The term complementary medicine or alternative medicine is often misunderstood by many people. Complementary medicine usually cannot replace conventional medical treatment, and is only used as an additional treatment. But this treatment does not promise cure for any disease.
Surveys show that 65% of people use alternative medicine to cure cancer, along with clinical treatment from doctors. This treatment is done to control the symptoms of cancer and there is no evidence to show that alternative medicine can cure or reduce cancer.
Discuss with your doctor about alternative medicine before deciding which treatment to use.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment by placing a fine needle on a particular part of the skin. How acupuncture works is to trigger the nervous system so that it can cause certain effects in the body. One of the effects of acupuncture is that it can increase natural chemicals in the body which are useful for pain relief, reduce nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Acupuncture studies say that acupuncture can reduce nausea in patients with breast cancer. However, further research is needed to find out the overall effects of acupuncture.
Visual guide
Visualization is another term used for visual guidance. Visualization is often used in alternative medicine. With this treatment, patients can describe the situation with sensory details to reach the target.
This guide can minimize symptoms of depression or increase positive feelings in patients. This treatment can be done under the guidance of a therapist or done alone. Patients can use CDs or smartphones when practicing therapy.
Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements can reduce nausea or other symptoms, but herbal supplements lack scientific evidence because the evidence for treatment is not well designed and the results are still questionable. In addition, supplements can also interfere with the function of drugs consumed and can cause other side effects that can be harmful. Supplements are consumed as a complementary ingredient in alternative medicine, so the use must be consulted with a doctor.
Dietary habit
Eating healthy food is a good action for the body because by consuming healthy foods, the body will get the nutrients it needs. However, we must be careful of advertisements that promote foods that can cure cancer or disease, and suggestions for consuming certain vitamins in high doses.
One of the diets used by many cancer sufferers is the Gerson diet, which suggests drinking a mixture of coffee enemas and crushed fruits and vegetables, and taken every hour. Laxatives or laxatives can be part of an alternative treatment. Ginger and peppermint tea can reduce nausea and are safe for consumption.
There is no food that can cure cancer. If we want, we can change food intake. Doctors will usually give input in choosing nutritious foods and foods that can have good effects on the body during treatment.
Yoga
Yoga is a complementary treatment that combines nutrition, meditation, and exercises that are useful for uniting body and mind. Movement in yoga is designed to build strength and flexibility. Yoga instructors usually teach yoga in class, but we can also do yoga by looking at the yoga guide from the video.
Yoga is useful for women who have cancer because yoga can reduce fatigue, make sleep better, and make feelings feel better. Doing yoga regularly is not difficult, we can also ask the yoga instructor to provide yoga information that is suitable for our body's abilities.
Other treatments
Complementary and alternative treatments commonly used as cancer treatments include:
- Prayer
- Hypnosis
- Aroma therapy
- Reiki
- Tai chi
- Shiropractic therapy
Treatment must provide comfort and ease the patient's condition. Patients must also have the power to try different treatments and consult with their doctors until they find the most suitable treatment.
Side effects
Some treatments may not interfere if mixed with conventional drug use. Sometimes treatment can cause side effects or reduce the function of the drug. Supplements and herbal medicines in alternative medicine are not necessarily safe drugs because alternative treatments are not regulated by government laws.
Stopping the doctor's medication and using only alternative medicine is an action that can increase the risk of disease growth. This can also make cancer more difficult to treat if the patient or patient has cancer