1. Teresa Chahine MSN, PMHNP
Oakland University, School of Nursing
Complementary & Alternative
Medicine

2. Complementary Medicine
Generally refers to using health care approaches that
are utilized along side conventional medicine.
The nursing profession has used these procedures and
techniques as part of nursing interventions long be
before the medical profession embraced them.
In the past 40 years complementary therapies have
become more mainstream.
Alternative Medicine
Refers to using a non-mainstream approach in place of
conventional medicine.
Most people use non-mainstream approaches along
with conventional treatments.

3. Relaxation Techniques
Breathing exercises
Guided imagery
Progressive relaxation
Meditation
Mindfulness meditation
Transcendental meditation
Massage Therapy
Various different techniques of manual manipulation of soft tissues of the body
Biofeedback
Healing Touch
Aromatherapy
Movement Therapies
Pilates
Rolfing Structural Integration
Alexander technique
Yoga
Tai Chi &Qi Gong
Hypnotherapy
Acupuncture
Spinal Manipulation
Practiced by chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, naturopathic physicians, and physical
therapists.

5. Diet and nutrition as an alternative therapy
Superfoods- health promoting properties.
Antioxidant foods
Vitamin & mineral supplements
Other nutrients
Exercise as an alternative therapy
As a mood state modulator
Improve cognitive abilities and functioning
Improve immune functioning
Herbs as medical intervention
Plants used for medicinal purposes and treatments.

6. Research clearly supports the concept of spiritual practices
improving health outcomes.
Participation in religious activities has been estimated to add 7 to
14 years to the life span.
Clinical studies support therapeutic effects of intercessory
prayer* in healing.
Correlational studies have reported that people who pray
frequently score positively on tests of marital adjustment, life and
religious satisfaction, existential well being, and purpose of life.
Spiritual healing methods are contraindicated for any competent
and conscious individual who does not consent to it, even if
family members or guardian believe otherwise.

7. Therapeutic Touch- is believed to produce a repatterning of
the environmental energy fields of both the patient and
practitioner.
Reiki- a meditative state in which a practitioner channels
Reiki energy from a universal source to another human
being.
Qigong Therapy- aligns breath, movement exercises,
mindfulness and visualization to guide life energy through
the body.
Pranic Healing- the practitioner directs life energy or force
that is readily available from the sun and guides it to repair
the living entity.

8. References
Barens, P.M., Boom, B. &Nahin, RL. (2008). Complementary and
alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States
2007. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12.
Complementary, alternative, or integrated Health: What’s in a
name? (May 2013). National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Freeman, Lyn. (2009). Compementary& alternative medicine: A
research-based approach. (3rded). St. Louis: Mosby.