This is one of the few things that kind of upsets and bothers me so much in the nursing world (well healthcare in general, but since im in nursing it bothers me when i see it with nurses more)
But so frequently there are so many people who recommend this alternative nonense, to seeking real medical attention, and it really just worries me.
Theres the obvious danger of interactions with real medication, but then it also promotes people to either avoid actually treating their problem. Or it takes money away from going to real healthcare, and instead ends up in the pockets of these charlatans.
In nursing school I saw it so incredibly frequently, and even in the hospital I see it somewhat often. Nurses who tell patients that eating grains causes their diabetes, or ranting about GMOs and this crap. Other nurses who are stubborn/ignorant enough to avoid getting vaccinated (flu shots!) for reasons other than legitimate medical reasons (id never expect someone with a history or guillain barre or allergies to force a shot on themselves)
If medical professionals want to do all this nonsense in their personal lives, thats their right. Its just when they bring it into the workplace and involve patients in it that it really worries me.
When its relatively harmless it doesn't bother me (ie some of the out there ideas that people may have for patients to improve their pain without drugs) fine. But when it just spreads ignorance and confuses the patient, its terrible.
My question is: Why aren't herbal or dietary supplements regulated by the FDA or a comparable government agency? It makes my suspicious mind assume they have something to hide.
An herbal remedy can have this or that study, all of which means little to me if my government hasn't approved it to treat any known diseases.
At least we should offer our best knowledge about a certain medicine or treatment. But if the patient would really insist, it is none of our business. I could perhaps help them in any way.
Just another real example. But like 15 or so people I previously went to nursing school with got ""certified"" in Reiki over the summer. Now I dont work with most of them, but id be really damn worried if I saw nurses on my unit trying to perform Reiki on a patient.
Many hospitals are employing Therapeutic Touch or Healing Touch practitioners to help their patients. Like Reiki, these are energy based therapies that are of great value to many people. They are proven to reduce stress and pain. Just because you don't believe in Alternative Therapies, doesn't mean they can't be effective and useful.
Many hospitals are employing Therapeutic Touch or Healing Touch practitioners to help their patients. Like Reiki these are energy based therapies that are of great value to many people. They are proven to reduce stress and pain. Just because you don't believe in Alternative Therapies, doesn't mean they can't be effective and useful.[/quote']
Proven? How about you provide evidence to this claim ?
For what it is worth, here is a list of articles if anyone really wants to investigate the effectiveness of Reiki:
Abdi S, Zhou Y. Management of pain after burn injury. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2002 Oct;15(5):563-7.
Astin JA, Harkness E, Ernst E. The efficacy of "distant healing": a systematic review of randomized trials. Ann Intern Med 6-6-2000;132(11):903-910.
Brewitt B, Vittetoe T, Hartwell B. The efficacy of Reiki hands-on healing: improvements in spleen and nervous system function as quantified by electrodermal screening [abstract]. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 1997;3:89.
Crawford SE, Leaver VW, Mahoney SD. Using Reiki to decrease memory and behavior problems in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease. J Altern Complement Med 2006 Nov;12(9):911-3.
Kennedy P. Working with survivors of torture in Sarajevo with Reiki. Complement Ther Nurs.Midwifery 2001;7(1):4-7.
Krucoff MW, Crater SW, Gallup D, et al. Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study. Lancet 7-16-2005;366(9481):211-217.
Mackay N, Hansen S, McFarlane O. Autonomic nervous system changes during Reiki treatment: a preliminary study. J Altern Complement Med 2004;10(6):1077-1081.
Mansour AA, Beuche M, Laing G, et al. A study to test the effectiveness of placebo Reiki standardization procedures developed for a planned Reiki efficacy study. J Altern Complement Med. 1999;5(2):153-164.
Olson K, Hanson J. Using Reiki to manage pain: a preliminary report. Cancer Prev Control 1997;1(2):108-113.
Olson K, Hanson J, Michaud M. A phase II trial of Reiki for the management of pain in advanced cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 2003;26(5):990-997.
Schlitz MJ, Braud WG. Reiki-plus natural healing: an ethnographic/experimental study. PSI Research 1985;4:100-123.
Shore AG. Long-term effects of energetic healing on symptoms of psychological depression and self-perceived stress. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004;10(3):42-48.
Tsang KL, Carlson LE, Olson K. Pilot crossover trial of Reiki versus rest for treating cancer-related fatigue. Integr Cancer Ther 2007 Mar;6(1):25-35.
Vitale AT, O'Connor PC. The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: a quasi-experimental pilot study. Holist Nurs Pract 2006 Nov-Dec;20(6):263-72; quiz 273-4.
Wardell DW, Engebretson J. Biological correlates of Reiki Touch(sm) healing. J Adv Nurs 2001;33(4):439-445.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
My question is: Why aren't herbal or dietary supplements regulated by the FDA or a comparable government agency? It makes my suspicious mind assume they have something to hide.
An herbal remedy can have this or that study, all of which means little to me if my government hasn't approved it to treat any known diseases.