Alternative cancer therapies without scientific backing may be harmful, interfering with conventional cancer treatments and possibly leading to serious side effects.
Traditional medicine is grounded in science and evaluation. Less research has been done into alternative approaches; some alternative therapies have shown promise as viable options that can complement conventional treatments.
Holistic healing
Holistic healing is a type of health care that addresses all aspects of health in an integrated manner, using various healing practices to address illness at its source rather than simply masking its symptoms. Holistic medicine employs holistic doctors with both medical degrees as well as degrees in various forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage therapy or meditation as complementary approaches.
Holistic medicine differs from Western medicine in its focus on holistic treatments that focus on treating all aspects of a person, from their psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing to disease underlying causes and stressors. Holistic practitioners believe all parts of our bodies are interdependent – if one aspect goes out of balance it affects other parts as well. Furthermore, holistic practitioners believe living a healthy lifestyle is ultimately best medicine.
holistic healing offers many advantages, yet it is essential that individuals consult a qualified healthcare provider prior to beginning any alternative therapies or practices. Unqualified practitioners could potentially do more harm than good and some alternative therapies could interfere with medications or pose potential dangers.
An integrative diet and nutrition approach includes balancing food groups, physical exercise, mental wellbeing, spirituality and meditation practices to create optimal wellness for an individual’s physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. Furthermore, holistic approaches provide personalized analyses of individual’s needs, goal setting and resources; fitness trackers, meditation apps or gratitude journals could all be added for further assistance if necessary. However, this should not be taken as an excuse to use alternative therapies instead of traditional medical care; even if someone had success using an alternative therapy for one minor condition they could extrapolate this success into treating more serious conditions if successful alternative therapy had success for one condition than would normally expected – for instance if someone had success using alternative therapy for instance in treating minor symptoms this could result in them thinking this approach would work just fine when dealing with more serious conditions if applied appropriately.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda, which derives its name from Sanskrit words for life and knowledge respectively, is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Originating over 5,000 years ago in India and founded on a belief that health depends on maintaining balance among mind, body and spirit, Ayurveda emphasizes preventive strategies as a key part of health management.
A practitioner might recommend diet changes, herbal medications, massage therapies and other forms of Ayurved medicine as treatment. Studies suggest some Ayurvedic treatments can reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis and symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes; however, results have been mixed or small; moreover some Ayurvedic preparations contain dangerous amounts of lead mercury or arsenic that should not be consumed.
Many individuals turn to Ayurved practitioners for weight loss, stress reduction, sleep problems and chronic conditions like arthritis and asthma. Because the practice is unregulated in the US, it’s essential that individuals search out an authorized practitioner. According to The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s recommendations, seeking out someone trained specifically in massage therapy or another form of Ayurved treatment is recommended.
Your healthcare provider should know about any complementary and integrative medicine you are taking, including Ayurved treatments. Certain herbs could interact with cancer drugs or radiotherapy and cause dangerous side effects, including reduced blood cell counts. Other Ayurvedic practices, like bloodletting and forced vomiting, could also pose health risks; for instance removing too much blood could decrease breathing ability or cause fatigue; bloodletting also increases infection risks – something particularly troubling if someone with cancer already has low blood cell counts.
Biologically based therapies
Biologically-based therapies (CAM) fall under a subcategory known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and include herbal medicine, animal-derived products and nutritional supplements. Available as powders, capsules, tablets, teas and syrups they’re often used both to promote wellness and treat illness based on belief of “vitalism”. Unfortunately these treatments don’t yet meet scientific evidence standards as rigorously as synthetic drugs do regulated.
While herbal and nutritional supplements have generally shown positive effects in cell culture or animal studies, there is much less rigorous research on their long-term impact on human patients. Furthermore, numerous reports of adverse reactions in those taking such therapies exist and interactions between herbal therapies and prescription medicines can often prove problematic.
Health care professionals must remain aware of what alternative therapies their clients are utilizing, as well as any possible interactions between herbal remedies and prescribed medications. Clients should also adopt a skeptical stance towards complementary and alternative medicine practices and research the associated costs, benefits and risks before making their choice to utilize any form of CAM. In some instances, this may mean simply avoiding certain herbs or supplements known to interact with specific medications – for instance amygdalin is commonly found in fruit pits like those of apricots but should be avoided by cancer patients as its metabolization by liver produces cyanide that leads to blue skin symptoms as a side effect.
Manipulative and body-based methods
These therapies involve touching or moving parts of the body. Examples include acupuncture, acupressure and massage therapy; people living with cancer frequently utilize these techniques to ease symptoms associated with disease and treatment such as pain or fatigue, while helping manage stress more easily. It’s essential that before trying these types of therapies that you consult your healthcare team as they will help find practitioners experienced working with cancer patients who provide proper draping practices.
Alternative therapies often believe that mind and spirit have an effect on physical state, using techniques such as hypnotherapy and meditation for healing. These less costly forms of treatment are more widely accessible in rural communities that don’t have access to conventional medical solutions than more urbanized forms. They have become especially popular among BIPOC communities who face barriers when seeking care in more urban settings such as Latin America where discrimination hinders their access.
While research supports numerous complementary therapies, some doctors remain wary about recommending them due to a lack of rigorous testing or scientific basis for them. Furthermore, using such methods may impede patient participation in clinical trials.
Alternative therapies may be combined with treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy to ensure an integrated plan. When considering any supplements or alternative therapies, always consult a health care professional first – this ensures they won’t interfere with your current treatment plan.
Mind-body techniques
Mind-body techniques are practices designed to strengthen the connection between your brain, spirit and emotions and your attention and resilience. Examples include breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and tai chi. Mind-body techniques may help relieve stress and anxiety as well as reduce heart rate and blood pressure; additionally they may help you relax more deeply into restful sleep, increasing overall quality of life.
Mind-body practice helps your brain form new neural pathways to help manage stress, emotion and physical pain more effectively. Over time, these skills can be reinforced for lasting benefits known as neuroplasticity – for instance a person who loses the use of an arm due to stroke can retrain their brain to reconstruct new neurological pathways to help move it again.
Research investigating mindfulness meditation, yoga and tai-chi/qi-gong in cancer patient populations demonstrates positive results related to improved mood, sleep quality and physical functioning. Furthermore, these practices present minimal risks that can easily be integrated into cancer care plans.
Resistance to mind-body practice can be common for patients unfamiliar with these techniques. One effective approach for combatting this resistance is taking an empathic stance and offering opportunities for open dialogue. Healthcare providers should collaborate on providing patient-centric care strategies which incorporate mind-body therapies.
A recent meta-analysis of mind-body therapies discovered that both seated meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) were associated with improvements in psychological outcomes as well as both systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction, both safely for individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, healthcare professionals should encourage patients to incorporate these practices as part of a holistic healing approach.
