Cancer and Alternative Medicine: An Overview

Cancer and Alternative Medicine: An Overview
Word Count:
1049
Summary:
A breast cancer survivor provides an overview of current alternative medicine.

Keywords:
alternative breast cancer treatment, breast cancer

Article Body:
Alternative medicine is the use of means, in addition to, or instead of conventional, to treat disease or pain.  There is lots of controversy surrounding alternative medicine, especially in the cancer arena, because most of it is unproven, as far as the medical world is concerned.  To be proven, a treatment must have undergone peer-reviewed, controlled studies.  However, if you know where to look, you can find plenty of research to support the efficacy of many alternative therapies.
Every day, more and more of us are becoming fed up with conventional medicine’s way of doing things; I mean, let’s face it … Western medicine’s focus is managing a disease once it occurs.  Many alternative methods can be used as preventive instead of management.  Once I started thinking about it, I knew there just had to be a better way.  That’s when my alternative journey began. 
The many different avenues of alternative medicine, can be overwhelming and there are many with which I do not have personal experience.  But, this is your starting point … a broad overview, not all-encompassing, by any means, of breast cancer alternative medicine.  Some of these methods are palliative (help manage pain and discomfort of cancer and its treatment), some are complementary (to be used in addition to conventional), some are intended to be preventive, and others look promising as adjuvant treatments. 
Manual Healing and Physical Touch
This is a huge category that includes acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and Reiki, to name a few.  Acupuncture is derived from Chinese medicine and involves inserting tiny needles through the skin into specific energy pathways on the body.  This method interrupts the energy that flows through the body and is based on balanced Qi.  There is lots of controversy surrounding whether acupuncture can be used as a method of treating cancer, itself, but it is thoroughly documented to alleviate pain and nausea from cancer and its treatments. 
Chiropractic is the correction of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system.  It is achieved by adjustments to the spine and neck.  There are traditional chiropractors who adjust the entire spine and then there are Direct Non-Force Technique chiropractors who alleviate neurotransmitter interference, throughout the body, by specific, targeted adjustments.  The thinking, here, is that the body has the means to heal itself and seeks to maintain balance within itself.  Correcting the musculoskeletal disorders helps to regain the balance that has been lost.
Massage has been found, by recent studies, to provide more alertness and less depression, stress, anxiety, and pain.  There are many different forms of massage, ranging from deep tissue to a basic relaxation massage.  Many health care providers are proponents of massage therapy in addition to conventional treatment.
Reiki is a Japanese word that means universal life energy.  This is a method that is typically performed in person but can be performed from a distance.  The thinking behind Reiki is that, when the energy pathways of the body are blocked, it results in disease and/or pain.  A Reiki practitioner can unblock these pathways, resulting in less pain and muscle tension, and increased ability for the body to heal itself.
Herbs, Minerals, Vitamins, Diet, and Nutritional Supplements
This is one of the roads I’ve chosen, for myself, based on careful research and consideration.  There is evidence that shows that what we eat plays a big role in cancer prevention and it’s in the news all the time.  In the evolution of our society, our foods have become more and more processed, and less and less nutritious.  Farmers use pesticides to keep the bugs from getting our produce.  They use hormones to grow our chickens, cattle, and pigs larger faster, so they can make money off them sooner.  Of course, it doesn’t occur to them, or maybe they just don’t care, that those substances are then consumed by us.  I didn’t even realize those things were used until after I had been diagnosed.  You mean I’m eating estrogen in my meat????  Wow, was that ever a wakeup call.
Most practitioners don’t endorse the use of nutritional supplements simply because they haven’t been approved by the FDA … this premise amazes me because there have been many drugs, that have been approved by the FDA, that have caused serious injury and/or death.  There are many nutritional supplements that show serious promise in the prevention, and possibly even treatment, of breast cancer.  The studies are out there, if you know where to look. 
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is another technique that uses the body’s innate ability to heal itself.  It is based on the concept that everything, within the body, is related and that if you have pain or illness, that is an alarm your body sets off to get your attention and let you know something is wrong.  The naturopathic way of thinking is that your body begins to let you know something is out of balance … perhaps you aren’t digesting your food correctly, or you have some hormones out of balance … and it begins a snowball effect, throughout your organs, until it gets your attention.  Everything is related and, if there is a problem in one area, another area tries to take up the slack and becomes overworked, and so on.   Naturopaths use natural means, such as homeopathic remedies, natural agents, manipulation, or electrical treatment to obtain balance so that the body can heal itself.

