Complementary and Alternative Medicine consists of a holistic approach to treatment that includes acupuncture, animal-assisted therapy, dietary supplements, massage, music, meditation, and aromatherapy. I have selected to discuss acupuncture as a complementary and alternative method for pain control. A link exists between poorly controlled acute pain, the development of chronic pain, and the occurrence of psychological conditions, such as depression and anxiety (Non-Allopathic Interventions, 2020).  Pain can be debilitating and thus can negatively affect other aspects of a person’s health and well-being. Acupuncture has been mainly used in the U.S. and other Western countries to ease low back pain, nerve pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, and more”(Why & How, 2016). Pain is often not well managed because it is subjective and patients have different tolerance levels. Patients may opt to incorporate complementary and alternative medicine to complement traditional Western medicine. CAM can complement the pharmacological use of medications for pain control. In a trial, they found low complication rates for acupuncture, and acupuncture was more superior in treating pain in emergency department patients compared to morphine, and potential of acupuncture as non-pharmacological pain treatment (Why & How, 2016). Patients may get frustrated with uncontrolled pain and may decide to seek alternative methods to complement mainstream medical care. It is important for the Nurse Practitioner to inquire about the use of alternative therapies during patient assessment. Pain was identified as both a national and a public health challenge requiring a cultural transformation to better prevent, assess, treat, and understand the pain of all types(Non-Allopathic Interventions, 2020). The Nurse Practitioners role is to inform and educate the patients about the use of CAM.

References:

Non-Allopathic Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain: A Brief Review. (2020). Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 25(2), N.PAG. 

Why and How Acupuncture Works. (2016). Running & FitNews, 34(4), 1315.