Abstract
The purpose of this article is to carry out a narrative review regarding the approach to scars through complementary and alternative medicine focusing on osteopathy, naturopathy, and other minor methods and traditional rehabilitative medicines, such as physiotherapy and manual therapies. We analyzed the existing literature regarding the possible influences of techniques relaxing the diaphragm – both manual and psychophysical relaxing techniques – and the consequent local response to events leading to scar tissue healing. The objective of the study is to become a useful instrument of knowledge for those manual therapists and professionals who deal with patients affected by discontinuity of the skin surface due to trauma or surgery. This article also intends to stimulate research in order to find and propose new methods of scar treatment, taking into consideration the information gained so far from other complementary and alternative disciplines.
Keywords: scar, wound, complementary and alternative medicine, osteopathy, naturopathy
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Psyche and its influence on scar tissue healing: relaxation techniques, expressive writing, and hypnosis
There are several hypotheses regarding the alteration of the scar tissue healing processes.1 The main types of scars related to nonphysiological healing processes are keloids (K), hypertrophic scars (HSs), and atrophic scars.1 Currently, there are many hypotheses, including the theory of neurogenic inflammation, explaining the altered biochemical events that produce scars, which are considered treatable.2 According to some authors, these assumptions could confirm the importance of the psychological effect on scar tissue healing.3 The effects of stress on the alteration of inflammatory parameters, through the mediation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, are well known.2 It has already been demonstrated how restraint and social disruption can activate the HPA system in a different manner, resulting in the increase of corticosterone in the plasma as a respo