Holistic healing methods are becoming more popular in nursing homes, according to The National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys. However, it is not just any kind of holistic healing method, but particular ones. We have come a long way from the herbal teas and miracle fruits of just a few decades ago.
Many patients are facing a narrower range of potential solutions to their medical issues, so nursing homes are exploring holistic treatments, whether they are certified or not, to rid their patients’ bodies of disease and relieve them of pain.
Modern medicine typically focuses on the cause of a particular disease and often treats the symptoms of that disease. Meanwhile, a holistic treatment will focus on the patient’s body and condition as a whole, hence the name “holistic.” No matter what kind of patient you are, you can benefit immensely from a holistic treatment method. But, what kind of holistic treatments are most effective and, by extension, most popular?
Essential Oils
The market for essential oils will be worth more than $11 billion by 2022. Such herbs as eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and many others are being used more widely all around the United States. It’s clear that people are beginning to embrace these herbs and their benefits.
There are many different types of essential oils, and they can treat a whole range of conditions, such as bladder infections, earaches or sore throats. They can also make it easier to bear symptoms of illnesses or conditions, including depression, anxiety, insomnia and asthma. Lavender, for instance, has been proven to be a major stress reliever and to help one get some sleep. When you combine it with peppermint, you get a powerful headache reliever. Eucalyptus, on the other hand, is quite effective against sinusitis and coughing, especially when you infuse it into steam.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy and its use can be traced back as far as 1700 B.C. It is based on the idea that water is good for the skin and can treat such issues like swelling, pain, acne and even anxiety. Hydrotherapists strongly believe that water can also be beneficial to the immune system of the patient. At the very least, it’s been proven that hydrotherapy is effective as a pain reliever, especially when treating burns.
Aquatic therapies are becoming more popular in nursing homes, mainly because of the kinds of benefits that water provides for the patient. The hydrostatic pressure, the warmth of the water, and buoyancy are components that make it easy for occupational and physical therapists to make progress with people who would have otherwise never been able to make the same kind of progress had they undergone therapy on land.
Acupressure
Touch is such a powerful sense and also a powerful tool when it comes to healing. As a result, it is often used in many holistic treatment methods. Acupressure has been shown in various studies to be particularly effective against opioid use and to reduce some of the side effects of these drugs. It is also quite effective in battling post-operative pain in seniors.