The document outlines various alternative medicine systems and therapies used in mental health nursing, including acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and Ayurveda, among others. It focuses on the historical context and definitions of these practices, their methodologies, and the beliefs underlying their effectiveness. The course aims to educate nursing students on these modalities to enhance their understanding and application in mental health treatment.

1. Course : B.Sc. Nursing / III Year
Subject : Mental Health Nursing
Unit : Unit - V (4)
Unit Title : Treatment Modalities and Therapies
used in Mental Disorders.
Topic : Alternative Systems Of Medicine
Faculty : Mr. Vethadhas. P/ Assistant Professor.

2. Objectives
At the end of the class the student will be able to
1. Definition of Acupressure and Acupuncture and
Anthroposophical Extended Medicine.
2. Identify the Aromatherapy and Ayurveda.
3. Enlist the Bio Energetic, Chelation Therapy and
Chiropractic therapy.
4. Elaborate the Color Therapy, Herbal Therapies
and Homeopathy .

3. 5. Describe the Light and Melatonin Therapy,
Massage and Meditation
6. Discuss the Oriental Medicine, Biofield Therapies
and Reiki.
7. Explain the Sound Therapy, Tibetan Method,
Yoga, Spiritual Healing and Prayer.
8. To enhance Special Diet Therapies, Mega Doses
of Vitamins or Minerals, T'ai chi and Qi Gong, Unani
System of Medicine.
Cont…

4. Introduction
From the time immemorial man has been
interested in trying to control disease. The medicine
man, the priest, the herbalist and the magician, all
undertook various ways to cure man's disease and/or
to bring relief to the sick. In an almost complete
absence of scientific medical knowledge, it would not
be fair to say that the early practitioners of medicine
contributed nothing to the alleviation of man's
suffering from disease. Medical knowledge infact has
been derived, to a very great degree, from the intuitive
and observational proportions and cumulative
experiences gleaned from others.

5. In course of its evaluation, which proceeded by
stages, with advances and halts, medicine has drawn
richly from biological and natural sciences and more
recently from social and behavioral sciences. The
term alternative medicine refers to the various
disease treating or disease preventing practices
whose methods and efficiency differ from traditional
or conventional biochemical knowledge.

6. Definition of Alternative Systems Of Medicine
According to Ruth N. Grendel (2000)
alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing
defines philosophies, approaches and therapies. It
generally is defined as those treatments and health
care practices not taught widely in medical schools,
not generally used in hospitals and not usually
reimbursed by medical insurance companies.

7. Heading
1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Acupressure and Acupuncture
4. Anthroposophical Extended Medicine
5. Aromatherapy
6. Ayurveda
7. Bio Energetic
8. Chelation Therapy
9. Chiropractic
10. Color Therapy
11. Herbal Therapies
12. Homeopathy
13. Light and Melatonin Therapy

8. 14. Massage
15. Meditation
16. Oriental Medicine
17. Biofield Therapies (Reflexology and Therapeutic
Touch)
18. Reiki
19. Sound Therapy
20. Tibetan Method
21. Yoga
22. Spiritual Healing and Prayer
23. Special Diet Therapies, Mega Doses of Vitamins
or Minerals
24. T'ai chi and Qi Gong
25. Unani System of Medicine

9. ACUPRESSURE AND ACUPUNCTURE
Acupressure and acupuncture are Chinese
healing techniques that are mentioned in the an
ancient medical texts dating back to 3000 BC. A basic
tenet of Chinese medicine is the belief of vital energy
(qi or chi) flows along the specific pathway (the
medians) which have about 350 points (acupoints)
whose manipulation corrects imbalances by
stimulating or removing blockages to energy flow.
Another fundamental concept is the idea of two
opposing energy fields (yin and yang), which must be
in balance for health to be sustained.

10. In west, acupressure and acupuncture are explained
on the basis of nerve stimulation that releases
endogenous neurotransmitters and endorphins to help
cure illness. Some of the conditions for which these
techniques are applied are asthma, headaches,
dysmenorrhoea, cervical pain, anxiety, depression and
substance abuse

12. Anthroposophical Extended Medicine:
This form of healing was developed by Austrian
philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925).
Anthroposophy focuses on mental exercises that
enable people to find a balance between mind and
body to ensure health maintenance.

13. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is concerned with the
psychological, physiological and pharmacological
effects of essential oils introduced by means of
inhalation, olfaction and dermal application. The
essential oils that are used in aromatherapy are distilled
from flowers, roots, bark, leaves, wood resins and
lemon or orange rinds.
When essential oils are inhaled, aromas are
detected by the olfactory receptor cells in the nares.
The stimuli travel along the olfactory nerve to the brain
where they are thought to play a role in emotions,
memory and a variety of body functions and immune
responses.

14. Nurses should caution people who are
considering aromatherapy to be aware that aromatic
oils vary in quality, their production is not regulated
and some may be toxic when inhaled. The skin
should always be tested for allergies by applying a
very small amount of the diluted oil before a whole
treatment is tried. Oils should not be used near the
eyes and should always be diluted in a suitable oil or
water before application to skin. Oil should be stored
in dark colored glass bottles, and kept away from
sunlight.

