Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Holistic Cancer Care

September 19, 2014

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.

acupuncture

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.

acupuncture

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

Is Herbal Therapy Effective for Alcohol or Drug Addiction Treatment?

August 3, 2014

Herbal Therapy Treatment For Alcohol Or Drug Addiction

What is herbal treatment?

Herbal treatment is one of the oldest treatment methods, but still in use all over the world. This refers to the treatment which bases on the medicine obtained exclusively from plants. The medicine is obtained from varied plants known to have medicinal values. The plants used to give a given medicinal value may vary from place to place depending with the cultural practices of the area. Different cultures may though used the same plant but differ in how they use it or the specific part that they use.

Advantages of herbal treatment in Drug addiction recovery

It is now a fact that herbal medicine is being preferred by many all over the world. The big question is, “why do many people prefer herbal medicine over the pharmaceutical medicines?” many researches have been conducted to determine the credibility of herbal medication, though this medication has been one of the oldest. Herbal medication has obviously preferred due to its many benefits to the human body. The following are some of the benefits of herbal medicine;

They have negligible side effects – many pharmaceutical medicines have been proven to have a side effect to the patient who uses them. The case is different with herbal medicines. Almost all the researches which have been conducted on the herbal medicines, have indicated that it has very low or no side effects at all. This is one of the reasons why herbal medication is highly preferred in the drug addiction recovery process since it leaves the patient with no side effects.
They are cost effective – the drug addicts may not be very productive in the community, and therefore for relatives or well-wishers to offer material support to help the addict look for treatment for the addiction may be difficult especially when the medication cost is high. Herbal medication becomes the better option for many, since its cost is highly affordable by far that the prescription medicine. This is due to the low cost in the process of research, testing and marketing of the herbal medicines as compared to the prescription medicine.
They are effective with chronic condition- herbal medicine has proven to be effective than many of the traditional prescription medicine. This medication is for this case a good medication option for people suffering from addiction effects such as chronic fatigue.
Widespread availability – one of the most important factors that make herbal medicine highly preferred in the treatment of drug addiction is its availability. The herbal medicines are readily available all over the world and hence accessing them is much easy. Some of the simple herbs that are known to have medicinal values can be grown at home and hence when they are required in the treatment they can be easily accessed from there.
Non-habit forming – herbal medicines have been proven not to cause any habit formation and hence no chances of addiction resulting from the medication.

What makes herbal treatment effective in drug addiction treatment?

Herbs have the capacity to ease some alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms (i.e. from anxiety to insomnia) and they can also help in the detoxification of the body. One of the challenges that a drug addict will face during the recovery period is the craving for the drugs. Herbal medication has been effective in the reduction of the intensity in the addicted person’s craving for alcohol and other drugs.

Nervous system correction

Among the helpful herbs, are herbs that influence the nervous system or by gently encouraging a relaxed and sedated state. Some of the herbs that are known to bring this sedation are: – catnip, chamomile, peppermint, and skullcap. The good thing with these herbs is that they provide a wide range of ways through which they can be taken by a patient. One of these convenient ways is that it can be used together as a tea or with any other fluid. In most cases, to replace mild depression with a state of calmness, St. John’s wort is often prescribed to the patients.

Detoxification

Many addictive drugs will always leave toxins in the body even after the patient recovers from the addiction. These toxins are known to have a negative to the patient in the long run. It is therefore very important for detoxification to be done to the patient despite the recovery medication. For this detoxification to be done, there are several herbs which contribute to cleansing of the blood. These herbs may include burdock root and echinacea (purple coneflower). Some other herbs such as milk thistle, which is known to contain silymarin, support the liver which is the main toxin-filtering organ in the body. This may thus help in prevent drug-induced damage to the liver.

The Chinese herbal medicine
Kudzu root, which is often prescribed as a bitter tea, has long been used by traditional Chinese doctors to reduce the appetite for alcohol. This helps the alcohol addict who is in the process of recovering by avoiding craving effects. The recent animal research suggests that alcohol-free kudzu root extract can cut the consumption of alcohol in half. (The patients in this study, however, were a breed of hamsters.) Based on such a research, we can conclude that herbal medicine has many advantages in helping the drug addicts in the recovery.

Herbal Therapy Treatment For Alcohol Or Drug Addiction

Tag Archives: Traditional Chinese Medicine