Addition of complementary therapies can help manage side effects associated with cancer treatment and its treatments, but it is essential that these options be discussed with your physician to make sure they are safe.
Homeopathy, yoga and naturopathy are complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments used to facilitate natural healing processes within the body. Other techniques, like acupuncture involve inserting needles at specific points on the body in order to alter energy flow.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient system of holistic healing and balance. Using herbal remedies, diet changes and lifestyle practices such as Yoga to address any imbalances which might contribute to cancer development, Ayurveda can offer support on patients’ journey toward recovery.
Ayurved herbs may assist cellular repair mechanisms and decrease oxidative stress. Furthermore, treatments like panchakarma can detoxify and support metabolic processes in the body. Finally, practices like Pranic healing may provide cancer patients with greater peace and relaxation during cancer treatments.
Ayurved therapies play a vital role in integrative oncology, but must be approached carefully and under the supervision of an experienced practitioner. Some Ayurvedic practices may interfere with standard medical treatment and cause side effects if taken with certain drugs or in cases with serious health issues.
Yoga
Yoga combines postures, breathing control, meditation and relaxation practices into one practice that can help relieve stress and anxiety that may contribute to cancer progression, improve sleep and reduce fatigue. When practicing Yoga it’s wise to avoid trying poses that are too difficult or painful for you and always practice under the guidance of an accredited teacher – also drinking plenty of water after each class may also be recommended!
Medicinal Hatha Yoga (MHY) is an integrative healing modality which utilizes therapeutic exercises, breath work and mindfulness techniques to prevent and treat medical conditions like cancer [15]. Multiple meta-analyses have demonstrated positive effects of yoga therapy for treating psychological (e.g. anxiety depression distress cognitive functioning) as well as physiological symptoms in cancer patients and survivors such as fatigue sleep disturbance inflammation symptomatologies [18,19].
However, research on the biological effects of yoga remains scarce. Future studies should employ objective measures such as metabolomics, gene and protein expression analysis, heart rate variability analysis and actigraphy in order to gain a clearer understanding of its mechanisms. Furthermore, more randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods must also be conducted on its effectiveness as an integrative treatment strategy.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body technique designed to bring calmness and relaxation, as well as reduce side effects associated with cancer treatments such as fatigue, pain and nausea. Meditation can be practiced individually or collectively; regular practice will bring its benefits.
Alternative therapies have become increasingly popular among cancer patients who wish to manage side effects and enhance quality of life during treatment. Some choose holistic approaches like naturopathy, yoga or homeopathy while others use herbal medicines and aromatherapy; still others seek support through acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which works towards balancing energy levels within their bodies.
Although alternative therapies cannot cure cancer, they can help manage side effects and enhance patients’ quality of life. It is essential to note that complementary practices should only be utilized as part of an integrated care plan and should never replace conventional therapies; prior to making any decisions on complementary practices it is crucial that one consult with medical professional first.
Pranic Healing
Pranic healing is an innovative energy based therapy that uses an invisible bio-energy called “prana” to balance, harmonize and transform the body’s energy processes. Prana serves as an invisible life force which keeps us alive while maintaining good health – it is similar to what acupuncture uses and known as “chi” in China or “Ruah” in Hebrew.
Holistic energy treatment methods such as Aura Healing stem from the belief that our auras and energy fields can become blocked due to illness, stress or trauma. Practitioners utilize Aura Healing techniques to cleanse and re-energize these areas to promote physical and emotional well-being – either directly in person or through distance healing techniques.
Pranic healing has been shown to improve quality of life and decrease symptoms, but should not be seen as a replacement for conventional treatments. Breast cancer patients frequently experience stress and fatigue that interferes with managing symptoms; yoga combined with Pranic Healing can help overcome these challenges for cancer patients. Furthermore, one recent study demonstrated how Pranic Healing increased patient resistance to chemotherapy treatment.
Aromatherapy
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are standard cancer treatments supported by scientific evidence and widely employed by healthcare providers. Unfortunately, they often come with side effects that are difficult to manage; thus leading some people to look into complementary or alternative therapies as an aid in managing them. While there is no proof that CAM therapies can cure cancer themselves, certain therapies may help relieve symptoms while increasing quality of life.
Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from plants to treat physical and emotional conditions. It may be combined with other therapies such as acupuncture or hypnotherapy or used alone; aromatherapy can even reduce nausea associated with cancer treatment by acting as a standalone therapy.
Research suggests aromatherapy may help people living with cancer reduce anxiety, though this study was small and not all studies had identical findings. Furthermore, researchers have noted that certain essential oils can interfere with medications used to treat seizures (pentobarbital) which means patients should consult their healthcare provider prior to trying these therapies.
Many people turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in order to ease the side effects of conventional treatment, including pain management. Some CAM therapies claim they can boost immunity while making cancer cells more responsive to therapy, but most have yet to be tested for efficacy against cancer or other diseases – and some could potentially be harmful.
Acupuncture
Many cancer patients utilize complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and yoga to ease side effects associated with treatment. These approaches may be combined with conventional treatment plans or used to ease nausea caused by chemotherapy treatments. It is essential that any plans to experiment with alternative methods first discuss them with their medical team as there is no scientific proof they cure cancer; incorrect use could even have detrimental side effects.
Acupuncture has long been used to help cancer patients manage nausea, pain, stress and anxiety; unfortunately it isn’t always covered by insurance plans.
Alternative cancer treatments include naturopathy, pranic healing and spiritual therapy. Naturopathy employs natural remedies like herbs and diet changes to aid the body in healing itself; spiritual therapy includes practices like reiki and meditation that reduce stress levels and boost mood; some people choose therapists like naturopaths or nutritional therapists while others go directly to pranic healers who believe that our bodies contain energy called prana which can be channeled to heal them; religious therapists may offer additional help as well as religious therapies, self-healing through prayer confession or good deeds on spiritual holidays.
Siddha
Siddha therapy hails from South India and employs diet, minerals and herbs to heal the body. Many cancer patients find Siddha beneficial in managing symptoms while simultaneously healing their bodies of cancer; however it should be remembered that Siddha does not cure cancer itself so before engaging in such treatments it would be prudent to consult a physician first.
Alternative and complementary treatments for cancer patients have gained more traction recently. While conventional medicine remains the best treatment option available, complementary and alternative medicines offer relief from stress associated with serious illness as well as decreasing side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapies.
Studies conducted recently demonstrated that combining Siddha and Naturopathy therapies could significantly improve survival rates among cancer patients while being both safe and cost-effective; the findings were published in Oncology Research journal.
The authors of this study analyzed clinical records from over 43,000 patients at Cherian Ashram in Kottayam. Their authors discovered that an integrative treatment approach that combined Siddha, naturopathy and yoga could be effective against cancer; further research should be conducted into CAM therapies to ascertain their effectiveness.
