When you are diagnosed with cancer, there are many conventional treatment options available to you. While these conventional treatment options can be highly effective at fighting the cancer cells in your body, these treatments are not always kind to the healthy cells in your body. Luckily, there are ways that you can make your cancer care and treatment more holistic in nature so that you receive care for your whole body as well as your mind, emotions, and spirit. Get to know some of the ways that you can make your cancer care more holistic and begin incorporating these complementary treatments into your cancer care program.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an alternative health treatment that has been around for thousands of years. Predating human knowledge of cancer, acupuncture seeks to maintain balance in the body based on a theory of flowing energies. According to acupuncture, the entire human body functions based on energy that flows throughout the body. When that energy is blocked or unbalanced, a person can experience numerous symptoms and health problems.

A person with cancer may have energies that are unbalanced. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause a person's body to have energy problems as well. An alternative health practitioner who practices acupuncture will assess your condition and the conventional treatments you are receiving and try to restore your energy balance using tiny needles inserted into energy points throughout your body.

These small needles are meant to stimulate the flow of energy in your body which in turn restores balance and health. In medical terms, the needles stimulate the nervous system to action. Acupuncture can trigger the nervous system to release feel-good hormones like serotonin or dopamine into the bloodstream and can also trigger cell healing and the like. Many people come away from their acupuncture sessions feeling content and relaxed in spite of their cancer and related treatments. 

Supplements and Nutrition Assistance

Some complementary treatments that an alternative health practitioner can provide have to do with your nutrition while you are undergoing conventional cancer treatments. Many people do not realize how big a difference proper nutrition can make in their lives at times when their body is under a great deal of stress and may fail to eat as healthy as they should.

Nutrition during cancer treatments will have to do with eating foods that contain vitamins and minerals that help the body heal itself as quickly and efficiently as possible. Much of this is a plant-based diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables with very limited starches and sugars. Animal proteins are high in fat and can actually cause stomach upset and nausea during cancer treatments and salty foods can increase dehydration and associated symptoms. As such, a healthy plant-based diet will help to keep you as healthy as possible in spite of your cancer and treatments.

Some alternative health practitioners will also recommend you take vitamin and herbal supplements when you are going through cancer treatments. Fish oil is one such supplement as it can help to keep you from losing an excessive amount of weight while you undergo treatment. Calcium is another supplement that may be recommended by your alternative health practitioner. However, it is important to talk to both your alternative health practitioner and your oncologist when you plan to take supplements while going through cancer treatments to make sure you stay healthy and safe.

Now that you know a few of the ways that you can make your cancer care holistic, you can begin to incorporate these complementary treatments into your treatment program.

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