Alternative therapies that use natural substances might appeal to those who find traditional medicine harsh, calming them down and improving quality of life. They could be just the thing.
Nutritional, physiological, and physical approaches such as yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, tai chi and Tai chi may offer positive health outcomes; others such as meditation and hypnotherapy also can have many mental health advantages.
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine refers to practices and therapies outside the mainstream medical practices and therapies, including complementary and integrative approaches. Although alternative therapies may be used in place of or alongside conventional treatments, their efficacy remains less clear-cut due to relying more heavily on beliefs or personal experience than scientific research; some could even pose risks when taken instead of standard cancer therapies.
Alternative therapies may include diets, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, acupuncture and massage therapy as complementary therapies to complement conventional cancer treatments to alleviate symptoms such as pain or fatigue.
Alternative therapies have long been practiced across cultures worldwide; some forms of acupuncture therapy, for instance, is now recognized by many doctors as helping reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy drugs.
People often turn to alternative therapies in an attempt to treat or manage their condition, yet there is little scientific evidence of its efficacy. Some such as acupuncture have proven successful for some individuals – in fact there have even been examples of people being cured through these alternative practices! It is essential that any person considering alternative therapy carefully consider the risks and side effects before starting any type of alternative practice, consulting their physician first if unsure.
What are the differences between complementary and alternative therapies?
Although the terms complementary and alternative therapies are often used interchangeably, they have very distinct definitions. Complementary therapies are used alongside conventional medical treatment to improve quality of life and wellbeing; they don’t treat illness itself; some examples are relaxation techniques, talking therapies, meditation visualisation and acupuncture.
However, certain techniques should not be recommended when you have cancer as they could interfere with medical treatments or make them more uncomfortable. Furthermore, they could cause harm if not trained properly or misused.
No scientific evidence supports alternative cancer therapies such as acupuncture as effective cures. Some may seem promising and give false hope; however, no direct effect has been demonstrated to inhibit either cancer growth or spread.
Alternate therapies can be expensive and are rarely covered by health insurance plans, potentially creating financial issues if they become necessary for treating an illness or condition. Utilizing alternative therapies could decrease the odds of receiving effective conventional cancer treatments by delaying or prohibiting access. Consider whether or not combining alternative therapies with conventional ones, since this could prove more effective than either therapy on its own. For instance, there are therapists that specialize in using integrative therapy combining acupuncture and chemotherapy, known as integrative therapy to lessen side effects from chemotherapy treatments – this should always be discussed with a cancer specialist or GP beforehand.
