Complementary Therapies in Health and Social Care

This document provides an overview of complementary therapies in health and social care. It discusses the purpose, historical context, and effectiveness of various therapies. It also explores the impact of current legislative and policy environment on the usage of complementary therapies. Additionally, it highlights the significance of these therapies in maintaining health and well-being.

Complementary therapies in health
and social care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Section 1 – Creating Awareness .....................................................................................................1
P1 The purpose and historical context of various complementary therapies.........................1
Section 2 – Practice Requirements for complementary Therapy.....................................................2
P2 Different professional practice requires for complementary therapists............................2
P3 Impact of current legislative and policy environment on usage of complementary therapies
................................................................................................................................................3
Section 3 – Effectiveness of use of complementary therapies ........................................................4
P4 Comparison and contrast of different complementary therapies and orthodox treatments4
Section 4 – Significance of complementary therapies in maintaining health and well-being.........6
P5 Impact of complementary therapies on various physiological functions..........................6
P6 Psychological effects of complementary therapies on individual behaviour in healthcare
settings....................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
.........................................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Complementary therapies can be defined as alternative options, that provided to people to
cope-up from long-term diseases and improve better quality of life (Arcury and et. al., 2019). It
offers the various approaches as conventional and supplement clinical practices which
supporting wellness with traditional art of healing, like yoga, aromatherapy, herbal medicine and
more. However, these practices are not included as standard medical care, but helps in
developing richness in holistic care (Abrahão and et. al., 2019). Under the present report, for
creating awareness about importance of complementary therapies, purpose and historical context
of the same is described,with its principles in healthcare settings. An assessment of regulations
that affect such therapies, with professional practices required to apply same, is also being
discussed. Furthermore, significance of complementary practices for maintaining well-being, is
critically examined by assessing its psychological effects.
Section 1 – Creating Awareness
P1 The purpose and historical context of various complementary therapies
From the last two decades, in UK and other western countries, complementary therapies
are integrating continuously within healthcare settings. It plays a therapeutic role in increasing
richness or quality of nursing in holistic care, for well-beingness of people (Taylor and et. al.,
2019). In NHS and other healthcare organisations of UK, provision of complementary therapies
is mainly established for patients who are suffering from long-lasting pain or having cognitive
disorders and others, such as acupuncture for addiction, aromatherapy for relieving from stress
and depression etc. The purpose and usage of different types of complementary therapies, which
are considered as alternative for medical treatment services are given as below –
Types of complementary therapies:
 Acupuncture – It is one of the oldest therapy which is widely used for reducing or
managing pain. This type of therapy helps people to prevent from migraine, long-lasting
neck and joint pain, or pain and sickness after getting chemotherapy or any surgery
(Complementary Therapies, 2020). But if patient having bleeding disorders, then this
therapy could be dangerous for them.
 Aromatherapy – Under this therapy, essential oils are used which are extracted from
herbs, to give massage to patients, that help them to overcome from long-lasting pain,
1

stress, feeling of anxiety, depression and any cognitive disorder (Christina and et. al.,
2019). As comparison, it is less expensive therapy that helps to prevent people from any
type of anxiety. But people having heart issues, diabetes and skin diseases, cannot take
this therapy of medication.
Figure 1Types of complementary services
 Hypnotherapy – This therapy is mainly used within healthcare settings as counselling of
patients, that allows them to their emotions and feelings with doctors. This would help
medical practitioners to help patient to overcome from their depressive stage. Therefore,
to treat phobias and anxiety, sexual dysfunction and any undesirable spontaneous
behaviour, generally, medical practitioners use hypnotherapy (Jon, 2019). But this type
of treatment requires high investment, which people belong to medium or low classes,
cannot afford it.
 Osteopathy and Chiropractic – This type of therapy is mainly used for treatment of
lower back, shoulder and neck pain, where therapists use own hands to work on joints,
2

tissues and muscles of patient's body (Agarwal, Foster and Groessl, 2019). Therefore,
these therapies are also known as spinal manipulation, which gradually moves joints via a
range of movements. But using this type of therapy may arise threat of serious side-
effects if patient is suffering from other health problems also.
Purpose and principles of complementary therapies:
The main purpose of using complementary therapies in healthcare setting includes – Help
patient to reduce pain after an operation or any surgery; Achieve and maintain good health of
patient by giving additional therapies with medical treatments; Improve and enhance quality life
of people by increasing holistic capacity of healthcare services and more (Climaco and et. al.,
2019). In this regard, main principle on which complementary therapies based are promoting and
maintaining self-healing, with aim to provide treatment for complete well-being not just the
specific disease. Treat and provide therapy to each people by understanding their dynamic
energy system, so that side-effects of any medical aid can be prevented.
Figure 2: Principles of Complementary therapies
Section 2 – Practice Requirements for complementary Therapy
P2 Different professional practice requires for complementary therapists
Today, in UK more than 5 million of people are using complementary therapies for
increasing quality of their life to live painless or stress-free life (Treweek and et. al., 2019). As
these therapies provide the holistic approaches to patient for well-being where any symptom
3

