Many cancer patients turn to complementary and alternative therapies as part of their cancer treatments, though some can be harmful or interfere with medical treatments.
Complementary therapies include yoga, meditation, tai chi, acupuncture and massage therapy as well as biofeedback (using machines to teach you how to control your body’s responses), hypnosis and homeopathy.
Complementary medicine
People often turn to complementary therapies in addition to conventional medical treatment for cancer in order to relieve side effects and cope with side effects more easily, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, music therapy and yoga. Health professionals generally support such practices but may hesitate to recommend them due to not having been tested in clinical trials and possibly being unsafe or interfering with conventional therapies.
NIH defines complementary medicine as “a system of care that includes practices not generally taught in medical school but instead commonly found throughout various cultures worldwide”. Research by NIH covers five broad categories of complementary health approaches: alternative medical systems, biological therapies, manipulative and body-based methods, mind-body interventions and energy therapies.
Alternative medicine systems, like traditional Chinese medicine, offer comprehensive healthcare services with central philosophies and beliefs related to healing. Other forms of alternative therapies may also include acupressure, homeopathy and naturopathy. Biologically-based therapies use natural substances such as herbs, minerals or vitamins to promote health and wellbeing. Examples include acupressure, acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy medicine and naturopathy. Manipulative and body-based methods refer to any movement or manipulation of the body, such as chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, massage therapy and Rolfing/Trager bodywork/ Alexander Bowen techniques. Mind-body interventions encompass meditation and prayer as well as arts therapies like painting, dance and music therapy. Energy therapies use biofields or energy fields to improve health and wellness; according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Tai chi, Yoga, Meditating and Prayer were some of the most frequently chosen complimentary therapies.
People interested in complementary and alternative medicine tend to favor natural therapies that don’t interfere with normal body functioning or cause harmful side effects, but before trying any complementary therapy it is wise to consult your primary healthcare provider, especially if there are concerns. Your provider can advise on what practitioner to choose as well as whether certain therapies might interfere with cancer treatments.
Alternative medicine
People often use the term alternative medicine to refer to practices outside of traditional medical treatments, such as acupuncture, massage therapy and herbal medicines. Some techniques have even been scientifically verified as safe – including biofeedback and yoga.
However, many non-mainstream therapies have yet to be scientifically examined and may not be safe or may interfere with cancer treatments; alternative medicines might even make you feel worse! It’s wise to discuss any such alternatives with your physician first before trying them on yourself.
Alternative treatments may seem promising, such as herbal medicines that claim they can cure cancer, yet there’s no scientific or medical proof to support such claims.
These therapies focus on manipulating invisible energy fields that encase our bodies, in order to influence health and healing. According to these practices, the flow of energy impacts health and healing – it may involve eating certain foods or running your hands over your body to increase energy flow more smoothly.
Many Americans rely on alternative treatments, including acupressure or chiropractic medicine, as an effective means of relieving their discomfort. Research on some therapies – like acupressure and chiropractic medicine – has demonstrated their efficacy at relieving symptoms; other alternatives, like herbal medication, have not been as extensively investigated.
Though complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offers some potential benefits, it’s essential to be aware of its restrictions. Some treatments may not be grounded in scientific research and some could even prove deadly.
Substituting complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments with conventional ones can be dangerous. Doing so could compromise cancer care and lead to less-than-successful therapies for your condition, leading to complications like heart attacks or stroke. Before turning to any CAM therapies, please speak with your physician first – they will know if these therapies are safe and how best to incorporate them into your plan; additionally they can explain any limitations in research concerning them; for instance many herb studies conducted without considering interactions between their constituent parts and parts.
CAM
Many individuals living with psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. Some CAM therapies are used as replacement therapies; others can supplement psychotherapy and psychotropic medications. Aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, yoga & meditation and creative arts therapies (music/art/dance therapies) may all be effective ways to treat mental disorders; though evidence for them varies greatly in quality and quantity.
Many CAM approaches have not been properly tested and may not be safe or effective. Some approaches, like herbal remedies and supplements, may cause side effects like nausea or stomach upset and may interact with some prescription and over-the-counter drugs; others such as hypnosis massage and energy healing remain poorly understood.
CAM therapies have proven beneficial in treating mental disorders, including depression, by improving the body’s ability to handle stress. Exercise, bright light therapy and S-adenosylmethionine, an amino acid. However, few CAM therapies possess enough positive data to be recommended as treatment methods for serious illnesses like anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
NCI and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health sponsor or co-sponsor various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) clinical trials, both those that evaluate complementary therapies alongside conventional treatments as well as those that directly compare them with them. You can find more information about these studies on NCI’s Cancer and Complementary Therapies: What You Need to Know page.
Integrative medicine
Integrative medicine offers a more holistic approach to healthcare that integrates conventional Western medical treatments with complementary alternative therapies, gaining increased popularity in Richmond as more patients look for alternative solutions to traditional medications and procedures. Integrative therapy may help relieve stress, anxiety and pain as well as stimulate natural healing processes within the body and manage symptoms associated with chronic conditions like cancer, fatigue, fibromyalgia or autoimmune disease.
Integrative medicine practitioners believe that overall health and wellbeing depend on an interplay of many factors, including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components. Their practitioners consider each patient’s specific needs, preferences and lifestyle before working to identify and address underlying issues that could cause poor health outcomes.
Integrative medicine differs from alternative therapies in that its practitioners aim to identify the source of illness or disease rather than simply treat symptoms. They do this through combining medical history analysis with lifestyle factors like diet and stress levels that may contribute to any illness or condition a patient might be suffering from.
Integrative medicine is grounded in extensive scientific research and encompasses various therapeutic approaches. Its principles include respecting doctor-patient relationships, taking into account all body systems as a whole person and prioritizing preventive measures and healthy living; prioritizing preventive measures over reactive care; prioritizing preventive measures over unhealthy living, prioritizing preventive measures over disease treatment plans and personalized treatment plans; prioritizing preventive measures over treatment plans as individualized plans; prioritizing preventive measures over disease care – these all form its core principles tenets; its founder envisioned health care as transformation from reactive symptom-based treatment towards proactive whole person care – something George Washington University promotes through its Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at George Washington University showcases this practice of holistic whole person care.
While many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices are generally safe, they should never replace regular treatment from your primary care physician and specialists. Your healthcare providers should also be informed of any complementary therapies you are undertaking so as to coordinate them appropriately in your plan of care. It is also essential to understand how each practice works as well as whether they may interact with any medicines being taken; The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine offers excellent information regarding this subject.