be used to help clients communicate, overcome stress, and explore different aspects of their
own personalities. In psychology, the use of artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and
enhance mental health is known as art therapy.
Art therapy integrates psychotherapeutic techniques with the creative process to improve mental
health and well-being. The American Art Therapy Association describes art therapy as "a mental
health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the
physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that
the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and
problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and
self-awareness, and achieve insight."

Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress. In
many cases, it might be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group
therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include:

Children with learning disabilities

Adults experiencing severe stress

Children suffering from behavioral or social problems at school or at home

People experiencing mental health problems

Individuals suffering from a brain injury

Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event

An art therapist may use a variety of art methods including drawing, painting, sculpture, and
collage with clients ranging from young children to the elderly. Clients who have experienced
emotional trauma, physical violence, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, and other
psychological issues can benefit from expressing themselves creatively. Hospitals, private mental
health offices, schools, and community organizations are all possible settings where art therapy
services may be available.
You might also wonder how an art therapy session differs from the average art class. "In most art
therapy sessions, the focus is on your inner experienceyour feelings, perceptions, and
imagination. While art therapy may involve learning skills or art techniques, the emphasis is
generally first on developing and expressing images that come from inside the person, rather
than those he or she sees in the outside world," explains Cathy Maldiochi in The Art Therapy
Sourcebook . "And while some traditional art classes may ask you to paint or draw from your
imagination, in art therapy, your inner world of images, feelings, thoughts, and ideas are always
of primary importance to the experience."

Biofeedback - When you raise your hand to wave hello to a friend, or lift your knee to take
another step on the Stairmaster, you control these actions. Other body functions -like heart rate, skin temperature, and blood pressure -- are controlled involuntarily by your

nervous system. You don't think about making your heart beat faster. It just happens in response
to your environment, like when you're nervous, excited, or exercising.
One technique can help you gain more control over these normally involuntary functions. It's
called biofeedback, and the therapy is used to help prevent or treat conditions,
including migraine headaches, chronic pain, incontinence, and high blood pressure.
The idea behind biofeedback is that, by harnessing the power of your mind and becoming aware
of what's going on inside your body, you can gain more control over your health.
Researchers aren't exactly sure how or why biofeedback works. They do know that biofeedback
promotes relaxation, which can help relieve a number of conditions that are related to stress.
During a biofeedback session, electrodes are attached to your skin. Finger sensors can also be
used. These electrodes/sensors send signals to a monitor, which displays a sound, flash of light,
or image that represents your heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, skin temperature,
sweating, or muscle activity.
When you're under stress, these functions change. Your heart rate speeds up, your muscles
tighten, your blood pressure rises, you start to sweat, and your breathing quickens. You can see
these stress responses as they happen on the monitor, and then get immediate feedback as you try
to stop them. Biofeedback sessions are typically done in a therapist's office, but there are
computer programs that connect the biofeedback sensor to your own computer.
A biofeedback therapist helps you practice relaxation exercises, which you fine-tune to control
different body functions. For example, you might use a relaxation technique to turn down the
brainwaves that activate when you have a headache.
Several different relaxation exercises are used in biofeedback therapy, including:

Deep breathing

Progressive muscle relaxation - alternately tightening and then relaxing different muscle
groups

Guided imagery - concentrating on a specific image (such as the color and texture of an
orange) to focus your mind and make you feel more relaxed

Mindfulness meditation - focusing your thoughts and letting go of negative emotions

As you slow your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and ease muscle tension, you'll get
instant feedback on the screen. Eventually, you'll learn how to control these functions on your
own, without the biofeedback equipment.
Different types of biofeedback are used to monitor different body functions:
Electromyogram (EMG). This measures muscle activity and tension. It may be used for back
pain, headaches, anxiety disorders, muscle retraining after injury, and incontinence.
Thermal. This measures skin temperature. It may be used for headache and Raynaud's
disease.
Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG). This measuresbrain waves. It may be used
for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Electrodermal activity (EDA). This measures sweating and can be used for pain and anxiety.
Heart rate variability (HRA). This measures heart rate. It may be used for anxiety, asthma,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and irregular heartbeat.
Each biofeedback therapy section lasts about 30 minutes. Usually, you can start to see
biofeedback benefits within 10 sessions or less. Some conditions, such as high blood pressure,
can take 20 or more sessions to improve.

