Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Across the globe scientists are taking issue with pseudoscience, as well as the role of the media in promoting it. Articles based on pseudoscience, especially those relating to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that fall outside the realms of orthodox medicine, are common in all forms of media, but especially in women’s health and lifestyle magazines. Scientists are quite vociferous in their condemnation of CAM for both ethical and safety reasons, since neither the therapies nor the remedies associated with CAM practices have been proven to be efficacious, or even safe. In fact, some of the therapies and advice offered by CAM practitioners are dangerous and, in some instances, may even be life threatening. Nevertheless, the media continue to promote CAM, and the public continues to support it – despite the warnings and denunciation by scientists. This is an exploratory study to determine the prevalence of pseudoscience, generally, in South African women’s health and lifestyle magazines, and to uncover the reasons the public supports it. The magazine Longevity is used as an example of this type of publication, and a content analysis is used to illustrate the prevalence of pseudoscience articles and adverts in South African media, while field research, in the form of personal interviews, attempts to determine the reasons people support CAM in spite of its denunciation, as well as the media’s role in fostering this support. Both mainstream science and pseudoscience are described, while a literature review reveals the scientific perspective of CAM, provides examples of the more popular forms of CAM and the dangers inherent in them, as well as the ways in which science and pseudoscience in general, are handled by the media. Using the hypodermic needle theory, plus the results of the content analysis and field research, this study shows that media promote pseudoscience because it pays; the public support CAM because they believe it works; and that that belief is primarily the result of public disillusionment with the practice of orthodox medicine, rather than the result of media’s promotion of CAM, as scientists contend. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Wetenskaplikes van regoor die wêreld het ’n probleem met pseudowetenskap, sowel as die rol wat die media speel om dit bevorder. Artikels gebaseer op pseudowetenskap, veral dié met betrekking tot Aanvullende en Alternatiewe Medisyne (AAM), wat buite die grense van ortodokse medisyne val, is algemeen in alle vorme van media, maar veral in gesondheid-en lewenstyltydskrifte vir vroue. Wetenskaplikes is baie uitgesproke in hul veroordeling van AAM om beide etiese en veiligheidsredes, omdat nóg die terapie nóg die middels wat verband hou met AAM praktyke bewys is om doeltreffend, of selfs veilig te wees. Trouens, sommige van die terapieë en advies wat aangebied word deur AAM beoefenaars is gevaarlik, en in sommige gevalle selfs lewensgevaarlik. Tog hou die media aan om AAM te bevorder, en die publiek om dit te ondersteun – ten spyte van die waarskuwings en veroordeling deur wetenskaplikes. Hierdie narvorsing is ’n verkennende studie om die voorkoms van pseudowetenskap in Suid-Afrikaanse vroue se gesondheid- en lewenstyltydskrifte te bepaal, en die redes te ontbloot waarom die publiek dit ondersteun. Die tydskrif Longevity word gebruik as ’n voorbeeld van hierdie tipe publikasie, en ’n inhoudsanalise word gebruik om die voorkoms van pseudowetenskaplike artikels en advertensies in die Suid-Afrikaanse media te illustreer, terwyl navorsing in die veld, in die vorm van persoonlike onderhoude, poog om die redes te bepaal waarom mense AAM ondersteun, ten spyte van veroordeling, sowel as die rol wat die media speel in die bevordering van hierdie ondersteuning. Beide hoofstroom wetenskap en pseudowetenskap word beskryf, terwyl ’n literatuuroorsig die wetenskaplike perspektief van AAM ontbloot, voorbeelde van die meer populêre vorme van AAM word verskaf asook van die gevare daaraan verbonde, sowel as die maniere waarop wetenskap en pseudowetenskap in die algemeen, hanteer word deur die media. Met behulp van die spuitnaald teorie, plus die resultate van die inhoudsanalise en navorsing in die veld, bewys hierdie studie dat die media pseudowetenskap bevorder, want dit betaal; die publiek ondersteun AAM omdat hulle glo dit werk; en dat daardie geloof primêr die gevolg is van openbare ontnugtering met die beoefening van ortodokse medisyne, eerder as die gevolg van die media se bevordering van AAM, soos wetenskaplikes beweer.

