Alternative therapies can provide relief from some side effects associated with standard treatments, as well as helping people feel better overall and improving quality of life.
Always consult with your physician prior to beginning any complementary or alternative therapy, especially those relating to health conditions that you suffer from. Determine their experience treating such ailments and whether any specific products or practitioners come recommended by them.
What is complementary therapy?
Complementary therapies are used alongside conventional medicine to improve quality of life for individuals. Examples include yoga, Tai Chi and meditation as well as alternative therapies like Acupuncture, Herbal Products or Massage which may not necessarily based on scientific evidence and should never be seen as replacements for medical advice.
Acupuncture was reported as the most widely utilized complementary therapy practice among American adults in 2012 according to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Other popular complementary therapy practices include yoga, meditation and various types of massage modalities; many therapists combine multiple complementary therapy approaches together in tailored holistic treatments that address individual patient needs.
Traditional medicine refers to treatments accepted by an overwhelming majority of medical experts as the optimal method for treating specific conditions. This differs from complementary and alternative medicines which do not form part of standard medical care and often do not undergo sufficient research, with some even being proven harmful; furthermore they may interfere with or interact with conventional medication treatments.
Complementary and alternative therapy practitioners are required by law to obtain licenses, certifications or credentials from state or professional organizations in order to protect patients. When seeking out practitioners it is wise to get recommendations from traditional healthcare providers as well as researching potential candidates on professional organizations online – this way it becomes easy for prospective patients to investigate them further before making their choice.
NCCIH plays an essential role in evaluating, through rigorous scientific inquiry, the fundamental science and usefulness of complementary and integrative health approaches for whole person wellbeing. Once this information has been determined it is then disseminated to the public and healthcare providers so these therapies may become part of a patient’s care regimen.
Before initiating complementary or alternative therapies, always consult your cancer physician or GP first. Some complementary therapies have proven useful in mitigating side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, an effective complementary therapist won’t claim that their technique will cure your cancer or help make you feel better.
What is alternative therapy?
Alternative therapy is an approach to healthcare that differs significantly from traditional medical practices. Instead of targeting individual symptoms, alternative therapy seeks to treat the whole person using mind and body treatments such as yoga, meditation and massage therapy to address stress relief, pain relief and mental health concerns associated with neurological impairments or mental illnesses. Some practitioners may even use multiple approaches simultaneously in order to address multiple concerns at once.
Some complementary therapies have been scientifically demonstrated as safe and effective; other may not have such evidence. It’s best to discuss any new treatment with your traditional healthcare provider first in order to gain insight into its practices as well as finding a reputable practitioner. It might also be worthwhile conducting independent research into methods you are considering such as their history and effectiveness – this will make sure any alternative practitioner knows which medications you’re already taking as some may interfere.
Traditional doctors generally support patients using complementary and alternative therapy to manage side effects from cancer treatment; however, they would likely advise against using it instead of conventional medicine due to lack of research done into its efficacy.
Alternative medicines include acupuncture, herbal treatments, homeopathy and reiki; each therapy typically administered by a trained practitioner or teacher. Homeopathy uses diluted substances based on the “like cures like” principle while reiki is designed to transfer energy directly from practitioner’s hands into recipient.
Alternative therapies include Ayurveda and Naturopathy as examples of alternative medicine therapies; both of which emphasize healing by harmonizing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of an individual; respectively. Naturopathy uses methods such as plant medicines without using medicines or surgery and relies instead on body’s natural ability to heal itself. At the National Cancer Institute (NCI), information on several of these complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies is also provided as Physician Data Query (PDQ).
Can alternative therapies cure cancer?
Alternative cancer therapies have yet to be proven as reliable ways to cure cancer and may interfere with standard medical treatments, causing side effects or stopping them working so effectively. It may be hard to discern whether an alternative therapy is genuine; therefore, it is crucial that questions be asked prior to trying anything new. False claims have caused people to forgo cancer treatments that would have saved their lives; in some instances this has even resulted in their demise.
Prior to starting any complementary or alternative medicines (CAM), including acupuncture, it is advisable to speak to your cancer physician first. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) offers information about various CAM therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, meditation art music therapy spinal manipulation.
Integrative therapies, which can be used alongside conventional treatment for cancer and its treatment, may provide relief from symptoms related to either disease or treatment, including anxiety, nausea and vomiting, pain relief, sleep issues or tiredness. Many health professionals support the use of integrative therapies; however some may hesitate to recommend them due to insufficient scientific testing of such alternatives.
No scientific evidence supports alternative cancer therapies as effective means of prevention or treatment, nor have any shown an improvement in chemotherapy or radiotherapy outcomes. Furthermore, some may be expensive and many of their clinics target vulnerable people in need of immediate assistance.
Claims that a particular treatment can cure cancer are often made without any scientific testing. They tend to rely on one person’s experience of therapy or laboratory tests done, though results from such tests don’t always apply universally and do not guarantee that this therapy will work in practice.
Be mindful that in order to truly determine whether something works, clinical trials are the only way to truly test it in people. If someone claims a therapy can treat cancer effectively, they must demonstrate this fact in some way.
How do I use alternative therapies?
Complementary therapies may provide invaluable relief and relief from stress levels while aiding you in dealing with side effects from cancer or its treatment. When seeking complementary therapy treatment from any practitioner or therapist, always disclose all relevant medical conditions you are living with; this way they may tailor therapies or tailor treatments accordingly.
At any rate, it’s advisable to research any complementary therapy or product you intend on using as thoroughly as possible. Check whether it has been studied with equal scientific rigor as traditional medicines; and inquire as to their practitioner’s training, qualifications, licenses etc. For an even deeper exploration, why not visit or call a hospital library (some even offer this) where there may be scientific journals on that particular topic?
Some complementary therapies may cause side effects such as headaches or nausea; it’s advisable to discuss any concerns with your therapist. Make sure they know about cancer as well as any other medical conditions you might have; also, the medicines you take could impact their response and treatment options; finally, never allow anyone to claim that their therapy can cure cancer or another medical condition; they should always talk with the person treating their cancer/condition and consult their GP/doctor about any therapies recommended; the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has plenty of resources on various therapies as well.
