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Complementary Therapies
Sometimes also known as alternative therapies, complementary therapies may help you to control your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. They may be used along with conventional cancer treatments.
Complimentary, or alternative treatments can improve your quality of life. Complementary therapies work by using the healing power of nature, stimulating the body’s natural healing ability.
There is a huge variety of complementary therapies advertised on the open market. Many are well known and proven to be helpful. However, there are also some therapies that have doubtful or unproven benefits.
It is important to also consult your doctor before starting any complementary therapy as it may affect some treatments or other medication you may be taking.
Types of complementary therapies
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help relieve pain.
A part of Chinese’ medicine system that depends on the balanced functioning energies of the body and involves very thin needles being inserted at specific points on the body’s surface. It can create long lasting pain relief.
Aromatotherapy
It uses massage and inhalations combined with essential herbal oils, to promote health and healing of the body.
Bowen Technique
A light tissue manipulation is considered to help balance the body’s energies.
Hypnotherapy
It uses the hypnotic trance to overcome limitations by controlling the body and mind.
Massage
Massage can help you release tension and stress. It uses from gentle to intense pressure to stimulate the blood flow around the body, helping a person relax.
Reflexology
A form of ancient Chinese medicine including the use of message to reflex areas that are located in their feet and hands as a treatment.
Reiki
It uses life energy that is passed by gentle touch, from the trainee to the person receiving this relaxation treatment which in the future they may have the opportunity to practice themselves as self-healers.
Spiritual Healing
Conveys healing energy from a spiritual source to the patient through the hands of the healer.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art of gentle practice, sometimes used for therapeutic purposes. It is an intense and gentle martial art technique with longevity exercises.
It is important to stress that there is no convincing scientific evidence that such treatments can reduce (shrink) or cure cancer.
You should also be very wary of unusual (possibly illegal) and often costly therapies advertised in the media such as the internet. Trust information from reliable sources and be wary of links shared on social networks claiming miracle cures.
If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or a hospital team about whether it benefits you. They may even have a complementary therapy service they can refer you to.
Source: roycastle.org