Um novo paradigma - Holístico - vem revolucionando diversos campos do saber, especificamente na área da saúde, integrando os aspectos físicos, psíquicos, sociais e espirituais do ser humano e oferecendo fundamentos para o conhecimento e aplicação das terapias alternativas/ complementares (TA/C). Considerando a importância do enfermeiro no desenvolvimento das ações integrais da saúde, a autora fez um estudo exploratório prospectivo, com o objetivo de verificar o saber e o fazer das enfermeiras que atuam nas unidades municipais de Saúde do Distrito Administrativo 71 Santo Amaro - São Paulo, frente às TA/C. Aplicou questionário semi-estruturado, no período de junho a agosto de 2001, para todos os 18 enfermeiros, lotados em nove Unidades de Saúde. Numa abordagem quanti-qualitativa, analisou o perfil das enfermeiras e mostrou fatores que influenciam o saber e o fazer em terapias alternativas/ complementares; também apontou que existe uma grande aceitação e credibilidade por parte dos enfermeiros (89%), porém o escasso conhecimento do respaldo legal (22,2%) e cursos ou especializações nesta área (5,5%) restringem a sua prática. Cerca da metade dos enfermeiros (44,4%) busca para si mesma alguma prática, porém apenas 11,1% as aplica nos usuários/ clientes das unidades de saúde. A autora desvendou as percepções dos enfermeiros quanto à conceituação, facilidades e dificuldades institucionais e pessoais relativas às práticas, e considerou que há necessidade de se buscar novos saberes como opções de assistência à promoção da saúde da população / A new paradigm - Holistic - is revolutionizing many fields of knowledge and, specifically at the health area, is integrating the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of human being, offering foundations for the alternative or complementary therapies knowledge. Considering the nurse\'s importance for the development of health integral actions the author made an exploratory study aiming to identify the knowledge and action of the nurses that work at São Paulo\'s 71st Administrative District - Santo Amaro, regarding the alternative and complementary therapies submitting semi-structured questionnaries on July and August, 2001 to all eighteen nurses that worked at nine healthcare units. In a quantitative and qualitative approach the nurse\'s profile was analyzed and the factors that have influence on the knowledge and the doing on alternative or complementary therapies were showed. It also indicated that there\'s a great acceptance and credibility toward these techniques by the nurses (89%), but the little knowledge of legal support (22,2%) and specific courses or training available in this field (5,5%) limits its usage. Around half of the nurses (44,4%) searches for themselves some application but only 11,1% will be applying them on the users or clients at the healthcare units. The author unveiled the nurse\'s perception toward the conceptuae evolution, institutional and personal support and difficulties related to these practices and concluded that there\'s a need to search for additional knowledge to expand new assistential options for the population\'s health promotion

The present research approaches the perspective of the multiple functions of the rural space and the agricultural, investigating the amplitude of the notion of multifuncionality with empirical focus in the study of the therapeutical practices which use the rural spaces and farming activities in the central region of the Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil. The research objectives had been to identify, to describe, to c1assify and to characterize these different modalities of therapies, aiming identify the directions that the involved professionals and public gives to this therapeutical practice based on farming activities and for to the rural spaces. The principal methods and inquiring techniques, which had been used, were questionnaire, the participant observation, the half-structuralized interview and the analysis of speech. In the set of the thirty- five cities of the investigated central region of Rio Grande do Sul it had been identified nine establishments, located in seven different districts, which develop farming activities on/or to the basis of agricultural spaces. The nine establishments had been classified in three different modalities of therapeutical practice, being they: (1) Therapeutical communities for the rehabilitation and social reiteration of the psychoactive substance addicted; (2) Centers of Equotherapy, taking care of special people with disabilities and/or physical and motor problems, with the intention of education, rehabilitation and the quality of life improvement of the practitioners; (3) Energization Therapy, directed to a large public, with the intention of provide the physical and mental rest to the visitors through 'out an esoteric practice and the straight contact with the nature. Agricultural activities and rural space linked with therapeutical practice needs