Alternative and Complementary Therapies

I am a strong believer in complementary and alternative treatments both for cancer treatment as well as to improve health and quality of life during conventional therapies.  Doctors in allopathic (conventional) medicine focus on getting rid of your cancer cells.  However, while conventional is often a great start, nutritional, supplemental and other complementary therapies can help you to reclaim a life of health and wellness by supporting your body both during and post treatment.

The key to survival is often changing the environment in which cancer was able to develop.  The development of cancer is an indication that the body lacks the support necessary to destroy cancer cells.  If we focus on the underlying conditions that may have contributed to the disease, we can likely prevent recurrence or new cancers.  Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight play a crucial role in cancer prevention. Our nutritional status either weakens us, making us susceptible to the development of cancer, or strengthens our bodies’ defense mechanisms, enhancing our ability to prevent renegade cells from becoming tumors.  Supporting our emotional wellness is equally important as the power of repressed emotions, anger and resentment as well as a lack of self love is not to be overlooked in the healing of our cancers.  No treatment in the world will be completely successful long-term if the mind is not addressed. Therapies such as massage, acupuncture, Reiki and others help reduce stress and other ailments which contribute to cancer as well as other life threatening diseases.

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html

http://www.nycreikicenter.com/ , Reiki Master, Brian Brunius, at the New York City Reiki Center

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a safe, painless, and effective healing practice that has been used within East Asian systems of medicine for thousands of years. This practice works with the vast network of energy pathways, called meridians, which traverse our entire bodies (both internally and externally), and interconnect every aspect of our being.

Along these meridians exist known points, which when stimulated – either through pressure or the gentle insertion of extremely thin needles – have predictable effects. By stimulating specific combinations of these points, acupuncture precisely re-regulates the functions of our meridians, thereby balancing and harmonizing the workings of our entire system.  Acupuncture is effective for addressing a wide range of imbalances, ranging physical to psycho-emotional/spiritual issues.  Both cancer patients and studies conducted on cancer patients have found it particularly useful for nausea, neuropathy, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and for boosting the immune system.   

 http://www.shuniyahealing.com/offer/services.html

http://www.inspired-wellness.com/blog/2011/06/29/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-acupuncture/

For Community Acupuncture:

http://www.brooklyncommunityacupuncture.com/ For services in Brooklyn

http://www.dr-er.com/ For services in Florida

https://www.pocacoop.com/ To locate community acupuncture in your area

http://www.integrativemedalliance.org/find_affordablecare.html Rhode Island Affordable Holistic Care Directory

Massage

Massage and bodywork are increasingly important weapons in the fight against cancer. Massage reduces stress and relaxes patients. It bolsters the immune system and helps remove toxins from the body. It helps with circulation and restores energy, and can help reduce post-surgical swelling. It reduces pain and minimizes the effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. It enhances a patient’s body awareness and allows them to direct energy toward healing. For more information, please visit:

http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/278/Massage-and-the-Cancer-Patient

Many hospitals are now integrating massage and other therapies into the allopathic teams of their doctors and in their cancer centers.  Please view my blog post:

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/06/cancer-spa.html

If you live in the New York City area, two wonderful massage therapists are:

ejli.lac@gmail.com   and AlexLMT@aol.com

Meditation 

Meditation is the conscious mental process using certain techniques—such as focusing attention or maintaining a specific posture—to suspend the stream of thoughts and relax the body and mind.

People use meditation to increase calmness and relaxation, improver psychological balance, cope with illness, or to enhance overall health and well-being.

Yoga 

The various styles of yoga used for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. People use yoga as part of a general health regimen, and also for a variety of health conditions.

Kinesiology

Kinesiology is one of the most comprehensive and holistic forms of natural therapy that recognizes the importance of body, mind and spirit in health and healing. It integrates the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the best of modern science to enhance health. It can help discover and release emotional traumas that contribute to the development of cancer.

Qi gong

Qi gong is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that combines movement, meditation, and controlled breathing.  The intent is to improve blood flow and the flow of qi.  Practices such as acupuncture, as well as herbs, meditation, and massage, seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi.

