Authors

1Yolanda Martínez Santos, 2Teresa Logroño Torres, 3Lara Palacín Nieto

Position

¹Enfermera. Máster en Ciencias de la Enfermería. Enfermera de UCI del Hospital General de la Defensa de Zaragoza.²Enfermera. Máster en Ciencias de la Enfermería. Coordinadora de UCI del Hospital General de la Defensa de Zaragoza.³Enfermera. Máster en Ciencias de la Enfermería. Consulta de Alergología del Hospital Royo Villanova de Zaragoza.

Contact address

Yolanda Martínez Santos . C/ Itálica, 2. Casa 3. 50410 Cuarte de Huerva (Zaragoza).

Contact email: ymarsa2@yahoo.es

Abstract

Traditional medicine, in both its forms as complementary medicine and alternative medicine, raises a wide range of reactions, ranging from uncritical enthusiasm to uninformed skepticism. However, its use is increasing rapidly in developed countries and there is increasing evidence-based studies that favor use of these therapies. Nursing professionals have an important role in this reality, since knowing these techniques can provide balanced advice about therapeutic options and improve the relationship of trust with patients, in many cases lost by the mechanization and dehumanization of conventional medicine, while decreasing the use of synthetic drugs, an issue increasingly demanded by users of health services, because many patients are reluctant to take them. The aim of this paper is to provide information on the status of complementary and alternative medicine today and show some of the
benefits that may result from their application to health care. For this purpose, a bibliographic review of the literature was conducted, focusing­ on aspects relating to demand and types of users of these therapies, as well as the characteristics that may be best suited to be applied by nursing­ care.

Keywords:

alternative medicine; complementary medicine; nursing care; scientific medicinetraditional medicine

Versión en Español

Título:

Medicinas alternativas y complementarias en el ámbito sociocultural actual