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Unit code:
H/601/1635
QCF level:
Credit value: 15
Aim
The aim of this unit is to develop learners understanding of the role of complementary therapies in
health and social care and their effectiveness in maintaining health and wellbeing.
Unit abstract
The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of the delivery and usage of a range of
complementary therapies and in particular to compare this to conventional medicine. Learners will
consider the principles behind complementary therapies commonly used in health and social care and
will assess the advantages and disadvantages associated with their use.
Learners will analyse the evidence for their benefits to health and wellbeing as well as identify
contraindications and health and safety issues in relation to their use. They will also evaluate the
effectiveness of regulations in place for different therapies and their practitioners.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand the principles behind complementary therapies and their current usage
2 Understand the role of complementary therapies in relation to orthodox treatments
3 Be able to analyse evidence for the efficacy of complementary therapies in sustaining health and
wellbeing
4 Be able to carry out an evaluation of the systems for regulating the use of complementary
therapies.
Unit content
Understand the principles behind complementary therapies and their current usage
Therapies: pharmaceutically mediated eg herbalism, homeopathy; physically mediated eg osteopathy,
chiropractic yoga, Alexander Technique; psychologically mediated eg counselling, psychotherapy,
hypnotherapy
Treatments: signs and symptoms; processes; frequency; dosage; equipment; materials; agents
Advantages and disadvantages: benefits claimed eg enhancing health, wellbeing; contraindications,
intrinsic harm
Access: physical access, financial, referral systems, cultural factors, private sector, public sector
Be able to analyse evidence for the efficacy of complementary therapies in sustaining health
and wellbeing
Sources of information: therapy practitioners, health professionals, commercial sources, science,
systematic research
Claims: benefits eg cure, amelioration, prevention of signs and symptoms, enhancement of wellbeing
Be able to carry out an evaluation of the systems for regulating the use of complementary
therapies
Regulation systems: legislation, code of practice, code of ethics, self regulation, complementary
therapy practitioner representative umbrella organisations
Effectiveness: minimising risk, benefits, professionalism, developing public understanding, working
with orthodox therapies, emerging trends
On successful completion of
this unit a learner will:
treatments
Guidance
Links
This unit has links with, for example:
Essential requirements
It is essential that learners have a good understanding of human physiology and a short overview of
this would be useful basis in delivering this unit. Learners also require a basic understanding of
treatment and care processes in orthodox medicine.
Learners will need to access a research facility with relevant academic and professional literature
which provides information on health care professionals and complementary therapies.
This unit would benefit from input from health or care professionals with experience in the use of
complementary therapy in health care. Contributions from experienced complementary therapy
practitioners would be a further advantage for the learner.