Holistic medicine helps people not only survive cancer but allows them to thrive. Also known as integrative medicine, holistic treatments can improve quality of life for patients who are undergoing traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Increasingly, clinics and wellness centers around the world are integrating these complementary therapies because mental, emotional, spiritual well-being have a powerful effect on pain management and the healing process. On the other hand, some holistic therapies have little research to back them up.
Diet
The most popular holistic treatment for many kinds of cancer involves modifying the diet. Unfortunately, many purported "healing diets" do not live up to their claims. To make matters more confusing for the public, some diets may be effective for preventing cancer but powerless to treat it. Macrobiotic diets, metabolic therapy and vegetarianism have little scientific evidence to treat cancer, according to the nutrition and diet guide published by the American Cancer Society. However, these diets can help empower patients as they take responsibility for their nutrition.
Supplements
Some supplements have promise. For example, hydrazine sulfate may assist with cancer treatments by treating anorexia and loss of muscle mass caused by cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute's overview of this chemical compound. Hydrazine sulfate has not been approved by the FDA as a cancer treatment, but it can be found as a dietary supplement. The NCI also suggests that Sun's soup is another supplement with healing potential. Composed of herbs and medicinal roots, Sun's soup may slow the growth of cancer cells and strengthen the immune system. Always discuss with your medical provider any experimentation with supplements, as they may have counter-indications with pharmaceuticals.
Acupuncture
Chinese medicine describes acupuncture as an ancient science that redistributes the flow of life force through the body. Western doctors admit say they do not know how acupuncture works, and many are skeptical. Regardless of worldview, acupuncture has shown to be effective as a complementary therapy for cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health's review of "Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment," acupuncture can reduce nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Spirituality
Holistic medicine treats "the whole person," including the ways cancer patients find meaning in life and comfort in the unknown. Hospice has regularly included spirituality in treatments for years, but now many cancer wellness centers are focusing on spiritual concerns as well. For example, a 2006 study published in the journal "Integrative Cancer Therapy" found that patients with prostate cancer naturally increase their spiritual practices at all stages of treatment, not just in the terminal stages. The benefits of spiritual practice include stronger relationships, increased well-being and more gratitude for life. Researchers suggest that patients and medical providers talk more openly about spirituality, especially because of its role in treatment decisions.