Homeopathy
This is the practice of using minute doses of active ingredients to produce the body’s own defense and healing process.  It, like naturopathy, strives to achieve homeostasis (balance) so the body can heal itself.  Homeopathic remedies work much like a vaccine does to our bodies and is based on the premise of like fixes like.  Homeopaths prescribe substances that would cause symptoms, in a healthy person, for the purpose of healing those same symptoms in a sick person.  For example, a homeopath would prescribe minute amounts of thyroid to someone whose thyroid was overactive for the purpose of the thyroid building a defense to this and slowing itself down. 
This is, by no means, an exhaustive overview of alternative therapies, but is, as stated, an overview. For more in-depth discussions on this as well as conventional breast cancer treatment please visit our website below

Alternative Medicine - What Happens During Acupuncture Treatment

Alternative Medicine - What Happens During Acupuncture Treatment
Word Count:
744
Summary:
Acupuncture is one of several popular alternative therapies tracing its roots to traditional medicine in China more than 5,000 years ago. Although the treatment is regarded as one of the most common and oldest worldwide, acupuncture only started to become recognized in the US after New York Times journalist James Reston wrote a feature on how his post-surgery pain was eased by doctors in China in 1971 using the procedure.
1. The Basis Of Acupuncture
The treatment assume...

Keywords:
acupuncture london treatment,acupuncture arthritis diagnosis treatment,acupuncture center holistic in medicine treatment,acupuncture cancer treatment,acupuncture infertility treatment

Article Body:
Acupuncture is one of several popular alternative therapies tracing its roots to traditional medicine in China more than 5,000 years ago. Although the treatment is regarded as one of the most common and oldest worldwide, acupuncture only started to become recognized in the US after New York Times journalist James Reston wrote a feature on how his post-surgery pain was eased by doctors in China in 1971 using the procedure.
1. The Basis Of Acupuncture
The treatment assumes something called qi (pronounced key) - energy in living beings that passes through twelve meridians or invisible energy lines in the body. Each line links to a specific organ system; the belief is that any imbalance in qi flow leads to a disease. The key component of acupuncture treatment is the insertion of needles into key points on the meridian lines to renew balance. These extremely thin, metallic needles are aimed at specific anatomical points and controlled manually or by electrical stimulation. An individual usually feels relaxed and energized after acupuncture.
2. Modern Treatment
The US Food and Drug Administration reclassified these needles as medical devices in 1997, from the earlier classification as experimental. The FDA notes that over $500m are spent by people in the country every year for the treatment, for which a good number secure insurance coverage. The agency's main restrictions with the needles are that they be non-toxic and sterilized and that they be used only once and discarded immediately after.
- Acupuncture is endorsed by the National Institute of Health
- Is practiced by dentists, doctors and other health practitioners
3. Increasing Acceptance
Increasing acceptance of acupuncture was highlighted by the National Health Interview Survey in 2002, which indicated that the number of American adults turning to the treatment surged from 2.1 million in 2001 to about 8.2 million the following year. The interest in acupuncture also received a boost from the impatience individuals had with the failure of conventional medicine.
4. How Does It Really Work?
Acupuncture reportedly induces the release of endorphins in the body, relieving an indivudal from pain. Other effects attributed to the therapy include influence over neurotransmitters, or substances transporting nerve impulses; promotion of circulation; and effects over the body's electrical currents and autonomic nervous system. Many common ailments and undesirable conditions are addressed by acupuncture treatment.
5. Commonly Treated Conditions
- Sinusitis
- The common cold
- Smoking and other addictions
- Migraines
- Tennis elbow
- Infertility
- Menstrual cramps
- Obesity
- Low-back pain
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
6. Procedure
On the first meeting, acupuncturists usually ask new clients to fill up a personal health record prior to an interview. A session then has the client answer questions that cover main health issues, diet, emotional and psychological profile, and overall lifestyle and regular activities. The therapist should also be informed by the individual of any current medication and treatment being taken. During this interview, one can also expect the practitioner to evaluate pulse points and establish how healthy the individual's twelve meridians are. A diagnosis is then given, followed by the use of between 6 and 12 needles as treatment is commenced. Patients keen on acupuncture must realize that the exact placement on target points on the meridians is more important, not the number of needles used.
The initial insertion may make the patient feel pricked or stung. However, the treatment should be painless and comfortable for the duration that could extend to an hour or more. An individual should immediately tell the acupuncturist to discontinue if he feels any numbness, discomfort or pain. Variations of the treatment may involve use of herbal medicine - capsules, tablets or tea made from Chinese herbs to boost the therapy. Some practitioners also integrate cupping - a suction effect created with the use of glass cups on the skin, in part to promote blood circulation and continuous qi flow.
7. Rising Popularity
The recent withdrawal of the Vioxx painkiller has raised apprehension over pain relievers available in the market. This concern, combined with statements from the NIH and other government and health organizations that side effects from acupuncture are significantly lower, has made more individuals turn to the treatment, particularly for pain relief. Several studies have also shown how acupuncture has helped patients with osteoarthritis, post-chemotherapy nausea and even depression. Despite all the apparent positive feedback, those considering acupuncture should still consult regular doctors and health-care professionals for advice on their conditions first. If they decide to pursue the treatment, they must make sure that the acupuncturist or practitioner they see is highly-qualified and certified by organizations such as the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists.