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Appendix E

Complementary and alternative therapies can be integrated into the treatment plan for many conditions, including the following.

ConditionComplementary/Alternative Therapies
Anxiety (see also Chapter 8. Physiological Integrity, Table 8.15. Dietary Supplements and Herbal Products Used for Psychiatric Conditions)
  • Herbals:
    • St. John’s wort
    • Tea: chamomile, peppermint
    • Valerian
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Eliminate: caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, sugar
  • Lifestyle:
    • Exercise
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Biofeedback
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy
    • Deep breathing
    • Group therapy
    • Meditation
    • Relaxation response
  • Bioelectromagnetic Therapies:
    • Energy healing
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Acupuncture
  • Hands-on Healing Techniques:
    • Massage
Arthritis
  • Herbals:
    • Ginger concentrate
    • Topical: capsaicin
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Weight loss
    • Vitamins C and E
  • Lifestyle:
    • Exercise
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy; biofeedback
    • Tai chi, qi gong, yoga
  • Pharmacological and Biological Treatments:
    • Glucosamine sulfate
    • S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
  • Bioelectromagnetic Therapies:
    • Static magnet therapy
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Acupuncture, acupressure
    • Ayurveda
    • Traditional Chinese medicine
  • Hands-on Healing Techniques:
    • Physical therapy
Asthma
  • Herbals:
    • Grapeseed extract
    • Guaifenesin
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Have: omega-3 fatty acids; onions, garlic; vitamins C, E; zinc
    • Avoid: milk, egg, wheat, sulfites, aspirin
    • Reduce: sodium intake
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Biofeedback
    • Yoga breathing techniques
  • Alternative Systems:
    • Acupuncture
    • Ayurveda
    • Chinese herbals
  • Hands-on Healing Techniques:
    • Massage
Coronary artery disease
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Eliminate: tobacco, caffeine, alcohol
    • Low fat, vegetarian
    • Vitamins C, E, B6, B12, folic acid
  • Lifestyle:
    • Dr. Dean Ornish program
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Relaxation and stress management
    • Guided imagery
    • Treat for depression (anger/hostility management)
Depression (see also Chapter 8. Physiological Integrity, Table 8.15. Dietary Supplements and Herbal Products Used for Psychiatric Conditions)
  • Herbals:
    • St. John’s wort
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Folic acid, vitamins B12 and C, thiamine, niacin
  • Lifestyle:
    • Exercise, relaxation, stress reduction
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Biofeedback
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy
    • Meditation
    • Spiritual approaches
    • Tai chi, qi gong
  • Bioelectromagnetic Therapies:
    • Light therapy (for seasonal affective disorder [SAD])
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Acupuncture
  • Hands-on Healing Techniques:
    • Massage
Diabetes
  • Herbals:
    • Garlic
    • Green tea
    • Fenugreek
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Regular exercise
    • Weight loss
    • Diet: high fiber; low simple sugars and fats; potassium; Ornish diet, onion, cold-water fish
      • Alpha-lipoic acid
      • Biotin
      • Chromium
      • Flaxseed oil
      • Vitamins C, B3, B6, B12, E
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Herbals:
    • Licorice
    • Raspberry tea
    • Caraway
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Weight loss
    • Small meals
    • Don't lie down for 2 hr pc
    • Elevate HOB 6 in.
  • Avoid: onions, spicy foods, peppermint, caffeine, alcohol (although white wine may ↑ gastric emptying)
Other gastrointestinal problems
ConstipationHerbals:
  • Aloe, cascara, senna
Diarrhea (antibiotic-induced)Diet:
  • Yogurt
IndigestionHerbals:
  • Peppermint oil
Peptic ulcerHerbals:
  • Licorice (may cause sodium concentration and counteract antihypertensive medications)
Headache (migraine)
  • Herbals:
    • Feverfew (caution: ↑ risk of postoperative bleeding and stomach upset if also on NSAIDs)
    • Ginger (dried)
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
    • Avoid: chocolate, cheese, beer, red wine, dairy, wheat
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Relaxation therapy
    • Biofeedback
    • Guided imagery
    • Meditation
    • Stress management
    • Tai chi, yoga
Hypercholesterolemia
  • Herbals:
    • Garlic cloves
    • Chinese red yeast rice
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Exercise, weight loss
    • Fruits/vegetables: 5–7 servings/daily (for bioflavonoids and beta-carotene)
    • Fiber
    • Mediterranean diet
    • Vegetarian diet
    • Soy protein
    • Very low fat (Ornish diet)
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Modifying type A behavior:
      • ↓ : stress, hostility, time urgency, competitiveness
      • ↑ : sleep pattern
    • Relaxation therapy
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Ayurveda
    • Traditional Chinese medicine
Hypertension
  • Herbals:
    • Garlic, ginseng dried root, hawthorn
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • DASH diet; fiber, potassium, low sodium; reduce caffeine
    • Weight loss
    • Aerobic exercise
    • Quit smoking
    • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
    • Alcohol intake <3 drinks/day
    • Calcium, magnesium
    • Reduce sugar intake
    • Check for heavy metals, such as lead
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Anger prevention/management
    • Guided imagery
    • Music therapy
    • Tai chi, yoga
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Ayurveda
    • Traditional Chinese medicine
Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Herbals:
    • Peppermint
    • Chamomile tea, fennel tea, raspberry tea
    • Sage
    • Garlic
    • Lemon balm
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Charcoal (for excess gas)
    • Fiber
    • Food allergy: identify/eliminate most common (dairy, grain)
    • Lactase (if lactose intolerance)
    • Lactobacillus acidophilus
    • Reduce refined sugar in diet
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy
    • Treat depression; psychotherapy
    • Exercise
    • Progressive muscle relaxation
    • Biofeedback
    • Stress management
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Acupuncture
    • Ayurveda
    • Traditional Chinese medicinal herbals
Musculoskeletal problems
  • Herbals:
    • Arnica ointment/gel (topical)
    • Tiger balm (topical)
    • Salicylate ointment
    • Aloe gel
    • Curcumin (anti-inflammatory)
    • Lavender
    • Camphor
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Regular exercise
    • Stretching, conditioning; warm-up exercises
    • Bioflavonoids: citrus
    • Calcium (bone, muscle injury)
    • Magnesium (muscle spasm, injury)
    • Vitamin C (connective tissue and muscle damage)
    • Vitamin E (muscle damage); topical for scars
    • Bursitis: Vitamin B12
    • Fibromyalgia: vitamin B1, magnesium, vitamin E
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Guided imagery
    • Tai chi, yoga, qi gong
    • Music therapy
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Acupuncture, acupressure
    • Cupping; massage, oil
Upper respiratory infections
  • Herbals:
    • Echinacea (dried root or tea) (Caution: may interfere with immunosuppressant medications)
    • Garlic cloves
    • Horseradish
    • Slippery elm tea
  • Diet and Nutrition/Lifestyle:
    • Avoid exhausting exercise; bedrest
    • Drink large amounts of fluids
    • Gargle: salt water and vinegar
    • Hot water with lemon juice and honey
  • Mind-Body Interventions:
    • Social support
    • Stress management
  • Alternative Systems of Care:
    • Ayurveda
    • Acupuncture
    • Cupping
    • Traditional Chinese medicine
  • Hands-on Healing Techniques:
    • Percussion
Urinary tract infections
  • Diet/Nutrition:
    • Large amounts of low-sugar juices, water (2 L/day)
    • Cranberry juice
    • Blueberry juice
  • Lifestyle:
    • Urinate after intercourse (women)

Adapted from Sierpina, VS: Integrative Health Care: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for the Whole Person. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 2001.