Learning

Outcomes
Define the concepts of spirituality and religion as they

relate to nursing and health care

Identify the characteristics of spiritual health
Identify factors associated with spiritual distress and
manifestations of it
Describe the spiritual development of the individual across
the lifespan
Reflect upon ones own understanding of the terms
spirituality and spiritual care

Discuss the role of health care professionals in the provision

of spiritual care
Identify any barriers that may prevent health care
professionals from engaging with spiritual issues
Explore the skills required by health care professionals for
effective spiritual care

Historical Overview
Nursing evolved out of a
rich spiritual heritage
Central to the notion of
nursing were the
concepts of vocation and
self-giving in the service
of God.
Spirituality was not a
separate entity but
integrated permeating all
aspects of care.

Historical Overview

Spirituality was hidden yet displayed in the qualities, manners, attitudes

and approach of the nurses who cared!

The spiritual dimension in nursings tradition cannot be separated from

the history of nursing itself.

Today it is argued that spirituality has been eroded through the

secularism and scientific positivism.

It has been argued that spirituality is potentially the answer to many of

the problems that plague nursing

Historical
Overview

Health care,
Religion and
spirituality were
integrated

The notion of
vocation,
devotion and selfsacrifice were
essential traits.

CONTENT COLUMN

Spiritual care, the past,

present and future
PastFlorence Nightengale, and religious groups who

cared for the body & soul (Egyptian priests &

priestesses, monks, nuns, etc)
PresentNurses and Spiritual Experts are researching

and publishing the impact of spiritual care on medical

conditions
Future An increase in spiritual based treatments

and interventions interwoven with medical care

for illnesses and diseases.

Spirituality and nursing care

Caring actions are directed toward the welfare
of the patient and family while focusing on
health promotion, disease prevention, health
restoration and management of chronic
disease. This focus addresses the whole
patient, bio-psychosocial and spirituality,
and facilitates the movement toward a
high level of wellness. A caring attitude is
the respectful deference to others, positive
connectedness, professional knowledge and
skill and the attentiveness to anothers
experience.

Spirituality and Nursing

care

In modern nursing and midwifery practice there

is an ever growing awareness of the need and
benefit of what has been termed holistic care
Treating the whole person includes both the
physical ailments and the spiritual distress and
pain which can be generated in that person
because of the physical illness.
One must recognize that human beings are not
just physical entities but consist of body, mind
and spirit, three separate components , yet all
contributing to the wholeness of a human
being

Spirituality and nursing care

Spiritual care is one of the more
overlooked aspects of nursing care
probably because it is so often illdefined and misunderstood
There is however increasing recognition
that patients who have received good
spiritual care within their nursing care
have perceived their care to be of a
much better quality.

Spirituality and nursing

care
The failure of many nurses/midwives
to address the spiritual needs of their
patients is largely due to the lack of
information and guidelines for the
practice of spiritual care.
In practice however many
nurses/midwives frequently deal with
matters of spirituality without
recognising or naming them as such

What is spirituality?
Spirituality is the essence of a being
that permeates all of life.
It is the life force that gives meaning to
a how a person understands, views, and
lives life.
It is characterized by love, caring,
compassion, forgiveness, and the
interconnectedness with self, others,
nature and God/Higher Power/Universal
Life Force

Definition of spirituality
Spirituality is hard to define
Definition 1: attitudes, beliefs and practices which
animate peoples lives and provide a dimension of
human experience having to do with identity, purpose
and meaning.
Definition 2: a belief in and experience of a being or
statethat transcends physical reality and provides
direction, meaning and/or affirmation in ones life
People develop their own spirituality over the course of
a lifetime.

Spirituality and Religion

It is important to note the differences between religion
and spirituality.
Religion is more of the institutionalization of like
values, beliefs, and lifestyles amongst a shared group of
people.
Religion usually includes weekly (or more) attendance at
some type of group gathering centered on common
beliefs.