 Tai chi

The ancient art of tai chi uses gentle flowing movements to reduce stress and improve health.  To learn more about Tai chi, please visit:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Natural herbs are increasingly being used in the integrative support of breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment modalities and for prevention purposes for individuals who are at increased risk for occurrence or recurrence of breast cancer.

Dr George Wong at drgeorgewong@yahoo.com or  917.710.7888 http://www.georgeycwong.com/

Aaron Teich L.Ac at http://www.shuniyahealing.com/offer/services.html

http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/chinese-herbal-medicine-in-today%e2%80%99s-cancer-care/

Alternative Healing Radio Shows I recommend:

The Holistic Health Show– Host Dr Carl O. Helvie

Survive and Live Well–Host Elyn Jacobs (Show covers Conventional, Alternative and Complementary) For the schedule Click Here

Dr Carl O. Helvie refused chemotherapy in 1975 and used natural methods to heal his cancer. To listen to Chris Wark interview Carl, the longest living lung cancer survivor, click here. Also watch this YouTube.

Holistic and Natural Cancer Care:

http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/index.htm Dr Nick Gonzalez–Individualized Nutritional Programs

http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/ Burzynski Clinic; Dr Stanislaw Burzynski

http://drforsythe.com/ Century Wellness Clinic; Dr James Forsythe

http://www.georgeycwong.com/ Chinese Herbal Medicine, Dr George Wong

http://www.lexingtonnaturalhealth.com/pages/Conditions/Cancer.html  Dr James Belanger, ND

http://www.schachtercenter.com/  Schachter Center for complementary Medicine—combining innovative ideas in nutrition and holistic health with the latest developments in mainstream medicine.

http://www.paracelsus.ch/paracelsus/paracelsuse/biological-medicine/cancer ParacelsusKlinik–Comprehensive center for biological medicine and dentistry

http://www.canceriscurablenow.tv/

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/december/starving-cancer-ketogenic-diet-a-key-to-recovery/ Ketogenic Diet

For more information about CAM and Alternative Cancer Treatments, please visit:

http://www.integrativemedalliance.org/find_affordablecare.html

http://www.drkelley.com/

http://www.cancerresearchsecrets.com/

http://chrisbeatcancer.com/

Icurecancer.com

http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/index.htm

www.allcancercare.com

http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/healing-cancer-naturally-dental-toxins-and-more/

http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=1401 (Gerson Therapy) Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Ck9D45OT4

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/#definingcam

http://www.faim.org/cancer/annieappleseedproject.html

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/december/starving-cancer-ketogenic-diet-a-key-to-recovery/

http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/

http://cancerdecisions.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=16&zenid=7932434587faab654840a34e661d3ad4

http://www.canceriscurablenow.tv/

http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/07/hypotheses-for-natural-cancer-remission.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-nowinski-phd/complementary-cancer-treatments_b_852673.html?ref=fb&src=sp

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/budwig.htm

http://www.beating-cancer-gently.com/index.html

http://www.schachtercenter.com/  Schachter Center for complementary Medicine—combining innovative ideas in nutrition and holistic health with the latest developments in mainstream medicine.

http://www.nfam.org/ Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine

To view my CAM Discussion with Ann Fonfa of the Annie Appleseed Project, please visit this Youtube series Presented by Talk About Health:

http://www.youtube.com/user/talkabouthealth#p/u

To view my Tips on Nutrition and Cancer Youtube Video with www.breastcanceranswers, please visit:http://www.breastcanceranswers.com/breast-cancer-nutrition-cancer-coachs-tips-elyn-jacobs/

 To learn more about the correlation between emotional patterns and the development and progression of cancer, please visit:

www.cancerasaturningpoint.org/

www.newmedicine.ca

www.cancer-report.com

To learn more about the anticancer diet and its ability to prevent cancer, please visit:

http://www.anticancerbook.com/

http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/integrative-oncology-works/

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/04/tips-for-anit-cancer-lifestyle.html

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/01/living-without-cancer.html

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2010/12/eating-to-cheat-cancer.html

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2010/12/avoiding-cancer-one-vegetable-at-time.html

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2010/11/it-is-weak-tree-that-comes-down-in.html

http://www.llinkmd.com/Diet_program.html

http://www.drkelley.com/