Complementary Therapies Complementary Holistic Therapies to Balance Your Mind, Body & Spirit

Volunteers providing non-medical assistance to support independent living Healing the Whole Person Rutland Regional Medical Center has joined the growing number of hospitals that offer complementary therapies in a more formalized way as part of its treatment options to selected groups of patients. Complementary therapies are used alongside our more mainstream medical and surgical services.

What is Music Therapy? Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is the art of energy healing. Reiki, or Universal Life Force energy, is a healing practice that originated in Japan and is used to relieve stress and promote healing. It can assist healing on all levels including mental, emotional and spiritual. Pleasant and relaxing, Reiki is frequently used in conjunction with conventional medicine and is intended to enhance, not replace, medical, surgical and nursing care in the hospital setting.

The goal of providing Reiki services is to offer relaxation, decrease stress, promote sleep and decrease anxiety, all of which support the recipient’s innate healing capacity. Volunteers can provide complimentary Reiki sessions to 1CU/PCU and 5th Floor patients who have requested the service. Let your nurse know if you would like to schedule a session. There is no charge for this service. Requests for Reiki sessions will be honored based on practitioner availability.

What Happens in a Reiki Session? In a Reiki session, the recipient lies down or sits comfortably, fully clothed or covered by hospital apparel. The room is quiet or there may be soft music playing. The Reiki practitioner places their hands lightly on or a few inches over the person’s body, palms down and uses a series of 12 to 15 different hand positions. Each position is held for 2-5 minutes, and the practitioner’s hands are never under clothing or bedding.

The recipient usually will feel warmth and a tingling sensation. The recipient can ask the session to be terminated at any time, for any reason. What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into the body at precise points on the body. It has been used historically to treat specific disorders and to aid in strengthening vital energy of the body. These points have been confirmed by electro-diagnostic research.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture is based on the Chinese theory of the vital energy called Qi (“chee”) that all living things possess. When Qi flows freely through the body, it protects, warms, nourishes, and integrates bodily functions. When it is blocked, pain, dysfunction, or illness can occur. Acupuncture removes obstructions, promoting the free flow of Qi to restore health. Acupuncture also guides Qi to the channels that are deficient and drains Qi from places of excess seeking to restore energetic balance.

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture can be used to treat many health problems, from acute or chronic pain to managing a number of chronic conditions and can also be used to maintain a sense of well-being.

There is no charge for Acupuncture for Foley Cancer Center & Palliative Care patients. Acupuncture offered in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation incurs a fee. Healing Therapies for Our Patients The C.A.R.E. (Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment) channel (channel 35) and Guided Imagery (channel 2) are two 24-hour television channels that have been proven effective for pain management, patient restlessness, stress reduction, and palliative care. The C.A.R.E. channel includes more than 70 hours of scenic nature video accompanied by soothing instrumental music and includes day and night cycles to support the circadian rhythms.

You have the choice between various Guided Meditation programs, Children’s programs, and Nighttime programs to aid with sleep. There is also a Pre- Procedure program to ease tension, a Post-Procedure program to encourage confidence in the healing process, and a Labor and Delivery program for the early stages of labor and managing pain.

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) are therapies in which certified therapy animals are used to enhance a person’s educational, physical, cognitive and psychological being. Studies indicate a statistically significant reduction in anxiety for numerous disorders when people interact with animals. In both AAT and AAA people have received benefits of distraction, stress reduction, increased self-worth, emotional regulation, and re-connection to the outside world.

The animals are therapy certified through various international and regional animal agencies. Rutland Regional started using this therapy in its psychiatric wing and offers visitation on our 5th floor.

Persons wishing to use this therapy must talk with their attending physician or nurse in order to coordinate visits/sessions with the animal handlers.