Healing Systems Chart

SCI/201 Version 5

University of Phoenix Material

Healing Systems Chart
Fill in the missing information for each of the following systems:

System

Description

Key principles

Ayurveda

One of the
oldest holistic
systems rooting
from India.
It is based on
the belief that
health and
wellness depend
on a delicate
balance
between the
mind, body, and
spirit
(WebMD,2015)

Mind, body and

spirit medicine.
Based off three
life forces called
doshas.
They control
how your body
works. The three
doshas are:
Vata
dosha
(space
and air)
Pitta
dosha
(fire and
water)
Kapha
dosha
(water
and
earth)
Everyone inherits
a unique mix of
the three doshas.
One dosha is
usually more
dominant. Each
dosha controls a
different body
function. It is
believed that
your chances of
getting sick are
linked to the
balance of your
doshas

Treatments or therapies
used
Treatment depends on
your own unique prakriti,
your primary dosha, and
the balance between all
three of them.
The main goal is to
cleanse your body of
undigested food, which
can adhere to the inside
of your body and make
you ill. This cleansing
process is called
panchakarma.
The treatments may
include:
Aromatherapy
Breathing
exercises
Diet changes
Herbs, vitamins,
minerals, and
metals
Plant-based oils
and spices
Lifestyle
changes
Meditation
Stretching
Yoga

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Education requirements
Overseeing organization
Licensing or certification
Supportive research
No states in the United
States license Ayurvedic
practitioners, although a
few have approved
Ayurvedic schools. Many
Ayurvedic practitioners are
licensed in other health
care fields, such as
midwifery or massage
(NCCIH,2015).

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(WebMD, 2015).

Tradition
al
Chinese
medicine

Native
America
n
medicine

Originated in
China and has
evolved over
thousands of
years. TCM
practitioners use
herbal
medicines,
acupuncture and
other mind and
body practices
to treat and
prevent health
issues.

TCM is rooted in
the ancient
philosophy of
Taoism and
dates back more
than 2,500
years.(NCCIH,
2015).

Native American
medicine is an
umbrella term
that
encompasses
the healing
beliefs and
practices of all
the indigenous
people of North
America. Its
therapeutic
approach
combines
spirituality,
herbalism and
magic in treating
a wide range of
physical and

Native American
medicine and
spirituality come
together to form
the basis of
healing and
health.
Relationship with
the Creator
begins early, and
it comes from an
inner guidance
and leadership.
Everyone is
connected to the
Creator and has
some sort of
direct
relationship. It

TCM provides therapies

which help promote
health and treat disease.
The commonly used
type of treatment that is
used in traditional
Chinese medicine is
Chinese herbal medicine
and acupuncture.
Chinese herbal medicine
is a medication that
contains hundreds of
substances including
plants, minerals, and
animal products that
provide action in the
body. The different parts
of flowers including the
leaves, roots, steams,
and seeds are combined
with herbs to develop
teas, capsule
medications, or powers
the individual can use.
Acupuncture is a
therapeutic
Native Americans use
medicine men or women
called Shammans.
Natives Americans use
herbal remedies. Native
Americans also believe
healing powers lie in
natural artifacts like
bones, skin, shells,
roots, etc (Indians.org
2013).

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

In spite of the widespread

use of TCM in China and
its use in the West,
rigorous scientific
evidence of its
effectiveness is limited.
TCM can be difficult for
researchers to study
because its treatments are
often complex and are
based on ideas very
different from those of
modern Western
medicine (NCCIH,2015).