Spirituality and Religion

On the other hand, a person can be non-religious
and very extremely spiritual
Despite the importance of spirituality in the
lifestyles of many, it is often neglected when it
comes to healthcare.
While everyone has a spiritual dimension, in
many parts of the world, only a minority of
people practice a formal religion, hence, although
people commonly say I am not Religious, they
do not say I am not spiritual.

What is religion?
Religion:
The institutionalization of like values, beliefs, and
lifestyles amongst a shared group of people

Difference between
Religion & Spirituality
Religion--a system of beliefs and practices
that a person can use to express their
spirituality. Not required for spirituality
Examples

Christianscross, Bible
IslamQuran, prayer
JewishTorah, festivals
Buddhismkharma, Buddha

Remembernot all members of a religion

practice, express their spirituality the same.

What is religion?
In developed societies spirituality is typically
expressed through formalized religion of one
sort or another
It is however important to realize that the
concept of spirituality is much broader than
religion and that religion is only one form of
spiritual expression.
Unfortunately, many nurses believe that
meeting a patients spiritual needs means
finding out if they have a religious affiliation
and then arranging for the appropriate
chaplain or minister of religion to visit them

Key Point
Dont Assume!
Inquire?

What are religious needs?

Many people express their spirituality in terms
of religious belief and membership of a
particular faith or religious movement be it
Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or any other of
the many world faiths and religions.
We are living in a multi-cultural society so
nurses must be prepared to meet patients from
many different religious backgrounds.
Many patients will have strong religious beliefs
and will have certain needs that come with their
religious faith.
Others will hold a nominal religious affiliation
and definite religious needs will not be high on
their list of priorities.

Culture/Spirituality
Spirituality can be
determined by culture
determined by life experiences
unrelated to culture
Influenced by both culture and
personal experiences that are
opposite to the cultural norm.

Secularisation and Healthcare

A scheme in which new hospital patients
have their "religious and spiritual care
needs" assessed has been condemned by the
National Secular Society.
Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust said
people would be asked whether they had "any
faith needs that can be supported during their
stay". But the National Secular Society, which
defends the rights of non-believers, said the move
"misused NHS resources".

How on earth have we reached the stage

that you can't even go to hospital for
treatment without having religion foisted
on you like this?
Terry Sanderson
National Secular Society President

Why the interest in spirituality?

International Council of Nurses--Promotes environment
in which human rights, values, customs, and spiritual
beliefs of the individual, family and community are
respected
Spirituality is also implicit or explicit in codes of ethics
and practice competencies for different professional
groups.

Why the interest in spirituality?

There are a number of other drivers that have
raised awareness of spirituality.
Consideration must be given to the dramatic
changes within the structure and composition of
society it is culturally, ethnically and is
religiously diverse. Therefore, nursing and
health care needs to listen to the wide range of
perceptions and views.

Analogy and
Symbolism

Analogy and symbolism

Nursing faculty and students
recognize that people are holistic
beings = physical, mental, spiritual,
emotional
Considering a light bulb analogous
to a human, think of the glass,
aluminum, and other tangible
materials that compromise it as
representing the physical dimension;
think of the light and warmth the
bulb elicits as the psychological; and
the electrical current that energizes
and ultimately provides the meaning
and function for the bulb as the
spiritual dimension.

Football Explained

Football = Whole Person

Patches = Different Dimension of our being

Black = Physical, Psychosocial

White = less tangible, values, creeds, cultural aspects

Thread = unifying force of spirituality

Air = life force

Adapted from McSherry & Draper (1998)

Spirituality is
about:
Hope and strength
Trust
Meaning and purpose
Forgiveness
Belief and faith in self, others and for some this
includes a belief in a deity/higher power
Peoples values
Love and relationships
Morality
Creativity and self expression

What are religious needs?

Taking the Christian patient as an example,
there are a variety of religious needs that
need to be met and the Christian patient
could require some or all of the following : Prayer, Holy Communion, Anointing,
Confession, Absolution, Baptism, to be able to
attend a religious service on a Sunday, to
receive a blessing and at the time of death, to
be commended into Gods care.

It is also important to remember that within

the umbrella of the term Christian there
are many different denominations with
many different beliefs and needs

What are religious needs?

Most of the major world faiths have certain
rituals surrounding death and the nurse or
carer must be aware of these and be able
to give the appropriate care or be able to
call an appropriate person to carry out
these rituals

Spiritual Needs
Just as everybody has a spiritual dimension, all
clients have needs that reflect their spirituality
These needs are often shown when an individual
is sick or during other health crises.
Every individual person is different and has his
or her own spiritual dimension developed over a
lifetime
Because of this it is difficult to say what are the
exact spiritual needs of any particular individual.
See next slide for spiritual needs

Spiritual Needs
The need for meaning and purpose
The need for love and harmonious relationships
The need for forgiveness
The need for a source of hope and strength
The need for trust
The need for expression of personal
beliefs/values
The need for spiritual practices, expressions of
concept of God or deity and creativity

How are spiritual issues

raised?

Very often we will need to be on the alert

to the half spoken questions, the if only
or what if queries or the it makes you
think type of statements.
These statements may well be the tip of
the iceberg and if handled sensitively may
lead to the patient revealing to you their
inner world of turmoil and spiritual pain

How are spiritual issues

raised?

The patient may often raise questions directly to a

nurse or which has nothing to do with the physical

ailment but all to do with the onset of spiritual pain.
These sort of questions are those like why? why

me? what have I done to deserve this? what is

happening to me? is there a God?

Other expressions often voiced are Ive done

nothing worthwhile with my life, Who will
remember me when Ive gone? or Why should
anyone care about me?

Spiritual distress
Spiritual distress refers to a
challenge to the spiritual well-being
or to the belief system that provides
strength, hope and meaning to life.
Some factors that may contribute to
a persons spiritual distress include
physiologic problems, and
situational concerns

Signs of spiritual
distress/dilemma

UnfairnessWhy me?
UnworthinessI dont want to be a burden
HopelessnessWhats the point?
Guilt and punishmentIm being punished but I
led a good life
Isolation and angerNo one understands me
VulnerabilityI am afraid
ConfusionWhy is this happening to me?
AbandonmentGod (or family) doesnt care

What is spiritual care?

Spiritual Care Spiritual care is responding to the
uniqueness of the individual : accepting their range of
doubts, beliefs, and values just as they are.
It means responding to the spoken or unspoken
statements from the very core of that person as valid
expressions of where they are and who they are.
It is to be a facilitator in their search for identity on the
journey of life and in the particular situation in which
they find themselves.
It is to respond without being prescriptive,
judgemental or dogmatic and without preconditions;
acknowledging that each will be at a different stage on
that personal spiritual journey.

How is spiritual care given?

A useful starting point is to begin by
listening and receiving the questions and
doubts as they are voiced by the patient,
and allowing the patient to be who they
are and as they are.
The Nurse should be non-judgemental,
and non-authoritarian.

Spiritual Caring &

The Nursing Process:
Assessment

Assessment

FICA Model (Puchalski, 1996)

Faith (believe, tradition, etc?)
Important (How important to you?)
Community (church, support,
involvement?)
Apply/Address (beliefs apply to health?
how can we address those needs?)

Nursing Process: Nursing

Diagnose
Risk for Spiritual Distressat risk for an altered sense
of harmonious connectedness with all of life and the
universe in which dimensions that transcend and
empower the self may be disrupted.
Spiritual Distressdisruption in the life principle that
pervades a persons entire being and that
integrates and transcends ones biological and
psychosocial nature.
Readiness for Enhanced Spiritual Well-Beingprocess
of developing/unfolding of mystery through
harmonious interconnectedness that springs forth
from inner strengths.

Nursing Process:
Interventions
What can I (the nurse) do??
LOT!

Active listening
Bibliotherapy (reading
spiritually uplifting
materials, including sacred
writings)
Caring touch
Dream analysis
Expressive art (music,
sculpture, painting,
knitting, dance, etc)
Facilitate religious
practices & social support
Humor

Journal writing/scrapbook
making
Meditation
Nature
Praying with or for clients
or assisting clients to pray
Presencing
Story listening,
reminiscence, or life review
Collaborate w/ spiritual
leaders
cited Taylor, E.F. (2002)

Nursing Process: Evaluation

Patient/client will be
-less anxious
-verbalize feelings, concerns, fears, etc
-report feeling peace
-open to discuss spiritual concerns,
issues, etc
Spiritual health is a PROCESS
Focus on the client outcome
NOT the nurses desired outcome.

Spiritual Crisis:
A crisis of illness, suffering,
and/or death
Many events in life can
create a Spiritual Crisis.
Health care:
Chronic Illness, Life
Threatening Trauma
and/or Disease, and
others
Loss:
of a loved one,
perceived self, health,
support, and others

Spirituality . . . curriculum &

reality
Beyond the curriculum and what our
students are learning, we are embracing
spirituality on campus.
Celebration Ceremony in remembrance of a fellow
Nursing Student
Music, Release of Doves, Encouraging Words
Blessing of our Hands
Nurses Day 2004

What about the nurse?

To care for the spiritual needs of patients can be very
demanding on the one who is meeting these needs.
To effectively carry out spiritual care the nurse take
care to examine their own spirituality.
Many nurses have not considered their own spiritual
dimensions or value systems.
Having a clear knowledge of their own framework of
beliefs may make it easier for them to avoid a
judgemental attitude toward patients who happen to
have beliefs that conflict with their own ideas about
the meaning to life.
Giving spiritual care can involve a caregiver in
confronting their own demons and devils and it can
be very demanding work not least because of the
demands that this care giving can put on a carers
already overcrowded work schedule.

What about the nurse?

For those engaged in spiritual care it is
important to look after their own needs.
Nurse should get together frequently to
share experiences and support one another.
Debriefing sessions often offered by the
chaplaincy department should become an
important part of their work rota.
Hot baths, aromatherapy, yoga, all these
things can help a carer relax and wind down
and prevent the pain of a suffering patient
taking over their own lives.

Language of spirituality
Seeks to be universal
All inclusive
Acknowledges individuality
Suggest spirituality comes into focus at time of need?
Dismisses or seeks to divorce the religious and
theistic
Subjective

Spiritual care is not:

Just about religious beliefs and practices
About imposing your own beliefs and
values on another
Using your position to convert
A specialist activity
The sole responsibility of the Chaplain

Role of Health Care

Professionals

Systematic approach - Assess, plan, implement and

evaluate.

Individualised, person-centred care,

Symptom control

Listening and attending

Support

Facilitation - other agencies

Treatment
Scientific
Proficient
Technical Competence
Detached
Robotic
Cold

Care
Warm
Time
Presence
Valued
Accepted
Recognise the person

Scientific and Artistic

Approaches to
spiritual assessment
Formal (active)

Informal
(passive)

Barriers
Physical - sense, loss of ability to communicate.
Environmental - lack of privacy, quiet rooms.
Psychological - fears taboos, our own insecurities,
dementia
Economic - not enough staff, time, money for
resources
Educational - lack of training insight into the
concept

Skills Required
Self Awareness - introspection - we need to reflect upon ourselves
identifying our own personal and unique spirituality.
Counselling and interpersonal skills - we need to be able to
relate confidently to individuals.
Trust building - establish a rapport and therapeutic relationship
with patients.
Non judgmental (if this is possible) be accepting and tolerant
acknowledging we are a unique.
Education - we need to develop our knowledge and understanding
of the concepts of spirituality.

Conclusion

Spiritual health care is a complex and subjective, however

it is central to the notion of holistic practice.

There is no authoritative definition of the term spirituality.

Spirituality requires awareness on the health care

professionals part.

