Issues in complementary and alternative medicine

Introduction

The stresses of modern living take their toll in terms of our health. This unit is formed from three extracts. The first extract is called ‘Understanding why people use complementary and alternative medicine'. This part discusses: the meaning of health, its origins in terms of components and beliefs. Also models of health care delivery are discussed together with concepts and beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine. Extract two 'Critical issues in the therapeutic relationship' examines: users’ experiences, changing notions of the relationship and issues surrounding the therapeutic relationship. The last extract 'Ethics in complementary and alternative medicine' is about: ethics in health care relationships and ethical behaviour. Ethical practice and accountability are also discussed in terms of professional bodies and individual practitioners’. This extract ends with the key ethical issues which are important for complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.

This unit is from our archive and is an adapted extract from Perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine (K221) which is no longer taught by The Open University. If you want to study formally with us, you may wish to explore other courses we offer in this subject area [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .