ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY No one is immune to the uplifting effects of birdsong.

We all savor those warm springs mornings when we step outside and hear the light, musical conversation of wild birds. Domesticated birds provide their owners with similar pleasures, and those pleasures are compounded by the gift of companionship. - William H. Thomas, Life Worth Living

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nimal-Assisted Therapy is defined as the use of specifically selected animals as a treatment modality in health and human service settings. One of the earliest recorded observations of a connection between animals and health was made by Florence Nightingale (1969, p.103) in 1860 when she noted that a small pet is often an excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic cases especially. She further suggested that whenever possible, patients should participate in the care of the animals because this activity was helpful to their recovery. BACKGROUND he York Retreat in England, founded in 1792 for the treatment of people with mental illness, used small animals such as rabbits and poultry in their treatment plan. The goal was to decrease the use of restraints and medications by helping residents learn self-control through animals that relied on them for care. Bethel, a residential treatment center for people with epilepsy, founded in 1867 in Germany, utilized pets as an important part of the treatment program. This pet program is still in place today and has expanded to include farm animals. PREPARATION herapy dogs and cats are specifically selected for temperament, companionability, and interaction. Temperament is the animals natural or instinctive behavior and is important in terms of the way the animal will react when stressed. A good therapy pet is calm, tolerant, and friendly. The second major criterion is that the animal has a person who is willing to volunteer time and energy in order to share pets with others. Nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychotherapists, and other health care professionals must receive training to direct animal-assisted therapy programs. This educational process is still in the beginning stages and this time is primarily accomplished through in-service training, and seminars and workshops at national and international professional meetings (Hines and Fredrickson, 1998). CONCEPTS Companion Animals

ets, especially dogs, often seem to understand what their owners are feeling. For some people, a pet is a reason to get up in the morning. It is something to nurture, touch and stroke. For stress relief, it apparently does not matter much whatever the pet is. What is most important is the persons relationship with the pet.

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he contributions companion animals make to the emotional well-being of the people include providing unconditional love and opportunities for affection; functioning as a confidant, playmate, and companion; and assisting in the achievement of trust, responsibility, and empathy toward others. Studies of children with pets indicate that the unconditional love and acceptance conveyed in the child-animal relationship may validate a childs sense of self-worth. In addition, older school-age children often turn to companion animals in times of stress for reassurance. In Europe, pets are found in the majority of homes with children. Therapy animals he characteristics that make many pets cherished family members- unconditional affection, responsiveness, and compatibility- also makes pets effective in therapy. The underlying concept that supports the use of animals for therapeutic reasons is the bonding experience it provides. Frail or depressed older adults often brighten up and adopt a more positive outlook when they are in the presence of an animal therapist.

nimals can provide a welcome change from routine or a distraction from disability or pain. People talk often to the animals and share with them their thoughts, feelings, and memories. When people talk to people, their blood pressure tends to go up because of questions of how one is being evaluated or judged. With animals, who are always eager to please, and unconditionally accepting, peoples blood pressure tends to go down (Jennings et al.., 1998; Kiel, 1998).

DETOXIFYING THERAPIES The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. Recognition of the mystery of the universe is the course of all true Science. - Albert Einstein The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitude of their minds. - Albert Schweitzer

any cultures and religions, past and present, define what is unclean and also have rituals of purification. In western cultures, some people are currently fascinated with the concept of detoxification, the belief that physical impurities and toxins must be cleared from the body to achieve better health. This chapter provides an overview of several ways people purge their bodies: hydrotherapy, colonies, and chelation therapy. HYDROTHERAPY BACKGROUND

ater has been a part of healing practices from ancient times and great healing powers have been attributed to it as seen in phrases healing waters and the fountain of youth. The Romans built bathhouses throughout their empire. Saunas have been popular in Scandinavian countries for

many years and have rises in popularity. In Europe, people go for periods of rest and rejuvenation to spas that have been built around the mineral waters of natural hot springs. Today, hydrotherapy, or water-based therapy, is used to treat wounds, injuries, and burns, to promote physical rehabilitation, and to manage stress (Cassileth, 1998). PREPARATION

he use of water as a healing treatment is known as hydrotherapy. Nurses, chiropractors, physical therapists, naturopaths, massage therapists, yoga masters, and conventional physicians incorporate various forms of hydrotherapy in their professional practice. Programs of study in each discipline cover the use of hydrotherapy techniques that are appropriate for ones professional practice. TREATMENT