15. AYURVEDA
Ayurveda means "knowledge of life". The
technique originated in India around 3000 BC and is
believed to be the oldest and the most
comprehensive medical system in the world.
Treatment relies on diet, medicine, purification
enemas and bloodletting. Ayurvedic medicine
(“Ayurveda” for short) is one of the world's oldest
holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was
developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It’s
based on the belief that health and wellness depend
on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and
spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, not
fight disease. But treatments may be geared toward
specific health problems.

16. Ayurveda

17. BIO ENERGETICS
Bioenergetics is based on the belief that
damned-up energy produces mal adaptive
behavioural patterns, which is evolved from the work
of Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich who
studied with Sigmund Freud. Reich believed that
energy fields were propelled by sexual impulses
called 'ergs' and that satisfactory orgasm were an
indication of healthy body functions. Modern
practitioners look for areas of muscular tension in
the body that are thought to be associated with
repressed memories repression to consciousness
through a variety of relaxation techniques, including
massage.

18. Chelation Therapy:
It is a traditional medical procedure used to treat
accidental poisoning with heavy metal such as lead,
arsenic and mercury. A chelating agent ethylene
diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) is infused into the
blood stream and the metal, which is then excreted
from the body.

19. Chiropractic:
Chiropractic is concerned in the diagnosis and
treatment of disorders of musculoskeletal systems
especially those of spine.
Color Therapy:
In color therapy different colors are thought to
affect mood and mono color therapy has been used
to address specific health problems for example blue
is believed to be sedating and red exciter.

20. Herbal Therapies:
Herbal medicine, the oldest known form of
healthcare, uses plants to treat disease and promote
health. Herbal medicines are available as extracts
(solutions obtained by steeping or soaking a
substance, usually in water), tinctures (usually
alcohol-based preparations, with alcohol acting as a
natural preservative), infusions (the most common
method of internal herbal preparation, usually referred
to as a tea), decoctions (similar to an infusion), pills,
and powders; even a moistened cloth applied to the
skin can act as a herbal remedy.

21. Homeopathy:
Homeopathy healing was developed in early
1800's by Samuel Hahnemann M.D., a German
physician is based on concept of that self healing
is a basic characteristic of human life and that
special medications can aid this inherent process.
Homeopathy is a medical system based on the
belief that the body can cure itself. Those who
practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances,
like plants and minerals. They believe these
stimulate the healing process.

22. Light and Melatonin Therapy:
Light therapy is based on the concept that
humans are subject to circadian rhythms from Latin
word circa (around) and dies (day) that affects psycho
logical process in predictable ways. There are 24 hour
cycles of rest and activity that includes camphor level
of corticosteroids, electrolyte excretion and
physiological process, for example blood pressure is
higher during day than night by varying light exposure,
circadian rhythm can be alerted.

23. Massage:
Massage is a treatment that involves
manipulation of the soft tissues and surfaces body.
Massage is believed to increase blood circulation,
improves flow of lymph through lymphatic vessels,
and improves tone of musculoskeletal system.
Massage therapy is used to help manage a
health condition or enhance wellness. It involves
manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage
has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern
and Western, throughout human history, and was one
of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve
pain.

24. Meditation:
Meditation is a technique that involves entering a
trance state by focusing on word or sound, on an
object, such as burning candle or on movement.
During trance, the person experiences a state of calm.
Oriental Medicine:
Oriental medicine is a broad term covering the
traditional medicine of China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam,
Tibet and other Asian countries.

25. Reflexology:
Reflexology is the gentle massaging of feet, hands
and ears to stimulate body's natural healing power. In
reflexology, pressure is applied to specific reflex points
on the foot. These points correspond to organs and
areas of the body. The treatment is said to induce a
healing response, even alleviating some ailments.
Reflexology is one of the most popular types of massage
. Beyond the feel-good effects of the treatment, the
practice and purpose go deeper than the skin and
muscles. Kneading the soft fleshy ball of the foot, pulling
on the toes, tracing around the heel and pushing deep
into the arch are just a few of the movements you’ll
experience during a treatment.

26. Reflexology

27. Therapeutic Touch:
In Therapeutic Touch, therapists place their
hands on or near their patient's body with the
intention to help or heal. In doing so, therapists
believe that they are consciously directing or
modulating an individual's energies by interacting
with his or her energy field. The focus is on balancing
the energies of the total person and stimulating the
body's own natural healing ability rather than on the
treatment of specific physical diseases.

28. Reiki:
Reiki is a Japanese word with general
meaning of healing (Rei means "universal" or spiritual"
and ki is life force energy"). Reiki is used to heal all
type of ailments, both physical and mental, but its
most profound effect is an almost immediate feeling of
relaxation, resulting in deep reduction of stress.

29. Sound Therapy:
Sound therapy is an ancient technique
in which sounds such as chants, bell rings or drum
beats used to create vibration in the body and
believed to have healing powers. Music therapy
uses the sound of musical instruments such as
flute, to achieve similar results.