Dance therapy- dance therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses movement to further
the social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development of the individual. Dance therapists
work with people who have many kinds of emotional problems, intellectual deficits, and lifethreatening illnesses. They are employed in psychiatric hospitals, day care centers, mental health
centers, prisons, special schools, and private practice. They work with people of all ages in both
group and individual therapy. Some also engage in research.
Dance therapists try to help people develop communication skills, a positive self-image, and
emotional stability.
Dance therapy began as a profession in the 1940s with the work of Marian Chace. A modern
dancer, she began teaching dance after ending her career with the Denishawn Dance Company in
1930. In her classes, she noticed that some of her students were more interested in the emotions
they expressed while dancing (loneliness, shyness, fear, etc.) than the mechanics of the moves.
She began encouraging them by emphasizing more freedom of movement rather than technique.

In time, doctors in the community started sending her patients. They included antisocial children,
people with movement problems, and those with psychiatric illnesses. Eventually, Chace became
part of the staff of the Red Cross at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. She was the first dance therapist
employed in a formal position by the federal government. Chace worked with the emotionally
troubled patients at St. Elizabeth's and tried to get them to reach out to others through dance.
Some of them were schizophrenics and others were former servicemen suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. Success for these patients meant being able to participate with their
class in moving to rhythmic music. "This rhythmic action in unison with others results in a
feeling of well-being, relaxation, and good fellowship," Chace said once.
Chace eventually studied at the Washington School of Psychiatry and began making treatment
decisions about her patients along with other members of the St. Elizabeth's medical team. Her
work attracted many followers and the first dance therapy interns began learning and teaching
dance therapy at St. Elizabeth's in the 1950s.
Other dancers also began using dance therapy in the 1940s to help people feel more comfortable
with themselves and their bodies. These dancers included Trudi Schoop and Mary Whitehouse.
Whitehouse later became a Jungian analyst and an influential member of the dance therapy
community. She developed a process called "movement in-depth," an extension of her
understanding of dance, movement, and depth psychology. She helped found the contemporary
movement practice called "authentic movement." In this type of movement, founded on the
principles of Jungian analysis, patients dance out their feelings about an internal image, often one
that can help them understand their past or their current life struggles. One of Whitehead's
students, Janet Alder furthered Whitehead's work in authentic movement by establishing the
Mary Starks Whitehouse Institute in 1981.
In 1966, dance therapy became formally organized and recognized when the American Dance
Therapy Association (ADTA) was formed.

Guided imagery - Guided imagery is a program of directed thoughts and suggestions that
guide your imagination toward a relaxed, focused state. You can use an instructor, tapes, or
scripts to help you through this process.
Guided imagery is based on the concept that your body and mind are connected. Using all of
your senses, your body seems to respond as though what you are imagining is real. An example
often used is to imagine an orange or a lemon in great detailthe smell, the color, the texture of
the peel. Continue to imagine the smell of the lemon, and then see yourself taking a bite of the
lemon and feel the juice squirting into your mouth. Many people salivate when they do this.
This exercisedemonstrates how your body can respond to what you are imagining.

You can achieve a relaxed state when you imagine all the details of a safe, comfortable place,
such as a beach or a garden. This relaxed state may aid healing, learning, creativity, and
performance. It may help you feel more in control of your emotions and thought processes,
which may improve your attitude, health, and sense of well-being. Guided imagery is safe. No
known risks are associated with it. Guided imagery is most effective when the person teaching it
has training in guided imagery techniques.
Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about
combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to
forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.

Guided imagery has many uses. You can use it to promote relaxation, which can lower blood
pressure and reduce other problems related tostress. You can also use it to help reach goals (such
as losing weight or quitting smoking), manage pain, and promote healing. Using guided imagery
can even help you to prepare for an athletic event or for public speaking.

Humor therapy- Humor therapy is the art of using humor and laughter to help heal people
with physical or mental illness.
The benefits of humor therapy were acknowledged as far back as the book of Proverbs in the Old
Testament, which contains verses like Prov. 17:22: "A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a
downcast spirit dries up the bones." The earliest historical reference to humor therapy is from the
fourteenth century, when French surgeon Henri de Mondeville wrote, "Let the surgeon take care
to regulate the whole regimen of the patient's life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives
and special friends to cheer him, and by having someone tell him jokes." In the sixteenth century,
Martin Luther used a form of humor therapy as part of his pastoral counseling of depressed
people. He advised them not to isolate themselves but to surround themselves with friends who
could joke and make them laugh. Many of Luther's own letters to other people include playful or
humorous remarks.
Modern humor therapy dates from the 1930s, when clowns were brought into hospitals to cheer
up children hospitalized with polio. In his 1979 book, Anatoy of an Illness, author Norman
Cousins brought the subject of humor therapy to the attention of the medical community.
Cousins, himself a physician, details how he used laughter to help ease his pain while undergoing
treatment for rheumatoid arthritis of the spine (ankylosing spondylitis). The benefits of laughter
in treating the sick captured the public's attention in the 1998 moviePatch Adas, starring Robin
Williams as the real-life doctor Hunter "Patch" Adams. The movie is based on Adams'
experiences treating the poor in rural West Virginia, as related in his 1983 book Gesundheit!.
Humor therapy is used in both mainstream and alternative medicine. It can take many forms, but
generally it is simply the recognition by physicians, nurses, and other health care practitioners of
the value of mixing humor and laughter with medication and treatment. It is especially important

with children and the elderly. Patients can also help themselves to heal by adding more humor
and laughter to their lives.
Hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and other medical care facilities can also turn to
professionals for help in bringing humor to their patients. One example is the Big Apple Circus
Clown Care Unit, which has programs in hospitals throughout the New York metropolitan area
and major children's hospitals throughout the United States, including Children's Hospital in
Boston. Professional clowns perform three days a week at the bedsides of hospitalized children
to help ease the stress of serious illnesses. The clowns use juggling, mime, magic tricks, music,
and gags to promote the healing power of humor. Instead of stethoscopes, thermometers, and
hypodermics, the "doctors of delight" make their "clown rounds" with Groucho Marx disguises,
funny hats, and rubber chickens.

Hypnotherapy - Hypnosis or hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and

focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance.
The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person
is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, a person may focus his or
her attention -- with the help of a trained therapist -- on specific thoughts or tasks.
The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestion. It can improve
the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:

Phobias, fears, and anxiety

Sleep disorders

Depression

Stress

Post-trauma anxiety

Grief and loss

Hypnosis also might be used to help with pain control and to overcome habits, such as smoking
or overeating. It also might be helpful for people whose symptoms are severe or who need crisis
management.

Meditation

Music therapy

Prayer therapy

Yoga Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline, that aims to transform
body and mind. The term denotes a variety of schools, practices and
goals in Hinduism, Buddhism (including Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism) and Jainism, the
best-known being Hatha yoga and Raja yoga. The term yoga is derived from the literal meaning
of "yoking together" a span of horses or oxen,[1] but came to be applied to the "yoking" of mind
and body.
The origins of Yoga have been speculated to date back to pre-vedic Indian traditions, but most
likely developed around the sixth and fifth centuries BCE, in the same ascetic circles as the
early sramana movements. The earliest accounts of yoga-practices are in the Buddhist
Nikayas. Parallel developments were recorded around 400 CE in the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali, which combines prephilosophical speculations and diverse ascetic practices of the
first millennium BCE with Samkhya-philosophy. Hatha yoga emerged from tantra by the turn of
the first millennium.
Yoga gurus from India later introduced yoga to the west, following the success of
Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th and early 20th century. In the 1980s, yoga became popular
as a system of physical exercise across the Western world. This form of yoga is often
called Hatha yoga.
Yoga physiology described humans as existing of three bodies (physical, subtle and causal)
and five sheets (food sheet, prana-breath, mind sheet, intellect, and bliss) which cover the atman,
and energy flowing through energy channels and concentrated in chakras.
Many studies have tried to determine the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention
for cancer, schizophrenia, asthma, and heart disease.

Qi gong - The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. Qi is pronounced
chee and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things
in the universe.
The second word, Gong, pronounced gung, means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated
through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chi Kung) means cultivating energy, it is a system
practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality.
Qigong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in
common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and
mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the
body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as
Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements

of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be
practiced by all age groups. Like any other system of health care, Qigong is not a panacea, but it
is certainlya highly effective health care practice. Many health care professionals recommend
Qigong as an important form of alternative complementary medicine.
Qigong creates an awareness of and influences dimensions of our being that
When an individual or group assumes responsibility and takes action for their health and healing,
we all benefit. It is best to get referrals from people whose judgment you have confidence in.
Check the Yellow Pages for Tai Chi schools, acupuncturists, or martial art academies. The
National Qigong Associationmember directory is also an excellent source for finding instructors.
Keep in mind the following criteria for choosing a qualified instructor: what is their background
and experience; are they of good character; do they treateveryone fairly and with respect; do they
live what they teach; do they refrain from making wild, unsubstantiated claims; do they
encourage and bring out a student's highest potential? While keeping these points in mind,
remember to trust your intuition in finding an instructor who is right for you.

3) Biologically-Based Therapies
Biologically based therapies in complementary and alternative medicine use substances found in
nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include:

Diet-

Diet therapy uses specialized dietary regimens (such as Gerson therapy, a macrobiotic diet, and the

Pritikin diet) to treat or prevent a specific disease (such as cancer or cardiovascular disorders) or generally to
promote wellness. Some diets (such as the Mediterranean diet) are widely accepted and encouraged in
traditional Western medicine. The Ornish diet, a very low-fat vegetarian diet, can help reverse arterial
blockages that cause coronary artery disease and may help prevent or slow the progression of prostate and
other cancers. Some people following a macrobiotic diet have reported cancer remission, but a well-controlled
clinical research study has not been conducted.
Because benefits usually take months or years to be realized, diet therapy is more likely to be effective if
started early. When beginning a therapeutic diet that involves a dramatically different way of eating, people
should receive some expert supervision so that they can avoid nutritional deficiencies.

Herbal products - Herbal medicine or herbalism, the oldest known form of health care, uses plants and
plant extracts to treat disease and promote wellness. Either a single herb or a mixture of different herbs can be
used. Chinese herbal medicine mixtures can also contain minerals and animal parts. Unlike conventional drugs,

in which a single, active chemical may be extracted and isolated, herbal medicine usually makes use of the
medicinal plant in its whole form. Common herbal remedies include the following:

Garlic

Peppermint

Chamomile

St. John's wort

Ginkgo biloba

Valerian

Ginseng

Herbal medicines are available as extracts (solutions obtained by steeping or soaking a substance, usually in
water), tinctures (usually alcohol-based preparations, with the alcohol acting as a natural preservative),
infusions (the most common method of internal herbal preparation, usually referred to as a tea), decoctions
(similar to an infusion), pills, powders, and injectables. Some herbal medicines are spread on a moistened cloth
and applied to the skin.

Orthomolecular Medicine- Orthomolecular medicine uses combinations of vitamins,

minerals, and amino acids normally found in the body to treat specific conditions and to maintain
health. Nutrition comes first in diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes referred to as nutritional
medicine, orthomolecular therapy emphasizes supplementing the diet with high-dose
combinations of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones (such as melatonin), and amino acids.
Dosages often far exceed the amounts normally consumed in the diet.
A common form of orthomolecular medicine is megavitamin therapy, often with doses well
above the recommended daily allowances (RDAs). Orthomolecular medicine practitioners
contend these RDAs are inadequate to maintain health or to treat disease. While most treatments
lack scientific evidence, conventional medicine does use some highly concentrated
micronutrients. For example, high doses of antioxidant substances are a conventionally used
treatment for delaying the progression of macular degeneration, but recent studies have shown
they are not effective in preventing cancer.
Sometimes orthomolecular medicine involves reducing the amount of a natural substance in the
body. In certain specific disorders (such as vitamin deficiencies and metabolic disorders),
treatments that could be considered orthomolecular are scientifically proven. However, for many
uses, orthomolecular methods have no proven benefit and in some cases are potentially toxic.

Chelation Therapy
In this therapy, a drug is used to bind with and remove excess or toxic amounts of a metal or
mineral (such as lead, copper, iron, or calcium) from the bloodstream. In conventional Western

medicine, chelation therapy is a widely accepted way to treat lead poisoning and other heavy
metal poisonings. Copper chelation has been under investigation as a cancer treatment. Chelation
therapy with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used as a complementary and alternative
medicine therapy to remove calcium and thus treat atherosclerosis. The effectiveness and safety
of this therapy are currently being evaluated scientifically. Side effects can be serious or rarely
fatal.
It also includes the use of other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies (for
example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).

4) Manipulative and Body-Based Methods

Manipulative and body-based methods in complementary and alternative medicine are based on
manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include:

Acupressure - Acupressure [from Latin acus "needle" (see acuity) + pressure is an alternative
medicine technique similar in principle to acupuncture. It is based on the concept of life energy
which flows through "meridians" in the body. In treatment, physical pressure is applied
to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure may be applied
by hand, by elbow, or with various devices.
Some medical studies have suggested that acupressure may be effective at helping manage nausea
and vomiting, for helping lower back pain, tension headaches, stomach ache, among other things,
although such studies have been found to have a high likelihood of bias It may probably not be as
effective as acupuncture, but some claim it provides temporary relief.

According to Quackwatch acupressure is a dubious practice, and its practitioners use irrational
methods.
Acupressure is often called acupuncture without the needles. Instead of needles, acupressure
involves the application of manual pressure (usually with the fingertips) to specific points on the
body.
According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, the body has vital energy called
"chi" or "qi" that flows along invisible lines of energy flow called meridians. There are thought
to be at least 14 meridians connecting our organs with other parts of our body. Acupuncture and
acupressure points lie on those meridians. If the flow of qi is blocked at any point on a meridian,
it's thought to be the cause of ailments and lead to disease anywhere along the meridian. That's
why a practitioner may apply pressure to an acupressure point in the foot to relieve a headache.

Acupressure is often administered by an acupuncturist with the person receiving the acupressure
lying on a massage table.
Acupressure can also be self-administered. Although it's best to consult an acupuncturist for
proper instruction, acupressure is generally done by using the thumb, finger or knuckle to apply
gentle but firm pressure to a point. The pressure is often increased for about 30 seconds, held
steadily for 30 seconds to two minutes and then gradually decreased for 30 seconds. It's often
repeated three to five times.
The point P6 can be found by turning the arm so that the palm is facing up. Place the thumb at
the center of the crease of the wrist (where the hand meets the wrist) and then position it two
finger widths away from the crease towards the elbow. The point is between the two large
tendons.

Alexander Technique Alexander technique, named after Frederick Matthias Alexander,

teach people how to stop using unnecessary levels of muscular and mental tension during their
everyday activities. It is an educational process rather than a relaxation technique or form of
exercise. Most other methods take it for granted that 'one's awareness of oneself' is accurate,
whereas Alexander realized that a person who had been using himself wrongly for a long time
could not trust his feelings (sensory appreciation) in carrying out any activity (Bloch, 221)[full
citation needed]. Practitioners say that such problems are often caused by repeated misuse of the
body over a long period of time, for example, by standing or sitting with one's weight unevenly
distributed, holding one's head incorrectly, or walking or running inefficiently. The purpose of
the Alexander technique is to help people unlearn maladaptive physical habits and return to a
balanced state of rest and poise in which the body is well-aligned.
Alexander developed the technique's principles in the 1890s as a personal tool to alleviate
breathing problems and hoarseness during public speaking. He credited the technique with
allowing him to pursue his passion for Shakespearean acting.

Chiropractic - Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative

treatments, the theory being that proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure,
particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication.
Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic
event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.

Chiropractic is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and
connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It is sometimes used in conjunction
with conventional medical treatment.
The initials "DC" identify a chiropractor, whose education typically includes an undergraduate
degree plus four years of chiropractic college.
A chiropractor first takes a medical history, performs a physical examination, and may use lab
tests or diagnostic imaging to determine if treatment is appropriate for your back pain.
The treatment plan may involve one or more manual adjustments in which the doctor
manipulates the joints, using a controlled, sudden force to improve range and quality of motion.
Many chiropractors also incorporate nutritional counseling and exercise/rehabilitation into the
treatment plan. The goals of chiropractic care include the restoration of function and prevention
of injury in addition to back pain relief.

Massage therapy - Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle
and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process,
decrease muscle reflex activity, inhibit motor-neuron excitability, promote relaxation and wellbeing, and as a recreational activity.
The word comes from the French assage "friction of kneading", or
from Arabic assa meaning "to touch, feel or handle" or from Latin Massa meaning "mass,
dough",cf. Greek verb (ass) "to handle, touch, to work with the hands, to knead
dough" In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage was anatripsis and the Latin
was frictio.
Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure structured, unstructured,
stationary, or moving tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids.
Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints, or other connective
tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be
applied with thehands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, feet, or a massage device.
In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table,
sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor, while in amateur settings a general

purpose surface like a bed or floor is more common. The massage subject may be fully or
partially clothed or unclothed.
Massage therapy dates back thousands of years. References to massage appear in writings from
ancient China, Japan, India, Arabic nations, Egypt, Greece (Hippocrates defined medicine as "the
art of rubbing"), and Rome.
Massage became widely used in Europe during the Renaissance. In the 1850s, two American
physicians who had studied in Sweden introduced massage therapy in the United States, where it
became popular and was promoted for a variety of health purposes. With scientific and
technological advances in medical treatment during the 1930s and 1940s, massage fell out of
favor in the United States. Interest in massage revived in the 1970s, especially among athletes.

