Non-Allopathic Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain: A Brief Review

Abstract

With increased regulation and scrutiny, healthcare providers may be reluctant to prescribe medications, especially opioids, for patients with pain, and particularly chronic pain. However, nurses, as the frontline resource for patients, must advocate for effective interventions to address pain. Sound knowledge of non-allopathic approaches (including nonconventional, complementary, alternative, and integrative strategies) for acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain control supports a holistic pain management approach for patient care. In this article I discuss the clinical relevance of pain management and provide an historical overview of non-allopathic medicine. The discussion considers the five domains of non-allopathic medicine along with negative aspects associated with these interventions and the need for a multimodal approach. The article conclusion offers implications for nursing practice that include resources for nonallopathic pain management for both providers and patients.