the internalization of the discipline by working manually, in a place far from addiction and tentation, the religion must be present as well as the positive attributes of the nature with its green areas, animals, landscapes and the plant cycle life which bring serenity, health and welfare. / A presente pesquisa aborda a perspectiva das múltiplas funções do espaço rural e da agricultura, investigando a amplitude da noção de multifuncionalidade com foco empírico no estudo das práticas terapêuticas que se utilizam dos espaços rurais e de atividades agropecuárias na região central do Rio Grande do Sul Brasil. Os objetivos da pesquisa foram identificar, descrever, classificar e caracterizar estas diferentes modalidades de terapias, buscando identificar os sentidos que os profissionais e público envolvidos atribuem às suas práticas terapêuticas baseadas em atividades agropecuárias e/ou junto aos espaços rurais. Os principais métodos e técnicas de investigação utilizados foram o questionário, a observação participante, as entrevistas semi-estruturadas e a análise de discurso. No conjunto dos 35 municípios da região central do Rio Grande do Sul investigados foram identificados nove estabelecimentos, localizados em sete municípios diferentes, que desenvolviam algum tipo de terapia com base em atividades agropecuárias e atributos dos espaços rurais. Os nove estabelecimentos foram classificados em três modalidades diferentes de práticas terapêuticas, sendo elas: (1)Comunidades Terapêuticas para a reabilitação e reinserção social de pessoas dependentes de substâncias psicoativas; (2)Centros de Equoterapia, voltados ao atendimento de pessoas com necessidades especiais e/ou problemas físicos e motores, com o propósito de educação, reabilitação e melhora na qualidade de vida dos praticantes; e (3)Terapia de Energização, voltada a um público amplo, com a intenção de proporcionar o descanso físico e mental dos visitantes através de práticas esotéricas e contato direto com a natureza. Os sentidos para o uso de atividades agropecuárias e do espaço rural para práticas terapêuticas vinculam-se a elementos ligados à internalização da disciplina por meio do trabalho manual, localização distante das tentações do vício, à religião e o seu sistema de crenças e aos atributos positivos e idealizados da natureza, como os espaços abertos e verdes, os animais, a paisagem e o ciclo de vida das plantas, que constituem um imaginário de tranqüilidade, saúde e bem-estar.

As Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais (DII) são caracterizadas por resposta inflamatória exacerbada na mucosa intestinal, com desbalanço entre mecanismos pró-inflamatórios e reguladores. Entretanto, até o momento, nenhuma terapia é curativa e vários pacientes são refratários ou intolerantes a elas, necessitando de intervenções cirúrgicas para combater as complicações da doença. Sendo assim, é evidente que novas terapias são necessárias para o controle da progressão das DII. Dessa forma, como a saliva de insetos hematófagos constitui uma fonte importante de moléculas com potencial farmacológico, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a atividade terapêutica do extrato de glândula salivar (EGS) do Aedes aegypti e suas frações na colite experimental. Para tal, camundongos C57BL/6 foram submetidos à indução de colite pela administração de água contendo 3% de dextran sulfato de sódio (DSS). Os resultados demonstraram melhora na condição clínica e no escore pós-morte dos camundongos tratados com o EGS i.v. ou i.p. Essa melhora foi acompanhada de redução de leucócitos no sangue periférico, principalmente quando os animais foram tratados i.v. Além disso, redução do infiltrado inflamatório e das citocinas patogênicas IL-12, IFN-?, TNF-?, IL- 1? e IL-5, no intestino, foi também associada ao tratamento. Ademais, houve diminuição da frequência de linfócitos TCD4+ produtores de IFN-?, IL-17 e IL-4 no baço e nos linfonodos mesentéricos (LNM) dos animais tratados com EGS. Ainda, uma menor frequência de células CD11b+ no baço e CD49b+ nos LNM também foi detectada nos animais com inflamação intestinal tratados com o EGS. De forma interessante, quando expostos por dois ciclos ao DSS, o tratamento precoce com EGS (1o ciclo) protegeu os camundongos do desenvolvimento da colite após nova indução da inflamação intestinal (2o ciclo), sugerindo que a saliva do A. aegypti possui componentes com capacidade de retardar o aparecimento e a gravidade da recidiva da doença. A melhora na condição clínica associada ao tratamento com EGS parece também estar associada à modulação de populações bacterianas no intestino com características supostamente colitogênicas (Pseudomonas monteilii) e protetoras (Ruminococus champanelensis e Turicibacter sanguinis). De fato, o transplante de microbiota de camundongos tratados com EGS para animais que sofreram indução da colite levou à aparente melhora do escore pós-morte e à redução de leucócitos circulantes. Além disso, o transplante diminuiu a expressão