COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Complementary therapies are practices used along with conventional medical treatment. These therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of treatment, or improve one’s overall sense of well-being.

Some of the complementary therapies more commonly used with cancer and its conventional treatment:

• acupuncture: Acupuncture is a technique in which very thin needles are inserted through the skin to treat a variety of conditions. It may be helpful with mild pain and some types of nausea.
• aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant substances, called essential oils, distilled from plants to alter mood or improve symptoms such as stress or nausea.
• art therapy: Art therapy is used to help people with physical and emotional problems by using creative activities to express emotions. This is done by mainstream therapists with specialized training.
• biofeedback: Biofeedback is a treatment method that uses monitoring devices to help people consciously control physical processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, sweating, and muscle tension that are usually controlled automatically.
• labyrinth walking: Involves a meditative walk along a set circular pathway that goes to the center and comes back out. Labyrinths can also be ‘walked’ online or on a grooved board following the curved path with a finger.
• massage therapy: Massage involves manipulation, rubbing, and kneading of the body’s muscle and soft tissue. Some studies suggest massage can decrease stress, anxiety, depression and pain, and increase alertness.
• meditation: Meditation is a mind-body process in which a person uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind.
• music therapy: Music therapy is offered by a group of established healthcare professionals who use music in order to promote healing and enhance quality of life.
• prayer and spirituality: Spirituality is generally described as an awareness of something greater than the individual self. It is often expressed through religion and/or prayer, although there are many other paths of spiritual pursuit and expression.
• tai chi/qi gong: Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. It is a mind-body system that uses movement, meditation, and breathing to improve health and well being. It can improve strength and balance in some people.
• yoga: Yoga is a form of non-aerobic exercise that involves a program of precise posture and breathing activities. In ancient Sanskrit, the word yoga means ‘union’.

The Golden Ribbon Foundation urges patients who are thinking about using any complementary or non-mainstream treatments to discuss this with their health care team. Talk to your doctor about any method you are considering. There are many complementary methods you can safely use along with standard treatment to help relieve symptoms or side effects, to ease pain, and to help you enjoy life more.

More and more doctors and scientists are now studying complementary methods and the results have been published in mainstream medical journals. Many national cancer centers, such as MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic and Sloan Kettering have incorporated complementary therapies such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture and massage into their standard treatment regimens.

For more complete information about complementary therapies, please visit the American Cancer Society’s excellent website www.cancer.org.