Complementary therapy and alternative therapy are often used interchangeably, yet there are distinct differences between them.
Complementary therapies are used alongside standard medical treatments to relieve symptoms or enhance quality of life, while alternative therapies may replace traditional medical interventions altogether.
Most complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) hasn’t undergone rigorous clinical testing to prove it’s safe and effective, which means some treatments may cause unwanted side effects or interact with conventional therapies in ways that compromise treatment effectiveness.
What is Complementary Therapy?
Complementary therapy is an alternative practice used to supplement or support mainstream medical treatment. Examples of complementary therapies include acupuncture, yoga, massage and meditation – ancient practices which have been practiced for centuries to promote overall well-being while offering health benefits like relaxation, pain relief, mental clarity and spirituality.
Some complementary therapies, like acupuncture and massage therapy have been scientifically evaluated; however, less research has been done into others such as tai chi, aromatherapy and homeopathy. Complementary therapies are frequently used by cancer patients seeking relief from fatigue, nausea or side effects from treatment as well as to boost immunity or relieve anxiety, depression or stress.
Note that anyone seeking complementary therapies as an alternative should avoid replacing conventional medical treatments with unproven products or practices, which could increase risks while delaying access to effective, proven treatments that could result in either remission or cure for their condition.
As a nurse, it is your ethical responsibility to ensure the wellbeing and safety of your clients. Part of this includes informing clients whether complementary therapies are safe or not and informing them of possible interactions between medications they’re currently taking and any additional ones they might take in the future.
Integrative medicine combines complementary and alternative therapies with traditional healthcare services to provide comprehensive health solutions that address a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Integrative therapies may include exercise, diet and sleep management in addition to traditional therapies used for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatments; for instance acupuncture and yoga have proven helpful in combatting side effects like vomiting and nausea that occur due to chemotherapy treatments.
What is Alternative Therapy?
Alternative therapy refers to any treatment outside the mainstream category of medical treatments and often falls under CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). While conventional medicine largely relies on ethical clinical trials that produce objective evidence of efficacy or inefficacy, most alternative therapies have not undergone such extensive testing – these could include anything from acupuncture and homeopathy to yoga, herbal medicine, tai chi, meditation or Tai chi.
Alternative medicine approaches typically employ a holistic approach to health, which encompasses mental, emotional, functional and spiritual components of wellbeing. Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Yoga are among the most frequently employed alternative therapies.
Most conventional health care practitioners support people living with cancer who use complementary and alternative practices; however, some may discourage them as many have yet to be proven effective or could potentially interfere with conventional treatment plans.
There is no scientific or medical proof that alternative therapies can cure cancer, nor have any been tested through ethical clinical trials to demonstrate efficacy. Furthermore, claims made by practitioners of alternative therapies may give false hope; furthermore some alternative therapies may also be costly.
When selecting a complementary practitioner, make sure they have experience treating people with your specific health condition(s). Be sure to inform all traditional and complementary healthcare providers of any herbs, supplements, vitamins or other products you take as some could interact with certain medicines and be harmful. Ultimately, the ideal complementary practitioners are those willing to collaborate closely with your traditional healthcare providers so you receive optimal treatment.
What is CAM?
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to an umbrella term for various therapies that fall outside traditional medical treatment; complementary therapy refers to therapies used alongside conventional medical therapies to manage side effects or enhance quality of life. Integrative health refers to treating someone holistically using both conventional and complementary therapies together.
Conventional medicine refers to scientifically tested therapies which have been scientifically shown safe and effective, such as medication and lifestyle modifications. Some forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are used by cancer patients to alleviate side effects from conventional therapies; for example acupuncture can help ease chemotherapy-related pain and nausea. It’s important that any CAM therapies you are undergoing be reported back to your cancer doctor so any possible adverse side effects can be checked out as soon as possible.
There are five domains or types of CAM:
1. Biological therapies: These utilize naturally-occurring substances like herbs, vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in nature for treatments such as dietetic supplements and whole food consumption as well as herbal remedies and probiotics. They can include probiotics as dietary supplements. 2. Energy therapies: Energy therapies utilize or manipulate energy fields that encompass and penetrate the body such as electromagnetic fields, radiation energy fields, light heat sound transmission channels. Qi gong, Reiki and therapeutic touch are among many of these energy therapies used for healing.
3. Mind-Body Interventions: Non-pharmacologic approaches that address psychological and emotional aspects of wellness such as meditation or hypnosis may also be considered mind-body interventions.
4. Other Modalities: These nonphysical techniques that alter body function and structure include manipulation, massage, ultrasound imaging and spinal adjustments – techniques typically utilized by chiropractic and osteopathy practitioners.
5. Other Integrative Therapies: These combine complementary and conventional care approaches in an attempt to create holistic treatments, including mindfulness-based stress reduction and yoga.
What are the Benefits of Complementary Therapy?
Complementary therapies have been demonstrated to assist with physical symptoms associated with cancer or its treatment side effects, such as pain and nausea. Such approaches include acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, meditation and art therapy – practices which also serve to relieve stress. Acupuncture can provide relief from chemotherapy drugs while massage therapy eases soreness post surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck.
These therapies tend to be safe when administered by trained practitioners or teachers and used alongside standard medical treatment. To stay safe, always inform both your traditional healthcare provider as well as complementary therapy providers about all treatments you take – both mainstream and complementary therapies alike – so they can ensure there are no negative interactions.
If you’re curious about exploring complementary therapy, ask your physician for a referral to an appropriate practitioner. Other sources can include local hospitals or cancer centers as well as professional organizations, state regulatory agencies, and licensing boards. It is advisable to inquire as to the length of time a practitioner has been practicing as well as where they attended school.
Some complementary therapies haven’t been subject to as rigorous studies as conventional medicine has been, yet may become more acceptable over time as more research shows them to be safe and effective. Some are even being used to replace medications like low dose antidepressants and painkillers, although there remain questions as to their effectiveness and costs – we need further studies on them so people can use them wisely.
What are the Benefits of Alternative Therapy?
Alternative therapy users often believe that various therapies can boost their immune systems, helping their bodies fight off cancer more easily. Unfortunately, no scientific evidence supports this view, and these techniques may even have harmful side effects that interfere with other medications they’re taking. It is therefore vital that any complementary or alternative medicine practices you engage in be disclosed to your healthcare provider so they can assess whether these therapies are safe and will not interfere with medications you already take.
Some medical doctors may feel uneasy with complementary and alternative medicine, fearing it has not been subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny like conventional treatment options have. They’re also worried that alternative therapies might give false hope or discourage patients from seeking professional help; yet an increasing number of doctors recognize some complementary and alternative therapies can have value – some even recommend them for their patients! However, more are accepting this fact, including even suggesting them when appropriate for patients.
Alternative healthcare approaches encompass a wide variety of practices, products, and philosophies that may include herbal remedies, acupuncture, tai chi and yoga as well as spiritual healing services like meditation hypnosis art therapy and spiritual counseling. According to a 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), yoga, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation as well as nutritional supplements are the three most prevalent complementary health approaches used by adults today.
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective at treating certain conditions, including nausea caused by chemotherapy drugs and post-op pain after lymph node removal surgery. However, research is questioning other alternative therapies such as homeopathy or chelation therapy which rely on unproven theories not supported by scientific evidence and may actually be detrimental for patients.
