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Community Complementary and Alternative MedicineLesson Two LectureLesson Summary: This lesson will address the basic overview of manipulation and body-based practices. This lesson will address some of the differences between the different practices. This lesson will also identify some of the benefits that can come from each of the practices.Lesson Content:Manipulation and Body-Based Practices“Manipulative and body-based practices involve manipulation or movement of one or more parts of the body as a means of achieving health and healing,” (Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 2015). The purpose of manipulation and body-based practices is to bring the body back into alignment. Using different manipulation and body-based practices, a provider can hone in on a particular body part of the client and attempt to adjust it to alleviate pressure, pain, and discomfort.What is Chiropractic Manipulation?Chiropractic manipulation is one of the few CAM practices that I have participated in and can vouch for. When tradition medicine and physical therapy did not help fix my neck and lower back pain, I was referred to a chiropractor. I receive monthly adjustments now, so that my neck and lower back pain are more manageable. “Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint,” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Many chiropractors believe in a total body concept and will evaluate a client’s skeletal system as well as their posture. There may be underlying issues causing an individual’s pain, such as misaligned hips and spine. The chiropractor will be able to identify the misalignment and properly readjust it, causing a relief in pain. Chiropractic care has been known to help patients with neck and lower back pain. Chiropractic care has also been known to help clients with headaches and migraines. What is Massage Therapy?Another form of body manipulation practice is massage therapy. “In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body,” (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2016). There are a few different types of massages, but there is one common theme among them all: the manipulation of the body’s muscles and soft tissues by pressing, rubbing, and/or manipulating them. Some of the different types of massages include; deep tissue, Swedish, sports, hot stone, and shiatsu. Deep tissue massages use slow and firm movements to reach the connecting tissues surrounding the muscles. Swedish massages are conducted using long circular strokes that may involve kneading, tapping, and/or vibrations to improve oxygen flow within the body and release toxins. A sports massage is tailored to athletes (but does not have to be for athletes) that often involves deep tissue massages incorporated with stretching. A hot stone massage includes hot stones that are placed on an individual at certain points while other stones are held and used to massage the muscles. Shiatsu massages allow a therapist to use their fingertips to massage their client and can incorporate breathing techniques and stretching. Massages have been known to help alleviate back pain, headaches, anxiety, and has been known to even reduce cancer symptoms (Kiefer, 2016).What is Reflexology?Reflexology is a practice that uses pressure on certain areas of the hands, ears, and feet to relieve pressure in different areas within the body. Reflexologists use “road maps” or charts to apply pressure to their patients and alleviate pain in other parts of the body. The applied pressure removes energy blockages and promotes healing. Reflexologists can target different areas within the hands, feet, and ears to relieve pain in the head, shoulders, chest, heart, liver, lower back, and other organs. Reflexology may or may not use lotion or oil when using applying pressure to their patients. Some individuals may get massage therapy and reflexology confused. The main difference between the two is that reflexology is a more direct, isolated application of pressure where massage therapy uses stokes or movements under pressure to work on the problem areas. Reflexology also uses pressure from a remote location to alleviate pain in another area, where massage therapy is a direct application of pressure to the area problem area. Individuals suffering from, “…stress and stress-related conditions, tension headaches and migraines, digestive disorders, arthritis, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, sports injuries, menstrual disorders, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), digestive problems, such as constipation, multiple sclerosis, and back pain,” (Wong, 2017). Reflexology has also been known to assist in lowering anxiety and depression.What is Craniosacral Therapy?“Craniosacral therapy (CST) involves light holding of the skull and sacrum and barely detectable movements…Practitioners believe that the tiny manipulations of CST affect the pressure and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord,” (Ingraham, 2016). By using minimal force, this practice is believed to be the least forceful and minimally evasive of the manipulation practices. The small movements within the cranial bones, head, neck, and spine are believed to put the nervous system back into balance and help alleviate pain. There is no hard scientific evidence, yet, that suggests that craniosacral therapy has positive effects on overall health, but the therapy is still relatively new compared to the other forms of CAM. There is still much research that needs to happen in this field to sustain the statements that doctors practicing CST are giving. Some of the benefits that are said to come from CST is alleviate headaches and migraines, relieve lower back, neck, and shoulder pains, and to help with stress and anxiety. ReferencesCrohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. (2015, January). Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). CCFA Fact Sheet: News From the IBD Help Center. Retrieved from , P. (2016, July 31). Does Craniosacral Therapy Work? Retrieved from Clinic Staff. (2015, August 13). Tests and Procedures: Chiropractic adjustment. Retrieved from Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2016, April 19). Massage Therapy. Retrieved from , C., ND. (2017, August 13). What is Reflexology? Retrieved from . ................
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