The Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) discipline has much to offer an individual searching for adjunct treatments for cancer. These include body, mind, spirit therapies, biologically based therapies, manipulative or "body-based"...
Cancer is defined as a condition where normal cells mutate and reproduce, resulting in malignant tissue called a tumor. Why these cells mutate initially is not entirely clear, although the theory is that they become damaged due to free radicals...
The American Cancer Society would like to draw a clear distinction between complementary medicine and alternative therapies. In complementary medicine, the addition of non-medical treatments such as therapeutic touch or aromatherapy is used along...
According the the National Cancer Institute's CAM Report of 2005, there are approximately 10.5 million cancer survivors in America and millions more who have exceeded life expectancies. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies have...
Prostate cancer, one of the most common forms of major cancer in men, can be treated successfully especially if it is caught in the early stages. Prostate cancer tends to grow slowly, so aggressive treatment may not always be necessary. If...
Being diagnosed with breast cancer begins a frightening and challenging time. Treatment options are offered; medications, surgeries and therapies are discussed. Choosing the right path for your journey toward wellness can be confusing and...
Bladder cancer is a condition that occurs when cells lining the bladder grow out of control and form a tumor. According to MedlinePlus, the cause of bladder cancer is largely unknown, but smoking may contribute to 50 percent of bladder cancers in...
Ovarian cancer affects about one out of every 60 women, according to statistics from Johns Hopkins Medical School. Traditional medical treatment can provide 90 percent of women diagnosed before the cancer spreads out of the ovary--with a survival...
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), vitamin B17, also known as laetrile and amygdlain, is claimed to be an alternative cancer therapy. However the NIH says these assertions are not supported by sound clinical data. Laetrile is a...
Immuno-augmentative therapy, also known as immunoaugmentative therapy, immuno augmentative therapy or IAT, is an unproven method of managing cancer. IAT was developed by Dr. Lawrence Burton, and since 1977 has been offered at Burton's clinic in...
Cancer is the term for a group of diseases that are caused by numerous factors. According to the American Cancer Society, some of the most common causes of cancer may include genetics, tobacco consumption, exposure to ultraviolet light and known...
There are various alternative, or "natural," treatments for colon cancer. These treatments typically use herbs or other plants, such as seaweed, containing chemicals that supposedly can destroy cancer cells. Because there is no definite proof of...
Vitamin B17 is another name for laetrile, derived from amygdalin, a controversial compound sometime used for alternative cancer therapy. Despite the name, laetrile isn't a vitamin. Laetrile is classified as a cyanogen, a compound that breaks down...
Essential oils are distilled herbs. These herbs are harvested for their healing and medicinal properties. Essential oils date back to the Greeks and are mentioned by Herodotus, a Greek historian, in 484 to 425 B.C., according to “The...
Though not a miracle cure for cancer or digestion problems, the herbal supplement called Okra Pepsin E3 is marketed to cleanse your bowels and even treat some cancers. However, the research to support these claims is nonexistent, and the health...
Pomegranate, an edible fruit originally cultivated in the Middle East, has been used extensively for centuries in various medicines. Recent scientific data suggest that pomegranate juice might be useful in prostate cancer treatment. Data is...
Green tea is well known for its antioxidant effects that prevent damage to cells by removing radical oxygen species, destructive molecular by-products of cellular metabolism. Several compounds have been isolated from green tea extracts that have...
Vitamin B17, also known as laetrile, is a chemical compound derived from amygdalin, a substance that occurs naturally in bitter almonds and apricot and peach pits. Its use as an alternative cancer therapy is controversial, and several studies...
Cancer, the second-leading cause of the death in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute, begins in the cells of the body. It occurs when normal cell growth accelerates without control. These cells form cancer tumors, which...
Black cumin or Nigella sativa is a common spice that grows in areas of the Mediterranean, Asia and India. According to the review article in the November 2008 issue of "Cancer Therapy," black cumin is mentioned in several historical religious and...
Avocados are rich in a number of nutrients, particularly vitamins, fatty acids and compounds called plant sterols. The plant sterols in avocados have an effect on hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, which are both responsible for...
Liver cancer occurs when cells within the liver develop mutations which cause them to grow abnormally quickly. Liver cancer can be triggered by various liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and viral infection. Promoters of the macrobiotic...
The Hoxsey Therapy was developed by Harry Hoxsey in the early 1900s. The Hoxsey Therapy began with an elixir composed of a variety of supplements and herbs and an herb-based topical paste that was administered at Hoxsey clinics throughout the U.S....
Ovarian cancer affects approximately one out of every 71 women, making it the eighth most common form of cancer for women, accounting for about 3 percent of all cancer occurrence in women, according to the American Cancer Society. If you've been...
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic or immune system, can decrease your body's ability to fight infection. While the disease was once fatal, advances in modern medicine have increased chances of survival tremendously. If you have...
While surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may be standard treatment regimens for cancer, alternative therapies may offer additional benefits to cancer patients. Lifestyle changes, such as incorporating yoga practice into your exercise routine, may...
Psychoneuroimmunology, pronounced psycho-neuro-immunology and referred to as just PNI, can be considered the integration of behavior, medicine and spirituality in cancer care. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America look to...
Dr. Max Gerson developed a diet in the 1920s and began publicizing it in the 1930s. The diet was meant to be a natural therapy that would help people recover from cancer, as well as heart disease, diabetes and even arthritis. Dr. Gerson came to...
Shark cartilage is extracted from the heads and fins of sharks and usually sold as an alternative to conventional cancer treatments, according to the American Cancer Society. It's also sometimes used to treat arthritis, psoriasis and other...
