Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care
Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complicated procedure that entails the use of different approaches to treat different types of diseases. One important thing about this system that makes it completely different from the conventional treatment methods as developed in Western scientific tradition is that TCM is based on a holistic approach to the human body. Diseases are treated as disruptions to the entire body system and the focus is on returning the body to its initial ideal state. Therefore, TCM is focused on providing patients with a completely personalized mode of treatment. This is seen right from the diagnosis stage to the way specific intervention measures are administered to a patient.
Research in the use of TCM in cancer treatment
There has been a growing body of research on how traditional Chinese medicine can be used in treating cancer patients. From several studies, it can be seen that there has been general consensus among researchers that Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used to supplement conventional oncology care. Studies have indicated that when used alongside conventional methods of treating cancer, specific practices in the system can play a distinctive role in enhancing the overall outcomes of cancer treatments for patients. Known as integrative or holistic cancer care, this approach of combining conventional Western medicine with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been growing in popularity over the recent past.
Use of acupuncture in holistic cancer care
Acupuncture is one of the many practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine that are integrated into holistic cancer care. The aim of acupuncture is to control the neurological processes in the body of a patient as a way of bringing about the desired effects. This is done by use of special needles which are inserted in the body of the patient at specific points. The application of the needles may be accompanied by several practices that are meant to enhance their effect on the body of the patient. For instance, it is common for the procedure to involve use of heat as a way of boosting the ability of the needles to restore the flow of energy within the body of the patient to an equilibrium state. Besides, it is common for the procedure to be carried out using heat from special herbs as a way of stimulating the specific locations within the body where the needles are inserted. As stated, all these alternatives are meant to enhance the overall way in which the procedure works. It is important to note at this point that the procedure itself is carried out by specially trained practitioners who understand every part of the process.
Its advantages in cancer treatment
Research has indicated that there are several ways in which this procedure can be useful when integrated into holistic cancer care. Basically, acupuncture has been found to be effective in relieving patients of many different and unpleasant side effects associated with different forms of therapy used in cancer. For example, findings from studies have indicated that when properly used, acupuncture is able to reduce the intensity of nausea and vomiting that cancer patients subjected to chemotherapy usually experience in the course of their treatment. Use of this procedure in such cases has indicated positive results, therefore strengthening the belief that such a procedure can be used to enhance the overall outcome of conventional cancer therapy in patients.
Further, studies have indicated that acupuncture can be an effective remedy to hot flashes, a condition experienced by patients of breast cancer. As a result of imbalance in the body hormones, any patients of breast and prostate cancer experience this condition over the course of time. Use of different forms of acupuncture or acupressure – a variant form of acupuncture – has been shown to play a key role of relieving the situation thus boosting the outcome of the therapy being used in general.
Use of herbal medicines in holistic cancer care
Herbal medicines are an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. The herbs are usually applied to the patient using different methods like oral, topical application and even infusion. In practice, the method of application depends on the kind of effect that the herbs are intended to have on the patient and the nature of the herbs that are being used.
There are several important ways in which Chinese herbal medicine can be used as part of holistic cancer care. To begin with, the essence of Chinese herbal medicine is twofold: to restore the body to equilibrium state and provide nourishment to it. It is from this approach that the herbs have been found to be useful in helping cancer patients. For example, the fact that the herbs have been found to work by correcting any form of imbalance within the body means that they can be used to treat symptoms associated with different types of cancers in patients. From different studies that have been carried out, it has been found that traditional Chinese herbs can be effective in alleviating pain in cancer patients. The effectiveness of this mode of treatment has been found to be comparable to that of conventional pain relieving medications.
Another way in which Chinese herbal medicines have been used as part of holistic cancer care has been in providing nourishment for the body. Use of the different forms of the herbs has been found to be beneficial to the way the body actually responds to the conventional treatment in use.
Risks of TCM interventions in cancer patients receiving integrative care
There are several risks that are associated with using TCM treatments in cancer patients who are receiving integrative care. For instance, the fact that the traditional herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine can be applied by oral, infusion or topical application and contain a number of different herbs presents the risk of interaction with the conventional drugs that are being used on the patients.
Another risk of integrating traditional Chinese medicine in holistic cancer care has been with regard to how effective acupuncture really is when used in cases involving different forms of cancer. Although its efficacy in reducing particular effects in cancer patients has been established, the bone of contention has been that many of the studies upon which the results are based have involved relatively small samples. It then follows that the results obtained from such studies may not be extrapolated to cover entire populations. Although this is so, intense research on the subject is currently ongoing.
At AWAREmed, we understand the potential benefits and risks of using Traditional Chinese Medicine as part of Holistic Cancer Treatment. We have dedicated our time to keeping abreast with the most recent developments in this field, all for the benefit of our patients.
Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care
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