cannot be treated in isolation, i.e. every action is taken as per emotional and physical state of
person. Therefore, decision regarding with therapy treatment is taken according to health profile
of patients (Cant and Watts, 2019). In this regard, to integrate different complementary therapies
within healthcare practices, it is essential to develop professionalism first, where nurses or health
practitioners who seek to become a therapist is required to develop skill base and knowledge
regarding with same. For this purpose, professionals must undergo with recognised as well as
validated training as per NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) Code of Professional Conduct
or IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists) Code of Practice, which will
allow them to provide therapies for well-beingness of people. Having certified degree of course
under IICT code, helps practitioners to develop reasonable skills and learning, as well as
expertise them in their field (Smith and et. al., 2019). Training under the certified course helps
professionals to learn how to deal with physical and emotional state of patient and provide
counselling to make them aware about benefits of complementary therapies.
Similarly, to reduce risk and injuries that may cause while providing complementary
therapies to patients, World Health Organisation has made some specific guidelines. It includes
integration of quality control tools like modern control techniques for increasing quality of
medical plant materials. Guidelines on safety monitoring for herbal medicines is also made, to
provide technical guidance especially on principles of complementary therapies. Along with this,
national policies also made for quality assurance in terms of safety, efficacy and other.
P3 Impact of current legislative and policy environment on usage of complementary therapies
Apart from many benefits, there are number of philosophies associated with
complementary therapies. It includes occurrence of illness or any side-effect when patient body
goes out of balance; wholly treatment for well-being not just relieving a pain; preference natural
products more than synthetic ones; maintenance of healthy state by providing right care therapy
etc. (Complementary Therapies, 2020). In this regard, some provisions or legislations has been
made by UK Government for integrating complementary therapies within healthcare settings. It
includes Duty of Care or Professional Negligence, which is only Civil Law that states
professionals must possess essential skills and knowledge before providing any therapy
(Christina and et. al., 2019). They have to sign contract with patients regard with their interest to
take therapy, where in case of injury or any incident, professionals will take liability to pay for
damages. Therapists also have a duty to observe the certain standard of care, under which failure
4

to attain the same, exposes them to risk of their action. Similarly, The Prohibited Function Act is
another law of UK that restricts unqualified or less-skilled persons to perform specific therapy
within healthcare sector (Arcury and et. al., 2019). Therefore, before providing any treatment or
therapies, it is essential for medical professionals to undertake a certified degree of course. For
ensuring quality, safety and efficacy, in UK, only osteopathy and chiropractic therapies are
protected, that make necessary for every organisation to provide training and take license before
integrating complementary therapies in healthcare system (Abrahão and et. al., 2019).
Regulations and Laws Official Training and Education
 Herbal medicines that are going to use
in providing complementary therapies
if licensed, then it could meet
manufacturing and safety requirements
according to conventional medicines
 Therapists practitioners cannot be
officially recognised if they haven't
conventional medical degree (Taylor
and et. al., 2019).
 On registered physicians, there will be
no restrictions on them to practice
complementary therapies
 As per British Medical Association, it
is essential to medical institutions to
incorporate complementary therapeutic
practices and provide vocational
training to students
 For this purpose, The Institute of
Complementary or Alternative
Medicine of UK is working on
establishment of national standards of
training
Section 3 – Effectiveness of use of complementary therapies
P4 Comparison and contrast of different complementary therapies and orthodox treatments
Orthodox treatments services are completely different from complementary therapies,
because this system includes a medical team (nurses, therapists, pharmacists, nurses and more),
to treat symptoms or specific disease by using surgery or drugs. As comparison with
complementary therapies that use herbal medicines, orthodox treatment includes drug
medications, which helps in relieving pain instantly from severe pain and heal injuries more
efficiently in less period of time (Abrahão and et. al., 2019). But while giving orthodox treatment
like operations, surgery or any kind of services, complementary therapies help people to
5

