There are various complementary therapies that may assist in improving a person’s quality of life while under treatment, including diet recommendations, vitamins, and supplements.
These medications target proteins that aid cancer cells in growing and surviving, taken orally as pills and taken once or twice weekly for best results. Chemoimmunotherapy may also be combined with this therapy option for enhanced effectiveness.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medical technique that utilizes needles to stimulate specific points on the body. Acupuncture can help manage pain, improve sleep quality and reduce nausea as well as treat anxiety and depression; according to one recent study it had the same antidepressant-like benefits for some mild-moderate depression patients.
Scientific research shows that acupuncture works by stimulating nerves. This allows your brain to release chemicals such as endorphins – natural morphine-like substances which alter how your spinal cord and brain process pain signals – as well as serotonin which boosts mood and can contribute to feelings of wellbeing. People undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments frequently use acupuncture treatments as a way of relieving chemotherapy side effects; many also find the treatment helps them have better quality of life overall.
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that disease occurs when energy channels called meridians become blocked, with needles being inserted at certain points to release these blockages and restore health. When choosing an acupuncturist it’s essential that they follow strict safety practices as well as having gone through an intensive licensing program – always inform them if you have conditions which could spread through blood contact such as Hepatitis B/C or HIV/AIDS so they can assist appropriately.
Some individuals experience a slight pinch when the needle is inserted, while others don’t feel anything. After having been placed, the acupuncturist will leave it in place for 45-60 minutes while you lie comfortably on a padded table; you may fall asleep during this time! You should avoid caffeine and smoking prior to receiving an acupuncture session.
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, which also encompasses diet and herbal treatments. Your acupuncturist might suggest nutritional changes or provide herbs in pill form; always check with your physician first as some herbal remedies may interact with prescription medication.
Green tea
EGCG, one of the polyphenol antioxidants found in green tea, may provide numerous health advantages. Studies have linked it with enhanced cognitive function, bone health and heart disease prevention – partly through its anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, EGCG can reduce sunburn and DNA damage caused by UV radiation exposure; however it must be consumed in moderation; high doses can cause liver toxicity or cause digestive upsets.
Green tea’s EGCG may activate Nrf2 and attenuate oxidative stress. Furthermore, its properties include inhibiting cell proliferation and regulating immune function; further studies have demonstrated its ability to induce apoptosis in B-cell lymphoma cells cultured in vitro although its exact mechanism remains unknown; possibly through blocking enzyme activity such as proteasomal chymotrypsin proteasome activity is prevented in addition to inhibiting cancerous growth by way of green tea’s phenolic compounds preventing cancerous growth by inhibiting proteasomal chymotrypsin activity thereby inhibiting cancer growth through regulation of immune systems or its regulation by its properties / antioxidant abilities/ capabilities or its regulation by its properties/features/features/function.
A 2022 study reported that green tea consumption was associated with lower mortality risk from heart disease. More specifically, this included lower cardiovascular events risk as well as coronary heart disease and stroke mortality risk reduction. Furthermore, authors of this research concluded that high intakes of green tea may also lower blood pressure levels.
Green tea can help enhance oral health by encouraging the formation of healthy gums and warding off tooth decay. Furthermore, it acts as an effective mouthwash, decreasing bacteria counts in your mouth – and even helping alleviate symptoms associated with gingivitis!
Green tea’s other benefit lies in its ability to prevent osteoporosis and broken bones, according to several studies. EGCG can increase bone density while simultaneously slowing bone loss rates. Furthermore, green tea increases absorption rates of calcium and magnesium.
Prior to using any alternative treatments, it is vital that you discuss them with your healthcare provider. Unfortunately, chronic lymphocytic leukemia remains incurable at present but supplements and complementary medicines may help manage symptoms while keeping you as healthy as possible during treatment.
Natural supplements
CLL patients often utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This may include diet advice, herbal supplements, spiritual/mind-body techniques and higher dosages of vitamins and minerals. While some CAM practices may help relieve symptoms, others have yet to be adequately studied; green tea has shown promise in some small studies but could cause gastrointestinal and liver toxicity as well as interfere with certain cancer medications and increase blood clot risk.
Natural dietary supplements and herbs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning they don’t undergo the same quality control measures as prescription drugs. Active ingredients, side effects and dosage will differ between products; high doses of some vitamins or herbs may even be harmful when taken alongside chemotherapy treatments such as chemoimmunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Though no complementary and alternative medicine therapies have yet been shown to cure CLL, complementary approaches may help ease symptoms and enhance quality of life for people experiencing mild to moderate symptoms. Acupuncture can reduce stress while exercise can relieve fatigue; both can promote healthy diet choices. Before trying any CAM therapies yourself, always consult your healthcare team; they may explain any possible impact they may have on treatment plans and any vitamins, dietary supplements or herbs you’re currently taking can affect this decision as well as any medications or CAM therapies being considered for use before doing anything yourself – always discuss before doing anything without first consulting them beforehand!
Mind and body interventions
Mind and body techniques focus on how emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual factors influence physical health. Such practices include relaxation techniques, meditation, biofeedback hypnosis yoga tai chi. Such practices may improve symptoms while reducing stress; additionally they enable people to view illnesses differently while becoming active participants in their own care.
Many mind and body practices have solid safety records, yet should never be used as a replacement for medical treatment. Always use a qualified practitioner or teacher and consult your health care provider prior to beginning any mind and body practices such as Acupuncture; some practices, like this may pose risks in certain conditions or situations.
Acupuncture may help alleviate certain forms of pain, such as back and neck ache, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, it can reduce anxiety and depression as well as reduce nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, other mind-body practices like hypnosis or breathing exercises can relieve anxiety and alleviate pain – they could even lessen your need for chemical analgesia during surgery!
These practices may also help manage seizures and chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Comprehensive behavioral programs featuring lifestyle counseling, aura interruption techniques and meditative relaxation have shown particularly promising results in managing seizures; one controlled study reported that eight of 22 participants with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy became seizure-free following participation in such a program.
Fatigue is one of the primary side effects of CLL treatments. Studies have demonstrated that mind and body interventions such as acupressure and reflexology may help decrease fatigue by providing an overall sense of well-being and increasing quality of life. They may even optimize body terrain so as to inhibit cancer’s growth or development.
Studies of 247 CLL patients who participated in a recent survey revealed that 44% reported using complementary and alternative medicine, most often mind-body therapies. Most used these practices as supplements to their conventional treatments; some practices were recommended by health care providers while most were chosen independently after researching available information. Interest in mind-body therapies was independent of age, education level or past treatments received.
