Peer Responses:
Length: A minimum of 150 words per post, not including references
Citations need to be within 5 (Five)  years
Context: Nursing in the USA
See the attached  for the original assignment

Allopathic care, also known as western medicine or conventional medicine, can be defined as the treatment of disease using pharmacologic and/or pathophysiologic modalities (Shirazi, 2012). Allopathic care focuses on the treatment of acute signs and symptoms and the underlying causes. Holism is the practice of awareness and restoration of the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic care is often described as intentional healing of the whole being through music, massage, meditation, therapeutic touch, art, aromatherapy, and healing energy therapies. Complementary-alternative medicine (CAM) are therapies that use conventional and complementary approaches to promote healing for the mind, body, and spirit (Drick, 2018).

Allopathic care includes preventative care, medications, antibiotics, vaccinations, hormone therapy, radiation, and surgical interventions (Shirazi, 2012). Allopathic care also includes screening, risk assessments, and educational programs. Alternatively, CAM therapies include therapeutic massage, meditation, and prayer that may help restore clarity, relaxation of mind and body, improved mood, and quality of life that leads to positive behavioral changes (Drick, 2018). Aromatherapy is another holistic and CAM therapy that uses certain scents to promote relaxation, reduce nausea, pain, and anxiety, and overcome insomnia. Lastly, these therapies also include the recognition of the importance of daily self-care. The nurses’ ability to understand and practice appropriate self-care modalities, such as self-reflection, self-awareness can assist in the healing and restoration of both the patient and nurse.

Despite the benefits, there are limitations to both practices. CAM therapies are limited due to the lack of substantial evidence. A lack of evidence may be due to insufficient funding and/or the inability to design a scientific study that is based solely on CAM therapies, as most CAM therapies are used as adjunct therapies (Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the American Public, 2005). Therefore, additional scientific research is needed on the health benefits of CAM therapies. The public distrust and belief that government and pharmaceutical companies lack credibility hinder allopathic medicine, in addition to being viewed as “unnatural” by some individuals (Lo & Hotez, 2017).

Being a nurse is embracing the art and science of nursing by providing healing care from the inside out. Thus, I believe the most effective way to promote healing and wellness is combing allopathic medicine and alternatives therapies. The combination of allopathic and holistic, complementary, and alternative therapies leads to healing and promotion, positive patient experiences, and quality outcomes (Fan, 2017). 

Drick, C. A. (2018). The Advanced Practice Nurse: Holism and Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches. In L. A. Joel, Advanced Practice Nursing: Essentials for Role Development (Fourth ed., pp. 251-275). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Fan, D. (2017, March). Holistic integrative medicine: toward a new era of medical advancement. Frontiers of Medicine, 11(1), 152-159. DOI 10.1007/s11684-017-0499-6
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the American Public. (2005). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. In Need for innovative designs in research on CAM and conventional medicine (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83801/ ed.). Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).
Lo, N., & Hotez, P. (2017, September 1). Public Health and Economic Consequences of Vaccine Hesitancy for Measles in the United States. JAMA Pediatrics, 171(9), 887-892. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1695.
Shirazi, S. F. (2012, September). Allopathic Medicine vs. Holistic Medicine. Acupuncture Today, 13(9). Retrieved from https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32630