Complimentary Alternative Therapy: The Healing Touch

Question A 

Healing Touch Therapy was developed in the late 1980s by Janet Mentgen, a nurse who recognized the significance of energy and healing properties of touch. It is an energy therapy that utilizes the power of gentle touch to enhance and facilitate the health of the body, mind, and spirit of an individual (Brown, 2013). Although this therapy has been adopted widely as alternative medicine by health practitioners, Christian nurses seem to have an issue practicing it since it is against the biblical teachings. However, other nurses view it as the work of the Holy Spirit and embrace it with open arms (Brown, 2013). The non-Christians see healing touch as a gift of humanity that essential for continuity of life (Wuthnow, 1997). 

Question B 

The assumption that there is an existence of vital energy in the human body unifies the perspectives of both ‘The Healing Gods’ and the Healing touch. They both agree that when the flow of energy in the human body is imbalanced or blocked, it can result in illnesses and unrest (Brown, 2013). Healing, therefore, involves elevating the patients’ and nurses’ energies to redirect energy flows, rebalancing and restoring the state of equilibrium of the patients’ vital forces. However, the difference between the two is pretty clear, healing, according to Christianity, is entirely God’s work. ‘The Healing Gods’ seek to help religious people integrate their religious views with healing practices and forego beliefs that therapies are witchcraft and against Christian and biblical teachings (Marletta et al., 2015). Also, ‘The Healing Gods’ identify and acknowledges the power of divine healing through prayer together with other medical interventions while the Healing Touch focuses entirely on the scientific perspectives of holistic healing to patients. 

Question C 

In response to these therapies, Christian nurses need to integrate their faith with the medical theories to attain holistic wellness of patients. According to the American Nurses Association code of ethics, nurses have the responsibility to protect and respect the patient’s human rights ( Winland-Brown, Lachman & Swanson, 2015) . A nurse must get the patient’s consent before conducting any CAT therapy a patient. 

Question D 

Prayer is an alternative healing therapy for patients. However, the nurse has an ethical responsibility to seek the permission of the patient before praying to them; to ensure the rights of the patient are observed by fully engaging them to the prayer whether the nurse does it aloud or silently. 

References 

Brown, C. (2013). The healing gods: Complementary and alternative medicine in Christian America (112-199) . Oxford University Press. 

Marletta, G., Canfora, A., Roscani, F., Cernicchiaro, L., Cutrera, M., Russo, M., ... & Sarli, L. (2015). The complementary medicine (CAM) for the treatment of chronic pain: scientific evidence regarding the effects of healing touch massage. Acta Biomed , 86 (Suppl 2), 127-33. 

Winland-Brown, J., Lachman, V. D., & Swanson, E. O. C. (2015). The new code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements'(2015): Practical clinical application, Part I. Medsurg Nursing , 24 (4), 268. 

Wuthnow, S. (1997). Healing Touch Controversies. Journal of Religion and Health , 36 (3), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1027405007064