Health and wellbeing is an essential factor in our lives. Reflexology, a complementary holistic therapy, has its part to play in promoting health and wellbeing in an individual (Stormer, 2010). It follows the theory that there is a map of the body on the soles of the feet and that when massaging areas called reflexes this can produce a change and healing in another part of the body. Stormer describes its effectiveness as coming from knowing how perfectly feet reflect the physical body in miniature. The ears, face, hands and lower legs can also be used (www.aor, 2015). The therapy is carried out on bare feet and is conducive to being practised in various settings such as a client’s own home (Stone 2011). Usually the therapist will work …show more content…
16). ………………………………………………………………………….. Gains will be individual but the general view is that it can help lessen stress and tension and promote relaxation. Reflexology is tailored to the individual where the practitioner looks at the person as a whole. Lifestyle and environmental factors are also considered. (www.aor, 2015) Reflexology can be used alongside traditional medical treatment but never as an alternative. It is a very safe, natural and non-invasive technique and can be used on any age group. …………………………………………………………………………….. Reflexology may not work for everyone and although research has been carried out it is not extensive and robust enough to prove that it works (Crane 2010) Some medical conditions may not be treated and there are contraindications to using reflexology on certain clients. A comprehensive medical history is vital prior to treatment. If a client has medical tests or procedures planned it is best to exercise caution and it may be in the client’s best interest to advise against treatment at this time. A highly qualified practitioner will not diagnose, prescribe or cure. Medical guidance must always be sought for any undiagnosed …show more content…
They allow the public to make informed decisions about health practitioners and challenge poor practice. Therapists should aim to join a register accredited by the professional standards authority. Not only does it give the public confidence but shows the therapist to be accountable and committed to achieving best practice. Although this would involve a registration fee and strict entry criteria they can also provide the therapist with PR support, up to date publications and entry onto the national register. They also allow members to display the quality mark on any promotional literature. Yearly confirmation is required that as a practitioner you have carried out 15 hours of continuing professional development directly related to your
Reflexology is a safe and natural drug free modality that has been practiced in many cultures for centuries. It is a unique form of bodywork that enables the body to activate its own healing potential. Reflexology is an alternative and complementary medicine based on the principle that reflexes in the feet, hands and ears correspond to a mapped system of the organs or glands in the body. The official definition of Reflexology states that, “reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques, such as thumb and finger-walking, hook and backup and rotating-on-a-point, applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function
During the early 1900s, the practice of medical science became accepted in our society. Many of the Swedish massage was mingled in with those of medical doctors and medical practices. (A type of “mechano-therapy” emerged of a combination with other therapist preformed by a physician or a nurse’s assistant.) Over time, these practices were absorbed into what would be general medicine. In the 1920s Masseurs and Masseuses had lost most of their market to doctors. They mainly found work with wealthy individuals who wanted a general, relaxing form of massage. After World War ll, a group of massage operators formed the American Association of Masseurs and Masseuses. This later became the forerunner of today’s American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). The goal of these associations is to raise the status of massage as a unique and effective treatment for healing. In the 1980s the AMTA was formed. The first thing they did was establish a code of ethics and change their titles from masseurs and masseuses to massage therapist. Now the profession of massage is enjoying renewed vigor and influence in alternative medicine. Recent trends have pointed the continuing promise and growth of massage therapy as a health care career.
Touch is as essential to a healthy and happy life as eating right, getting proper sleep, and exercising. With the world growing more technological, the need for healthy human contact is more important than ever. Massage and body therapies are an age old healing refuge for us in this fast-paced, stressed-out world. The practice of massage therapy is rapidly growing in the United States. It has so much to offer and is becoming more widely accepted by doctors and the general public. Massage is touching another person by such movements as rubbing, kneading, pressing, rolling, slapping, and tapping. This type of therapy provides circulation of the blood and lymph, relaxation of muscles, relief from pain, restoration of metabolic balance, and many other benefits both physical and mental. There is much historical evidence to indicate that massage is one of the earliest remedies for pain relief and for the restoration of a healthy body. It is said to be the most natural and instinctive means of relieving pain and discomfort. Massage has proven to be an effective method for treating many conditions for thousands of years and it will continue to be used for thousands of years to come. Massage therapy is a great treatment for the body and soul.
...et national criteria. The CQC and NHS require clinical governance and auditing to prove effective practice. In the absence of clinical audits it is very difficult to prove to the CQC and the NHS of whether you are practicing effectively which could affect your registration. Undertaking clinical audits within the practice to address current practice against national guidelines would have a number of benefits including identifying and promoting good practice which can lead to improvements in service delivery and provides information you need to demonstrate to the CQC that as a service provider you are delivering an effective service. It also provides opportunities for continued professional development through training and education and increases efficacy due to better utilisation of resources. Clinical audit is a multi-disciplinary activity and is an ongoing process.
Derived from several ancient healing practices, therapeutic touch is based on the theory of human energy fields - every person has an energy field that surrounds the entire body. During therapeutic touch treatment, practitioners use their hands, without actually touching the person, to re-establish a healthy energy flow. Therapeutic touch seeks to restore balance within the body while also stimulating the patient's own healing response. The practice of therapeutic touch is used worldwide in thousands of hospitals, clinics, and private practices. It is an easily learned, successful complement to other healing programs.
