Complementary and Alternative Medicine Part I

Mind, Body, Spirit

Candice Gorremans

Kaplan University

Outline• Introduction to Complementary and

Alternative Medicine (CAM)

• Mind-Body Medicine (Psychotherapy)

• Mind-Body Medicine (Meditation)

• Mind-Body Medicine (Biofeedback)

• Mind-Body Medicine (Prayer)

• Mind-Body Medicine (Humor)

• Resources

Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a broad term for a system of therapies dedicated to disease prevention, health promotion and holistic healing. CAM practitioners focus on treating the whole person, rather than just symptoms of a disease or condition. CAM practices are versatile and include but are not limited to, manual therapies, mental & spiritual therapies, diet therapy, aromatherapy and humor therapy. Until recently, the use of CAM had not been widely accepted by the scientific medicine community. Many of the CAM practices have lacked scientific research to prove their efficacy and validity. Practitioners and proponents of contemporary/scientific medicine have considered CAM practices as “quackery.” However, there has been a recent consumer based movement towards a more “natural” approach to healthcare. More and more people are rejecting prescription drugs with harsh side effects and invasive medical procedures. Ultimately, they want to improve or maintain good health and have more control over their healthcare.

Mind-Body Medicine

Psychotherapy

• Psychotherapy is treatment that involves mental and emotional wellbeing combined with physical health.

• Pioneers of Mind-Body medicine: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Milton Erikson

• One in every five people in the U.S. experiences a major psychological disorder every six months, the most common are anxiety, depression and substance abuse

• Psychotherapy falls into the follow categories:

a. Psychodynamic therapy- explores current emotional reactions from past situations, the focus is to make basic changes in one’s personality instead of changing behavior

b. Behavior therapy-focuses on changing behavior like phobias. Replace recurrent response with a more desirable one

Mind-Body Medicine

Psychotherapy cont.

c. Systems therapy- the focus shifts to relationship patterns. These could be relationships between children and parents, couples or families in general.

d. Supportive therapy- is important for those who are dealing with serious emotional issues. Examples include severe depression

e. Body-oriented therapy- focuses on the reducing tension in the body from emotional reactions

• People who lack social support have a greater chance of dying form cardiovascular disease than those who do have social support

• Stress is how the mind and body react to problems in the environment

• Stress can be controlled by changing the way one thinks, and this way we have more control over our lives

• Resilience is the key to stress management

Mind-Body Medicine Psychotherapy cont.

Cardiologist Herbert Benson developed the relaxation response to counter the detrimental effects of stress on the cardiovascular system. Follow these step-by-step instructions to elicit the response:

Step 1: Pick a focus word or short phrase that is firmly rooted in your personal belief system. For example, a nonreligious individual might choose a neutral word such as one, peace, or love. A Christian person wanting to use a prayer could pick the opening words of Psalm 23, “The Lord Is My Shepherd”; a Jewish person could choose shalom.

Step 2: Sit quietly in a comfortable position.

Step 3: Close your eyes.

Step 4: Relax your muscles.

Step 5: Breathe slowly and naturally, repeating your focus word or phrase silently as you exhale.

Mind-Body Medicine

Psychotherapy cont.

Step 6: Throughout, assume a passive attitude. Do not worry about how well you are doing. When other thoughts come to mind, simply say to yourself, “Oh, well,” and gently return to the repetition.

Step 7: Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm. When you finish, sit quietly for a minute or so, at first with your eyes closed and later with your eyes open. Then do not stand for 1 or 2 minutes.

Step 8: Practice the technique once or twice a day.

Mind-Body Medicine

Meditation

• Meditation is an essential mind-body practice that is practiced by millions of people. It helps to create a stronger connection between the mind and body

• Meditation originated in Asia, more specifically in countries like China India and Japan

• In the high-pressure, fast-paced society we live in, mediation offers a way for people to cam their minds and achieve internal peace and harmony

• Two types of mediation: Eastern/Transcendental and Western/Mindfulness meditation

• Case study- 77 patients with fibromyalgia experienced a 65% decrease in pain symptoms after repeated sessions of meditation

Mind-Body Medicine

Biofeedback

• With biofeedback, patients learn how to respond appropriately to stressors by using the body’s internal feedback systems

• Patients learn how to reduce their symptoms by changing how their bodies react

• There are five different types: electromyographic biofeedback, thermal biofeedback, electrodermal, finger pulse therapy, breathing biofeedback

Prayer

The connection between spirituality, medicine and healing has a significant influence in the medical community

• Case Study- a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed great improvement after one year when they received direct-contact prayer rather than distant prayer

Humor

• Humor can be an untapped resource for patients who are recovering from illness or severe injury. Sigmund Freud suggested that humor can be very helpful with reducing anxiety, stress and tension. Medical centers across the country have found unique ways to inject humor into the lives of their patients.

Resources

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

https://nccih.nih.gov/training/videolectures/3/7

Chopra.com, Chopra Centered Lifestyle

http://www.chopra.com/ccl/learn-to-meditate-in-6-easy-steps

Questions?