Complementary therapies haven’t undergone the same level of rigorous testing as traditional cancer treatments, so their safety may not be assured, potentially interfering with your treatment regime and altering its results.
Alternative medicine emphasizes holistic healing practices like yoga, acupuncture and herbal remedies in its approach. Furthermore, its focus is prevention rather than immediate care – in other words it seeks long-term goals rather than treating symptoms as they appear.
Complementary and alternative therapies
There are various medical and health care practices outside the realm of conventional medicine which are known as complementary and alternative therapies (CAM).
Some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches have long been integrated with conventional medicine as a form of treatment and overall wellness promotion, but other CAM practices may be met with some skepticism. More well-researched forms of CAM are becoming part of integrative or alternative medicine and health systems to treat illness while simultaneously increasing overall wellbeing – this combination is known as integrative or complementary and alternative medicine and health.
Prior to beginning any CAM therapy, it’s wise to consult your physician. A new modality could interfere with conventional treatment or cause side effects; additionally, finding a practitioner that works well with conventional healthcare teams may also be key.
The term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to any practice outside the mainstream that can help alleviate cancer treatments’ side effects, like using acupuncture or yoga for pain management. Some forms of CAM therapy such as Tai Chi, Yoga and massage have been proven effective by scientific studies.
More research needs to be conducted on other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, including homeopathy and Reiki. Some forms of CAM therapy, including some herbal remedies and chelation therapy treatments, have been proven harmful – thus it’s important that individuals know which therapies are safe as well as which should be avoided.
When speaking with a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner, be sure to inquire whether they’ve worked with other people who share your condition and the results they achieved. From there you can discuss any concerns that arise and discuss any problems in care that might occur for yourself. Likewise, inform them about other forms of health care you are receiving such as prescribed medicines and complementary therapies.
If a therapist makes claims that alternative therapies can cure or prevent disease, this should raise red flags. Such claims tend to rely on one person’s story and it can be difficult to ascertain whether that person is reliable. Furthermore, false claims regarding alternative therapies could deter people from seeking necessary treatment which could shorten life span and quality of life.
Biological therapies utilize substances found in nature, such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, dietary supplements, animal-derived products and whole foods. This subset of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) often includes traditional Chinese medicine (including acupuncture), Ayurveda medicine, classical homeopathy as well as indigenous healing systems.
Yoga
Yoga is a centuries-old system designed to promote physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at relieving stress while helping those suffering from chronic diseases or mental health conditions. Yoga utilizes exercise, meditation and breathing techniques in combination with breathing techniques to promote overall physical health and wellness – making it a powerful complement for conventional medical treatment methods.
Yoga originated in India, yet has quickly become one of the most practiced practices worldwide. From home practice to ashram practice, there is evidence of yoga’s positive impacts in every area of your life – stress reduction, flexibility improvement and relief from negative emotions are just a few benefits you may reap from practicing it regularly.
Yoga helps reduce heart disease risk and lower blood pressure. According to research, it encourages two-thirds of participants to increase physical activity while 40% are encouraged to make healthier food choices. It can also provide you with a positive approach towards illness and death.
People come to yoga with various expectations in mind; from relaxation and stress reduction to strengthening one’s connection with God or the universe. It is essential that practitioners recognize yoga’s intention as meeting such holistic needs rather than simply as an escape.
Westerners tend to associate yoga with difficult, physical postures that seem impossible to master; however, yoga has much deeper roots than this. At its heart lies union – knowing that everything from your body atoms to trees in a forest is in constant dialogue with each other in this vast universe of existence.
When seeking out a yoga therapist, ensure they have undergone adequate training. When selecting an individual to assist with yoga therapy, make sure they are registered with an independent body such as the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). When exploring complementary or alternative therapies together with conventional health providers, be sure to create a plan which meets both parties needs best.
Healing touch
Healing touch is a practice founded on the idea that vital energy circulates throughout our bodies, using practitioners’ hands to balance and clear energy fields in order to assist the body’s natural healing processes. First established in hospitals by Janet Mentgen a registered nurse in the 1980s, this form of bodywork is now widely practiced worldwide in hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities alike. A practitioner attunes her energy field with that of their client during sessions before channeling healing energy from her hands directly into them for maximum effect.
Healing Touch practitioners use off-body touches to assess a patient’s energy field, then utilize various techniques to correct any imbalances they discover. The goal of a Healing Touch session is to promote optimal physical, mental and spiritual conditions so the body can self heal; healing touch can also serve as an add-on therapy to conventional medical care provided in hospitals or clinics as well as other mind-body therapies like massage, guided imagery music therapy acupuncture biofeedback.
People who have taken part in healing touch sessions report it helping ease their discomfort, reduce symptoms and feel more at peace and centered. Studies are being done with cancer therapy patients to see if healing touch therapy can reduce side effects such as pain, nausea and anxiety.
Healing Touch sessions are conducted by certified Healing Touch practitioners who have undergone intensive training through an approved program. The initial visit begins with an assessment to establish goals for the session; after receiving patient permission to touch or move her hands above their body. A post-treatment assessment then takes place to ascertain if it met its objectives successfully.
At a Healing Touch session, patients lie on a massage table or sit comfortably in a chair while their practitioner attunes her energy field with that of their patient to ensure an uninterrupted flow of energy. Her hands serve as sensors, intuitively assessing and correcting imbalances by rhythmical movements she perceives in their energy field.
Meditation
Meditation involves the practice of techniques that help calm and focus one’s attention, with the intention of relieving physical discomfort such as psoriasis, IBS and fibromyalgia. Meditation has also been proven to lower depression and anxiety levels as well as blood pressure levels; studies show it reduces these feelings while improving concentration skills and ability to focus. Meditation can even be used for psychotherapy to treat mental health disorders such as PTSD and bipolar disorder.
Meditation comes from Latin “meditatio,” meaning to think or contemplate. Different cultures have developed various forms of meditation: some focus on breathing exercises or mantra recitation while others pay more attention to emotions or body sensations.
Meditation increases natural production of serotonin while decreasing cortisol, helping balance hormone levels in the body. Studies have also demonstrated how regular meditation can increase concentration, recall and problem solving abilities as well as enhance sleep quality and quality, slow aging processes and diseases onset while increasing self-esteem and improving quality of life.
Anyone wishing to explore meditation can select from various styles, such as guided, group and one-on-one mediations. Some types of religious-based meditation such as chanting or praying may also be included; nonreligious varieties like visualization and mindfulness meditations could also be an option. Whatever style you select for you journey through, just remember to start slowly and slowly increase duration over time.
Meditation therapy can help you discover your own style. A therapist can teach the essentials of meditation such as relaxation and breathing techniques, as well as help create an ideal space for your practice – such as turning off TV and cell phones!
Your therapist may suggest adding movement into your meditation practice, such as yoga or tai chi. Progressive muscle relaxation – in which muscles systematically tighten and loosen in order to relieve tension – may also be helpful. Other techniques may include focusing on breathing techniques, tuning into bodily sensations and visual concentration.