Native Americans tend to

use traditional relics to aid
in the healing powers.
Unlike traditional
medicine, Native
Americans believe health
lies in positive thinking.
Native Americans will
sometimes lean on
modern medicine to
combat diseases that were
not around before the
white man (Indians.org,
2013)

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emotional
ailments from
the common
cold to
depression
(WholeHealthM
D,2014)

Homeop
athy

Homeopathy is
the idea that the
body will
eventually cure
an illness itself.
Founded in
1700s in
Germany,
Homeopathy
was very
popular back
then amongst
German
Doctors,
believing that
natural remedies
such as plants
will help the
immune system
to regain control
of the illness and
cause the body
to heal on its
own (WebMD,
2015).

involves a
respect for all of
Gods creations
including plants,
animals, and
humans. Earth,
air, fire and water
are important
energies involved
with Native
American
medicine and
ceremonies.
Disease is
caused by some
disharmony in
the cosmic order
as well as by
hexing, breaking
a taboo, fright or
soul loss
(Manahan,2006)
Some of the key
principals to
Homeopathy s
that most of the
treatments are
the placebo
effect.
Homeopathic
practitioners
believe that when
given the
substance that
cause the illness
in a very small
dose, the body
will use the same
substance to
cure itself. The
solutions in the
active
substances is not
whats curing the
patient, it is the
mind or the
placebo effect
(WebMD, 2015)

Treatments can range

from natural plants
and/or minerals, formed
into pills or liquid
solutions. Homeopathic
medicines are said to be
very diluted in a way that
one would think would
have no effect at all, but
patients do witness relief
or cured from an illness.
Realistically
Homeopathic
Medications are used for
long term illnesses such
as Asthma, Allergies,
Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, and
Rheumatoid Arthritis
(WebMD, 2015).

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

You can buy some

homeopathic medicines at
health food stores without
a doctor's prescription. But
preparations from different
suppliers and practitioners
may vary.
Always tell your doctor if
you are using an
alternative therapy or if
you are thinking about
combining an alternative
therapy with your
conventional medical
treatment. (WebMD, 2015)

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Naturopa
thy

Based on the
belief that the
body can heal
itself naturally.
Naturopathic
medicine
attempts to
improve health,
prevent disease,
and treat illness
by promoting the
use of organic
foods and exerci
se; encouraging
a healthy,
balanced
lifestyle; and
applying
concepts and
treatments from
other areas of
complementary
medicine
(WebMD, 2015)

First do no
harm minimize
harmful side
effects and avoid
suppression of
symptoms.
Physician as
teacher
Educate patience
to be responsible
for their personal
health.
Treat the whole
person
Consider all
elements of
healthphysical,
mental,
emotional,
spiritual, genetic,
environmental,
and social needs
when designing a
treatment plan.
Prevention
assess the risk
factors, partner
with the patient,
and establish
appropriate
interventions to
prevent illness.
Healing power
of nature
identify and
remove
obstacles to the
bodys natural
process for
restoring health.
Treat and cause
focus on the
cause of the
disease rather
than its
symptoms
(NCCIH,2015)

Naturopathy application
of complementary and
alternative medicine
include the following
treatments:
Nutritional
counselingdietary
changes, use of
vitamins, minerals, and
other supplements.
Herbal medicines.
Homeopathy.
Hydrotherapy.
Physical medicine
therapeutic and joint
manipulation.
Exercise therapy.
Lifestyle
counseling(NCCIH,201
5)

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Two common concerns

about naturopathic
medicine are the use of
dietary fasting and a bias
against immunization (vac
cinations). (WebMD,
2015)

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Osteopat
h

Chiropra
ctic

A drug-free noninvasive manual

medicine that
focuses on total
body health by
treating and
strengthening
the
musculoskeletal
framework,
which includes
the joints,
muscles and
spine. Its aim is
to positively
affect the body's
nervous,
circulatory and
lymphatic
systems.

