Many individuals opt for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies as part of their overall symptom management strategies, whether to address physical, emotional or spiritual needs.
Palliative care is a form of treatment that can be provided at home, hospital or board and care facilities to relieve symptoms such as pain and medication dependence.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice involving stimulating specific points on the body with needles to relieve pain, reduce nausea and manage other symptoms of illness in a safe, natural manner. Acupuncture may also help with anxiety, depression fatigue and mood swings often associated with end-of-life care.
Studies have proven the efficacy of acupuncture as an effective therapy for cancer-related pain relief and other conditions, such as nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy treatments. One such research project revealed that using both acupuncture and herbal tea was more effective than painkillers alone for treating nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy treatment, while another concluded it provided better pain relief than alternative forms of relief among terminal lung disease patients.
Acupuncture has also proven beneficial in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia, headaches, menstrual cramps, sinus issues and back pain. According to studies done, acupuncture may even reduce opioid dependency for pain management among hospice patients.
Before beginning acupuncture treatments, it’s wise to check with your physician first as the treatments could interact with some medications and could lead to unwanted side effects. Furthermore, pregnant and pacemaker patients should refrain from receiving the procedure; although most people find acupuncture safe enough, not everyone might find themselves benefitting.
Some individuals can experience side effects from acupuncture, including soreness and bleeding where needles are inserted, although these effects are generally minor and resolve after a few sessions. Acupuncturists use sterile needles that pose minimal risk of infection, so patients with pacemakers should not receive electrically stimulated needle acupuncture; it could interfere with its functionality. Acupuncture can be an effective therapy option for hospice patients but always discuss its merits with your healthcare team first before proceeding.
Massage
Massage therapy is a hands-on practice in which soft tissues are massaged using various techniques such as kneading, rubbing, tapping or strokeing to relax muscles, tendons and ligaments as well as stimulate circulation and lymph flow. Studies show it alleviates pain while increasing energy and improving mood – in hospice care it may ease discomfort while simultaneously improving spiritual well-being.
Studies of massage therapy for palliative care patients have demonstrated its benefits in terms of decreasing pain and depression while increasing relaxation and quality of life. Massage may even assist in relieving symptoms associated with fibromyalgia – an ongoing condition affecting joints and muscles – as it eases pain significantly.
Tufts’ site provides many resources on complementary and alternative therapies used for end-of-life care, as well as resources for patients, caregivers, health professionals and researchers – with numerous therapies such as guided imagery, music therapy, therapeutic touch, acupuncture and animal therapy among them.
Other types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies include energy therapies (reiki, therapeutic touch and aromatherapy) as well as body-based practices like yoga. Mind-body interventions like meditation and relaxation techniques as well as various herbal/plant therapies may also be utilized. Furthermore, there is also an extensive section covering general and specialized diets.
Massage does not present serious risks; however it’s advisable to speak to your physician prior to beginning. Furthermore, any sites promoting alternative medicine as opposed to proven conventional treatments and encouraging the use of unproven products (e.g. herbal supplements and laetrile therapy) should be viewed with healthy skepticism.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves inhaling and applying extracts from fragrant plants known as essential oils to achieve therapeutic effects. The scent-generating cells from herbs, trees and flowers are harvested and used to extract this aromatic essence for use as essential oil, which may help alleviate pain, reduce nausea, ease stress and anxiety levels and promote sleep – as well as increasing a sense of control and improving mood in patients. Some cancer clinics and hospitals even provide massage services which include aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy falls under complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), meaning it should be used along with conventional treatment to improve patient quality of life. Some patients choose to integrate aromatherapy as part of end-of-life care.
Aromatherapy is generally safe when administered professionally under the guidance of an aromatherapist, though certain essential oils such as Wintergreen may be toxic if inhaled in high concentrations. Topical applications, however, pose little risk for side effects when properly diluted and applied; although using products containing methyl salicylate such as Wintergreen may lead to bleeding when taken with anticoagulants.
Studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of complementary therapies on end of life symptoms like pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress and agitation; however, more rigorous investigations must be conducted into their implementation methods and impactful palliative outcomes.
Music
Music’s sounds and vibrations can impact on physical states such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and the release of body-produced painkilling chemicals. Music therapy consists of using music clinically by certified music therapists. This may involve creating, singing or moving to live patient-preferred music sessions within individual, group and family sessions.
Horne-Thompson and Grocke 35 found that one session of music therapy decreased pain, tiredness/drowsiness and stress (measured by salivary cortisol levels) for hospice patients. Choi 36’s research demonstrated how just one music session reduced fatigue and increased quality of life for family caregivers of terminally ill patients. Harp vigils have also proven successful at relieving anxiety/agitation while aiding sleep and breathing patterns as well as increasing feelings of inner stillness/peace in these patients receiving palliative/EOL care.
Pet Therapy
Pet visits offer comfort on many levels for patients – physical, emotional and spiritual. Pets’ love and affection has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation for their owners; holding or petting an animal such as dogs, cats, rabbits or pigs often brings calm and peace while holding or petting one of these furry creatures. Inviting caregivers and other patients in order to interact more freely about experiences that have affected them both.
Studies conducted by researchers demonstrated that hospice patients in palliative care experienced decreased pain when therapy dogs were present, likely due to proximity and distraction caused by petting the animal. Other studies demonstrate how human-animal bonds help alleviate tension while simultaneously increasing feelings of joy and happiness.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can be an invaluable complement to traditional psychotherapy and psychiatric services, and to assist terminally ill patients and their families. Unlike other forms of alternative therapy, animal-assisted therapies do not require significant time commitment from either party involved; rather they involve interactions between an animal and care team members.
Animal-assisted therapy offers another perk: self-care for hospice staff themselves. Hospice employees frequently work tirelessly providing compassionate care, so interacting with pets can be a great way to alleviate stress and avoid burnout. Plus, animal therapy fosters team building among staff members which builds resilience against challenges!