Most of the time when going to the doctor’s office they will prescribe a prescription drug to the patient to help manage their pain. This pain can be described as a “sensation of physical or mental suffering or hurt that usually causes distress or agony to the one experiencing it.” (Taylor, Lillis, LeMone, and Lynn, 2011) However, there are some instances where medication may not be enough for some patients; they may require more relief than what a prescription drug can offer. This is why many patients may benefit from complementary and alternative therapies (CAT). These types of interventions are “complementary therapies (they can be used with traditional medical interventions and thus complement them).” (Taylor et al., 2011)
Complementary and alternative therapies are relatively new and essential options in health care, they help to increase the quality of life of patients and provide them with numerous possibilities to ensure growth of their health, beyond current medicine. Recently, these therapies, such as massage therapy and acupuncture, have become more prevalent in research. Consequently, their substitution with standard medicine in the healthcare system has been supported by the literature. The literature that supports these methods has explored why complementary therapies are needed, the different and distinct features of each therapy, and they also examine the education and knowledge those implementing the services must have. To accurately analyze if complementary and alternative therapies are valuable to the health care system, this paper will aim to learn why they are becoming predominant and why nurses should use these therapies’ to assist in improving the health of individuals. To determine the main attributes of these therapies, a variety of resources that extensively discuss complementary and alternative therapies will be examined and the paper will also examine the benefits and weaknesses they have on improving health. Lastly, this paper will aim to determine if these services should be implemented by nurses as alternative options for their patients, as nurses should have substantial knowledge pertaining to implementing these therapies.
Kinesiology is a complimentary therapy used to identify and correct internal issues to relieve stress, allergies, and pain. Being described as a complimentary therapy, kinesiology is not meant to be a cure-all for the patient, but a secondary method of increasing positive results of the original therapy; this method however can be used as a primary or secondary form of therapy depending on the results for the patient and satisfaction with said results. During treatment the doctor tests 14 different areas of muscles balance, these major muscles and how they react are believed to uncover problems that need correction which cannot be found with any other testing (Rude Health).
This is when pressure is applied to the hands or feet by a thumb technique with no lotion. There are different points on the feet are related to different parts of the body. It has been shown that reflexology helps with pain and stiffness in Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers. The patients also claim that due to reflexology they have used less painkillers and generally feel healthier.
Holistic Medicine, commonly referred to as “Alternative Medicine”, is a vast and rapidly growing new scientific field. It is derived mainly from ancient, traditional methods of healing that have often been practiced in the East for centuries. These include a variety of techniques from herbal healing to acupuncture to homeopathy to energy channeling. Due to the large number of methods that are covered by the term, there are various definitions of Holistic Medicine. However, all literature seems to agree that Alternative Medicine, is exactly what the name suggests: an ‘alternative’ approach to healing and medicine. It is a more personal move toward health care, which attempts to connect the mind, body and spirit.
Reflexology is an ancient method of healing that originated in Egypt and the Orient. More than four thousand years ago, man discovered this treatment for imbalance, and recorded their discovery in drawings on cave walls. It is suggested that reflexology evolved from acupuncture and acupressure. Reflexology flourished in the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century, but did not appear in the United States until the early 1900's (http://lagunabeachca.com/reflexol.htm).
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is slowly becoming better known all over the world. CAM encompasses various types of therapies, such as yoga, reflexology, chiropractic therapy, herbal therapy, ayurveda, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, etc. The evidenced-based research, recognition of disconnect between patients and also the positive and negative aspects of CAM modalities are reasons behind the increased attention it has gained in medicals schools all over the United States. (Hart, 2009, p. 287).
According to Massage Today “Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old”. I feel that the benefit of rubbing aching muscles and hurt limbs comes to us as naturally as breathing air. Among its many purposes and advantages, massage soothes achy muscles, helps heal injuries, strengthens baby’s muscles and relieves stress. To me, massage is not only a way to soothe the muscles and relieve the everyday stresses of society, massage is a way to connect with others through the common practice of touch. We have needed touch in our lives since the first seconds after our birth, so it’s not surprising that we would seek out touch in the form of massage.
They noticed that the conditions related to their muscular system, respiratory system, nervous system, and the digestive system improved notably. It has been studied and suggested that regular practice of Yoga increases the brain gamma-Aminobutyric acid levels which helps in regulating the excitability of the nervous system and muscle tone as well. This helps in reducing anxiety and improving mood functions, letting people lead much more emotionally balanced lives. Apart from the abovementioned advantages, yoga also helps in keeping cardiovascular diseases in check. The three principles of yoga: asana (exercise), pranayama (breathing), and drishti (meditation) help in monitoring heart activities and keeping it functioning healthily. It does so by reducing blood pressure, speeding up recovery related to heart failures or cardiac arrests, and lower other cardiovascular risk factors that some people might have genetically imbibed in them. Similarly, it helps people with chronic back aches. Regular practice of yoga can bring relief over a period of time, than medications alone. Pain medications for back ache or spine-related spasms generally have dangerous side effects such as gastric problems, nausea, and the relief they provide last for a very short period of time. Yoga on the other hand gives back pain sufferers a much necessary relief through stretching exercises and also by meditating which plays a major role in alleviating any kind of
Leach, Matthew J ." Rapport:a key to treatment success". Complementary therapies in clinical practice , 11/2005, Volume 11, Issue 4, pp. 262 – 265. Pro Quest .Nov 2005.Web. 06 Nov 2013.