Most of the people who suffer from cancer are always looking for new ways that can help them in any way, including different kinds of alternative treatments for cancer.
Since cancer makes a person feel like he/she have no control over his/her health, alternative cancer treatments provide him/her with the feeling of control.However, not all alternative therapies are good for treatment of cancer; in fact, some of them might be quite dangerous. Therefore, you must always consult a doctor before trying any alternative therapies on your own.
How Alternative Medicine Helps Cancer Patients
Though alternative treatments for cancer cannot do much to cure cancer completely, but they can help a lot in dealing with the symptoms and signs that are caused due to the cancer. Some of the common symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, difficulty in sleeping, pain, and stress. All these signs and symptoms can be reduced to a great extent using different alternative treatments.
Always keep in mind that alternative therapies for cancer should just be used to supplement the treatment provided by your doctor, not to completely substitute medical care.
Though it is true that alternative treatments like acupuncture can reduce symptoms like pain and nausea, but they are usually not powerful enough to completely replace the medications provided by a doctor. Consult your doctor and find out the best possible balance between alternative treatments and traditional medicines.
Top 10 Alternative Cancer Treatments That You Must Try
Here is a list of the top 10 alternative cancer treatments which are considered to be safe as well as effective for treating the symptoms of cancer.
Acupuncture
Treatment with acupuncture involves insertion of tiny needles in different points of the body, which produces excellent results with a number of diseases. According to numerous studies, acupuncture can be quite helpful in getting rid of nausea, which is often caused due to chemotherapy.
In many cases, acupuncture can also relieve other symptoms such as pain caused due to cancer. The process of acupuncture is completely safe if performed using sterilized needles by a licensed practitioner. Consult your doctor to find out about the trustworthy practitioners in your area. Also, people with low blood count should not undergo acupuncture therapy. Therefore, make sure to consult your doctor before undergoing this therapy.
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Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves the use of aromatic oils to provide calming relief to the cancer patients. Different varieties of oils infused with fragrances like lavender are used to provide relief by adding them in bathing water, or applying on the skin during massage.
Besides this, these scented oils are also heated in order to release their aroma into the air. Aromatherapy is known to be effective in treating symptoms such as pain, stress, and nausea. Aromatherapy can either be performed with the help of a practitioner or used on your own. The process of this therapy is completely safe, though it may cause allergic reactions in some people
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique of training our mind to control different bodily functions, like blood flow and heart rate. Biofeedback therapists make use of an electronic device for monitoring different body functions, like heart rate and muscle tension.
The device makes use of flashing lights and beeping sounds as cues for finding out fluctuations and changes in your heart rate or muscle tension. For instance, it indicates if your muscles become relaxed or the heart rate slows down. With the help of a biofeedback therapist, you can learn to control all these functions.
Biofeedback can help in relieving pain caused due to cancer. In fact, over time, you can even learn to use biofeedback therapy on your own. Various computer software are also available for learning biofeedback techniques.
Tai Chi
Tai chi is an exercise form, which includes deep breathing and gentle movements to relieve stress. It can be performed with the help of an instructor, or you can learn the techniques using self-learning videos and books.
The slow tai chi movements do not require much physical strength and can be adapted according to one’s own ability.
Yoga
Yoga is an extremely popular practice, which includes deep breathing exercises along with stretching exercises. It involves positioning the body in different poses which require stretching, twisting, and bending. It can provide stress relief to people who suffer from cancer.
Besides this, it can also reduce fatigue and improve sleep. Take the help of a qualified yoga instructor who has worked with people suffering from cancer in the past. Avoid all yoga poses that can lead to pain. Good qualified instructors will be able to provide you with safe alternate poses.
Exercise
Exercising regularly can help in managing the signs and symptoms caused after and during cancer treatment. Simple exercises like swimming and walking can help to get rid of stress and fatigues, and also helps you to sleep better.
If you are not in the habit of exercising regularly, consult your doctor and then begin a regular exercise program. Begin slowly, and increase the intensity and quantity of exercises with time. Keep an aim to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes each day.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is actually a profound state of concentration which helps people to relax. A typical hypnosis session involves a therapist hypnotizing you with gentle voice to help you relax and focus on your goals like reducing stress and controlling pain.
Hypnosis can help cancer patients who suffer from pain, anxiety, and stress. It can also be helpful in preventing anticipatory vomiting and nausea, which are often seen as a result of chemotherapy. Hypnosis is safe only when performed by certified therapists.
Massage Therapy
During massage, a practitioner kneads the patient’s skin, tendons, and muscles to relieve stress and muscle tension, and help promote relaxation. Various techniques of massage are available these days; which can either be extremely gentle and light, or deep with lots of pressure.
According to studies, massage therapy has been proved to be quite effective in relieving pain caused due to cancer, as well as for relieving fatigue, stress, and anxiety. However, avoid having massage if your blood count is low. Also, people with bone cancer or other bone diseases like osteoporosis should always go for a gentle massage.
Meditation
Meditation is a technique of deep concentration in which a person focuses his/her mind on a particular idea, sound, or image. Relaxation exercise and deep breathing can also be incorporated into the meditation session to get further relief. It can help cancer patients to relieve pain, stress, and anxiety.
Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques are different techniques of focusing one’s attention to calm the mind and relax the muscles. Relaxation techniques include activities like progressive muscle relaxation and visualization exercises.
They can help cancer patients to sleep better, as well as alleviate fatigue and anxiety. After trying few of these alternative treatments for cancer, you will be able to find the best therapies that suit you perfectly.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.