Focus on mindfulness and holistic practices are useful as a complementary or alternative medicine when compared to western medicine. Most of prior research conducted on mindfulness-based approaches has had a focus on adults but it has become apparent that these approaches are beneficial for children and adolescents, thus becoming a growing approach (Ciesia, Reilly, Dickson, Emanuel, & Updegraff, 2012; Kuyken, et al., 2013). Mindfulness is made up of multiple, similar ideas including holistic health and alternative medicine, making it difficult to directly measure mindfulness.
One study by Ceisia, Reilly, Dickson, Emmanuel & Updegraff (2012), describes mindfulness as being made up of multiple facets. One facet is to be aware of present experiences, including thoughts and feelings. Another facet is to describe the observed thoughts and feelings and not judging yourself. The final facet is the ability to let the observed thoughts and feelings pass. All three facets are what make up mindfulness as a whole.
Holistic based approaches aim to restore wellness, as well as preventing illness by addressing the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic approaches use ancient techniques, like acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine, and homeopathy for mind-body healing (Vlieger, 2007).
Alternative medicines that focus on mindfulness and holistic practices have shown to be increasingly popular among people. Approximately one-third of patients, adults and children, use these alternative medicines, with an even higher rate, between 60 and 84 percent, when treating life-long diseases like ADHD, asthma, and cancer (Vlieger, 2007). There are a variety of mindfulness based therapies that are used to improve psychological and physical health outcomes, in...
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...ild behavioural problems, socio-economic disadvantage and fruit and vegetable consumption among 4-12 year-old victorians, Australia. Health Promotion International, 26(3), 263-275. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daq054
Vlieger, A. M. (2007). Discussing complementary and alternative medicine use for children. Patient Education and Counseling, 68(1), 1-2.
White, L. S. (2012). Reducing stress in school-age girls through mindful yoga. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 26(1), doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2011.01.002
Woolery, A., Myers, H., Sternlieb, B., & Zeltzer, L. (2004). A yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 10(2), 60-63.
Yoshihara, K., Hiramoto, T., Sudo, N., & Kubo, C. (2011). Profile of mood states and stress-related biochemical indices in long-term yoga practitioners. BioPsychoSocial Medecine, 5(6).
Streeter, C. C., Gerbarg, P. L., Saper, R. B., Ciraulo, D. A., & Brown, R. P. (2012). Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical hypotheses, 78(5), 571-579.
A nurse that wishes to determine if he/she is stressed, must first be cognizant of the signs and symptoms. Often, stress manifests not just in physical ways but in emotional ways as all. The physical signs of stress include headaches, weight gain, fatigue, and an elevated glucose level, while the emotional signs include anger, lashing out, hostility, sadness, and abstinence and isolation from activities (Roszler & Brail 2017). Stress management is the process of integrating positive and healthy techniques into one’s lifestyle in an attempt to reduce stress. Physical activity such as yoga has been proven to reduce stress. Researchers have found that because yoga encourages one to relax, it shifts the flight-or-fight response to the relaxation response, which has been shown to decrease stress by lowering breathing and heart rates, decrease blood pressure, lower cortisol levels, and increase blood flow to vital organs (Woodyard
A great many research and peer-reviewed scientific papers demonstrate that mindfulness upgrades mental and physical wellbeing and decreases chronic pain. Clinical trials demonstrate that mindfulness is at any rate as compelling as the primary remedy painkillers while additionally improving the body's common recuperating frameworks.
Yoga and Meditation being used as a form of physical therapy has been going on for thousands of years. We, the western society, have picked this up and created a yoga boom doing researches with results showing that it can improve physical health.
These alternative treatments include acupuncture, meditation, and therapy among many others.There is growing evidence that the desire for alternative medicine is expanding because people undergoing procedures in today’s health care system has had unmet needs as well as feelings of being uncared for (Acari & Flanagan, 2015). Alternative medicine is able to provide patients with treatments that provide relief for hard to cure problems such as back pain, neck pain, and arthritis. Many of these alternative treatments have been shown to be successful for various problems. The use of complimentary and alternative medicine as well as the open ended communication that holistic nursing provides is gaining popularity from patients who are fed up with traditional care and hospital
Anxiety impacts approximately 25% of 13-18 at some point (Merikangas et al., n.d.). Anxiety that no longer signals danger can become pathological when it is excessive and persistent (Upadhyay, 2016). According to Upadhyay (2016), this type of pathological worry known as anxiety is a major component of an unhealthy lifestyle. Excessive worry is an indicator of anxiety and it is believed that yoga is effective due to its emphasis on focusing on the present moment rather than focusing on the past or future (Khalsa et al., 2011). Yoga outside of psychotherapy can improve emotional regulation and mental health functioning in youth. Participants obtained skills to breathe and use movement to calm down and learned to pay better attention to their thoughts, body, and feelings (Beltran, et al., 2016). Another study conducted by Upadhyay (2016) found that after a 12-week yoga program adolescents saw a decrease in anxiety scores on Becks Anxiety Inventory and reported a decrease in tension, depression, and anger. Another unique form of therapy that is utilized for anxiety is Yoga-Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Y-BT) (Khalsa, et al., 2011). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a theory used in a clinical setting that targets maladaptive thought patterns to seek behavioral change. Y-CBT uses this therapeutic process and also incorporate yoga during the process. This is because CBT trains the individual to identify and replace maladaptive thoughts and yoga and meditation often reduce the tendency for the thoughts to happen in general. The study utilizing Y-CBT saw a significant improvement in anxiety levels and a significant decrease in symptoms of comorbid depression and panic in participants diagnosed with ...