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ydrotherapy, the use of hot and cold moisture in the form of solid, liquid, or gas, makes use of the bodys response to heat and cold. The primary effect of both heat and cold is stimulation. The secondary effects of heat are drowsiness, sedation and relaxed muscles. Heat also dilates blood vessels, increasing the circulation to the area being heated. The secondary effects of cold are invigoration and restoration. Cold constricts blood vessels, reducing circulation to the area of the body. Hydrotherapy is used to decrease pain, decrease fever, reduce swelling, lessen cramps, induce sleep, and improve physical and mental tone. It must be used with great care in the young and the old who have poor heat regulation and also with people experiencing a prolonged illness or fatigue (Krohn et al., 1996). hree basic types of hydrotherapy are compresses, bathing, and sweat baths. The general use of compresses involves towel wrung out in hot and cold water and alternately applied to the body. The intense fluctuations in temperature are believed to improve the circulation to the stomach, liver, kidneys, and intestines, thereby improving digestion and the elimination of metabolic wastes.

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aths as a form of hydrotherapy, involve local baths such as a foot, sitz, and full immersion baths. They may be hot or cold or alternating. Hot water, and open pores, and increase sweating, all of which lead to a faster release of toxins. Warm water is often used to irrigate and cleanse wounds. Full immersion bathsare used for physical rehabilitation. Exercising in water can be more effective and cause less strain to the skeleton and joints than exercise out of water. weat baths are a method of detoxification that enables the body to eliminate salt, drugs, and a variety of toxins. They are typically done in a steam room or a sauna. Pregnant women should never use sweat bathing as the heat may cause neural tube defects in the first trimester. Sweat baths are also contraindicated for people with heart disease, kidney disease, or anemia (Cassileth, 1998; Collinge, 1996; Krohn et al., 1996).

COLONICS

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ritten documents of ancient Egypt and Greece contain references to colon therapy. Healthy people used enemas to cleanse and rejuvenate themselves. Others used enemas to treat heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, depression, and various infections. In the mid-twentieth century, as antibiotics and other medications became available, colon therapy began to fade from popular use. PREPARATION he International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) is the certifying body for colon hydrotherapy training. The foundation level of education includes a 100-hour course of colon hydrotherapy training from an approved school or certified instructor as well as a 100-hour internship. In addition, students must pass a written exam. The intermediate level requirements include 500 hours of course work, a demonstration of expertise, and an intermediate exam. In addition, teaching skills must be demonstrated. TREATMENT

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olonics, or colon therapy, is based on the idea that high-fat. Western diets lead to an accumulation of a thick, gluelike substance in the colon, which in turn produces toxins that lead to disease. Colonics, also called colonic irrigation or high colonics, is a procedure for washing the inner wall of the colon by filling it with water or herbal solutions and then draining it. Colonics is a technique for removing any material that may be present high in colon and cleans the entire five feet of the colon. olon cleansing is a controversial method of detoxification, and there tends to be no middle ground in the beliefs about the usefulness of colonics. People tend to either strongly support or challenge the practice of colonics. Those who support colonics believe that toxicity can build up in the pockets of the colon through the years of a diet heavy in fried foods, white flour, sugar, refined and processed foods, dairy products, carbonated beverages and not enough fiber. If you eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, exercise, and move your bowels regularly, you shouldnt need any of them. The best way to care for the colon is to let its own natural physiological action keep it clean and in good working order. CHELATION THERAPY BACKGROUND

helation comes from the Greek word chele or claw. When chelation chemicals are introduced into the bloodstream, they bind, or claw, to heavy metals in the body. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a synthetic amino acid that readily binds to heavy metals. EDTA was synthesize in the 1940s. PREPARATION

nly licensed physicians are able to provide chelation therapy. In some facilities the physicians oversee the procedure, which is actually implemented by registered nurse.

TREATMENT

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n conventional medicine, EDTA is used as the prefferes treatment for lead poisoning as well as for removing a number of other toxic metals. It circulates through the blood vessels and chelates or binds to excess amounts of iron, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, and calcium. It is a free radicalchelation connection that makes chelation therapy a form of alternative therapy for artherosclerosis and other degenerative diseases. RESEARCH ce packs, hot compresses, and warm baths are good examples of self-help techniques that work on a number of common problems. The data are primarily anecdotal rather than scientifically researched. No data support the claims or beliefs on which colonies are based. Conventional physicians often warn against the use of this procedure.

large retrospective study of 2870 patients in Brazil showed that 89 percent of the patients treated with EDTA had marked improvement (Olszewer and Carter, 1989). This study was followed by a double-blind clinical trial of EDTA for men with peripheral vascular disease. The group showing dramatic improvement was identified as those receiving EDTA (Olszewer et al., 1990).