5) Energy Therapies
Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types:
Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the
human body. The existence of such fields has not yet been scientifically proven. Some forms of
energy therapy manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by
placing the hands in, or through, these fields. Examples include:

Reiki - Reiki is a copleentary health approach in which practitioners place their

hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the persons
own healing response.
Reiki is based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the bodys innate or
natural healing abilities. However, there isnt any scientific evidence that such an
energy exists.
Reiki has been studied for a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, fatigue,
and depression.
Several groups of experts have evaluated the evidence on Reiki, and all of them
have concluded that its uncertain whether Reiki is helpful.Only a small number of
studies of Reiki have been completed, and most of them included only a few
people. Different studies looked at different health conditions making it hard to
compare their results. Many of the studies didnt compare Reiki with both sham
(simulated) Reiki and with no treatment. Studies that include both of these
comparisons are usually the most informative.

Reiki appears to be generally safe. In studies of Reiki, side effects were no more
common among participants who received Reiki than among those who didnt
receive it.
Reiki should not be used to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing a
health care provider about a health problem. If you have severe or long-lasting
symptoms, see your health care provider. You may have a health problem that
needs prompt treatment.
Therapeutic Touch- Therapeutic touch (commonly shortened to "TT"), known by some
as non-contact therapeutic touch (NCTT), is an energy therapywhich practitioners claim
promotes healing and reduces pain and anxiety. Therapeutic Touch is a registered trademark in
Canada for the "[s]tructured and standardized healing practice performed by practitioners trained
to be sensitive to the receiver's energy field that surrounds the body;...no touching is required."
Practitioners of therapeutic touch state that by placing their hands on, or near, a patient, they are
able to detect and manipulate the patient's energy field. One highly cited study, designed by a
then-nine-year-old Emily Rosa and published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association found that practitioners of therapeutic touch could not detect the presence or absence
of a hand placed a few inches above theirs when their vision was obstructed. Simon
Singh and Edzard Ernst concluded in their 2008 book Trick or Treatent that "the energy field
was probably nothing more than a figment in the imaginations of the healers." The American
Cancer Society has noted, "Available scientific evidence does not support any claims that TT can
cure cancer or other diseases." A 2014 Cochrane review found no good evidence that it helped
with wound healing.
According to Krieger, therapeutic touch has roots in ancient healing practices, such as the laying
on of hands, although it has no connection with religion or with faith healing. Krieger states that,
"in the final analysis, it is the healed (client) who heals himself. The healer or therapist, in this
view, acts as a human energy support system until the healee's own immunological system is
robust enough to take over".
Emily Rosa, at 9 years of age, conceived and executed a study on therapeutic touch. With the
help of Stephen Barrett from Quackwatch, and with the assistance of her mother, Linda Rosa,
RN, Emily became the youngest research team member to have a paper accepted by the Journal
of the Aerican Medical Association (JAMA) for her part in a study of therapeutic touch,
which debunked the claims of therapeutic touch practitioners. Twenty-one practitioners of
therapeutic touch participated in her study, and they attempted to detect her aura. The
practitioners stood on one side of a cardboard screen, while Emily stood on the other. The
practitioners then placed their hands through holes in the screen. Emily flipped a coin to
determine which of the practitioner's hands she would place hers near (without, of course,
touching the hand). The practitioners then were to indicate if they could sense her biofield, and

where her hand was. Although all of the participants had asserted that they would be able to do
this, the actual results did not support their assertions. After repeated trials the practitioners had
succeeded in locating her hand at a rate not significantly different from chance. JAMA editor
George D. Lundberg, M.D, recommended that patients and insurance companies alike refuse to
pay for therapeutic touch or at least question whether or not payment is appropriate "until or
unless additional honest experimentation demonstrates an actual effect."
A 1999 review of the physics of complementary therapies states that the existence of a "biofield" or "bio-energetic field" directly contradicts principles of physics, chemistry, andbiology. A
systematic review on the effectiveness of various distance healing techniques concluded that
"The methodologic limitations of several studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions
about the efficacy of distant healing. However ... the evidence thus far merits further study.
A Cochrane systematic review found "[t]here is no robust evidence that TT promotes healing of
acute wounds." The American Cancer Society has noted, "Available scientific evidence does not
support any claims that TT can cure cancer or other diseases."