de RNAm das citocinas inflamatórias IFN-? e IL-1?, indicando que alterações na microbiota intestinal podem ser um dos mecanismos pelos quais o EGS modula a colite experimental. Finalmente, experimentos utilizando a cromatografia líquida de alta performance (HPLC) sugerem que uma fração (F3) do extrato bruto da saliva, pode ser a responsável pela melhora observada nos sinais clínicos da doença. De forma geral, o EGS e seus componentes parecem representar uma fonte importante de moléculas imunomoduladoras com potencial terapêutico no tratamento da inflamação intestinal induzida experimentalmente / Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by an imbalance between inflammatory and regulatory immune responses at the gut mucosa. However, current therapies are not totally effective and a plenty of patients require repeated surgeries to control disease complications. So, it is clear that novel therapies are still needed to control IBD progression. Thereby, since saliva from bloodsucking arthropods is a rich source of pharmacologically bioactive molecules, the aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic activity of Aedes aegypti total (SGE) and fractionated saliva in the treatment of experimental colitis. For this purpose, C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water. The results showed an improvement in clinical disease outcome and postmortem scores after SGE treatment, regardless the route of administration used (i.p. or i.v.). This amelioration was accompanied by the systemic reduction in peripheral blood lymphocytes, especially when the i.v route was used. Furthermore, a reduction in the inflammatory area together with a local diminishment of IFN- ?, TNF-?, IL-1? and IL-5 cytokines were observed in the colon of SGE-treated mice. Similarly, a reduction of the frequency of TCD4+ lymphocytes producing IFN-?, IL-17 and IL-4 was observed in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of SGE-treated mice. A lower frequency of CD11b+ cells in spleen and CD49b+ in MLN was also observed after SGE treatment. Interestingly, early treatment with SGE led to mice protection from a late DSS rechallenging, indicating that the mosquito saliva may present components able to prevent disease relapse. Clinical improvement due to SGE therapy seems to be also related to the modulation of intestinal bacterial population with different characteristics. Thus, SGE-therapy managed to a diminishment of colitogenic (Pseudomonas monteilii) and improvement of protective (Ruminococus champanelensis e Turicibacter sanguinis) bacteria. In fact, microbiota transplantation from SGE-tretaed mice to mice exposed to DSS-colitis improved postmortem scores and induced systemic diminishment in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Additionally, a reduced mRNA levels for the inflammatory cytokines IFN-? and IL-1?, was observed in transplanted mice, pointing to the effects of SGE-therapy in the modulation of gut microbes as one of the mechanisms related to the improvement of disease outcome. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) experiments suggested a major SGE pool fraction (F3) able to ameliorate disease signs. In conclusion, SGE and its components might represent a source of important immunomodulatory molecules with promising therapeutic activity for experimentally induced intestinal inflammation.

Cancer pain is a complex symptom that affects the quality of life of oncology patients, caregivers, and families. The limitations of pain management treatment for cancer patients can be attributed to the lack of knowledge and availability of nonpharmacological treatments. The purpose of this project was to identify and gather evidence on the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in the treatment of cancer pain using the methodology of a systematic review. Watson's theory of human caring supported the project by incorporating the perception of treating the human being holistically during the illness process. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model provided a structured approach to address the practice problem and practice-focused question. The tools used to assess the quality and synthesize the findings of the studies were the Research and Evidence Appraisal Tool and the Synthesis Process and Recommendations Tool. The practice-focused question explored whether nonpharmacological interventions could be used to complement opioid treatments for cancer pain. A systematic review of the literature indicated 11 studies in which 2 interventions--music therapy and exercise--addressed the practice-focused question. Psychological distress, decreased physical function, and decreased involvement in social activities can all be attributed to the poor management of cancer pain. The study of alternatives to opioids could support social change by increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals and the range of treatment options for pain management in cancer patients.