overcome from pain that may caused with the same. For example - When a patient is suffered
from cancer, then chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatment procedure is taken for
prevention. Under this condition, patient is suffered from its high chronic pain, therefore,
providing complementary therapy like acupuncture help cancer patients to overcome from sever
pain of chemotherapy.
Therefore, contrasting on importance of both treatments services, complementary and
orthodox medications are differentiated in following way –
Complementary therapies Orthodox treatments
It includes those therapies that are provided
basically for long-term benefits of patient's
well-being
It provides instant relief from severe pain to
patient and cures them from spreading disease
It uses natural herbs, flowers and others, under
treatment procedure, for healing patient, but
consumes more time and also expensive too
To provide relief from chronic pain and
stimulate healing process of body, drugs and
ingredients that are not found naturally used in
orthodox treatment, because natural medicines
are considered as less invasive as comparison
Natural medicines invokes better healing
power of body that helps in increasing immune
system and boosting health of people, to
prevent from diseases
Orthodox medicine doesn't invoke any healing
power, it treats only illness instead of
strengthening immune system
As comparison, complementary therapies have
less side-effects, where risks only occur when
therapists is less-skilled or in case of patient is
suffering from other health issues
Orthodox treatments may cause harmful and
harsh side-effects where usage of chemicals
without any medical information, may causes
serious issues for a patient, sometime lead to
death also
Complementary therapies are provided for
complete well-being of patient, where
treatment for underlying causes like stress,
anxiety, addiction or any type of cognitive
disorder is provided, which keeps people long-
Orthodox treatments are mostly symptom
suppressants where underlying causes of
illness do not treat, therefore, if patient stops
medicines then symptoms of illness may arise
6

lasting healthy as well as boost their
metabolism also
back with worsen conditions
Thus, from all over discussion, it has been summarised that as complementary therapies
includes natural medicines and herbs, so, it helps in healing entire body (Taylor and et. al.,
2019). While orthodox treatment uses drugs that aid professionals to treat only specific issues,
without examining the entire body to determine the reasons behind occurrence of illness
symptoms. Unlike orthodox treatments, therefore, it is better to use complementary therapies in
healthcare settings also, which will empower people to take control on own health, because it
focuses on healing overall health, prevention of diseases and boosting morale of people to live
healthily (Arcury and et. al., 2019).
Section 4 – Significance of complementary therapies in maintaining health
and well-being
P5 Impact of complementary therapies on various physiological functions
Complementary therapies are utilized nearby ordinary clinical medications endorsed by
various physicians, neurosurgeons in order to serve the best to patients who are dealing with
various neuro and other type of physical distress (Complementary Therapies, 2020). The impact
of complementary therapies can be understood with a good example of individual malignancy
where they may feel much improved and may improve their satisfaction level as well. It has also
been analysed that this therapy has assisted with coping better among different side effects
brought about by number of reactions along with the diseases as well that are being brought by
malignant growth treatment. Away with this, it is also said that complementary or alternative
therapies considered to be some of the crucial treatment that are given to individuals dealing with
cancer, who has had ample number of reasons of willingness of getting treated with the help of
these therapies (Christina and et. al., 2019). Along with this, it is also said that there is no
scientific or medical evidence to show that alternative therapies can cure cancer.
Aromatherapy is one of such therapies that helps in improving psychological problems of
an individual, where therapists uses essential oils that extract from natural sources, for an array
of mental, physical and emotional purposes. For an instance, a person who is suffering from
7

insomnia and anxiety, can undergo with aromatherapy. Here, oils like chamomile, germanium,
ylang ylang and clary sage, etc. are used for uplifting the mood of such people. It gives them
relaxation and power to get control over anxiety. Similarly, for treatment of mental issues today,
psychiatrists and other health professionals are using herbs and natural extracted medicines for
improving mental health of patients. Because such medicines have less side effects and minimum
risks, with effectiveness to treat diseases like obsessive-compulsive, bipolar depressive, phobic,
psychotic disorders and more. Thus, it has been evident from such discussion that alternative
therapies help in treating symptoms of psychiatric problems, promote relaxations, development
of empowered mind-body connections, support people in recovery their healthy-lifestyles etc.
However, impact of different alternative therapies is unsafe and can cause harmful side
effects. Or they may interact with conventional medical treatment in order to get appropriate
treated in an appropriate manner (Jon, 2019). In all over United Kingdom and among different
countries, it is said that complementary or alternative therapies may not create or deliver
appropriate benefits to the patients who are going through severe diseases like unsafe symptoms
or it may also not become able to reduce the ordinary treatment numbers who are working so
well (Agarwal, Foster and Groessl, 2019). Also, it has been found that complementary therapies
may also reduce various opportunities of controlling different range of disease and restoring as
well of the health conditions as well. Furthermore, as complementary therapies are mainly
provided to prevent patient from chronic issues, therefore, it must be integrated as per
psychological condition of them i.e. best orthodox medicines to support the complementary
modalities.
P6 Psychological effects of complementary therapies on individual behaviour in healthcare
settings
Thinking or psychological ability of individuals in relation to complementary therapies
plays an important role, where their satisfaction level directly improves after getting the same
(Climaco and et. al., 2019). But, medical science does not work in the same way because, it has
been analysed that getting self-satisfaction considering the different therapies like Acupuncture,
Aromatherapy, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Massage, Meditation, Spiritual/ energy healing
and Yoga individual behaviour may go through various issues, only delivers relief for a short
span (Cant and Watts, 2019). Also, various complementary therapies focus over reducing stress
and on relaxing the muscles as well. It has also analysed that complementary therapies may
8

