Rachael Wardle Unit 35
P3 explain the role of complementary therapies in relation to conventional treatments
M2 analyse tensions between conventional treatments and complementary therapies
D1 evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the treatment of individuals
P3/M2
Complementary therapies have a role in providing relief from ailments, however they should
not always be used as a replacement for conventional treatments. Instead the two different
forms of treatment should work together to provide the highest level of care to patients.
Conventional treatments are provided by a GP surgery, health centre, or hospital. There are
also tensions between complementary therapies and conventional treatments which can
cause issues in how effectively they work with one another. These tensions mainly surround
the reliability and overall effectiveness of complementary therapies compared to
conventional treatments.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-is-conventional-medicine
Biochemical treatments are an alternative to drug therapy as they use natural body
chemicals rather than drug molecules. This form of treatment is commonly used in treating
mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Medicine based
complementary therapies such as St John’s Wort has been proven to help deal with mild
depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. In a scenario where an individual is
diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder they may be recommended to take this herbal
medicine. However if they have been given an antidepressant such as xanax, then they may
be referred to a practitioner who specialises in cognitive therapy. CT is a form of
complementary therapy which helps people deal with negative thoughts or thinking errors
which underlie their anxiety or depression.
The lack of scientific evidence supporting complementary therapies can often cause tension
and mistrust among medical staff recommending it for their patients. Conventional medicine
has to go through scientific trials to prove its effectiveness before it is released to the public.
However, when complementary therapies are tested using the same testing techniques as
conventional treatments, there is not often results which show how they work. This factor
may make a GP reluctant to recommend therapies to their patients to try alongside their
conventional treatments. Because of this reluctance, patients with mental health disorders
may not get all of the support possible. For example instead of having the option of trying
homeopathy or St John’s Wort, a GP may decide to put the patient onto medication like
antidepressants or beta blockers. Because there isn’t solid evidence that the majority of
complementary therapies work, it makes it difficult for practitioners practising conventional
treatments to trust that complementary therapies will help.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5007926.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5007118.stm
https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-educators/complementary-therapies-what-is-the-
evidence-for-their-use/197727.article
Another example of biochemical treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a treatment
for cancer where medication is used to kill cancer cells. This medication prevents cancer
cells from reproducing and spreading.
A service user diagnosed with cancer may use chemotherapy as a form of treatment in order
to kill the cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. Chemotherapy is known for having
side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Certain complementary therapies such as
P3 explain the role of complementary therapies in relation to conventional treatments
M2 analyse tensions between conventional treatments and complementary therapies
D1 evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the treatment of individuals
P3/M2
Complementary therapies have a role in providing relief from ailments, however they should
not always be used as a replacement for conventional treatments. Instead the two different
forms of treatment should work together to provide the highest level of care to patients.
Conventional treatments are provided by a GP surgery, health centre, or hospital. There are
also tensions between complementary therapies and conventional treatments which can
cause issues in how effectively they work with one another. These tensions mainly surround
the reliability and overall effectiveness of complementary therapies compared to
conventional treatments.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-is-conventional-medicine
Biochemical treatments are an alternative to drug therapy as they use natural body
chemicals rather than drug molecules. This form of treatment is commonly used in treating
mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Medicine based
complementary therapies such as St John’s Wort has been proven to help deal with mild
depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. In a scenario where an individual is
diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder they may be recommended to take this herbal
medicine. However if they have been given an antidepressant such as xanax, then they may
be referred to a practitioner who specialises in cognitive therapy. CT is a form of
complementary therapy which helps people deal with negative thoughts or thinking errors
which underlie their anxiety or depression.
The lack of scientific evidence supporting complementary therapies can often cause tension
and mistrust among medical staff recommending it for their patients. Conventional medicine
has to go through scientific trials to prove its effectiveness before it is released to the public.
However, when complementary therapies are tested using the same testing techniques as
conventional treatments, there is not often results which show how they work. This factor
may make a GP reluctant to recommend therapies to their patients to try alongside their
conventional treatments. Because of this reluctance, patients with mental health disorders
may not get all of the support possible. For example instead of having the option of trying
homeopathy or St John’s Wort, a GP may decide to put the patient onto medication like
antidepressants or beta blockers. Because there isn’t solid evidence that the majority of
complementary therapies work, it makes it difficult for practitioners practising conventional
treatments to trust that complementary therapies will help.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5007926.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5007118.stm
https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-educators/complementary-therapies-what-is-the-
evidence-for-their-use/197727.article
Another example of biochemical treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a treatment
for cancer where medication is used to kill cancer cells. This medication prevents cancer
cells from reproducing and spreading.
A service user diagnosed with cancer may use chemotherapy as a form of treatment in order
to kill the cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. Chemotherapy is known for having
side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Certain complementary therapies such as