WHY PEOPLE USE COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

People may have more than one reason for choosing a complementary therapy and they may use
other strategies at the same time to enhance their health. Some of the reasons for using
complementary therapies include:

Achieving and maintaining good health

As an aid to the performance of every day tasks
Dissatisfaction with conventional medical practices
Unsatisfactory doctor-patient relationships
The desire to take charge of your own health and medical problems
The increase in easy-to-access consumer health information, including health
information on the internet
Evidence of the benefits and safety of some complementary medicines and therapies
Dissatisfaction with limited success rates or adverse side effects of prescription
medicines
The desire to receive health care that treats the whole person and not just their symptoms
(its worth nothing that both complementary health care practitioners and some
conventional health professionals actively endorse holistic care).

HOW TO CHOOSE A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

PRACTITIONER
Some suggestions on finding a reputable practitioner include:
Contact the professional association for your chosen therapy and ask for a list of
members in your area.

Ask your doctor for a referral

Ask your friends for word-of-mouth recommendations.
During the first visit with your practitioner, ask about their training and
qualifications.
Be very cautious about any practitioner who advises you to abandon your
conventional medical treatment.
WHERE TO GET HELP
Your doctor
Pharmacist
Medicines line (Australia)
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Complementary therapies are systems of healthcare that treat the whole
person, not just the symptoms of their disease.
Modern medicine is increasingly aware of complementary therapy
techniques.
You may to need to choose between conventional medicine and
complementary therapies, but you must keep all your health cares
informed to ensure you are using your medicines safely.

RESEARCH INPUT
The effect of complementary and alternative medicine on quality of life, depression,
anxiety, and fatigue levels among cancer patients during active oncology treatment: phase
II study.
Abstract
During the past decade, there has been growing interest in complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) among cancer patients and it is being integrated more frequently within
conventional cancer centers. The long-term effect of mind-body therapies on quality of life
(QoL), depression, anxiety, and fatigue was tested prospectively in this study.Cancer patients
who received six weekly sessions of CAM during their oncological treatments participated in the
study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and
QoL-EORTC-C30 were completed during the intervention and follow-up period. Over a twoyear period, 163 patients entered the study, 135 of whom completed all six CAM sessions. An
improvement was demonstrated in the median of BFI from 4.8 to 3.9 (p<0.001), HADS-Anxiety
from 8 to 7 (p<0.001) and HADS-Depression from 7 to 6 (p<0.001) after 12 weeks. In
addition, the median of global QoL improved from 50 to 67 (p<0.001), and a significant
improvement was noticed in several parameters on the functioning and symptoms scales of the
QoL-EORTC-C30.Cancer patients who completed six weekly sessions of CAM improved
significantly on measured outcomes, regardless of their demographic characteristics.

SUMMARY
I summarize my topic. Today we have discuss about Introduction, use of complementary
therapies, philosophies of complementary therapies, types of complementry medecine, why

people use complementary therapies, how to choose a complementary therapy practitionerwhere

to get help,things to remember.
CONCLUSION I conclude my topic for complementary therapy. I am explain regarding complementary therapy
those are made in natural and treat the person through therapy and yoga excises prevent for
disease . They are improving the health of people through homeopathy and Ayurveda medicine.
The complementary therapy are divert the mind and relaxation therapy through art and dance
therapy to maintain physical and mental health improve of person health.

REFERENCE
Basvanthappa B.T., Community health nursing, Jaypee Publication, 6th edition, Year
2012 ,Page no.584-605.
Gulani K.K., Community health nursing, Kumar Publication, 3rd edition, Year 2012
Page no.682-692.

Park K., Text book of preventive and social medicine, Bhanot publication,
18th edition, Year 2011 Page no.674-699.
WEBSITE:www.wikipedia.com
www.pubmed.com
www.medline.com

PANNA DHAI MAA SUBHARTI NURSING

COLLEGE
SUBJECT NURSING EDUCATION

SEMINAR
ON
COMPLEMENTARY
THERAPIES
Submitted toMrs. Pinky Mam
Sr. Lecture

Submitted byMiss Annu Panchal

M.Sc.(N) Ist Year

Dept of OBG

Subharti Nursing College

Subharti Nursing college

Meerut

Meerut