When you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you need to stay optimistic because there are far more advanced treatment options now than ever before. Many of these may be time-consuming treatments but are less harsh on your body and may be safer in the long run. There are some that specifically target the root problems that contribute to the growth of cancerous cells and the main goal is to make sure that cancer does not return.

Can Common Natural Treatments for Breast Cancer Give Results?

While the regular and common treatments for breast cancer include chemo, radiation, and surgery, there is hope that there will be some natural treatments that can alleviate its symptoms and reduce the side-effects emanating from the tough treatment procedures. Such natural therapies go a long way in strengthening the patient’s immunity and the body’s defense mechanism. Incidentally, many people are of the opinion that the common treatments for breast cancer that involve natural therapies are needed to promote the patient’s overall health and make them feel proactive in their treatments.

One must understand that while these following natural methods are helpful for supporting a breast cancer patient’s treatment, they cannot be a replacement for the conventional treatment. So, before using any of these, you need to first talk to your oncologist in detail.

• Acupuncture is known to relieve the discomforts caused by vomiting and nausea that are common after chemotherapy. This method of treatment is derived from the ancient Chinese medicines and can help alleviate side-effects and symptoms which are the offshoot of other traditional cancer treatments. Here, the acupuncturist will put needles into your pressure points in the skin, and this helps to stimulate the CNS and brain and controls the sensation of pain.
• Another commonly used natural treatment is massage therapy; this will stimulate the tissues in your muscles and skin, make you feel relaxed and relieve pain and anxiety. Massage therapy is highly recommended by doctors for improving the patient’s quality of life as it can control stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and fatigue.
• Tai Chi and Qi Gong are movement-based workout regimens that had their origins in China and aim to balance natural bodily energies, by placing a rigid focus on meditation and breathing. These help to lower levels of pain and stress and improve mental health and mobility. These methods are found to be very effective for people after radiation and chemo as they can reduce their side-effects.
• Biofeedback therapy that teaches patients to detect and control involuntary aspects in their body like blood pressure, heart rate, or muscle tension. So, as a patient, you will be connected to a device providing auditory and visual signals whenever there are physicological changes taking place inside your body. These signals are going to be monitored and you will then learn how to respond to these and control certain functions. This therapy may help a breast cancer patient deal with her symptoms and side-effects, but you need to find a licensed therapist first.
• Reiki is an example of alternative therapy that is based upon the idea that an individual can use his hands to direct energies around his body so as to enhance healing. But reiki cannot be a substitute for traditional treatments of breast cancer.