Complementary Therapies
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Explanation of Widely Available Complementary Therapies...............................................3
1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Complementary Therapies.............................................4
1.3 Analysis of Influencing Factors.............................................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Role of Complementary Therapies in relation to Conventional Treatments.........................5
2.2 Evaluating Outlook on Complementary Therapies...............................................................6
2.3 Analyzing of Psychological Effects.......................................................................................6
2.4 Difference between Conventional and Complementary Therapies.......................................7
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Analyzing the Trustworthiness and Legitimacy of the Information’s regarding
Complementary Therapies...........................................................................................................7
3.2 Assessment of proof which claims the benefit of Complementary Therapies......................8
3.3 Suggestion based on the facts................................................................................................9
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Evaluation of the effectiveness of present regulation regarding Complementary therapy....9
4.2 Recommendations for improving regulatory systems for use of complementary therapies,
supported by evidence...............................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
Complementary therapies are different from the conventional therapies or the western medicines.
These kinds of therapies include body and mind therapies. A complementary therapy enhances
the power of mind and body by healing the human body and its system. There are several
complementary therapies some of them are: aromatherapy, yoga, reiki, osteopathy, reflexology,
massage, therapeutic touch and chiropractic etc (McFeeters et al., 2016). this following
assignment is going to elaborate about the complementary therapies, the advantages and
disadvantages of complementary therapies, comparison between conventional and
complementary therapies, the efficacy of the complementary therapies and the proof of the facts
regarding the complementary therapies.
Task 1
1.1 Explanation of Widely Available Complementary Therapies
According to the case study it provided to us that a person named Mr.Yonas, a 68 years old
person has been diagnosed with chronic asthma and type-2 diabetes. He has been suffering with
these conditions since last 10 years. And in his recent diagnosis he has been diagnosed with
osteoarthritis (Brondino et al., 2015). He was fed up of taking regular medicines. And one day he
met a friend of his who suggested him with complementary therapies. This he got registered with
an organization providing various complementary therapies. Then he got to know about the
benefits complementary therapies.
The complementary therapies that might be best for Mr. Yonas reviewing his condition are:
I. In pharmaceutical related therapy he can take homeopathy medicines as they have no
side effects and are plant, mineral based medicines. The homeopathy medicines are best
to treat Mr. Yonas’s asthma, as research says that homeopathic remedies are highly
effective to cure asthma permanently. Based on research and study it is seen that Natrum
Sulph 30 is the most effective homeopathy medicine to completely treat chronic asthma.
II. In physically mediated therapies to treat Mr.Yonas’s osteoarthritis, osteopathy as a
therapy can be very much helpful for his condition. This therapy can treat the problems
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like arthritis and bone or joint problems. This therapy focuses to improve the body by
strengthening the muscles and joints in the body of the patient.
III. The third therapy that must be taken by Mr.Yonas is regarding his mental health by a
proper counseling (Thind, 2018). A proper counseling would help Mr.Yonas to have a
positive mind. Counseling is a therapy that is guiding a patient by proper psychological
methods. The method used here is by collecting previous history of a patient’s life,
interviewing him or her and testing the patient about his or her interests and aptitude.
This therapy is initiated by a counselor.
1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Complementary Therapies
Basically the complementary therapies have less complication than conventional therapies. The
advantages of the complementary therapies are listed below:
I. The complementary therapies teach a person to become more responsible about his or her
own health. These therapies teach a person to re-establish a balance between his or her
body and mind. As the disease and sickness brings imbalances to a person’s body and
mind (Brondino et al., 2015). Complementary therapies, helps a person to heal by
focusing on the roots of the sickness. Additionally, these therapies help a person to
uphold an overall good health. In this case counseling can come into function by
upholding a good mental health.
II. Complementary therapies are lesser in cost that the conventional therapies like the
homeopathy medicines and therapies.
III. Complementary therapies can work as a prime treatment and also as a supportive
treatment too. In this case osteopathy and counseling can work as supportive treatments.
The disadvantages of the complementary therapies are:
I. Complementary therapies require a change in lifestyle and disciples of the person. The
person has to become more conscious about his or her lifestyle like his or her diet, sleep
routine and workout etc.
