Spinal Cord Injury: Progress, Promise, and Priorities (2005)
Chapter: Appendix F Examples of Alternative Therapies
F
EXAMPLES OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
The following alternative therapies have been used in attempts to treat spinal cord injuries. Most of these interventions have not been examined in peer-reviewed randomized clinical trials. Therefore, their safety and efficacy are not known.
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Acupuncture |
Insertion of fine needles into specific sites of the skin. |
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Aromatherapy and essential oils therapy |
Use of plant essential oils applied through either the nose or the skin. |
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Ayurvedic medicine |
A form of therapy that emphasizes diet and nutrition, exercise, and rest and relaxation, among other treatments, to maintain basic energy. |
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Blueberry extracts |
An extract that contains substances similar to cranberries that may fight urinary tract infections. |
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Cannabis |
Hemp-derived substance with psychoactive properties. |
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Chiropractic healing |
System of therapy that uses manipulation of the muscles and body structures. |
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Chronologically controlled developmental therapy |
System of therapy with a number of traditional physical therapies that includes pressure stimulation and light-touch massage, among other techniques. |
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Cranberry extract |
An extract that contains antibacterial substances, such as proanthocyanidins, that inhibit the bacterium Escherichia coli from attaching to the bladder and causing urinary tract infection. |
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Craniosacral therapy |
Light-touch massage and acupuncture. |
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Creatine supplement |
Dietary supplement of creatine, an amino acid involved in cellular energy production in skeletal muscle. |
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Dolphin-assisted therapy |
Interaction of dolphins and humans that includes sonar echolocation. |
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Flower-essence therapy |
The use of a mixture of flower petals that do not contain biologically active molecules. |
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Homeopathy |
The use of natural substances found in plants, minerals, or animals. Homeopathy is based on the premise that low doses can stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms. |
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Laserpuncture |
A therapy that combines elements of acupuncture and laser therapy by using a laser beam of infrared light for acupuncture needles on the patient’s torso. |
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Magnetic therapy |
Therapy that involves the use of magnets. |
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D-Mannose |
Simple sugar used as a supplement to prevent urinary tract infection. |
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Massage |
Manipulation of soft tissues to increase circulation and to stimulate relaxation. |
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Mimosa pudica |
A plant native of tropical America. |
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Omental therapy |
Surgical lengthening and placement of the omentum, a vascular, fatty membranous tissue that surrounds the lower abdomen, over the site of injury. |
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Peripheral nerve rerouting |
Surgical rerouting of peripheral nerves from above the site of injury and connecting them to peripheral nerves below the site of injury. |
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Qigong |
Physical and mental training in gentle movements, breathing, and meditative practices. |
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Shark embryo cell transplantation |
Surgical procedure involving decompression surgery, removal of bone fragments, drainage of cysts, and injection of blue shark embryo cells and growth factors, followed by physical therapy. |
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St. John’s wort |
Herbal medicine that may treat mild cases of depression. |
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SOURCES: Johnston, L. 2002. Alternative & Innovative Therapies for Physical Disability. [Online]. Available: http://healingtherapies.info/ [accessed August 5, 2004]; Spinal Cord Injury Information Network. 1998. Alternative Therapies. [Online]. Available: http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=21745 [accessed November 10, 2004]; Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System. 2002. Complementary and Alternative Medicine. [Online]. Available: http://www.depts.washington.edu/rehab/sci/comp_alt_med.html [accessed February 25, 2005]. |
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