Focuses on the
relationship
between the
body's structure
mainly the
spineand its
functioning.
Although
practitioners
may use a
variety of
treatment
approaches,
they primarily
perform

The key
principles are
based on all
parts of the body
functioning
together in an
integrated
manner. If one
part of the body
is restricted, then
the rest of the
body must adapt
and compensate
for this,
eventually
leading
to inflammation,
pain, stiffness
and other health
conditions. When
the body is free
of restrictions in
movement,
Osteopathic
treatment assists
the body with
pain
minimisation,
reduced stress a
nd greater
mobility providing
the body with the
opportunity to
heal itself.
Spinal
adjustment/mani
pulation is a core
treatment in
chiropractic care

All treatment programs

are highly individualized
and depend on the
patient's current
condition, past history,
and ability to adapt to
change. Treatment
could include such
techniques as soft tissue
stretching, to increase
blood flow and improve
flexibility of joints and
muscles. Osteopath may
also advise dietary
changes, home exercise
programs and lifestyle
adjustments.

Osteopathy is a five-year
university course, which
includes a degree and
masters qualification.
Senior Osteopathy
students complete clinical
training under the
supervision of registered
Osteopaths at student
teaching clinics
Osteopaths believe in
working as part of a health
system of health providers
and often refer back to the
G.P. or another allied
health professional where
appropriate.

Chiropractors may
combine the use of
spinal adjustments and
other manual therapies
with several other
treatments and
approaches such as:
Heat and ice
Electrical stimul
ation
Relaxation tech
niques
Rehabilitative
and

Chiropractic training is a 4year academic program

that includes both
classroom work and direct
experience caring for
patients. Coursework
typically includes
instruction in the
biomedical sciences, as
well as in public health
and research methods.
Some chiropractors
pursue a 2- to 3-year
residency for training in
specialized fields.

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adjustments
(manipulations)
to the spine or
other parts of
the body with
the goal of
correcting
alignment
problems,
alleviating pain,
improving
function, and
supporting the
body's natural
ability to
heal itself.
(NCCIH,2015)

Polarity

Conventi
onal
medicine

general exercise
Counseling
about diet,
weight loss, and
other
lifestyle factors
Dietary supplem
ents.
(NCCIH, 2015)

A
comprehensive
health system
involving
energy-based
bodywork, diet,
exercise and
self-awareness.

Polarity Therapy
is based on the
belief that the
body is
surrounded by
the human
energy field,
through which
energy is
constantly
flowing and
moving between
the head and
feet, or poles, of
the body.

The dominant
form of medicine
practiced in the
United States.
Those who are
licensed to
practice
conventional
medicine are
medical doctors
(M.D. degrees),

The focus on
treating
symptoms and
accurately
diagnosing their
cause is one of
conventional
medicines
greatest
strengths.
Diagnostic tests

After interviewing you on

your lifestyle and
medical history, the
Polarity Therapist
evaluates your energy
flow through polarity
bodywork. This is done
by moving their hands
from the head to the feet
and over
the chakras and is done
completely clothed.
They will then apply
differing amounts of
pressure to the body to
stimulate and balance
energy flow. The
practitioner will then
advise dietary changes
or demonstrate
exercises to try at home.
External interventions
(eg, drugs, surgery,
radiation therapy)

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

(NCCIH,2015)

The profession of Polarity

Therapy is autonomous,
self-regulating, and
holistic. Its scope of
practice includes energetic
approaches to somatic
contact, verbal facilitation,
nutrition, exercise, and
health education.
Entry into the profession
requires a thorough
knowledge of energetic
principles. The course of
study includes entry-level
and advanced education,
with certification programs
in basic and advanced
topics (APTA, 2010)

M.D. degrees, registered

nurses, and other allied
health professionals, such
as physical therapists,
dietitians, and
psychologists.

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used in
conventional
medicine Xrays, CT scans,
EEGs, EKGs,
and various
blood tests
can reveal the
presence of a
disease before
the patient
experiences
symptoms.
These
diagnostics tests
can be lifesaving.
Conventional
medicine tends
to look at the
individual part
that is not
functioning
instead of the
whole person.

registered
nurses, and
other allied
health
professionals

References
https://nccih.nih.gov/
http://www.webmd.com/
http://www.polaritytherapy.org/

Copyright 2014 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.