At the thought of cancer, our bodies cringe; our minds come to a halt with despair; our emotions are overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and anger; our spirits sink into a fathomless pit. How about those who are diagnosed with the disease? How do they feel when a faceless doctor breaks the news, following it with the harsher solutions of chemo-and-radiotherapies, coolly neglecting the emotional aspect of the disease? Unfortunately, mainstream doctors’ target is curing the disease, uninterested in healing the ‘whole’ person.
The good news is that 21st century medicine has begun embracing alternative approaches to complement areas of its shortcomings to achieve wholesome healing for cancer patients. Through addressing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of cancer, the most brutal conventional protocols (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) will be received more favorably and overall healing becomes possible. This is where integrative cancer treatment, which combines mainstream and alternative medicines, succeeds, while each one on its own fails to provide wholesome healing. Here are some natural approaches, which can be integrated with conventional treatments of hormone-related cancers like breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers.
Conventional cancer treating procedures are aggressive and harsh to the body, mind, and emotions of the patient, but they are still the most successful and sure methods in eradicating cancer cells and tumors. However, conventional treatment is a double-edged sword. Chemotherapy wipes out both cancer cells and healthy cells, making hair fall, sapping energy, or burning skin (radiation), but it remains the most reliable healing method for cancer. Even the most sophisticated alternative therapies are not equipped to cure cancer and naturopaths admit that conventional protocols are still the most effective ways to wipe out the disease at early stages, but, in combination with alternative approaches. Let us understand how chemotherapy affects cancerous cells.
With chemotherapy toxicity, the DNA of healthy and cancer cells is destroyed. Given the fact that cancer cells have no built-in repair system, they self-destruct, committing apoptosis, once they are damaged. On the other hand, normal cells have the ability to repair themselves and survive to reproduce healthy cells. Radiation does the same. Their side effects cause nausea, vomiting, energy-depletion, weak immunity, hair loss, skin irritation or burns, and mental fogging. Because such toxins strain the body and brain, cancer patients are required to bolster immunity and strength before, during, and after therapy to sustain the toxic overload of chemo. Natural medicine recommends an immune-boosting diet for hormone-related cancer.
Dr. K. Block of Evanston, Illinois, who operates an integrative clinic, recommends the following:
* The decrease of saturated fats to reduce breast cancer recurrence.
* The consumption of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli to balance estrogen.
* Crushed flaxseeds (10g) to reduce estrogen levels and inflammation.
* Garlic to lower breast cancer risk and increase detoxification. Leave crushed garlic to stand for ten minutes to activate enzymes.
* Green tea (3-5 cups) to lower risk of breast cancer relapses.
* Omega-3-and-6 oils to promote cancer cell destruction during chemo.
* Cooked tomatoes (lycopene) raise life expectancy for ovarian cancer patients.
* Turmeric (2-3g), an anti-inflammatory agent, reduces risk of reproductive cancer through its richness in phytochemicals.
Organic supplements for rapid healing and energy:
* Coenzyme Q10 for the heart
* Antioxidants for detoxification
* Intravenous vitamin C for faster healing
* Enzymes for liver stimulation
* Probiotics to bolster immunity
* Chinese herbs to boost energy.
Scientific reports suggest the following methods to speed reproductive cancer recovery:
* Acupuncture decreases vomiting after chemo; acupressure mitigates nausea.
* Ginger causes ovarian cancer cells to self-destruct and self-digest (autophagy) as well as suppresses nausea and enhances appetite.
* Yoga during radiotherapy enhances the condition of breast cancer patients physically, mentally, and emotionally.
* Aromatherapy with essential oils boosts immunity and lowers levels of anxiety and nausea.
* Sleep in total darkness encourages the production of melatonin to inhibit breast cancer proliferation.
* Fitness and body fat reduction increase survival rate and decrease recurrence risk of ovarian cancer.
Mushrooms like shiitake, maitake, and turkey tail (Trametes versiclor) are rich in ergosterols, which suppress the development of blood vessels, which nourish cancer growths (Mycelium Running, Paul Stamets). When the interior of mushrooms is exposed to sunrays, they offer adequate amounts of vitamin D, another cancer protector.
Studies show that women who eat soy foods often reduce risk of breast cancer. Papaya contains enzymes that make uterine tumors regress.
Ginseng root, in studies, seem to cut blood supply to malignant tumors, while encouraging the development of collateral blood vessels.
A cancer diet should emphasize fresh, organic (for more nutrients and less toxins), whole foods like colorful fruits and vegetables (raw for enzymes), legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, while avoiding fatty, fried, and fast foods, additives, preservatives, and processed and refined foods. It should include plenty of purified or spring water to eliminate toxins and hydrate the body for more energy (Read, ‘Simple practices can work miracles against cancer,’ Arab News, Oct. 12, 2005).
Acidic environments through eating sugar, sugar substitutes (aspartame), and meat (growth hormones, antibiotics, parasites) encourage the growth of cancer. Replace meat with noncontaminated fish and free-range chicken; and sugar with a little honey.
Since cancer diagnosis does not only affect the body, but also emotions, the emotional aspect should be addressed to reassure patients of the safety of therapies and how they eradicate cancer. Quelling fears should come through awareness and more information about cancer therapy to make patients cooperate with the treatment.
Family and group supports are of paramount importance to ease patients’ anxiety, fear, and anger; make therapy more tolerable; and face its physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
Another aspect should be considered; it is the mind. Natural approaches like prayer, relaxation, meditation, yoga, t’ai chi, qi gong, and biofeedback release pressures and negative thoughts. For some patients aromatherapy stimulates the relaxation response and dissipates bad thoughts and negative associations. A few drops of relaxing aromatic oil like lavender in a handkerchief should be inhaled in a quiet corner several times daily, starting a few days before the scheduled therapy. Aromatic scents release tension and improve mood. Apparently smelling roses enhances the memory.
Some cancer patients, though physically cured from cancer, remain emotionally and mentally traumatized. According to oncologist Jeremy Geffen of Geffen Visions International, Boulder, Colorado, in order to come to term with cancer and its therapies, some patients need spiritual healing like prayer, meditation, guided imagery, heart centering, energy drawing, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to heal emotional scars caused by the brutal experience.
Block hopes that science advances the effectiveness of chemotherapy through chronotherapy (only used in Block’s clinic in the US and 40 centers across Europe), where chemotherapy is infused when cancerous cells are most vulnerable, while healthy cells are at their best. Chronotherapy helps destroy more malignant cells, causing patients less harm. Another technique is choking malignant tumors to death through blocking blood flow that nourishes them.
After all, cancer patients want to be treated as whole human beings rather than like insensitive, unfeeling objects. Integrative medicine includes conventional and holistic approaches, emphasizing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual treatments. Nonetheless, whatever alternative remedy you decide to use, do it with your oncologist knowledge to avoid complications.
— Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected]. Log on to arabnews.com for previous articles.
