title: Influence of complementary therapy on recovery.
abstract: A philosophy of mind-body connection and a focus on promoting health and wellbeing underpin the use of complementary therapies. This study reports the narratives of six nurses involved in complementary practice at a stroke rehabilitation centre. The care the nurses were able to give included motivating, advising, educating, calming and imparting a sense of family. They emphasised the use of touch and compassion to improve mood and sleep, and help patients to 'a state of readiness to heal'.