II. These complementary therapies might require time to show there action of healing in a
human body. This time taking procedure of healing might discourage the patient
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sometimes. Research says that homeopathy treatment is time taking than allopathic
treatment.
III. Complementary medicine might have an interaction with the conventional drugs, which
might cause problems to the patient or have side-effects on the patient (Wiesener,
Salamonsen and Fønnebø, 2018). Certain homeopathic or complementary medicine
causes interactions with conventional medicines.
1.3 Analysis of Influencing Factors
Peoples have various reasons behind accepting and using the complementary therapies and on
the other hands rejecting them. The vital reasons that can be the influencing factors are the
finance of the people, their culture, lack of organizations providing the services of
complementary therapies, not having skilled trainers and lack of trust in these treatment
procedures (Vassalotti, 2016). The peoples from diffrenet cultures have different view point
regarding the complementary therapy. As in Asia peoples have belief in yoga, massage and
acupuncture as a therapy. On the other hand in western countries have faith and practice
aromatherapy, osteopathy, homeopathy and certain other therapies. In this case Mr. Yonas has
proper access to the organization providing complementary therapy. Another reason might that
might affect the peoples and dive them towards complementary treatment is that the hospitals
and clinics around the population might have poor treatment facilities.
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Task 2
2.1 Role of Complementary Therapies in relation to Conventional Treatments
In this case study Mr. Yonas has chronic asthma since last 10 years. His condition of chronic
asthma is that he has breathing related problem, which directs to a lung diseases. This condition
has problems like inflammation in the airways and narrowing of the airways suffocating the
person (Kramlich, 2017). Additionally the symptoms are that the patient produces a whistling
sound while breathing, the chest-wall gets tightened, coughing several times a day at night or
early in the morning, and breath shortness. Asthma is a long term diseases and this condition
may start in a person from his or her childhood days. Study says that the persons with asthma
have sensitive, swollen and inflamed airways. This problem is a cardio-respiratory problem in
this case; Mr. Yonas have the similar symptoms and problems. Research explains that asthma
can be genetic and also due to several other factors such as due to tobacco, allergens and
respiratory infections.
Conversely, there are orthodox treatments available for Mr.Yonas and he may have gone through
or may be on going with them to treat his condition of chronic asthma (Thind, 2018). The
orthodox treatment include inhaler provided to the patient to help him or her with the condition
of asthma. There are preventer inhalers to prevent the symptoms of asthma. And there are
reliever inhalers to help relieve the symptoms of asthma. The doctors provide combination of
medicines to treat the symptoms.
Now, going on to complementary therapies that can resolve the problems regarding the
condition of chronic asthma are the homeopathy treatments and herbal treatment. The
homeopathic treatment has the medicines to and it is clearly stated in several studies that
homeopathy can relieve chronic asthma permanently and additionally the homeopathic treatment
is low in cost and has no side-effects. But this treatment is time taking and may dishearten the
patient but the orthodox treatment has faster result of relief in this case. However, the orthodox
treatment cannot permanently heal the patient. Herbal therapy on the other hand has no side-
effect and can relive the patient to an extent.
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2.2 Evaluating Outlook on Complementary Therapies
The outlook on complementary therapies of the people and professionals is different. As some
peoples think that complementary therapies work to an extent, have lesser or no side- effects in
comparison to conventional therapies and are affordable. And some think that complementary
medicines do not work in the way of healing the patients (Vassalotti, 2016). Some of the
professionals such as doctors who are practicing conventional therapies discard the facts of the
efficacy of the complementary therapies but again some of them thinks that they works. And
certain conventional therapy practioner’s nowadays suggest complementary therapies along with
the conventional medicines. The market of complementary therapies is growing vastly and might
bloom in the near future.
2.3 Analyzing of Psychological Effects
Mr. Yonas is suffering with asthma and type-2 diabetes for last 10 years and he has taken the
conventional treatments accordingly but still he has not recovered. Thus, he is mentally
exhausted and depressed. In this case the counseling as a complementary therapy might help him
to regain the mental balance (Thind, 2018). Additionally, aromatherapy might help relax him and
relieve him from stress caused due to his illness.