International and national research has shown that the use of complementary therapies (often referred to in the scientific literature as either alternative therapies or unconventional therapies) is widespread. However, there is little in the scientific literature about the use of complementary therapies in the treatment regime of people with dementia. Specifically, there have been no published results of investigations into the use of Reiki, a holistic complementary therapy, in the treatment regime of people with dementia. Before proceeding with an in-depth examination into the use of Reiki in the care of people with dementia, a questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions was distributed to 162 South Australian High Care Residential Facilities (formerly called Nursing Homes) in 2002. The return rate was 58.0% (n=94) of which 50.0% of the mail out (n=81) was available for analysis. Findings from the questionnaires suggested that a wide range of complementary therapies including aromatherapy, massage, music, behaviour therapy, healing touch, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch (Krieger/Kunz method) were used regularly within South Australian High Care Residential Facilities. Complementary therapies were reportedly used to calm residents, improve behaviour management, enhance the quality of life of residents, promote 1:1 interaction, stimulate the senses, and reduce the need for medication. Due to 15 facilities reporting the use of Reiki, a series of semi-structured interviews with Reiki practitioners caring for people with dementia was conducted in 2004/2005. Interview participants (n=10) included a representative range of people providing care for people with dementia in eight Nursing Homes in Adelaide, South Australia. Data reduction methods included a quasi-statistical counting of key words and repeated re-readings of the transcripts to discover the essences, abstract the meanings and arrange them into themes and sub-themes. The results of the interviews suggested that Reiki is an easy to learn and easy to use holistic complementary therapy which has the potential to enhance the quality of life of the persons with dementia, their family members, and their carers. The interview participants reported improved physical, psychological, mental and emotional well-being as well as enhanced relationships and a reduction in negative behaviours following the use of Reiki. The receipt of the first Jack Loader Scholarship from the Rosemary Foundation for Memory Support Inc. in early 2005 enabled the researcher to transfer to full-time studies from April 2005. Key Words: aged care; alternative therapies; complementary therapies; dementia; early onset dementia; one to one interaction; quality of life; Reiki; therapeutic touch; unconventional therapies.

While there have been many presentations and anecdotal evidence in support of AAT, quantitative empirically validated studies are very limited. Without quantitative empirical studies to support the effectiveness of AAT, it remains an unproven complement to traditional physical and psychotherapeutic practices (Kruger & Serpell,2010). The value and importance of non-empirical literature on AAT,including therapists’ observations, various author’s personal experiences, and unstructured interviews with patients, will be explored in the next section. Empirical literature on AAT, including scientific experiment and controlled research studies, will also be addressed. Finally, a conclusion providing ideas for future directions in research in this discipline will be presented.

[pt] Apoiado nas teorias do imaginário psíquico e social- histórico de Castoriadis e da eficácia simbólica de Lévi- Strauss, o presente trabalho pretende entender quais pressupostos motivam o uso da terapia de vida passada. Foram estudados os principais autores do campo, bem como foram realizadas e analisadas entrevistas com terapeutas e clientes desta modalidade. Observou-se que a prática da terapia de vida passada tem se proliferado e se ramificado em diversas variações técnicas. Intimamente ligadas a esta terapia estão uma série de crenças de cunho espiritualista que dificultam sua aceitação nos meios científicos e acadêmicos. Todavia, a técnica tem se popularizado muito entre terapeutas e clientes que, cada vez mais, procuram por esta terapia. / [en] Based on the Castoriadis theories about psycho-social- historical imagination and on the symbolic efficacy of Lévi-Strauss, this study aims to understand the motivation that lies behind the use of past live therapy. A research was conducted on the main authors in this field and a number of interviews were performed with patients, as well as with past live therapists. An analysis of their discourse revealed that this kind of therapy has been growing and ramifying in the most different technical variations. We noticed that this past live therapy is closely permeated by a series of spiritualists` beliefs and these beliefs makes its acceptance very hard among scientists and academics. On the other hand, the technique has become popular among therapists and patients, who have been more and more looking for this type of therapy.