Complementary Therapies Do you or someone you care about have cancer? Alongside your conventional treatment, there is a huge variety of natural therapies available. Here are some common ones, and some information to help you decide what is right for your situation.

Massage Therapy Research has shown that certain types of massage make people feel emotionally better, at least in the short term. There are variety of different types of massage therapies, including remedial massage, shiatsu and reflexology. It is thought that massage may also help with physical symptoms.

Meditation Regular meditation can help calm your mind and enhance your health and wellbeing. Cancer patients tend to use meditation to help ease anxiety, stress, pain and sleeping problems. As with massage therapy, there are many different types of meditation.

Acupuncture Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical system that involves inserting fine needles just under the skin into specific pressure points around the body. One of the main reasons people with cancer use acupuncture is to help with pain and nausea.

Homeopathy Homeopathy is based on a belief that ‘like cures like’ – that illness can be cured by taking a very small dose of a substance that, if taken by a healthy person, would produce symptoms like those being treated. Homeopathic remedies are water or alcohol based solutions that contain tiny amounts of certain plant, mineral and animal substances. Homeopaths are of the belief that the remedies stimulate the body to heal itself.

Herbal remedies Herbal medicine uses roots, stems, leaves flowers or seeds of plants to improve health, prevent disease and treat illness. It has developed from centuries of practice and observation of many different cultures and traditions. Herbalists aim to restore your body and its ability to protect and heal itself.

Chiropractics Chiropractors use their hands to manipulate your bones and muscles, especially those of your spine. No drugs or surgery is involved. Chiropractors believe that if your spine and nervous system are healthy then the rest of your body will be in good health and well-being.

Good luck! Whichever complementary therapy you feel is right for you, it is best to discuss your choice with your doctor before going ahead with it. It is important to note that these therapies are not proven to cure cancer. Rather, they can be helpful in managing its symptoms. These treatments should be undergone together with a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and regular exercise where possible.

References http://images.google.com.au/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi ‘Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies,’ Cancer Council Victoria, 2009