Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Healing Through Mother Earth, Taylor A. Russell

Dance (MFA) Theses

This thesis deals with mental health, with a focus on Black women. Historically, Black women are often so compromised, being constant caregivers and helping everyone else, that they forget to help themselves, not having the time and financial means to do so. If we go back in the time of slavery, many Black women were taking care of slave owners' children and suckling the white women’s babies instead of their own. By the time they got home and after diligently caring for other people’s children they were focused on their own children, who they had been away from for hours …

Why Some Cancer Patients Chose Fasting Instead Of, Or With, Conventional Treatments, Richard Alvin Sacks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Conventional cancer treatment consists of some combination of three therapies: chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. The purpose of this study was to understand why some individuals diagnosed with cancer elected to follow an alternative course of treatment, consisting of fasting on juices or water only rather than, or in addition to, conventional cancer treatment. The theory chosen to guide this study was the Markula Center for Applied Ethics framework for ethical decision making. Research questions were designed to understand the decision-making process of study participants in choosing fasting on juice or water only, rather than, or in addition to, the …

Cultural Resistance In The African Diaspora: A Historical And Contemporary Analysis Of Land-Based Community Care, Toluwani Roberts

CMC Senior Theses

“Cultural Resistance in the African Diaspora: A Historical and Contemporary Analysis of Land-Based Community Care” explores the use of land for the self-liberation and sustenance of African and African descendant peoples. It argues that collective cultivation of land is key to the development of African-derived cultures and forms the foundation of resistance against Western-capitalist cultural domination. Maroon societies, also known as runaway communities, of the 16th to 19th centuries are one of the earliest examples of land-based resistance in slave colonies that have contributed to the development of what we now call the African Diaspora. Maroon Societies: Rebel Slave Communities …

Horticultural Therapy Program For Individuals With Substance Use Disorder: A Mixed-Method Evaluation, Emily Maia Bisaga

CMC Senior Theses

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a chronic brain disorder caused by both biological and environmental factors. Although there is no panacea for addiction, holistic adjunctive therapies have been found to improve outcomes for this population. Horticultural Therapy (HT) is one such adjunct therapy that may improve treatment outcomes. Although HT has been found to support holistic healing for many mental and physical ailments, the efficacy of this intervention has not been evaluated in patients with a SUD. The goal of this controlled, mixed-method study is to evaluate whether HT could be an effective component of a holistic SUD treatment program. …

Healing Sanctuary, Kammy Downs

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The natural world has hidden wisdom and resources that are disregarded as we misuse our responsibility to care for them. The benefits of being in tune with nature have been traded for a culture that manipulates nature on the altar of expediency, waste, and unquenchable desire. Healing Sanctuary presents a duality. My work speaks about the relationship between the seen and unseen, represented by ten larger-than-life drawings of medicinal herbal plants that have had a profound physical healing effect on me. At the same time, plants, roots, and seeds create visceral metaphors for mental health. Our accomplishments, outlook on life, …

Understanding One Dietary Supplement For Pcos, Eva Schofield

Capstone Showcase

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common condition in women of reproductive age, yet nearly 70% of individuals with PCOS remain undiagnosed. For many women who do receive a diagnosis, it takes experiencing symptoms for two years or longer and receiving care from an average of 3 different providers before a diagnosis can be established. In an environment where prevalence is high, diagnosis rate is low and delayed, and dissatisfaction is prevalent regarding the health care women receive, many patients may turn to self-diagnosis and online resources to find their own therapeutic options. This CME article aims to …

Equine-Assisted Therapy And Learning Interventions With Youth: A Meta-Analysis And Quasi-Experimental Study., Sarah Lovins

