Holistic Care.

Holistic Care

Healing Touch
Healing Touch practitioners will introduce themselves and make the room ready for the session. Relaxation occurs best when there are as few distractions and interruptions as possible. Patients are asked to simply relax while lying in bed, fully clothed. The practitioner will be moving his/her hands around your body and occasionally touching you. If you have fallen asleep by the end of the session, the practitioner will quietly leave. A session may last 20-30 minutes or can be as brief as a few minutes. If you wish, your loved ones are welcome to be present.
You may ask your nurse to call Healing Services at 881-4416 to request a treatment.

Available through trained staff at NHCH, Healing Touch is a non-invasive therapy (patients remain fully clothed) used to promote health and well-being through specialized touch techniques that assess and treat the energy systems of the body. The goal of Healing Touch is to restore harmony and balance. It is built on the philosophy of caring for the whole person...Body, Emotions, Mind and Spirit. Healing Touch complements traditional therapeutic approaches of physicians or other health care providers. Healing Touch Practitioners are nurses or other individuals who have completed at least 16-20 hours of training in Healing Touch and are experienced practitioners. Many people report that Healing Touch is comforting and has a powerful and positive effect on their sense of well-being.

Heart Math
Regular use of the HeartMath System has resulted in significant stress reduction benefits by people with ADD/ADHD, anger, anxiety and panic disorders, arrhythmias, asthma, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, hypertension, and sleep disorders. The HeartMath Stress Management System is particularly effective in managing pain.

Aromatherapy
The use of pure essential oils to relax, balance and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. Essential oils used in Aromatherapy are highly concentrated, volatile, aromatic essences of plants that evoke positive feelings and emotions.

Guided Imagery
Promotes physical healing or changes in attitudes or behaviors by using mental images as a self help tool. It is used to relieve stress and treat stress-related conditions (insomnia, high blood pressure, cancer, AIDS, chronic fatigue, etc) in order to boost the immune system.

Pet Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy is a volunteer service that provides a therapeutic visit to our patients, visitors and staff. Currently our program consists of “Best Friend” dog and handler/owner teams. Each dog is escorted throughout the hospital by his/her handler and plays a vital role in the treatment of our patients. These teams can be seen regularly any day of the week. They bring much joy to each patient, visitor or staff member they meet.

NHCH is looking for teams to be outgoing and friendly, have some experience working with the public and have a professional presentation. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Best Friends Animal-Assisted Therapy team, applications are available at the hospital.

Prayer Blankets
As a program supported by churches throughout the community, prayer blankets are offered to provide spiritual support to patients of all faiths.

Naturopathy
NHCH was the first hospital in the U.S. to credential Naturopathic practitioners.

Chiropractic
Is based on the belief that the spine is the backbone of human health. Any misalignments cause pressure on spinal nerve roots that lead to diminished function and illness. Misalignments are corrected through spinal manipulation by a licensed chiropractor.

Massage
Available on a self-pay basis.

Acupuncture
Used for pain relief, fine needles are inserted at specific points in the body to stimulate, disperse and regulate the flow of chi (vital energy) through the body and restore healthy energy balance. This can also be used to treat acute, chronic and degenerative conditions.

Reiki
An ancient Tibetan healing system that uses light hand placement to channel energies to the patient. Commonly used to treat emotional and mental distress as well as chronic and acute physical problems, and to assist in achieving spiritual focus and clarity.

Healing Gardens
Viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention / interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts.

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
North Hawaii Community Hospital includes, as members of the consulting medical staff, licensed complementary healers in the following disciplines:

Naturopathy

Chiropractic

Acupuncture

Massage Therapy

Clinical Psychology

Complementary Healers on staff at NHCH are licensed in State of Hawaii and meet similar credentialing requirements as MDs and DOs. They work in collaboration with patients and admitting physicians.

Patients at NHCH receive consultation with licensed complementary healers through a request to their attending MD or attending nurse. In either case, the attending MD must request the consultation.

Integration of complementary healing is done carefully, with well-researched modalities based on a foundation of acceptable research and success.

Healing Services at NHCH include amenities available to patients such as a selection of art, music and entertainment, audio-visual materials on healing, humor, relaxation and visualization techniques (and more), spiritual counseling and the availability of Healing Touch.