1. Complimentary Health Practices
Chapter 5

2. Traditional Healing Practices
Methods are not alternatives, but are common.
They do not work for HIV treatments.
These methods are used in many poorer region where adequate health care is out of reach due to high costs.
Many immigrant woman in North America use healing traditions from their mothers.
Some Black people in America practice root work.
Many Native Americans have maintainedtraditional healing methods.
Some Puerto Ricans practice espiritismo.
Mexicans in America practice curanderismo.
Many Haitians practice vodoun and
Hmoung folk practices.
3. Why We Choose Complimentary Health Therapies
More women than men use complementary health therapies
Reasons for using complementary health practices with conventional ones.
- Belief that these therapies are gentler, safer, and more effective.
-They are less expensive
Many women combine complementary health practices with conventional medicines.
4. Traditional and Complementary Approaches
Herbal Medicine is also known as botanical medicine or phytomedicine(phyto is Greek for plant)
It has been used for over centuries
Has been used in almost all cultures
Concentrated herbal extracts at health food stores are very expensive.
Herbs can be grown at home
Quality of herbal preparations sold in the U.S. are inconsistent
FDA issued quality control guidelines to manufacturers, which are voluntary.
Herbalists in the U.S. are not certified, but can belong to the American Herbalists Guild.
Most common herbal medicines used in the U.S. are
- Echinacea is used for cold sand respiratory symptoms
- St. John Wort is used for depression, ginkgo dementia, garlic preparationsfor cardiovascular risk
factors.
Its important to research, before taking, because some are benign and some are not
Research continues to evaluate the safety and efficiency of herbal medicines.
5. Acupuncture
Component of Chinese medicine
It includes a complex system of
herbal medicine, diet, exercise, and
tuina ( a form of massage)
In traditional Chinese medicine
symptoms are attributed to alterations in the flow of qi
(energy) by trauma, stress, disease, other factors.
Acupuncture stimulates points along nonanatomic energy meridians to attract, disperse, or unblock the flow of qi.
Treatment includes hair-thin stainless steel needles inserted into acupuncture points.
-Person may feel a prick, tingling, numbness, pain, or nothing
-Two to fifteen needles are used and they are mostly placed in the hands,
forearms, lower legs, feet, back, abdomen, and ears.
-Needles may be placed far from the symptomatic area.
Acupuncture is effective in post operative nausea, morning sickness, recurrent headache, postoperative pain after dental treatment, and temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) .
Serious complications can be inadequately sterilized needles leading to infections of Hepatitis and other infections. Only disposable needles should be used.
Non-physician acupuncturists are licensed or certified in more than 40 states and the Dis. of Columbia
The national exam can be taken by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Insurance pay for visits.
6. Spinal Adjustment
Causes for pain or restricted motions include
Both osteopaths and chiropractors use spinal adjustment to optimize body functioning.
Controversies exist in chiropractic techniques.
Studies have shown similar outcomes as medical treatment.
Chiropractorsare trained at chiropractic colleges and are not physicians.
Some chiropractors restrict their practice to spinal adjustments
Chiropractors are licensed in every state.
Insurance usually covers chiropractic care.
*Many woman visit osteopaths orchiropractors for musculoskeletal problems or for preventive health care.
*Both osteopaths and chiropractors use spinal adjustment to optimize body functioning.
*Doctors of osteopathy are physicians licensed to do everything that M.D.s do.
7. More Traditional & Complimentary Approaches
Bodywork
Used to relax, reduce tension, or relieve pain
Physical manipulation and movement education are combined to realign the body and establish ease of movement.
Rolfing is deep manipulation of the fascia.
Different techniques include Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, and Hellerwork
Some methods are practiced one-on-one with a practitioner.
Feldonkrais and Alexander technique can be taught in groups.
8. Massage
Touching is a natural way to communicate and offer of comfort and an effective form of treatment.
Massage can be done with hands, thumbs, feet, massage ball, and other instruments.
Massages can be done by ourselves, family, friends, or a trained practitioner.
Swedish massage is used in North America, using long gliding strokes, friction, and kneading.
Ayurvedic massage uses oil and gentle strokes.
Shiatsu massage uses pressure at specific energy points.
Some massaging is done while one is clothed and others may be done with oils, and receiver partially or fully nude.
Effective massage will relax the body.
Practitioners sometimes include visualization and aromatherapy (use of essential oils made from flowers and herbs.
Studies show that massage is helpful for back pain, lyphodema, and post breast cancer surgery.
Costs for massage range from $50 to $85 an hour.
9. Types of Meditative Practices
Meditation: the intentional paying attention from moment to moment.Attaining a different level of consciousness or a deeper more gratifying state of relaxation.
-People meditate to feel calm, diminish stress
or pain, get through crisis, or to engage in
spiritual practice.
-It can be done anywhere and in any position.
Yoga includes asanas (physical poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises)
-Different forms is taught in the U.S.
-Some emphasize on exercising and some breathing
-Sometimes used for carpal tunnel and osteoarthritis
-Benefits come from efforts rather than reaching the goal.
Tai Chi is a form of Chinese martial arts intended to balance the flow
of energy.
-It uses gentle, flowing, and gracefulbody movements, while
centering the mind.
-It is usually available through the Y or community health centers.
Relaxation releases tension and focus the energy of our minds and bodies.
-Progressive relaxation training: leaning to relax muscle groups
-Visualization is imagining an object, scene, or process, which has been
used to calm women in labor.
10. Dance and movement therapies

Dance was used for pleasure and relaxation over the years by woman.

11. It is considered a vital cultural and spiritual component of community. 12. Some dances are ancestral or indigenous forms of dance such as Hawaiian, African, and Native American. 13. It develops spiritual and physical well-being. 14. Dance can also be a formal mode of healing. 15. It addresses our physical body, emotions, mental attitude, and relationship with the world. 16. Dance therapists observe and dance along side the patient.