Complementaryand alternative methods
Holisticmedicine addresses a person wholly which includes the body, mind, andspirit. Holistic medicine incorporates alternative and conventionaltherapies to treat or even prevent diseases. In a large way, it isbelieved that it encourages optimal health. Holistic medicine can bereferred to as the unrestricted and unhindered flow of energy throughthe mind, body and spirit.
Inessence, it comprises of all the safe and suitable modalities oftreatment and diagnosis. In addition, it also analyses nutritional,physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental and lifestyle elements.(Bratman,1999)It highly focuses on the patient’s education and his involvement inthe overall healing process.
Holisticnurses utilize a variety of efficient and safe options in treatmentand diagnosis. They educate patients to embrace lifestyle changes,conventional surgery, and drugs as well as complementaryalternatives.(Boyd,2004)Complementary medicine is the one that is used besides theconventional treatment and diagnosis. It is holistic in nature andmostly comprises therapies from various cultural and historicalbackgrounds. It necessarily requires the patient to take the activepart in his treatment and embrace lifestyle changes like exercise,diet, psychological exercises and meditation. Its’ therapies arequite diverse in both origin and nature. Ways by which the treatmentswork are also quite different, but many of them are founded on theidea of allowing the body to heal itself.
Conventional medicine on the other hand, primarily places so muchfocus on correcting and understanding the underlying problems thatcause the symptoms.(Boyd,2004)In so many circumstances the causes are not understood completely.However, there have been significant developments in recent years inthe treatment and diagnosis of many ailments like rheumatoidarthritis. Nevertheless, conventional medicine has in many times beencriticized for treating the disease or condition instead of theperson. The method leaves the patient no choice but to accept thetreatment and diagnosis.
Conventionalmedicine is conversely highly recognizing the significance of apatient`s involvement and also the choice in their treatment. Manypeople, however, view this as something that is highly influenced byalternative and complementary medicine approaches. Still, it isevident that both methods give emphasis to the overall quality of therelationship that exists between the patient and the practitioner.For a successful outcome, a good relationship is vital. In most casescomplementary and conventional medicine approaches are used, and thatis referred to as integrated medicine.
Whendeveloping a holistic care plan, it is important to consider thedifferences in patient needs. The care plan should highly becomparable to the needs of the patient.(Bratman,1999)A patient who has a variety of complex needs they need a qualifiedprofessional to take on their case. This follows a social and healthcare assessment of need and consumes more time since it is moredetailed.
Thosewith simple needs, the process of planning should include facts onhow their condition influences on their life and sustenance forself-care. By so doing, it enables the patient to come up with thebest decisions and resolve on how best they can overpower theircondition.(Boyd,2004)The provision of patients with some information such as test resultsor motivating them to think about questions to enquire before thecare plan is quite important. It by a large way assists them to beable to reflect and also prepare on how they can achieve the mostfrom the discussion. It also highly promotes an equal relationshipbetween the patient and the healthcare professional.
Theplan should include physical concerns that deals with pain,concentration or memory, wound care after surgery and sexuality.Practical matters such as education and work, housing or even money,travel and insurance are quite vital to take into consideration. Itis also important to have family or relationship concerns looking atthe patient`s partner, relatives, children, and friends. The patientsemotional concerns should also be considered and include isolation orloneliness, depression or sadness and the likes of religious andspiritual concerns. Lastly, it is important to look at theinformation and lifestyle needs such as exercise and activity, drugsand alcohol, smoking and hobbies.
Agood care plan is supposed to be established as part of this process.A care plan permits suitable interventions. The interventions includeinformation and support also referral and signposting services arehighly needed. The care process guarantees timely intercessions andalso inhibits concerns from intensifying and backs self-management.
Nutritionis quite important in complementary and conventional treatment anddiagnosis. The core factor to overall good health is the way a personfeeds. A balanced diet is reflected by a wholesome wellbeing. Also,vitamins are good in preventing so many ailments so can be usefulwhen undergoing future wholesome health. When a person requires a lotof exercise in the recovery process, it is important to take in lotsof energy providing foods such as starch and sugars. Exercise isquite useful in the whole being of a person since it strengthens aperson`s muscles. Also, use burns extra calories in the body andkeeps one well occupied while recuperating.
Manyresearchers believe that the mind is endowed with the power tooverpower physical pain and even illness. As a matter of fact, a goodsense of humor is capable of turning a bad experience to be easierand even tolerable. In a situation where a patient can do somethingfor themselves, the patient will feel empowered. Music also helpsboost the mind to relax better and enable the patient to be in chargeof the situation.
Complementarytherapies are useful additions to conventional ones.(Manfredi& De Angelis, 2013)They greatly help in discharging symptoms as well as reducing stressand promoting the general wellbeing of a person. They also offer thepatient the chance to take part in something that allows them to feelmuch better, at peace, calmer and in control. All these are quiteimportant especially when the patient is undergoing during thetreatment time or even when leading a life as a survivor.
Despitethe high interest in shifting to integrative medicine, there are manychallenges. Some of the reasons behind all these include financialconstraints.(Malerba,2010)Though it may seem that complementary and conventional methods arethings in the patient`s daily life, it can be money also consumingsince it requires a lot of lifestyle changes. Also, some of thebeliefs can interfere with an integrated approach as the peopleinvolved can have different ways of viewing things. It is quite hardto convince a patient to accept something he or she do not believe inas much helpful it is to them. There is also limited information oncomplementary and conventional methods. So it is hard to convincesomeone to embrace something they are not quite sure what it entails.
Conclusion
Integrativemedicine is a highly ideal model and is slowly entrenching itself inthe contemporary society. The method is getting more popular as thepeople in the community try to get answers to some of the issues ofmodern western medicine. Many innovators of integrated therapies havetaken a lot of risks and at times have had to stand on their own.
However,new seekers of the same have more support and tools to support theirwork. People`s attitudes are changing, and they are embracing it themore.(Malerba,2010)Though, the extent to which providers will offer the services to thepatients rests on the political, legal and regulatory environment.
References
Boyd,H. (2004). Boostingyour energy.London: Mitchell Beazley.
Bratman,S. (1999). Thealternative medicine sourcebook.Los Angeles, Calif.: Lowell House.
Malerba,L. (2010). Greenmedicine.Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic Books.
Manfredi,M. & De Angelis, G. (2013). Helicobacterpylori.New York: Nova Biomedical.