2.4 Difference between Conventional and Complementary Therapies
The comparison between the conventional and the contemporary therapies are:
I. Convention therapies or the orthodox treatment are fast in action, while the
complementary therapies take time to act in the process of healing (Thind, 2018).
II. Some of the complementary therapies are low in cost and are affordable, whereas the
conventional therapies might get to costly and out of budget for peoples.
III. Conventional therapies have side-effects but on the other hand complementary therapies
have lesser or no side-effects.
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Task 3
3.1 Analyzing the Trustworthiness and Legitimacy of the Information’s regarding
Complementary Therapies
For analyzing the trustworthiness and legitimacy of the information, Mr. Jonas needs to justify
the reliability while reflecting on the degrees to which, the validity of the sources based on
Complementary Therapies lie upon (McFeeters et al., 2016). This can be done by measuring
various benchmark statistics and a percentile figure which specifies the available data are
accurately logical or not.
The various widespread sources of information on Complementary Therapies can be found on
journals and multiple websites those can be helpful for Mr. Jonas. Some information can also be
sourced from therapy practitioners, commercial sources, systematic research, support groups and
health professionals.
The quantity and the quality of the information sources mainly websites and CAM are updating
on daily basis (Pang et al., 2015). The information based on Complementary therapies is
expanding on a large scale. The expansion of the information is largely due to an increased
practice of evidence-based research. The professional and concerned bodies have a massive
challenge to select a few reliable sources of information like newsletters, websites, and journals
to use them as efficiently as possible. The most decisive part is to evaluate the information and
utilize it effectively.
While considering a website about reliable information, there are certain factors that are needed
to be monitored such as the whether the website is valid or not, are the authors trustworthy, are
the questions on the site relatable, and does the answers to the questions sound true (Brondino et
al., 2015). Finally, it is needed to be checked whether the results of the report on the website is
contemporary or not.
Mr. Jonas can check some popular and trusted websites like Healthfinder.org which are
government approved. Mr. Jonas should also consult other individuals who have experienced the
issues of the subject for better understanding of the treatment. Before visiting a practitioner of
Complementary therapy Mr. Jonas should check the cost and safety standards of the treatment
while also validating whether the practitioner is professional or not. As per the case of Mr. Jonas,
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the best complementary therapy that could be referred by the professionals is Osteopathy and
Counseling. So for effectiveness of the treatment, undertaking personal research would prove
beneficial.
3.2 Assessment of proof which claims the benefit of Complementary Therapies
There are multiple research verdicts that justify the benefits as well as incompetence of
Complementary therapies (Berg et al., 2016). Mr. Jonas has to assess the evidences and the
information that are present in trustworthy sources like scientific research papers, media and
professional health practitioners. Mr. Jonas could evaluate the verifications via conducting a
clinical research monitoring the available statistics. Determinations of the nature of the evidences
by objective examination are crucial for having a complete satisfaction of the treatment via
Complementary Therapies.
As per the available data, 40%-45% of the peoples above the age group of 50 use
Complementary therapy. Above the age group of 65, around 55% of the peoples are doing
treatment via Complementary Therapy alone. This massive demand of Complementary therapy
suggests that it provides a better value than a conventional medicine (Wiesener, Salamonsen and
Fønnebø, 2018). The data also reveals that more than half of the peoples above the age of 65 use
at least one form of Complementary Therapy along with regular medicine. As such treatment via
conventional therapy is widespread.
Another similar study based on Complementary Therapy suggested that around 32% of the
people around the globe are benefiting from the treatment. A complementary therapy known as
mindfulness-based stress reduction or MBSR is useful for treating cancer-patients (Kramlich,
2017). As such, based on the statistics, Mr. Jonas can evaluate the benefits on the therapy such as
Osteopathy and Counseling which will help him in better treatment of Asthma, Type-2 Diabetes
as well as Osteoarthritis.