Yoga experiences in everyday life is therapy for the mind and soul, particularly individuals with depression, anxiety, and other disorders, because it prospers where conventional medicine fails by lifting the moods of individuals. However, though yoga is empowering and safe, it is not meant to be a substitute for medical care. Yoga practices are most effective and useful as additional self-care to counseling and medical advice for those with a history of intense anxiety. Therefore, professional treatment, including conventional medicine, plus yoga practices can have a calming and positive effect on the body and mind of individuals with disorders impacting their mindfulness. Depression, anxiety, and stress have been implicated as causes for decreased quality of life. An option of a non-pharmacological therapy to help relieve stress and anxiety is yoga.
In today’s world, many people assume that the latest medical technology and treatments are always the best option. However, all over the world, different techniques for curing diseases and aliments are being used. These methods fall under the category of complementary and alternative medicine.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is slowly becoming better known all over the world. CAM encompasses various types of therapies, such as yoga, reflexology, chiropractic therapy, herbal therapy, ayurveda, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, etc. The evidenced-based research, recognition of disconnect between patients and also the positive and negative aspects of CAM modalities are reasons behind the increased attention it has gained in medicals schools all over the United States. (Hart, 2009, p. 287).
Mindfulness is defined as a state of total awareness in the present moment (without being judgmental of oneself).1 For an individual, it involves being in a meditative state of mind while simultaneously experiencing everything that is happening in the moment.1 The term awareness does not only refer to outside factors, such as sights, sounds, and events, but also internal experiences, like physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts.1 Mindful eating relates awareness of internal and external cues to food. These cues can include the feeling of hunger or satiety, size of the bowl, plate, or the portion size of the actual food itself.2 Research has been done with mindfulness on females and the female athlete population in order to help treat body
Mindfulness is a concept that over recent year has gained momentum within the field of psychology helping guide and create treatment options for those suffering from mental illness. Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) over recent years has become a widespread form of treatment within the present-day psychotherapy (Hofmann et al, 2010) for addressing well-being in patients who suffer from mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The therapy was derived from ancient eastern meditation, Buddhist and Yoga practices (Hofmann et al; Piet et al, 2011), which is characterized as a certain way of experiencing internal thoughts, feeling, bodily reactions and external stimulus. These traditions foster what is considered to be the mind, body and spirit bond helping practitioners find a sense of self and well-being.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2010). Health info. Meditation: An introduction. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
Stueck, M., & Gloeckner, N. (2005). Yoga for children in the mirror of science: Working spectrum and practice field of the training of relaxation with elements of yoga for children. Early Child Development and Care, 175(4), 371-377. doi:10.1080/0300443042000230537
Mindfulness Meditation has been present in cultures, societies and spiritual teachings for thousands of years. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that focuses awareness on breathing and encourages positive attitudes to achieve a healthy balanced mental state. [Mosby’s medical dictionary] The benefits of meditation have mostly been anecdotal. However, in recent decades, meditation has been studied which has led to a better understanding of the effects on the mind. Meditation can have many positive results, such as helping treat depression and anxiety, reducing the need for medications associated with these troubling disorders, and improving daily life through practicing mindfulness mediation.
The goal of this study was to identify the ways in which engaging in yoga practices would alter psychological well being, and allow people to engage more fully in their lives and flourish in health and happiness. The pre and post test set up of this study allowed the researchers to see the ways in which students had been affected by their participation in the yoga teacher training. Yoga training students were engaged in a four week program. They were administered tests and the beginning of the study, prior to engaging in the program, at the end of the program, after completion, and then again at a 3 month follow up. Multiple factors were assessed, however the significant and important ones which relate directly to our understanding of healthy, happiness and wellness and the course content are extremely