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Holistic Approaches to Cancer Treatment: Combining Naturopathic Therapies with Conventional Medicine

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Cancer patients are combining conventional therapies with complementary therapies including acupuncture, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Rajesh Gulati

Published At December 20, 2023
Reviewed AtDecember 20, 2023

Introduction:

Doctors use conventional and alternative cancer therapies to provide successful care depending on the patient's condition. These treatments vary in their effectiveness and gentleness in their approach. These include massages, herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga, and other mind-body practices. These can assist you in feeling better and coping with some side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea and pain. Today, merging conventional and alternative cancer treatments is thoroughly discussed.

What Advantages Does Combining Conventional and Alternative Cancer Treatments Offer?

Combining conventional and alternative cancer therapies provides several psychological advantages, including increased chances of survival, fewer side effects, and a higher standard of living.

What Kinds of Alternative Cancer Treatments Are There?

Acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, yoga, meditation, dietary adjustments, and exercise are just a few of the complementary therapies that can be used in addition to orthodox medicine and are highly beneficial.

How Many Different Traditional Therapy Options Are There?

The most well-known conventional therapies are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.

What Are Cancer Treatments, Both Conventional and Alternative?

Doctors utilize conventional and alternative cancer therapies to treat patients and control their symptoms, side effects, and quality of life. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are all parts of traditional treatment. Enhancing quality of life is the primary goal of alternative cancer therapy.

The primary goals of alternative cancer therapy are to speed up healing, increase effectiveness, and offer psychological comfort from the entire cancer treatment process. Alternative cancer remedies/treatments ARE NOT meant to replace conventional cancer therapies. These are merely supplements to standard therapy options.

Traditional Treatments: Types

Here, we go over many classic medical procedures:

Surgery: A highly specialist medical treatment called cancer surgery is used to treat cancer. It can be done on a patient's entire body or a few selected areas. Tumor removal, surgery to remove cancerous organs, and surgery to remove nodes or other cancerous sources are all examples of cancer surgery.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy can be administered orally, intravenously, or as a tablet. Chemotherapy for cancer damages cellular DNA. As a result, the cell stops dividing and developing and eventually perishes. Chemotherapy presents the best chance of recovery for some cancer patients. Chemotherapy can occasionally extend life and frequently cause tumors to lessen in size or eliminate.

Radiotherapy:

Most cancers can be treated with radiation therapy including lung, colon, ovarian, and breast. Additionally, it works wonders for treating cancers close to vital organs like the brain or spine.

Alternative cancer therapies available today. Below are various forms of complementary cancer therapies:

Acupuncture:

Thin needles are put into the body during acupuncture, which can help manage cancer symptoms and side effects. Neurotransmitters, which aid in the body's reaction to pain, are released while it functions.

Aromatherapy:

One of the most well-known and established complementary therapies is it. It is the application of plant-based extracts, such as essential oils, to enhance health and well-being.

Massage:

Body-based massage employs touch and movement to enhance one's health and well-being. It can be delicate and airy or powerful and deep. In addition to easing pain, it lessens stress, weariness, and worry. Additionally, it encourages serenity and well-being, which are crucial in the fight against cancer.

Yoga:

The most effective treatment is yoga since it helps ease cancer symptoms, including despair, exhaustion, and nausea.

Diet Modifications:

Especially if they get chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation treatment, cancer patients' diets will shift slightly during and after treatment. It is undeniable that eating a healthy, balanced diet will improve mood. You can prevent nutrient shortages by eating the proper ratio of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and fats.

The easiest way to start is to talk with a nutritionist or medical professional. They can offer advice on particular foods and details on the most important nutrients for your health recovery.

Exercise:

Exercise can lower oxidative stress and increase the flow of cancer-fighting white blood cells. Additionally, it can help chemotherapy work better and lessen inflammation.

Song Therapy:

It includes utilizing music to raise people's quality of life. The use of music therapy has several advantages. People who use it can unwind and escape from reality. It can ease discomfort and has a relaxing impact on the body. Consider listening to soothing music that can help you heal more quickly if you are stressed out or dealing with a mental health problem.

Meditation:

Medical professionals frequently suggest meditation as an effective complementary cancer treatment. It may even increase energy while assisting in reducing stress and anxiety-related symptoms. Finding a teacher or organization that provides meditation instruction and support is crucial because learning to meditate can be intimidating.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

Cancer patients may benefit from CBT by learning to control their stress levels, deal with challenging emotions, and lead more purposeful lives. Patients can improve their understanding of their actions and learn how to address their difficulties with CBT productively. This can assist them in controlling their tension and concentrating on the here and now instead of dwelling on hypothetical future events.

It is crucial to remember that each person's treatment plan is customized to meet their unique demands. Allopathic treatments may be helpful for some people, but alternative therapies may be preferable for others. Speak with a physician or other healthcare professional to find the best action.

What Are the Advantages of Conventional and Alternative Cancer Therapy?

Many patients experiment with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). These practices, which include meditation, aromatherapy, herbs, and vitamins, are frequently combined with conventional medical procedures like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

  • Helpful for controlling their discomfort and anxiety throughout therapy.

  • While aromatherapy helps lessen motion sickness, meditation can lower blood pressure and stress.

  • These techniques help some people deal with the difficulties of conventional treatments, which increases the usefulness of those treatments.

  • Some people use these techniques to overcome the difficulties of conventional therapies, which has the added benefit of enhancing the value of conventional ones.

  • Additionally, they can assist you in overcoming the emotional side effects of cancer treatment, such as weariness and despair.

  • These therapies can be a fantastic supplement for cancer care, but they shouldn't be used instead of normal therapies or to postpone therapy.

When to Seek Medical Advice?

  • One can also contact the knowledgeable oncology specialists at the respective location in one's city, to receive prompt assistance and medical care for wounds, illnesses.

Conclusion:

Combining conventional and alternative cancer treatments is a difficult process that takes into account a number of variables. However, there are several strategies to increase the success rate of combining various medicines, including enhanced coordination of care, better doctor-patient communication, and more study into beneficial treatment combinations.

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Dr. Rajesh Gulati
Dr. Rajesh Gulati

Family Physician

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