3.3 Suggestion based on the facts
With the advancements of Complementary treatment methods like complementary therapy
around the world, peoples have started accepting the benefits of these treatments. Various
individuals enroll in Complementary therapies even if they are taking orthodox medicines.
Although there are various positive statistics based analytic research on Complementary
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Therapies, there are still doubts till this day about the effectiveness of treatments. As such, the
major benefits of Complementary therapy are found when practiced with orthodox medicine
(Thind, 2018). For Mr. Jonas this is beneficial as he will be enrolling with complementary
therapy keeping in parallel with conventional medicines.
For an elderly individual like Mr. Jonas, Osteopathy and Counseling are regarded as the most
effective forms of treatment. The therapy of Osteopathy mainly focuses on the treatment of
bones, ligaments and muscle tissues by improving the neuromuscular skeletal system of the body
(Vassalotti, 2016). This would help in curing Mr. Jonas’s osteoarthritis if massage osteopathy
and aromatherapy is introduced. The Counseling treatment on the other hand is taken for
maintaining a good mental health. Thus, it is strongly recommended by the professionals of
Complementary therapy that Mr. Jonas should avoid physical intensive exercise like yoga.
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Task 4
4.1 Evaluation of the effectiveness of present regulation regarding Complementary
therapy
According to the report of Kramlich 2017, complementary therapies have become more
widespread over the last 25 years, but various practitioners across the globe are largely not under
direct government regulation (Vassalotti, 2016). There are multiple organizations in different
countries that ply under a central regulatory council. Therapies such as Osteopathic therapy may
have their own regulatory body which sets certain standards for the treatment of the patients like
Mr. Jonas. It is legal in multiple nations, to practice complementary therapy under a certain
healthcare organization. As such it is critical for the practitioner to set up a professional structure
clearly, for the protection of public safety even if the selection of treatment is determined by the
individual.
If practitioners gain a definite level of professional skill in the practice of complementary therapy
with equal amount of qualification, then they can enroll themselves into voluntary organizations
for the health and safety benefits of the peoples by keeping the practice of Complementary
therapy safe and up-to standards.
As per the Osteopathic Council, a general regulatory body is mandatory for practicing osteopathy
related Complementary treatments (Kramlich, 2017). This type of regulation ensures that without
a proper education and professional skills an individual cannot practice the therapy even if the
individual is under a health and fitness organization. As such, Mr. Jonas should examine the
trusted and registered websites of the regulatory body of complementary therapies to find out
about the validation of the practitioner for the general health and safety concerns.
4.2 Recommendations for improving regulatory systems for use of complementary
therapies, supported by evidence.
A general survey was conducted in the year 2018, which stated that over 14% of world’s
population over the age of 35, uses one form complementary therapy or other. The numbers are
even higher in western countries like UK, USA, Germany, France, Canada, Spain etc. as well as
in countries like Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangkok. The number of people
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relying on traditional medicines for primary care is gigantic in countries like India and China
(Berg et al., 2016). Various African countries like Ghana and Ethiopia uses complementary
therapies as the major treatment procedure.
Despite the number of peoples using complementary therapies are minor compared to certain
parts of the globe, it becomes important to create a regulatory body for safely conducting the
treatment in those lesser regions. The regulation should be to stop un-qualified and un-
professional individuals to stop practicing (McFeeters et al., 2016). The Government can bring
forward certain policies to adopt the practice of Complementary therapies in such regions and
make the local people aware of befits that are included via educational campaign. The positives
of Contemporary therapy are enormous, and thus, it is strongly recommended to practice such
therapies in an orderly manner. The standards of the practices should be kept high and any
practitioner failing to fulfill the standards should be dropped.
Conclusion
As per the case study, Mr. Jonas will be taking complementary therapies along with his regular
orthodox medicines for curing Asthma, Type-2 Diabetes and Osteoarthritis. After consulting a
professional complementary therapist Mr. Jonas has been assigned the therapies such as
Osteopathy and Counseling. The treatment is cost effective and the rate of curing the disease is
also superior if done in a suitable way, as cited by various researches. So in that case, the
complementary therapies will provide a perfect solution for him.
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References
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