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Equine-assisted psychotherapy interventions have become increasingly used and tested as an alternative or complementary approach with youth. This project presents two studies. The first study consists of an overview of existing reviews and a meta-analysis of controlled and comparison studies on the effectiveness of equine interventions with youth. A comprehensive search and selection procedure produced 3,525 records, from which 56 quantitative studies were identified, and ultimately 16 controlled or comparison studies were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Results showed a statistically significant, medium, and homogenous effect size for the overall effectiveness of equine interventions for youth psycho-social outcomes ( …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Novel Tyrosinase Inhibitors, Virginia Bailey

Honors Program Theses

Melanin is responsible for the protection against ultraviolet light and the pigmentation of mammalian skin, hair, and eyes.1–3 This indolic polymer is located in the epidermis of mammals and is produced through melanogenesis in specialized cells called melanocytes. Over production of melanin in humans can produce unwanted aesthetic products such as dark spots, freckles, solar lentigo (age spots), melasma, and even cancer.2,4,5 The overproduction of melanin during post-harvest handling causes enzymatic browning of produce resulting in a loss of nutritional value, a decrease in shelf life, and a decline flavor.2,6–8 Tyrosinase is an oxidoreductase, type-3, copper-containing glycoprotein located in the …

Effects Of Mindfulness And Stress Management On Neurocardiovascular And Psychological Outcomes, Aditi P. Vyas

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

There has been a higher prevalence of developing anxiety due to frequent episodes of stress among adults in recent years. Chronic anxiety can contribute to the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. High anxiety and stress also contribute to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system which can be quantified by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Sympathetic overactivation can lead to vasoconstriction and loss of arterial elasticity. Anxiety, MSNA, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness are all interconnected, thus studying these relationships is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-pharmacological and mind-body …

The Rhythm Of Your Life: The Effects Of Daily Routine On Mental Health, Kristen Brown

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of 465nm Blue Light On Sleepiness & Fatigue, Mark E. Childress

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Background: Exhaustion is now accepted in nursing culture. Staff suffering from sleepiness and fatigue are more likely to commit medical errors and sentinel events. Emergency department nurses have the greatest risk of committing these errors. Currently, there is no relief provided to shift workers beyond a single 30-minute meal break within a 12-hour period. Other researched mitigation strategies have either failed or are unrealistic in this environment.

Local Problem: Emergency Department nurses at Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN suffer from chronic sleepiness and fatigue that is exacerbated by shift duration, excessive workload, a stressful environment, and lack of …

Improving Nutrition Literacy In Primary Care, Kami D. Dykes

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

By the year 2030, nearly one in every two adults will have obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m².), and one in four adults will have severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²) (Ward et al., 2019). Equally troubling is that obesity poses a threat to the health of individuals, decreases the quality of life, shortens life expectancy, causes and worsens comorbidities, and increases all- cause mortality (Abdelaal et al., 2017). Studies have shown a link between BMI, nutritional knowledge, and dietary practices. Nutrition literacy is a newer term that refers to the complex relationship between nutrition …

Experiences Of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder In Medication Assisted Treatment Programs, Lynda M. Maxfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOpioid use accounts for many deaths each day in the United States. Although research has shown that retention in medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs increases quality of life for those individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and decreases premature death, there has been limited research on the perspectives of individuals with OUD in MAT programs and why they remained in or left the programs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, guided by Merleau-Ponty’s theory of perception, was to explore the lived experiences of those with OUD treated in a MAT program. An algorithm type interview was conducted to ask …

Wholistic Healing: The Physician Perspective Of The Tibetan Medical Philosophy, Emma J. Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Western medicine, anatomy is divided into multiple disciplines with specialists focused on their specialization, thereby limiting the whole system medical approach within the diagnosis, practice, and treatment of illness. The purpose of this qualitative study with an emergent design was to explore how physicians of Tibetan medicine viewed treating the whole person through the lens of Sowa Rigpa. Inquiry and analytical thinking were viewed through the lens of Otto and Knight’s principles of wholistic healing, Wilber’s integral model, and the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty. Phase I consisted of key informant interviews with four participants that were recent graduates of Tibetan …

Quality Improvement: Implementation Of Individualized Concussion Patient Education And Rehabilitation Treatment Plans, Briana Burgette, Tamara C. Valovich Mcleod

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Concussion is a significant health issue at all levels of sports participation. At Saint Luke’s Health System (SLHS) in Kansas City, Missouri, the sports medicine and concussion team discovered an issue with dissemination of patient education for concussion rehabilitation plans. A quality improvement project was launched in August 2019 to develop concussion educational rehabilitation plans, incorporating cluster symptoms into concussion profiles and improving communication during follow-up care. The project promoted improvement of patient understanding of individualized rehabilitation plans and effective communication for the treatment management team. Three cycles of a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement project were completed over 6 months. …

Traditional Healing In Psychology On The Caribbean Island Of Montserrat, West Indies, Yvette Adelcia Cabey

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In Montserrat, traditional healing medicines consist of herbal treatments and customary therapeutic methods such as ritual practices and herbal teas also known as “Bush and Weed” (Duberry, 1973, p.1). The purpose of this study is to discuss herbs known as “Bush,” in Montserrat, and how they benefit psychological wellbeing among the communities in Montserrat. A subsequent intention of this study is to address how an understanding of Montserratian Traditional Healing remedies can be beneficial to Western Psychological practice and enhance the efficacy for psychological healing. The gap in the literature indicates that few studies are examining mental health methods in …

Clinical Implications Of Telemedicine For Surgical Care: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, Adam M. Hollien, Mary Catherine Avey, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Telemedicine is a newer concept in medicine that utilizes technological devices to provide care to patients. In a society already greatly advanced with technology, telemedicine is the new frontier in healthcare. Implementing telemedicine into current practices will benefit both the patient and the provider. The technology utilized with telemedicine has demonstrated promise by decreasing patient travel time, decreasing lost time from work, increasing patient interactions, and increasing interprofessional collaboration. The cost of implementation is minimal compared to the cost savings that will be accrued from utilizing this technology. There are many specialty areas in healthcare where telemedicine can be implemented …

Suspension Training As An Effective Intervention To Improve Core Stability: A Critically Appraised Topic, S Stiltner, M Boham, D Melrose

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Clinical Scenario: The core is a functional unit connecting the upper and lower extremities consisting of abdominal, back, and hip musculature. Core stability is a determining factor in patient motor performance and provides optimal force production and precision of movement. A highly functional core is essential in injury prevention and rehabilitation. Traditional means of core stability training are performed on a stable surface. Emerging research suggests patients may benefit from core stability training on unstable mediums such as is used with suspension training. Clinical Question: Does suspension training improve core activity in an active population? Search Strategy: Key words used …

Graston Technique® Combined With Therapeutic Intervention As An Alternative Treatment For A Grade Iii Ucl Thumb Sprain: A Disablement Model Case Study, Raul Anaya Jr., Kim Bacalla, Annette D. Monk

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Nonoperative measures have been shown to have positive effects on thumb ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprains considered less than complete. This case presents evidence supporting Graston Technique® (GT) plus therapeutic exercise in order to decrease pain and stiffness in a collegiate football athlete who sustained a grade III UCL sprain. The results showed that there was a reduction in pain level above the minimal clinically importance difference, and ROM improved throughout the three-week intervention. The findings of this case study provide minimal support for an alternative treatment to reduce pain and stiffness in a grade III UCL sprain, with further …

College-Age Students' Attitudes Toward Essential Oils, Alternative Medicines, And Modern Medicine, Taylor Nicole Brown

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the attitudes of college-age students on the use of essential oils, alternative medicines, and modern medicine. Essential oils are natural oils that contain the essence/fragrance of a plant and are often used for cleaning purposes (e.g., in soaps, detergents, disinfectant sprays) and therapeutic purposes (e.g., relieving aches and pains, calming a person, healing illnesses and injuries, improving mood). Although essential oils are primarily used in alternative medicine, some oils have also been used on an experimental basis in modern medical settings (Corner et al., 1995).

College-age students took part in an …