Complementary Therapies

Practice other than medical care is referred as complementary therapy. It is also referred as alternative therapy or CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine). Practice like yoga, meditation, chiropractic, iridology, acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, relaxation therapy, spiritual healing and colonic irrigation are one such complementary therapy. This therapy is practiced in addition to mainstream medical care to improve the quality of life.

Complementary cancer therapies characteristics

Significant therapy results reveal unbound theories and are cost efficiency. Characteristics of complementary therapies are as follows.

• It fight against illness
• Professional work against and suppress the cancer formation
• They justify through testimonials rather than figure and facts
• CAM is from unique source of supply
• Reliability is developed from untrustworthy reports
• Laws of nature to explain alternative therapies
• Toxic effect is less
• Recommended by physicians

Types of complementary therapies

Following are types of complementary therapies.

• Mind body medicine
• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Music therapy

Mind body medicine

Number of complementary therapies is available to relax individual from stress and enhance the quality of life by relaxation. Hypnosis is state of deep relaxation where therapist can increase suggestibility thereby help the patients. Physicians give therapeutic suggestions in hypnotic trance. They encourage behavioral changes and relieve from symptoms. Use of pictorial representation gives relaxed state of mind and body. Further relaxation relaxes muscles and sequential tensing.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the use of needle at specific points in body to revitalize. It is old Chinese medical practice. Concept of acupuncture is based on Taoist concept of yin and yang and the Qi energy flow. Acupuncture stimulates channels for the flow of energy. It helps in better understanding of physiological and anatomical features.

Massage

Massage enhances health by proper manipulation of softy tissues on body by relaxing, inducing sleep and reduces pain and aches.

Music therapy

Music controls the sudden clinical change. Well versed music therapist helps in selection and entertains the individual with light music to relax the mood and preference of an individual. They include lyrics, songs and music instruments.

Questions:

• What are commonly used complementary therapies?
• Discuss complementary alternative medicine in detail.
• What are the herbal medicines used to treat cancer?
• How psychotherapy can cure cancer?
• What are the characteristics of alternative cancer therapies?