Spirituality is not only to be associated with institutional

religion since it consists of many components.

Many health care professionals already possess many of

the skills required to take the initiative in dealing with
spiritual issues. What they lack is confidence and
education.

Complementary and
Alternative Healing
Modalities

Complementary and
Alternative Therapies

Complementary and
Alternative Therapies
Many people in Ghana are using
complementary and alternative therapies
(CAT) to promote health and assist with
healing from illness

 Nurses should be knowledgeable about

CAT primarily for three reasons.
First, patients, families, physicians, and
institutions are increasingly expecting
practicing nurses to be knowledgeable
about CAT.

 Second, many nurses are expanding their

clinical practice by incorporating CAT
Finally, although CAT may seem totally safe,
there are some potentially harmful situations.
For example, certain herbs may interact with
each other or with pharmaceutical agents,
causing potentially negative effects

Introduction to Complementary
and Alternative Therapies
Allopathic Medicine
(or biomedicine) has been
dominant for about 100 years
Allopathic medical care is
particularly effective when
aggressive treatment is needed
in emergency or acute situations.

Introduction to
Complementary and
Alternative Therapies
Allopathic medical care has not been
very effective in dealing with chronic
illness
Increasingly, CAT are being used as an
answer to the problem of chronic
illness.

 Many CAT are based on a theory and

philosophy of holism upon which holistic
nursing also is based.
Many practitioners and consumers of
healthcare choose to combine allopathic
modalities and CAT using an integrative
approach.

Holism
is a theory and philosophy that focuses
on connections and interactions between
parts of the whole.

Holism
Using a holistic perspective, all living
organisms, including humans, are
continuously connecting and interacting
with their environment.
This continual interaction and change
means that the body is not the sum of
its parts (as in reductionism), but that it
is a unified, dynamic whole.

Holism
A holistic philosophy underlies many CAT
A change in any part of the organism will
be reflected in other parts
Holistic nursing is nursing practice built on
a holistic philosophy
Holistic nurses frequently add CATs to
their practice

Integrative Care
Uses some combination of allopathic
medicine and CAT

CAT and Nursing

CAT consists of a large variety of
therapies that are based on a set of
beliefs different from those of allopathic
medicine

 Some of these modalities have developed

fairly recently (, guided imagery),
While others have been used for
thousands of years as components of
ancient healing systems ( Ayurveda or
traditional Chinese medicine).

 Some therapies can be used effectively

without assistance (eg, nutritional
approaches), while others (eg,
naturopathy) are more effective when
used with guidance from practitioners who
have particular knowledge and expertise.

 Nurses need to have knowledge of this

area for at least two reasons.
Many patients use these types of
therapies as outpatients and want to
continue their use as much as possible
when they become inpatients

 Second, it is not uncommon for individuals

to retain ethnic healthcare practices
although they reside in the United States

 Many people also use CAT for stress

management
Stress reductionTechniques such as
relaxation with focused breathing,
meditation, imagery, biofeedback, and
massage are used in all stages of
health and illness to promote healing
and/or manage symptoms.

 Because stress can contribute to illness,

CAT can sometimes be effective in
reducing symptoms and enhancing quality
of life, and nurses can assist clients with
these therapies

Prevalence of CAT
The 2002 survey found that 36% of adults
used some type of CAT in the 12 months
before the survey.
When megavitamin therapy and prayer
specifically for health reasons were
included in the definition of CAT, that
number rose to 62%.

Prevalence of CAT
Women than men
People with higher educational levels
People who have been hospitalized in the
past year
Former smokers, compared with current
smokers or those who have never smoked

CAT Categories

Whole medical systems,

Mindbody therapies,
Energy medicine,
Biologically based practices,
Manipulative and body-based practices.

Whole Medical Systems

A whole medical system (or alternative medical
system) consists of a philosophy and theory
about health and illness along with specific types
of treatment.
These systems have developed independently
from allopathic medicine and are generally
culturally based. systems.