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-03-29T15:49:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 izabelamatosflorianomendonca.pdf: 2836651 bytes, checksum: cd30a8d8fd9dd1a6034ba3e6c3058ad4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-04-24T02:49:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 izabelamatosflorianomendonca.pdf: 2836651 bytes, checksum: cd30a8d8fd9dd1a6034ba3e6c3058ad4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-24T02:49:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 izabelamatosflorianomendonca.pdf: 2836651 bytes, checksum: cd30a8d8fd9dd1a6034ba3e6c3058ad4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-25 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo busca elucidar a relação entre terapias religiosas e terapias alternativas, adotando como eixo temático, a apometria, terapia de cura espiritual que surge em meados de 1965, no campo kardecista, e avança para fora de seu lócus original, vinculando-se tanto a racionalidades médicas não oficiais, quanto a sistemas religiosos diversos, senão ainda a terapias alternativas e psicológicas. Em virtude das configurações plurais da apometria, esta pesquisa propõe estudar as interlocuções da técnica com as diversas religiosidades, em especial as mediúnico-espíritas, no ritual do Grupo de Apométrico Elos de Amor e Paz de Juiz de Fora. / The present study aims to elucidate the relationship between religious therapies and alternative therapies, adopting as the main theme, the aptometry, spiritual healing therapy that comes in the middle of 1965, in field kardecist, and moves out of its original locus linking to both medical rationalities unofficial, as the various religious systems, but also the psychological and alternative therapies. Because of the settings of the plural aptometry, this research proposes to study the interlocutions with the various religiosities, especially psychicspiritualist, in ritual of the “Grupo Apométrico Elos de Amor e Paz Juiz de Fora".

Postoperativ smärta i samband med kirurgi är ett vanligt förekommande tillstånd eftersom smärta är en komplex och individuell upplevelse. För att kunna ge adekvat smärtlindring behöver anestesisjuksköterskor vara öppna för och implementera andra metoder, så kallade icke-farmakologiska smärtlindringsmetoder. Musik och TENS är två icke-farmakologiska metoder som kan lindra postoperativ smärta. Anestesisjuksköterskan har ett ansvar att se till varje patients enskilda behov och ge individuell vård med personen i centrum. Vården är under konstant utveckling och för att utvecklas hållbart krävs det forskning kring användning av alternativa metoder som tillägg till farmakologisk smärtbehandling. Syftet med studien var att undersöka effekten av musik eller TENS som tillägg till farmakologisk behandling för att lindra postoperativ smärta. En systematisk litteraturöversikt har gjorts. Sökning av vetenskapliga artiklar gjordes i databaserna Cinahl och Medline. Totalt inkluderades 19 kvantitativa artiklar som uppnådde medel eller hög kvalitet efter kvalitetsgranskning. Studierna innefattade olika typer av ingrepp, där alla deltagare var över 18 år samt både män och kvinnor. Alla artiklar var godkända av etisk kommitté eller granskningsnämnd. Resultatet redovisas utifrån två kategorier: musik och TENS. Både musik och TENS visade sig vara säkra metoder som gav effekt på den postoperativa smärtan, dessutom kan TENS minska opioid konsumtionen. Musik och TENS kan tillämpas av anestesisjuksköterskor. Musik är en kostnadseffektiv metod medan TENS inte är det. Det krävs ytterligare forskning kring både musik och TENS inom perioperativ vård. / Postoperative pain after surgery is a common state because pain is a complex and individual experience. To be able to give adequate pain relief, nurse anesthetist should be open to and implement other methods, such as alternative therapies. Music and TENS are two alternative therapies that could ease postoperative pain. The nurse anesthetist has a responsibility to see every patients individual need and give person centered care. Healthcare is under constant development and to achieve sustainable development, research is needed on how to use alternative therapies in addition to pharmacological pain relief. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of music or TENS as an addition to pharmacological treatment to ease postoperative pain. A systematic review was conducted. The databases Cinahl and Medline were used for the search for scientific articles. Which in total consisted of 19 quantitative articles that achieved medium or high quality after a quality review was performed. The studies included different types of surgeries, all participants were 18 or older, as well as both male and female. All articles were approved by an ethics committee or review board. The results are categorized into two main outcomes: music and TENS. Both music and TENS proved to be safe alternative therapies that had positive effects on the postoperative pain perception, in addition TENS seemed to decrease the opioid consumption. Both music and TENS can be administered by nurse anesthetists. Music is a cost-effective method whereas TENS is not. However, both music and TENS need to be researched further in perioperative care.