30. Tibetan Method:
Treatment consists of restoring balance between
different humors (wind, bile, phlegm) through use of
herbal medicine and accessory therapy, such as
massage, moxibustion, acupuncture, appropriate diet,
religious rituals and purification techniques.
Yoga:
It is a comprehensive philosophical system that
has the goal of preparing an Individual to unite with
Supreme Being.

31. Spiritual Healing and Prayer:
Spiritual interventions focus on developing a
sense of meaning, purpose and hope for individuals
in their current life experience. Spiritual interventions
involve listening to the person's story and facilitating
the person to connect to God, a greater power,
perhaps by using meditation or prayer. This may be
a religious or non-religious experience depending on
the individual's own spirituality.

32. Spiritual Healing and Prayer

33. Special Diet Therapies, Mega Doses of
Vitamins or Minerals:
Good nutrition can help with adaptation to the
inevitable stresses of life by promoting a healthy body
and a feeling of well-being. Nutritional deficiencies often
first appear in the form of mental symptoms.
Researchers believe that the imbalances in the system
can be regulated by nutritional supplements. For
example, depression may be caused by an amino acid
imbalance or vitamin deficiency.

34. The B-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid
are helpful for regulating stress and balancing
mood. Nurses must be sensitive to ethnic and
cultural diets when planning healthcare activities.
Some of these diets may pose health risks
because of a lack of essential ingredients or
interaction with prescribed medications.

35. T'ai chi and Qi Gong:
T'ai chi (tie chee), sometimes defined as
'moving meditation is a Chinese blend of exercise and
energy work consisting of a series of choreographed,
continuous slow movements performed with mental
concentration and coordinated breathing. The
purpose is to improve circulation, balance, flow of chi,
reduce stress and anxiety and restore energy and
health. Qigong is a therapeutic Chinese practice that
includes gentle exercises for the breath, body, mind,
and voice.

36. An Overview of the Unani System of
Medicine:
"Unani' means medicines, which are a symbol
of life.
The name is derived from the word Tonian
which originated in Greece. Tibb" means the
knowledge of the states of the human body in health
and decline of health, or in other Words, medicine.
"Tibb-E-Unani", is hence an age old, time tested
system of medicine dating back 5000 years to
Greece.

37. Unani medicine, like any other form of
medical science strives to find the best possible
ways by which a person can lead a healthy life
with the least sickness. It prescribes drugs, diet,
drinks and other regimens including codes of
conduct which are conducive to the maintenance
and promotion of positive health, as well as the
prevention and cure of disease. The ultimate
scientific prescriptions and prohibitions is the
creation of a healthy society.

38. The Specialized Branches of Unani
Medicine:
1. Internal medicine (Moalijat)
2. Surgery (Ilmul Jarahat)
3. Gynecology including Obstetrics and
4. Pediatrics Diseases of the head and neck
5. Toxicology
6. Psychiatry
7. Rejuvenation Therapy including Geriatrics
8. Sexology
9. Regimental Therapy
10. Hydrotherapy

39. BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE THERPY IN
TREATING MENTAL ILLNESS
• An obvious holistic orientation in health care.
• Relatively fewer and less intense side-effects than
conventional therapies.
• A deliberate desire for cultural and philosophical
congruence with personal beliefs about the
concepts of health and illness.
• Dissatisfaction with conventional health care.
• Offers a greater control over the life.
• Reluctance to “grin and bear” the long term effects
of diseases.

40. • The rapid pace and ease of information-sharing.
• Encourages a sense of responsibility for their
own care.
• Media contributing in consumer’s awareness of
alternative therapies.
• Most promising research evidences regarding
the effectiveness of alternative therapies.
• Maximizes the social and occupational
functioning which are monopolized by the long
term effects of psychotropic drugs.

41. SUMMARY
Till now we have discussed regarding
Definition, Acupressure and Acupuncture,
Anthroposophical Extended Medicine, Aromatherapy,
Ayurveda, Bio Energetic, Chelation Therapy,
Chiropractic, Color Therapy, Herbal Therapies,
Homeopathy, Light and Melatonin Therapy, Massage,
Meditation, Oriental Medicine, Biofield Therapies
(Reflexology and Therapeutic Touch), Reiki, Sound
Therapy, Tibetan Method, Yoga, Spiritual Healing and
Prayer, Special Diet Therapies, Mega Doses of
Vitamins or Minerals, T'ai chi and Qi Gong, Unani
System of Medicine.

42. Reference
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®).
American Psychiatric Pub; 2013 May 22.
2. Dr. Lalitha. Mental health and Psychiatric nursing
an Indian perspective, V.M.G Book house 2009.
3. Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. Kaplan and Sadock's
synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical
psychiatry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011 Dec
26.

43. 4. Ahuja N, Ahuja S. A short textbook of psychiatry.
New Delhi: Jaypee brothers; 2006 Jul 30.
5. Vaillant GE. Ego mechanisms of defense: a
guide for clinicans and researchers. American
Psychiatric Pub; 1992.
6. Sreevani R. A guide to mental health and
psychiatric nursing. Jaypee brothers publishers;
2007.
7. Mary C Townsend. Psychiatric mental health
nursing concept of care in evidenced based
practice, 5th
edition Jaypee brotherts, 2007.

44. Thank you