Pain and Complementary Therapies

Key points

Complementary therapies and pain management

Treatment of both acute and chronic pain typically involves a combination of pharmacologic and provider-based interventions. Although this may be effective for some patients, it may not be for others. Pain medications can be ineffective and inadequate in controlling acute or chronic pain. Use of pain medications, especially with repeated and frequent usage, involves the risk of adverse reactions, overuse, and dependency. Some patients do not desire a pharmacologic course of therapy. Others may

Essential oils and aromatherapy

The use of essential oils and aromatherapy are two complementary therapies dating back thousands of years. These therapies, the fastest growing CATs, are popular and readily available to patients to purchase at their local markets or health food stores. Essential oils and aromatherapy products may not be readily available in hospitals or other health care settings, and nurses may have limited training or knowledge on their use.

Essential oils are made from various parts of plants, herbs, or

Music therapy

Music therapy is a complementary sensory therapy that has been used by various cultures for thousands of years. Music therapy involves listening to music, writing music, or playing music. The most common form of music therapy involves actively listening to music. Patients can wear headphones or listen through speakers. They may choose their music or listen to a prescribed playlist developed by a music therapist. From classical music to nature sounds, and country to rock and roll, music can have

Guided imagery

Guided imagery is a cognitive therapy focused on conjuring pleasant images in the patient’s mind, with the goal of promoting relaxation and symptom relief. The therapy assists the patient to concentrate on mental images, scenes, or pictures during a period of relaxation. Patients may imagine themselves on a warm beach or at an amusement park, or they may envision their bodies fighting a specific disease process. All 5 senses should be involved in the experience. Patients should imagine a

Acupuncture

It is thought that the ritual of acupuncture has existed for centuries. The practice of acupuncture dates back to ancient Chinese customs and has grown in prevalence in the United States since the 1970s. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) documented the efficacy and safety of acupuncture. Acupuncture is used in a variety of health care settings, including both inpatient and outpatient areas. The therapy is covered by some insurance policies when it is determined to be medically

Acupressure

Acupressure, like acupuncture, is an ancient practice focused on releasing and stimulating qi from acupoints along meridians of the body. Acupressure is often referred to as needleless acupuncture. The technique differs from acupuncture in that the practitioner’s fingers and hands are used, instead of needles and lasers, to apply pressure over the acupoints. The practice is noninvasive, nonpainful, and inexpensive. It can be performed in any patient care setting, and there are few potential

Relaxation breathing

Managing pain is an ongoing challenge for patients and nurses. When a person is in pain, there are both physiologic and psychological reactions. Relaxation breathing is a mind-body modality that combines slow, deep breathing with relaxation. In order to perform relaxation breathing, the patient is instructed to take slow, deep, even breaths while relaxing the body. The patient may be in a sitting position or lying down, and should be instructed to breathe deeply from the abdomen.

Relaxation

Summary

When a patient experiences pain it can have an adverse impact on physiologic and psychological processes. To provide holistic care, nurses must recruit all measures necessary to help meet the patient-centered goals. Knowledge of CATs can provide nurses with valuable resources/interventions to improve patients’ painful conditions or diseases. Nurses can incorporate nonpharmacologic CAT interventions in hospitals, outpatient settings, or in patients’ homes. CATs are overall inexpensive, easy to