Examples of whole medical

systems

Ayurveda,
Traditional Chinese medicine,
Shamanism (which includes native
traditions)
Homeopathy
Naturopathy
Chiropractic medicine .

Ayurveda
It is a science of life that delineates the
diet, medicines, and behaviors that are
beneficial or harmful for life.
Ayurveda considers that balance among
people, the environment, and the larger
cosmos is integral to human health

Ayurveda
Central to Ayurvedic medicine is
understanding the patient's basic
constitution, or DOSHA
Many treatment modalities are specific for
each dosha and may include nutrition,
exercise, herbs, breathing, meditation,
massage, aromatherapy, and purification.

Yoga
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of
years in India,
Where it is a way of life that includes
ethical models for behavior and mental
and physical exercises aimed at producing
spiritual enlightenment

Nursing Considerations
Some may have special dietary (eg, vegetarian)
needs, some may need time set aside for selfcare such as meditation, and some may desire
to continue taking an herbal/supplement.
All precautions related to herbal and
pharmaceutical interactions should be
followed with Ayurvedic herbal preparations.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM as a healing system is thousands of years
old.
A principle of TCM is that the interaction of
people with their environment is most significant
in creating health
The concept most central to TCM is or chi
(pronounced ), which is translated as energy.
Qi represents an invisible flow of energy that
circulates through plants, animals, and people
as well as the earth and sky.
.

YIN and YANG

Qi is further viewed as either yin or yang energy.
Opposites and complementary,
Health is present when they are in balance in a
person and his or her total environment.
An imbalance of yin and yang is considered to
be the cause of illness (Table 28-4).

Acupuncture
Qi is believed to flow vertically in the body
through an intricate structure of 72 energy
circuits that nourish and support all cells and
organs of the body
Acupuncture consists of placing very thin, short,
sterile needles at particular acupoints, believed
to be centers
of nerve and vascular tissue, along a meridian

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is used for a variety of reasons,
including reducing pain, promoting adherence to
substance abuse programs, and minimizing
nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and
pregnancy.
Licensed acupuncturists have graduated from
an accredited acupuncture school after
significant college-level coursework and passed
a licensure examination.

Shamanism
In shamanism, illness and other forms of
distress are thought to originate in the
spirit world. The shaman or medicine man/
woman possesses the ability to access the
spirit world, which is done on behalf of
individuals or the community, and return to
ordinary reality with information on the
proper treatment.

Some Native American beliefs

Healing takes time, and time contributes to
healing.
The distractions of modern life interfere with
potential healing agents.
Modern culture encourages us to maintain a
low level of emotional awareness.
Ceremony is important to receive guidance
and assistance from the spiritual dimension

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is based on the belief of
supporting the body while the symptoms
are allowed to run their course.
Homeopaths believe that this process
stimulates and strengthens the immune
system and promotes healing

Homeopathy
Homeopathic practice is based on two
fundamental laws.
The Law of Similars states that a natural
substance that produces a given symptom in a
healthy person will cure it in a sick person.
The Law of Infinitesimals states that the
smallest dose possible will have the desired
effect.

Naturopathy
is not only a system of medicine but also a way
of life
Emphasis on client responsibility, client
education, health maintenance, and disease
prevention.
It may be the model health system of the future
with the movement toward healthy lifestyles,
healthy diets, and preventive health care

Naturopathy
Naturopaths believe that health is a dynamic
state of being that provides abundant energy for
people to deal with life in our complex society.
Much of illness can be attributed, at least in part,
to ignoring natural laws, such as engaging in a
sedentary lifestyle without adequate time for
exercise; exposing oneself to environmental
toxins; eating processed, overcooked foods;
engaging in negativity or harboring negative
thoughts; and not getting adequate rest or
relaxation.

Naturopathy
Therapies strive to support the self-healing
mechanism of the body.
Naturopaths employ an eclectic group of
modalities, including acupuncture, clinical
nutrition, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy
(therapeutic use of water), osteopathy
(massage and manipulation), and TCM.

