A Review of Select Alternative Treatment Approaches for Acquired Neurogenic Disorders: Relaxation Therapy and Acupuncture

Despite increasing consumer utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and growing evidence of its positive effects on certain physical (e.g., chronic pain, insomnia) and psychiatric (e.g., anxiety) disorders, few empirical investigations have explored using CAM to treat neurogenic disorders of communication or cognition. Accordingly, to spur clinical and research interest in CAM, we review two forms of CAM, relaxation therapy and acupuncture, that have been used to address the needs of patients with neurogenic cognitive or communicative disorders. For each technique, we describe general therapy procedures, summarize and critique the extant research, and delineate areas in need of further empirical investigation.

KEYWORDS

Acupuncture - relaxation therapy - aphasia - dementia

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