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Other Conditions

 

Cancer & Chemotherapy

 

Digestive Complaints

 

Emotional Wellbeing

 

Menopausal Support

 

Pain

 

Pediatrics

 

Other Topics

 

Complementary Medicine can help with prevention of cancer, treatment of symptoms, and the alleviation of side effects associated with Chemotherapy.  We offer treatments with Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as Naturopathic medicine. 

 

Many patients seek alternative methods of treatment in the hope of finding a cure. Instead, these complementary treatments help to support the body’s natural immunity, its innate strength and homeostatic capabilities, while regenerating and repairing the damage done by the cancer itself. It is also an extremely valuable adjunct therapy to chemotherapy and radiation. Many patients seek out Naturopathic Medicine and Chinese medicine because they are familiar with their ability to help post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, fatigue, constipation and many other side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Chinese medicine and Naturopathic Medicine alone should not be considered miracle treatments for cancer.

 

Incidences of cancer are well documented throughout the history of Chinese medicine. Drawings and descriptions of tumors have appeared in some of the most ancient Chinese medical writings. Yet “cancer” itself is not a term used in Chinese Medicine. This is because Chinese medicine regards cancer as a composite of several different conditions, rather than a single disease. Because of its holistic nature, Chinese medicine looks at all of the factors that may have contributed to the development of the disease in the person diagnosed with cancer. Family history, life-long exposure to toxins, the overall strength of the immune system, digestive system and emotional well-being inform acupuncturists about the various factors that contributed to the formation of the disease in the first place and how to help patients overcome them.

 

Naturopathic Oncology is an emerging field, providing safe ways to improve quality of life, cancer prevention, and increase efficacy of conventional treatment.  Black Cohosh has been proven in several studies to lower the risk of breast cancer.  Specialized laboratory studies can be used to assess the risk breast cancer.  Nutritional and herbal therapies are used based on the results these tests.  For more information, see Breast Cancer Risk under Laboratory testing.  Nutrient testing can be used to determine which vitamins are depleted by chemotherapeutic drugs.  By replacing nutrients that are lost during treatment, patients can feel better during their treatment.  Safe botanicals can be used to protect the GI tract since these rapidly dividing cells are often the first to go during chemotherapy.  

 

Currently, acupuncture is being recommended as a complimentary therapy in several cancer hospitals and centers around the U.S.  There are several benefits to acupuncture, some anecdotal and some recognized by current studies. The most notable studies have been done on acupuncture for post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials showed that acupuncture was superior to anti-emetic medications for post-chemotherapy nausea and reduced the incidence of acute post-chemotherapy vomiting. (J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jun; 12(5):489-95). In addition to less or no nausea or vomiting, patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation report having more energy, better digestion, less pain or relief from chemotherapy induced pain or numbness, higher white and red blood cell counts and an overall sense of well-being.

 

Naturopathic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment to provide a comprehensive wellness program for your mind, body, and spirit. 

 

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