Information on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

At Immune Recovery and Wellness, we believe that the best defense against cancer and immune-related illness is a whole-body treatment approach geared to strengthen the best weapon you've got in your health arsenal:  your own immune system.  We believe that, given the proper balance of conventional medical treatment and holistic or alternative therapies, every person can ultimately discover their best life possible, regardless of her/his stage of life or illness.  Remember, at Immune Recovery and Wellness, we specialize in integrated care that combines the best of conventional and complementary/alternative cancer treatments.

You may find yourself at a crossroads right now, trying to decide whether or not to continue the strictly conventional approach prescribed to your for your cancer or other immune disease.  Maybe your doctor or a close friend or relative recommended complementary or alternative treatments to you.  If you are searching for answers to your questions about what CAM is and how it may be able to help you in your fight against cancer or other health concerns, we invite you to review the information below.  It summarizes the view of CAM as given by the National Cancer Institute of the United States (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/thinking-about-CAM/page1), and we present it here because it is notable for its un-biased and largely conventional overview of CAM treatments and philosophy. 

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

CAM is an umbrella term, meant to include "any medical system, practice, or product that is not thought of as standard care."  Standard, or conventional, medical care is typically backed by extensive clinical and scientific study and evidence.  If you are a cancer patient, such standard care includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

• Complementary Medicine includes treatments and procedures that are used along with (complementary to) a patient's standard medical treatments.  An example of this is when massage or acupuncture is used to ease the side effects of chemotherapy.
• Alternative Medicine includes treatments and procedures used in place of (as an alternative to) standard medical treatments.   An example of this would be when a cancer patient chooses to follow a special diet to treat his/her cancer, as opposed to following a method prescribed by an oncologist (cancer specialist).
• Integrative Medicine is a "whole body" approach to care, involving a patient's body, mind and spirit.  It is notable in that "[It] combines standard medicine with the CAM practices that have shown the most promise."  An example of this is when a patient undergoing standard cancer treatments also learns relaxation techniques, such as yoga, to reduce and manage their levels of stress.

Why Choose CAM?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine is receiving increased attention from medical professionals and scientific studies every day.  CAM therapies are being used in treatment programs for health concerns ranging from cancer to weight loss.    While there are many choices to make in the journey to wellness and recovery, most people choose CAM because it:

• empowers patients by providing them with options and information they can use to take a personal interest and play in important role in their own care and recovery;
• helps patients cope with the nausea, pain and fatigue associated with conventional cancer (or other illness') treatments;
• gives patients a means by which they can manage the stress and emotional trauma often caused by a cancer diagnosis and resulting treatments;
• assists patients in discovering their optimal levels of health, so that their bodies are best equipped to heal.

Because CAM is one of may treatment options available, we suggest talking to your personal physician before beginning any new treatment program.  Be thorough in your research and take the time to gather information on any CAM treatment centers or CAM providers before placing yourself in their care.  CAM does not work for everyone.  Be sure to inquire whether or not any CAM procedures you undergo will not effect your current treatments.

Types of Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Though many therapies included under CAM today have been in existence for centuries, there has been little clinical or scientific study given to understand the therapies' effects.  For this reason, we are still learning about these practices.  Often called "natural," "holistic," "home remedy," or "Eastern medicine" by the public,  CAM is generally broken down into five categories by experts.   Listed below are the five categories, along with examples of each.

• Mind-Body Medicines: practices founded on the belief that your mind is able to affect your body.  Included in this category are:

  • Meditation:Focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind
  • Biofeedback: Using simple machines, the patient learns how to affect certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness (such as heart rate);
  • Hypnosis: A state of relaxed and focused attention in which the patient concentrates on a certain feeling, idea, or suggestion to aid in healing; 
  • Yoga: Systems of stretches and poses, with special attention given to breathing;
  • Imagery: Imagining scenes, pictures, or experiences to help the body heal;
  • Creative outlets: Such as art, music, or dance.
    

• Biologically Based Practices:  based on using those things provided by nature, commonly in the form of  herbal and dietary  supplements, including

• Vitamins 
• Herbs
• Foods 
• Special diets
• It is important to note that no one food or special diet has been proven to control cancer.  Since dietary needs are different for each patient, and certain foods or supplements may interfere with the treatment you may currently be receiving, we recommend you consult with your doctor prior to making any changes to your diet.

• Manipulative and Body Based Practices: having to do with the direct stimulation and relaxation of strategic parts of the body.  This category includes:
  • Massage: Manipulation of tissues with hands or special tools;
  • Chiropractic care (ky-ro-PRAK-tik): A type of manipulation of the joints and skeletal system;
  • Reflexology (ree-flex-AH-lo-gee): Using pressure points in the hands or feet to affect other parts of the body.
  
  
• Energy Medicine:  originates in the belief that the body has its own energy fields that can be harnessed and/or released to stimulate healing and overall wellness.  By placing their hands in or through these fields, therapists use pressure or body movement to manipulate these fields.  The most common forms of energy medicine are:

  •  Tai Chi (ty-CHEE): Involves slow, gentle movements with a focus on the breath and concentration;

  • Reiki (RAY-kee): Balancing energy either from a distance or by placing hands on or near the patien

  • Therapeutic touch: Moving hands over energy fields of the body.

• Whole Medical Systems: systems and beliefs regarding healing that have developed over time in different cultures.  A few of the most well-known are:
  • Ayurvedic medicine (eye-yer-VAY-dik): >A system from India emphasizing balance among body, mind, and spirit; 
• Chinese medicine:Based on the view that health is a balance in the body of two forces called yin and yang.
• Acupuncture (AK-yoo-PUNK-cher) is a common practice in Chinese medicine that involves stimulating specific points on the body to promote health, or to lessen disease symptoms and treatment side effects; 
• Homeopathy (home-ee-AH-puh-thee): Uses very small doses of substances to trigger the body to heal itself; 
• Naturopathic medicine (na-chur-o-PATH-ik): Uses different methods that help the body naturally heal itself.