Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, but improvements in diagnosis and treatment have led to an increased patient survival rate, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Alternative medicine is a set of diverse medical-care practices that are not considered conventional medicine. These practices can be alternatives to normal treatment for cancer, or could also be combined with conventional treatments to help patients cope with the disease.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative option for the treatment for cancer, according to MayoClinic.com. This form of alternative treatment induces needles into the patient's skin at specific points. Acupuncture is useful in relieving pain that is caused by many different types of cancer. Patients receiving this treatment often experience a lessening in the nausea and vomiting commonly associated with chemotherapy. Talk to your physician before starting acupuncture treatment. Physicians should be able to recommend licensed practitioners of acupuncture. For patients taking blood thinners or with low blood cell counts, acupuncture may not be safe.
Aromatherapy
Some alternative medicine practitioners use the sense of smell to help treat cancer, reports the American Cancer Society. Aromatherapy is the use of scented substances or oils that are very fragrant and are distilled from special plants. Peppermint, ginger and cardamom oil are some of the oils used in aromatherapy. Patients undergoing aromatherapy report improvement in mood, a feeling of relaxation, reduced stress and a decrease in nausea.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the use of electronic devices to monitor physiologic processes, like heart rate and muscle tension. Biofeedback can be an alternative option in the treatment of cancer, reports MayoClinic.com. The device beeps to let the patient know that his heart rate or muscle tension is too high. Patients will pause and endeavor to reduce the anxiety or stress they are experiencing. In cancer patients, biofeedback is used to relieve pain. Common medical belief is that the relaxation of muscles and the ability to relieve tension and anxiety provide physiological and psychological benefits that help ease pain.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are chemicals that help prevent damage to tissue and the DNA of cells. Antioxidants can be used as a form of alternative care that may be useful in treating and preventing cancer, states the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Normally, a healthy diet will provide a person with a good amount of antioxidants. Alternative antioxidant therapy provides massive doses of antioxidants to saturate a cancer patient's system. Specifically, coenzyme Q10 and vitamins C and E may play a role in cancer treatment. Further studies are needed to verify the efficacy of antioxidants in treating or preventing cancer.
