Employment of alternative therapies as a way to minimize tensions and emotions generated by COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: The pandemic triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is directly interfering in people's lives, negatively affecting their physical, emotional and psychological health. Linked to this, social distance increases the damage, as it requires a new lifestyle and the absence of family and friends. Therefore, in order to reduce stress, anxiety, fear, several measures can be adopted as an alternative method. AIM: To approach the use of alternative therapies as a way to minimize tensions and emotions generated by COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a systematic review based on articles indexed in the “Biblioteca Virtual em Saude (BVS)” [Virtual Health Library (VHL)], using as descriptors: “alternative therapies”, “tensions” and “COVID-19”. Inclusion criteria were used: full text, in Portuguese, published between 2019 and 2020. The sample consisted of 8 articles. RESULTS: In the context of the pandemic, all people are subjected to various pressures and changes in habits, which implies the need for care, both physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is essential to try to maintain the global balance of health, even though everyone is threatened by the lethality of a virus until then uncontrollable, SARS-CoV-2. Alternative, energetic or holistic therapies, such as yoga and meditation, allow a more complete understanding of the human being, as an interconnected organism, a whole, and not fragmented, which is dealing with an invisible threat, living under the pressure from a challenging sentimental charge. Alternative therapies value and recognize inner subjectivity, emotions and thoughts that can affect the health of the body. Despite they are often viewed with suspicion, it is a complementary health care tool. In this sense, they are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health (MS). In addition, the “Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS)” [Unified Health System (UHS)] defines them as integrative and complementary practices (PICs), which do not replace traditional treatment, but are indicated as supplementary, adding to the state of health. CONCLUSION: Currently, the world scenario points to a future catastrophe in mental health, evidenced after the period of the pandemic. This fact deserves to be taken into account and prioritized by the public authorities, so that the negative consequences on the mental health of the population in the medium and long term can be minimized. Thus, investment in alternative therapies, as well as adequate health care, are mechanisms that prove to be valuable for facing the current pandemic.