STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1.     Describe and explain the international history of alternative medicine.

 2.     Compare and contrast past and present viewpoints toward non-traditional medicines.

 3.     Describe and analyze the cultural context of illness.

 4.     Describe and analyze the theories of neglect, trauma, congestion, environmental prisons, parasites, infection, miasmas and

        energy imbalances as causes of ill health.

 5.     Discuss and explain the concept of balance in holistic health.

 6.     Discuss and explain the physical aspect of health.

 7.     Discuss and analyze the spiritual aspect of wellness.

 8.     Discuss and explain the mental level of wellness.

 9.     Discuss and analyze the scientific reasons for the medical potential of herbs.

 10.    Work cooperatively with others to evaluate the common medical biases against the use of herbs.

 11.    Compare and contrast the healing traditions of two Native American tribes.

 12.    Discuss and explain the symptom-based approach of Western Medicine.

 13.    Discuss the emphasis of balance, energy flow and non-symptomatic approaches of Eastern Materia Medica.

 14.    Discuss and explain the origin and value of the concept of food as medicine.

 15.    Produce a written report on macrobiotic diets.

 16.    Discuss and describe the role of the universal electric and magnetic forces in the body.

 17.    Discuss and describe yin and yang from the Chinese viewpoint.

 18.    Discuss and explain acupressure, acupuncture and other forms of magnetic contact healing.

 19.    Describe and analyze the impact of religious lifestyle on medical traditions.

 20.    Compare and contrast curanderismo`s three levels of treatment.

 21.    Produce a written report on one cleansing diet.

 22.    Discuss and explain fasting and balancing the digestive tract.

 23.    Compare and contrast one Chinese, one New Mexican, one African remedy and one Middle Eastern remedy.

 24.    Discuss and explain the role of creative art therapy in contemporary society.

 25.    Discuss and analyze the impact of environmental imbalance caused by heavy metals, man-made chemicals, fluorocarbons,  and

        radioactivity and discuss the role of alternative medicine in dealing with these hazards.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Historical and Cultural Context of Healing

         A.      History of Alternative Medicines

         B.      Cultural Context of Alternative Medicines

         C.      Varying Viewpoints of Alternative Medicines

 II.     General Views of Illness and Health

         A.      Theories of Healing

         B.      Basic Premise of Holistic Medicine

 III.    Healing in Balance

         A.      Material Aspects of Wellness

         B.      Spiritual Aspects of Wellness

         C.      Mental Aspects of Wellness

 IV.     Medicinal Properties of Plants

 V.      Pluralistic Collections of Knowledge in Healing

         A.      Native American Healing Traditions

         B.      Western Homeopathic Materia Medica

         C.      Eastern Materia Medica

 VI.     Medicinal Properties of Food

 VII.    Chinese Medicine

 VIII.   The Role of Symbolism in Healing

         A.      Impact of Religious Lifestyles

         B.      Popularity of curanderismo, an alternative health-care system

 IX.     Globalism and Healing

         A.      Purification, Cleansing and Fasting as Paths to Health

         B.      Importance of Home Remedies

 X       Individual and Environmental Stress

         A.      Creative Art Therapy in Contemporary Society

         B.      Impact of Environmental Imbalances