result in dis-balancing the hormonal behaviour of patients, which may turn into occurrence of
side-effects. This would may impact adversely on behaviour and psychological condition of
people. Therefore, it is essential to integrate complementary therapies in systematic manner, by
determining whole health profile of patient, so that chance of any serious causes or dis-hormonal
function can be reduced. This would help in increasing long-term benefits of people by
managing their depressive and emotional states.
Medical science has never mentioned that with the help of complementary therapies an
individual's diseases could be cured. Therefore, it is may be possible that these might help in
calming the mind or relaxing the emotions, increase within the general senses in relation to well-
being or relieve anxiety (Smith and et. al., 2019). On the other side, many of the healthcare
providers has also mentioned that idea of building positive emotions within an individual going
through a problem or disease can also improvise their health in much effective and in efficient
manner as well (Treweek and et. al., 2019). In order to understand the same, an example that can
be taken into consideration is of acupuncture, which directly aid an individual to relieve sickness
that took place because of chemotherapy drugs.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from this entire report that complementary therapies are not
continuously used within healthcare system, to promote well-being of people, because it
increases potential of medical services to treat diseases. Healthcare organisations concern more
on setting up such a system, that encompasses with both herbal and pharmaceuticals medicines,
to enhance quality of life. For this purpose, special consideration also given on making policies
that reduces occurrence of risks of using herbal medications, or any action that may cause
injuries to patient. This would help in regulating structure as per legislations and integrating
therapies in healthcare settings systematically.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abrahão, C. A. and et. al., 2019. Complementary therapies as a strategy to reduce stress and
stimulate immunity of women with breast cancer. Journal of evidence-based integrative
medicine. 24. p.2515690X19834169.
Agarwal, S. K., Foster, W. G. and Groessl, E. J., 2019. Rethinking endometriosis care: applying
the chronic care model via a multidisciplinary program for the care of women with
endometriosis. International Journal of Women's Health. 11. p.405.
Arcury, T. A. and et. al., 2019. Conventional and complementary therapy use among Mexican
farmworkers in North Carolina: applying the I-CAM-Q. Journal of agromedicine. 24(3).
pp.257-267.
Cant, S. and Watts, P., 2019. Hidden in plain sight: exploring men’s use of complementary and
alternative medicine. The Journal of Men’s Studies. 27(1). pp.45-65.
Christina, J. and et. al., 2019. Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Complementary and
Alternative Medicine for Adult Patients With Cancer in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia:
A Qualitative Study. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 37(2). pp.130-139.
Climaco, L. C. C. and et. al., 2019. GETTING TO KNOW THE INTEGRATIVE AND
COMPLEMENTARY PRACTICES IN HEALTH: EDUCATIONAL
WORKSHOP. Journal of Nursing UFPE/Revista de Enfermagem UFPE. 13(4).
Jon, A., 2019. Public Health and Health Services Research in Traditional, Complementary and
Integrative Health Care: International Perspectives. World Scientific.
Smith, C. A. and et. al., 2019. The effect of complementary medicines and therapies on maternal
anxiety and depression in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of
affective disorders. 245. pp.428-439.
Taylor, S. M. and et. al., 2019. Applications of complementary therapies during rehabilitation for
individuals with traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Findings from the SCIRehab Project. The
journal of spinal cord medicine. 42(5). pp.571-578.
Treweek, G. L. and et. al., 2019. Perspectives on Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A
Reader. Routledge.
Online
Complementary Therapies. 2020. [Online] Available Through:<https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-
information/complementary-therapies/complementary-therapies>.
10

11