Common Complementary and Integrative Medicine Examples + Therapeutic Uses/Safety

What is Acupuncture?

Involves inserting fine, sterile metal needles into specific meridian points on the body, penetrating to a depth of 5–40 mm. The needles may be manually manipulated or stimulated with small electrical impulses to target areas where they are thought to help open energy channels and restore balance. The procedure is believed to influence both the nervous system and connective tissues.

What is Healing Touch?

A soothing, nurturing energy therapy focused on the heart. It employs gentle, intentional touch to help balance physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Therapeutic Uses for Acupuncture

• Used to treat back, joint or neck pain

• Help manage cancer related fatigue, improving quality of life

• Used as an alternative anesthetic treatment prior to various surgical procedures

• NCCN guidelines recommend acupuncture as potential treatment option for adult cancer pain

• SIO recommends acupuncture/accupressure for reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

• Also used to treat joint related pain, musculoskeletal pain, and general cancer pain

Therapeutic Uses for Healing Touch

Helps with stress reduction, anxiety/depression, pain, surgical recovery

Are Healing Touch and Acupuncture safe?

YES. Healing touch is very safe and noninvasive for all ages. Acupuncture tends to have few complications like pain, bruising, and swelling due to improper insertion. But, overall both very safe procedures

What is the purpose of Meditation?

To achieve mental clarity and emotional calmness

Meditation Delivery Forms

Guided meditation sessions/retreats, walking meditation, visualization exercises, focusing thoughts, mindful breathing, and biofeedback

Utilization of Meditation

• Reduce Anxiety

• Promote Mental Clarity

• Resolve Conflicts

• Control Impulses

• Enhance Resiliency

• Enhance Memory

• Enhance Focus/Concentration

Therapeutic Uses of Meditation

Anxiety, stress, withdrawal, weight control, sleep quality, pain, depression, conflict

Is Meditation considered safe?

YES. Few risks associated with negative psychological effects: increased anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fear of losing control, worsening of epilepsy/trauma

What is Ayurvedic Medicine?

It relies on natural and holistic approaches to treating physical and mental health. The patient’s temperament, mental development, and spiritual development can be influenced by the quality and quantity of food

Therapeutic Uses of Ayurvedic Medicine

• Sweet foods provide nourishment and coolness and inc. body weight

• Sour foods provide warmth and weight gain

• Salty food stimulate senses, aid in warmth, and weight gain

• Bitter food give coolness and help with weight loss

• Treatment is 3 categories: taste, energy, post digestive effects

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

A formal approach to body health originating from China and dating back more than 5000 years. It combines historical foundational ideals and methods with modern research findings from chemical analysis, pharmacological testing, and clinical trials. The practice of TCM includes herbology, acupuncture and moxibustion, tui na (Chinese massage), and qigong

Therapeutic Uses of TCM

A person’s pulse and their tongue appearance are important clinical measures used to diagnose imbalance and disease. The pulse is used for evaluating internal organ health, but the tongue’s appearance (moisture, color, coating) may help identifying disease.

Is TCM safe to practice?

SORTA. Some Chinese herbal products have been found to be contaminated with undeclared plant or animal material, such as drugs, heavy metals, pesticides, or incorrect herbs which have caused organ damage. Tai chi appears to be a safe practice.

What is Yoga

A spiritual practice that originated in India. It has three basic techniques: Exercise and body posture, controlled breathing, and meditation

What is Reiki

Originated in Japan as energy medicine from Buddhist monks. Rei means universal spirit and ki means life energy. Basic technique is to lay hands on or above patients body to transfer healing energy.

Therapeutic Uses of Yoga

Shown to help with hypertension, chronic lower back pain, COPD, depression, diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, insomnia, impaired immune function

Therapeutic Uses of Reiki

Reduced stress, promote relaxation, improve well-being, decreased pain, increased coping skills, provide emotional balance

Is Yoga safe?

YES. Some temporary muscoskeletal pain can occur

Is Reiki safe?

YES

What is Hydrotherapy?

Utilizes tap water containing very low levels of minerals such as sulfur, sodium, bicarbonate

What is Balneotherapy?

Utilizes natural thermal mineral waters with varying levels of salts, gases

Therapeutic Uses of Balneotherapy

Relieving chronic lower back pain and improving lumbar flexibility after “20-30 minute baths 5-7 days a week for 3 weeks”. Can also help with fibromyalgia, the baths showed a reduction in pain and tenderness. Osteoarthritis related pain and stiffness was also reduced. Efficacious in improving quality of life, therefore