1. AYURVEDA AND MANOVIGYANA
2. BRAIN’S MORAL COMPASS: NEUROCOGNITIVE APPROACH
3. ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY IN THE MULTI DISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/ HYPER ACTIVITY DISORDER
4. PERSONALIZED GUIDED IMAGERY AS A METACOGNITIVE THERAPEUTIC TOOL TO IMPROVE WELL BEING THROUGH SELF-ACTUALIZATION
5.COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM) IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE POST-COVID WORLD: A CASE STUDY OF ODISHA
6. THE INTEGRATION OF NATUROPATHY INTO THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY
7. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE ACUPUNCTURE
8. ROLE OF YOGA IN REHABILITATION FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER
9. AROMATHERAPY FOR WELL BEING
Preface
In a world full of pharmaceuticals, nature may sometimes help us heal from diseases, and this is where alternative medicine steps in. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are presently not considered to be a part of conventional medicine.
There is no evidence that indicates that alternative medicine in India prevents or cures any diseases, although it does aid in recovery and pain relief. Research highlighted that majority of people with chronic diseases use some form of complementary therapy at some point throughout their medical condition. India is the birth place of one of the oldest systems of medicines, Ayurveda, which had its origin around 2000 years back. Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha and Unani and Homeopathy are recognized in India as the Indian systems of medicines.
Although CAM has been practiced in India for thousands of years, there is limited literature available on the extent of use, attitude and perception of patients utilizing CAM services and none among doctors in India. Since practitioners of modern medicines may have to encounter patients using CAM, it would be useful to know their attitude and perception towards CAM.
The patients preferred to use CAM as they perceived it to be better, economical, safer and easily available. Majority of the patients had not been asked by their doctors about any alternative therapies during the course of history taking in the OPD. This could be because of lack of awareness on the doctor’s part about CAM. Another reason could be the acute shortage of time for adequate history taking. The hospital gets thousands of patients daily in the OPD and doctors are under tremendous pressure to see and manage them.
Art therapy (visual art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, and expressive writing therapy), adventure therapy, child centered play therapy, sand therapy, dance therapy, and integrative therapies are considered as alternative therapies
AT are powerful ways to communicate with clients. Some clients may have difficulty in expressing their feelings and thoughts verbally. These clients may think that thoughts and feelings are too painful to put into words.
Much of this book considers the formidable challenges to advancing human health through the further dispersion of effective and economical medical practices. The chapters considers both proven and unproven but popular CAM and TM approaches and attempts to portray their current and potential place in the overall practice of medicine.
The article on ‘Ayurveda and Manovigyana’ resembles the significance of an ancient cultures where mind exerts powerful influences on bodily functions and vice versa. Attempts to reassert proper harmony between these bodily systems (Tridoshas and Trigunas) led to the development of mind-body medicine, an array of approaches that incorporate spiritual, meditative, and relaxation techniques.
The article on ‘Neurocognitive approach’ indicates how the brain influences morality and structures that connect to other areas that simultaneously control a number of Behavioral processes.
The chapter on ‘Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)’ will help the clinicians to identify the merits of this approach and think about the integration of AAT as a form of non-pharmacological intervention for ADHD.
The article on ‘Personalized guided imagery’ is based on neuroscientific concept of thoughts creation through metacognition and how intentional changes in thoughts can change the way of living to reprogram the subconscious mind (the seed of our beings).
Set against the backdrop of post pandemic “new” normal the volume contains a rich collection of empirical essays which I am sure willcontribute towards asensitive and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon of alternative medicine from diverse perspectives from an inter-disciplinary approach. The articles reflect a range of rich discussions on value of mind body balance, unconditional self-acceptance and compassion, disciplined spiritual practices, soul-consciousness, emotional intelligence, morality, inner resilience and mindfulness to integrate CAM in universal health care programmes to improve their suitability from a mental health standpoint. The book also has dedicated chapters that elaborate on effective Ayurveda-inspired techniques and smart ICT enablement mechanisms to cope with mind-body disorders in the modern world.
Developing holistic and insightful understanding the preventing illness and promoting wellness is a work in progress and a collective endeavor. The book opensbroader avenues for engagement with our personal journeys of acceptance and adaptations to healing process both within and without and, the pieces therein rest on the hope for seizure of these opportunities at its best to help in optimization of holistic healthcare in the country.
Dr. Pooja Varma
is working currently as Head of the department Psychology and Associate
Professor of Psychology (UG, PG, Ph.D Programs) at Jain Deemed to be
University, Bangalore for more than half a decade. She specializes in Applied
psychology (Gold Medallist) with research work on counselling psychology,
Indigenous therapies, Expressive therapies and Clinical Psychology. She
published a recent book on 'Healthy Aging for a Healthy Planet' as an Editor.
She has over a decade experience teaching undergraduate and postgraduate
courses in Psychology at University level after completion of her Ph.D in 2007.
She has published more than 20 research papers (national and international) and
chapters in indexed books. She has been guiding Ph.D scholars from 2018 and few
scholars have submitted their thesis.
Dr. Pooja Rai is
a Cognitive Psychologist who has completed her Ph.D. in Cognition in Alzheimer
and dementia research from Cognitive Science Laboratory, Department of
Psychology, Banaras Hindu University. Formally, she was an Assistant Professor
in Department of Psychology, Jain Deemed-to-be University, Bangalore. Currently
she is working as a Project Scientist I in Centre for Brain Research, Indian
Institute of Science. She has Diploma in Yoga from Department of Vedic Darshan,
Faculty of SVDV, Banaras Hindu University. Being a cognitive psychologist, she
has authored chapters on Cognitive Interventions & Alternative therapies
during Menopause.She has also delivered talk in topics related to role of Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga in Psychological
Health & Cognition. She has received B.H.U. Gold Medal in graduation and
post-graduation.
Dr. Alka Ranjan
is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Jain Deemed-to-be University. Her
specialization is Counselling Psychology and Public Health. She has 10 years of
experience in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Psychology.
She has more than 15 research papers in national / international journals and
edited books. She has presented more than 15 research papers in National and
International conferences. She is supervising PhD students and has guided
undergraduate research projects and more than 100 master’s dissertations. She
has cross-cultural experience of workingin the field of Counselling Psychology
and Community Health in Singapore, U.S.A. and India.
