An elderly Chinese woman is interested in biologically based therapies to relieve osteoarthritis (OA) pain. You are preparing a plan of care for her OA. Options most conducive to her expressed wishes may include which actions or activities?

A) Pilates, breathing exercises, and aloe vera
B) Guided imagery, relaxation breathing, and meditation
C) Herbs, vitamins, and tai chi
D) Alternating ice and heat to relieve pain and inflammation

Nonpharmacologic strategies encompass a wide variety of nondrug treatments that may contribute to comfort and pain relief. These include the body-based (physical) modalities, such as massage, acupuncture, and application of heat and cold, and the mind-body methods, such as guided imagery, relaxation breathing, and meditation. There are also biologically based therapies which involve the use of herbs and vitamins, and energy therapies such as reiki and tai chi. Pilates, breathing exercises, aloe vera, guided imagery, relaxation breathing, meditation, and alternating ice and heat are multimodal therapies for pain management. They are not exclusively biologically based, which involves the use of herbs and vitamins.