Chiropractic Medicine
Investigates the relationship between the
structure (the spine) and function (mainly
the nervous system) of the human body to
restore and preserve health.

Chiropractic Medicine
The underlying principle is that the functions of
the body are controlled by the nervous system,
mainly 31 pairs of spinal nerves that feed all
organs of the body after branching off the spinal
column.
The nervous system problem is sometimes
caused by a subluxation,. By adjusting the spine
the joint is brought into proper alignment and the
pressure on the nerve is released.

MindBody Modalities
Relaxation
The ultimate goal is to increase the
parasympathetic system influence in the mind
body and thus reduce the effect of stress and
stress-related illness on the body. several
relaxation techniques, including autogenic
training, biofeedback, body scanning, hypnosis,
meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation

Relaxation techniques

Autogenic training,
Biofeedback,
Body scanning,
Hypnosis,
Meditation,
Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Guided Imagery
Imagery involves using all five senses to
imagine an event or body process unfolding
according to a plan.
When all senses are involved in the experience,
the imaginary situation is more fully encoded in
the body and more likely to take place.
A relaxation technique is frequently used to
prepare the mind and body before beginning an
imagery session.

Nursing Considerations
. Nurses can work with patients using outcome
imagery, which might consist of using a picture
or photograph to visualize the desired outcome
in a body part or in a situation.
During a painful or stressful event, such as an
intravenous line being started, the patient can
go to a favorite place and imagine being there
with all the pleasant experiences related to that
space.

Humor Therapy
After watching 10 minutes of Marx Brothers
(comedians) tapes and belly-laughing,
Sedimentation rates (a measure of inflammation
in the body) decreased by at least five points
permanently
More recent research) found that improved
immune response was correlated with
experiences of mirthful laughter.

Aromatherapy
Use of essential oils of plants to treat
symptoms
Commonly used essential oils in a
healthcare setting are ginger or
peppermint for nausea and lavender or
chamomile for insomnia

Energy Medicine Modalities

All organisms are dependent on a subtle vital
force that creates order in the system
This life force feeds and nourishes the organism
and is carried via two energetic structures that
interact with each other: chakras and the etheric
body.

Energy Medicine Modalities

Chakras are concentrated areas of
energy aligned vertically in the body that
relate to each other as well as to specific
areas of the body, mind, and spirit
The etheric body () consists of at least
seven layers of energy that surround the
body and relate to the chakras

Energy Medicine Modalities

Energy therapies used for healing are
based on the belief that they can affect
this primary life force and thus contribute
to physiologic healing.

Energy Therapies
Therapeutic Touch
Healing Touch
Sound Healing

Biologically Based Practices

Botanical agents (herbs) and nutritional
supplements are chemical compounds
that are ingested with the hope of
achieving a therapeutic goal.
They are becoming increasingly popular
with consumers, who can buy many of
these preparations over the counter or
from company distributors.

Biologically Based Practices

Some consumers and practitioners are
attracted to herbs because they are
natural plant products, which are
perceived as more compatible with the
body than manufactured pharmaceutical
agents

Biologically Based Practices

Echinacea and goldenseal (separately or
in combination) are frequently used for
respiratory infections
Ginkgo biloba is frequently used to dilate
cerebral blood vessels and reduce
symptoms of memory loss and mental
confusion.

Nursing Considerations
Some herbs and/or supplements may
interact with prescribed medications
patients are taking.
Ginkgo biloba, the most widely sold herb
in Europe and used by many to improve
memory, affects platelet function and thus
should not be used concurrently with
warfarin

Manipulative and Body-Based

Practices
This group of therapies includes therapeutic
massage as well as a variety of techniques such
as Rolfing, shiatsu, Feldenkrais, Alexander,
myofascial release, and others.
The goal is to break up tension held in body
structures, promote communication between
mindbody structures, promote detoxification,
and generally improve body functioning

Learning outcomes
Describe concepts basic to
alternative practices
Give examples of healing
environments